200hr Yoga & Meditation Teacher Training for People of Color
Indianapolis, IN
February - November, 2020
Overview
Dear Friend,
This program is a 200-hour Vinyasa Teacher Training.
As such it will be a mentally, physically and emotionally challenging process designed to enable serious students to become inspired teachers. You will practice asana, meditation, and pranyama to the point of proficiency and beyond. Your knowledge of Yoga theory will deepen to the point that it will become an aspect of the fabric of your life and of everything you do and say as a yoga teacher. You will learn to teach classes that combine a consistent therapeutic vision with the inspired spontaneity that is the hallmark of Vinyasa Yoga. You will develop a thorough understanding of the elements of the therapeutic principles of Yoga and be able to design a class or teach a pose in such a manner that your students will immediately embody those principles.
Vinyasa Yoga expresses that part of us that celebrates the space between the notes.
A typical class will move from simple to complex poses, from standing poses and balancing poses, to back-bends, inversions, and hip openers. The teacher and students take this simple formula and make it their own day by day. No two classes are ever alike yet the intention behind the class is always the same. The genius of Vinyasa Yoga is not found in its approach to alignment or sequencing, but rather in the rhythm with which alignment and sequencing unfold. Anchored in the unseen aspects of an asana class, Vinyasa Yoga is uniquely accommodating to the evolution of a teacher; allowing her to bring all that she has learned and all that she is into her classroom. The result is a class that is at once consistent and inspired.
I want to bring special attention to the interplay between the physical and the metaphysical: A yoga class is a three-dimensional story that unfolds to the rhythm of the breath.
The art of teaching is the art of telling that story. Each of us, always, has a song to sing a story to tell. Of necessity, much of what we will be working on will be technical in nature but all of what we do together will be dedicated to supporting you in singing your song.
Namasté and we look forward to the start of this journey with you,
Nikki & Rolf
The Training
How to Design and Lead a Vinyasa Yoga Class
You will gain a thorough understanding of the principals which when applied create a class for all ages and body types. This will include a specific sequence and more importantly the method for adapting that sequence to the infinity of opportunities implied by the word Yoga. This method enables what you teach to grow as you and your students do.
Being the Change
The first Yoga teacher in the U.S. Swami Vivekananda wrote: "You yourselves are the being that you seek." During this training you will have direct experience of the truth of that statement. When you leave this training you will know how it is people reach their potential and you will be able to apply that knowledge to accomplish your goals. You will be the change you want to see in your life.
Time on the Mat and on the Cushion
One of the joys of being a teacher is that your Yoga practice becomes part of your job description. During this training you will begin each day with asana, meditation, and pranyama instruction and practice. You will be taught the therapeutic principles that will allow you to practice safely with intensity. You will be able to sit comfortably for a 45 minute meditation session during which you will experience what it means to rest in stillness. You will be proficient in breathing techniques that awaken and build heat, preparing the mindbody for asana, and breathing techniques that are cooling and soothing preparing the mindbody for meditation. On your mat the implementation of therapeutic principles will be dramatic. You will experience a vibrant aliveness from which there is no going back.
The Teacher Training Curriculum will include:
* Mastery of the basic techniques of Asana
* Mastery of the basic techniques of Meditation
* Mastery of the basic techniques Pranyama (Breathwork)
* The therapeutic alignment principles of Yoga
* Finding alignment within and without
* The art of sequencing a class flow
* The proper use of tempo in a class
* How to use your voice and language for impact
* Your class as a transformative space
* The art of themeing in your classes
* Teaching modifications for all class levels
* Teaching to beginners
* The art of hands-on assisting
* The anatomy and physiology of Yoga
* Nutrition as a support to practice
* Study of The Yoga Sutras
* Cultivation of the Eight Limb Path as a path of action
* Integrating the three elements of spiritual practice into your life
* The role of the teacher
* The role of practice
* The art of sustaining change
* Moving from Source
Required Reading List:
Please approach this list by beginning with The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and How Yoga Works
The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali: A New Translation with Commentary, Chip Hartranft
How Yoga Works, Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra
Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga, Rolf Gates
Yoga Body: Anatomy, Kinesiology and Asana by Judith Hanson Lasate
Recommended Reading List:
Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing, Caroline Myss
Loving Kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, Sharon Salzberg
The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle
The Law of Attraction, Esther and Jerry Hicks
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman
Bhagavad Gita: New Translation, (trans. Stephen Mitchell)
Music and Mantras: The Yoga of Mindful Singing for Health, Happiness, Peace & Prosperity, by Girish (Author), Rolf Gates (Contributor)
Our Mission
Dear Friends,
Our mission is to train, inspire, and empower teachers of color to equip their own communities with the skills necessary to heal, grow and thrive. We will accomplish this by providing a yearlong teacher training program that is culturally competent, professionally delivered, and offered within the communities that we will serve. In equal parts, this teacher training program is designed to support individual mastery of yogic philosophy and mindfulness-based awareness practices, as well as develop the skills needed to teach this comprehensive body of knowledge within one’s own community.
Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our Vision
Our vision is to support, uplift, and transform communities that have been historically marginalized from the knowledge, opportunities, and healing available to the dominant culture. We will accomplish this goal by offering Communities Rizing Teacher Trainings within urban communities starting in Oakland/Berkeley and moving on to Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Houston. We will train thousands of yoga and meditation teachers of color to transform their own minds, bodies, and spirits, and then transform their own communities from the ground up. We will heal individual and collective trauma in urban communities across America. We will start a community-based, grassroots movement of health and wellness, rooted in yogic wisdom and mindfulness-based practices.
Curriculum & Components
Our Curriculum
How to Design and Lead a Vinyasa Yoga Class is the core of what the training will focus on. You will gain a thorough understanding of the principles which when applied create a class for all ages and body types. This will include a specific sequence and more importantly the method for adapting that sequence to the infinity of opportunities implied by the word Yoga. This method enables what you teach to grow as you and your students do.
One of the joys of being a teacher is that your Yoga practice becomes part of your job description. During this training you will begin each day with asana, meditation, and pranyama instruction and practice. You will be taught the therapeutic principles that will allow you to practice safely with intensity. You will be able to sit comfortably for a 45 minute meditation session during which you will experience what it means to rest in stillness. You will be proficient in breathing techniques that awaken and build heat, preparing the mindbody for asana, and breathing techniques that are cooling and soothing preparing the mindbody for meditation. On your mat the implementation of therapeutic principles will be dramatic. You will experience a vibrant aliveness from which there is no going back.
- MASTERY OF THE BASIC TECHNIQUES OF ASANA
- MASTERY OF THE BASIC TECHNIQUES OF MEDITATION
- MASTERY OF THE BASIC TECHNIQUES PRANYAMA (BREATHWORK)
- THE THERAPEUTIC ALIGNMENT PRINCIPLES OF YOGA
- FINDING ALIGNMENT WITHIN AND WITHOUT
- THE ART OF SEQUENCING A CLASS FLOW
- THE PROPER USE OF TEMPO IN A CLASS
- HOW TO USE YOUR VOICE AND LANGUAGE FOR IMPACT
- YOUR CLASS AS A TRANSFORMATIVE SPACE
- THE ART OF THEMING IN YOUR CLASSES
- TEACHING MODIFICATIONS FOR ALL CLASS LEVELS
- TEACHING TO BEGINNERS
- THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF YOGA
- STUDY OF THE YOGA SUTRAS
- CULTIVATION OF THE EIGHT LIMB PATH AS A PATH OF ACTION IN
- INTEGRATING THE 3 ELEMENTS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE INTO YOUR LIFE
- THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER
- THE ROLE OF PRACTICE
- THE ART OF SUSTAINING CHANGE
- MOVING FROM SOURCE
3 Core Program Components
YOGA
This program is an 8-month 200-hour Vinyasa training. Over this time, you will develop a strong personal practice of asana, meditation, and pranyama. Your knowledge of Yoga theory will deepen and you will integrate these theories into daily life.
MINDFULNESS-BASED MEDITATION
The art of teaching meditation is the ability to point others toward their own inner wisdom. We cultivate awareness-based wisdom by our own practice and understanding of how to live in the present moment.
COMMUNITY: BEING THE CHANGE
A core tenet of this training will be building communities and sanghas. Dr. King once said “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”
Course Fee and Schedule
(This fee includes “Meditations from the Mat” and the Teacher Training Manual + Meditations from the Mat: Teachers' Index. It does not include the additional required reading list materials)
COURSE FEE & PAYMENT OPTIONS
Course Fee: Check out PAYMENT PLAN + FULL PAY discounts below
TUITION GRANT MONEY for PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS from Lululemon & Yoga Alliance Available are specifically for People of Color. For others, please contact Mariam Gates for standard rates.
- OPTION I: FULL PAY DISCOUNT: Pay in full $
3000$1500 - OPTION II: PAYMENT PLAN:
$3200$1650!
Pay the $400 deposit, with a payment plan of 5 consecutive monthly installments of $250
Full deposit payment of $400 is needed to secure your placement.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Refund/Non-Refund Policy: Cancellations must be made 60 days before the start of the Teacher Training. We can not offer any refunds for cancellations within 60 days of the event, but a credit towards a future Teacher Training Program may be available.
DATES:
The 200hr Teacher Training Program will take place over 8 weekends/1x month. Weekends are Friday evening (6pm start) through Sunday afternoon (4pm).
February 28 - March 1, 2020
March 27 - 29, 2020
April 24 - 26, 2020
May 30 - 31, 2020 (Sat/Sun Only)
June 26 - 28, 2020
August 21 - 23, 2020
September 18 - 20, 2020
October 23 - 25, 2020
November 20 - 22, 2020 - Graduation!
DAILY SCHEDULE:
There will be breaks for meals and integration during the training weekends
Fridays: 6pm-9pm
Saturdays: 8:30am-6:30pm
Sundays: 8:30am-4:00pm
Logistics: Daily: 8:30am - 6pm (Sunday will be 8:30am - 4:00pm) Please come dressed for yoga. Some people change midway through the day and others prefer to stay in yoga clothing throughout.
Lunch Break: The lunch break is generally from 12 noon - 1:30pm with some slight variations depending on the day.
LOCATION:
Course Application
Option I: Full pay discount
Pay in full $3000 $1500!
TUITION GRANT MONEY for PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS from Lululemon & Yoga Alliance Available are specifically for People of Color. For others, please contact Mariam Gates for standard rates.
Option II: payment plan
$3200 $1650!
Pay the $400 deposit, with a payment plan of 5 consecutive monthly installments of $250
Full deposit payment of $450 is needed to secure your placement.
TUITION GRANT MONEY for PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS from Lululemon & Yoga Alliance Available are specifically for People of Color. For others, please contact Mariam Gates for standard rates.
You may also mail your payment check to:
Gates Yoga
PO BOX 421
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Contact Mariam Gates with any payment inquires, (831) 334-3060 (direct line).
