Yin & Yang Yoga Teacher Training
With Simon Low and The Yoga Academy – 8 Jan-1 Feb 2011 – Koh Samui, Thailand
A 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certification

Dear Yoga Student,

If you’re a passionate student ready to take the next step and become a yoga teacher—but you’re not sure which course to choose—then I’d like to invite you to a very unique course. It’s an opportunity to study with one of England’s most beloved yoga teachers, Simon Low, on the beautiful island of Koh Samui in Thailand.

APPLY NOW

WHY TEACH YOGA?

• Do What You Love – most teachers started as students who realized that their yoga practice and the shifts yoga was making in their values had become a primary focus in their life. In many cases, yoga became more important than their job…

  … if this is happening to you now, it only makes sense to consider a shift in your focus so that your work life is more aligned with your personal values.

• A Life of Service and Meaning – one of the most disheartening aspects of most careers is that if you quit, nothing much will change. Most of us are replaceable, and this can make it very hard to find meaning and a deep connection on a daily basis.

  As a yoga teacher, you become an integral part of your students’ lives—in their personal growth—and for many teachers, this life of service is so fulfilling and so wonderful, that it becomes difficult to imagine doing anything else.

• Be Yourself – yoga teachers tend to be people who march to the beat of their own drum. We are people who never fit well into the rat race mentality of mainstream society; and always, we’re searching for a place where we can just be ourselves—whoever we might be.

  The truth is that yoga teachers come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and backgrounds, but if there is one unifying factor among us, it’s that we are all unique, free-thinking individuals who are on a path of personal growth.

• Find Yourself, Find Your Balance – we have a tendency in this life to move toward extremes. We work too much or too little. We eat too much or we starve ourselves. We exercise excessively, or not at all. Yoga is all about balance, and Yin & Yang Yoga in particular is an entire system designed to help you find yourself, to find your balance. As a yoga teacher, your lifestyle becomes a reflection of your practice, so it’s a wonderful gift to be able to live and breathe yoga constantly.

BECOMING A YOGA TEACHER

When you think back to the moments in your life that are truly memorable—truly important—almost always, you were doing something a outside your comfort zone. You challenged yourself. You overcame adversity. This is what personal growth is all about; and ultimately, this is what training to teach is all about too.

This Yin & Yang Yoga Teacher Training is designed for those wishing to embark on the wonder-filled path of leadership. This course itself serves as a springboard into the vast ocean of yoga study, practice, and teaching that will last a lifetime.

Simon Low will be your guide as you transition from the life and practice as a yoga student to that of a teacher.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

This course is extremely practical and skills-based while at the same time facilitating a personal journey of exploration and discovery. It’s designed to help you develop the skills and confidence needed to be effective in class, but also lay the foundations for a life of learning and teaching.

• Teaching Methodology – while leading a class might look simple, the preparation, planning, and awareness behind that class are very involved. As a trainee, you’ll learn proper demonstration skills, how to mirror, how to use your voice, safe adjustments, lesson planning, class sequencing and more.

  In the course, you’ll start by learning "why" we teach yoga, and through the teaching methodology modules, you’ll learn "how".

• Philosophy of Yoga – many students shy away from the theoretic side of yoga; but as a yoga teacher, it’s a vitally important foundation that helps you understand the source behind much of what you’ll do. And when learned in the proper context, philosophy can be fascinating.

  You’ll be introduced to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, the essential Upanishads, and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

• History of Yoga – almost every style of modern yoga can very clearly trace its roots to just a handful of teachers. Understanding where yoga came from helps you gain appreciation for its rich history, and also gives you a better understanding of the "bigger picture" of yoga in all its newer incarnations.
• Applied Anatomy for Yoga – it’s one thing to memorize the names of bones and parts of the body, but quite another to viscerally experience applied anatomy in action. You’ll be amazed to discover how anatomical awareness will instantly improve your practice and teaching, and will also help you and your students to stay safe and properly aligned in class.

  Applied anatomy is one of Simon’s personal passions, and as a yoga teacher, his insight will give you a comprehensive understanding of what’s going on internally during practice.

• The Seat of the Teacher – leadership comes with power and responsibilities that need to be taken seriously. During this module, you’ll learn about the ethics and healthy boundaries between teachers and students. Your life is mirrored in class to your students, so as a teacher, your personal life can (and often needs to) shift so that you can inspire and uplift your students.
• Teaching Practicum – this course is structured as a total immersion, and as such, you’ll find that your ability to absorb and apply information is greatly increased. By the 2nd half of the course, you’ll begin observing, assisting and co-teaching live classes. This is where everything comes together and you start to find your feet as a leader.
• The Life and Business of Teaching – teaching is like any career, in that you must study and work hard, and take conscious steps toward success. In this module, you’ll explore realistic options and lifestyles for yoga teachers including: how to teach privately, how to work for studios, and even the possibility of opening your own school or studio.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Your course experience will be challenging, but very rewarding. The structure of the program is 5 days on, 1 day off. During class days, the schedule starts early in the morning and will finish in the early evening, with some late evening sessions on selected days.

Simon and his team have specifically designed this course to make it conducive for learning. The yoga studio, the resort, and the facilities all allow you to step away from your current life and delve deep into the authentic life and practice of yoga.

MEET THE TEACHERS

SIMON LOW (Full time Course Director and Teacher) – Simon Low is one of Europe’s most popular yoga teachers. Originally from the UK, Simon co-founded London’s Triyoga, where he continues to hold regular workshops and courses.

As the director of The Yoga Academy Teacher Training Programme, Simon leads intensive teacher trainings in Europe and Asia. He has been leading shorter courses in Thailand for many years and is now very excited to be conducting a full, 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification course here.

Simon began his yoga journey over 20 years ago, studying with Dr. Larry Payne in Los Angeles, and went on to study every major school of modern Hatha Yoga with a particular emphasis on Viniyoga, Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Okido Yoga, Yin Yoga, Chi Kung, Pilates, and The Alexander Technique.

Simon’s most influential teachers include: Dr Larry Payne, T.K.V Desikachar, Erich Schiffmann, Donna Farhi, Tias Little, Sarah & Ty Powers, Paul & Suzie Grilley, Aadil Palkhivala, Gill Lloyd, Julie Gudmestad, and Joseph Goldstein.

Class with Simon is focused and structured, but always creative, fluid, and fun. He teaches classic yoga asana informed by principles of Chinese medicine and energy work; and always, the object is to move toward a "balanced and complete" yoga practice.

EIJA TERVONEN (Full time Course Assistant Teacher) – Eija was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in 1997 and immediately became a committed practitioner studying with Petri Räisänen, Lino Miele, Gwendoline Hunt and John Scott.

Her passion and inquiry led her to explore other styles of yoga and she has trained in Iyengar yoga, The Yoga Academy Teacher Training with Simon Low, completed Advanced Yoga Studies with Donna Farhi, and obtained certification in Relax & Restore^® Yoga.

Other influential teachers include Aadil Palkhivala, Tias Little, Julie Gudmestad, Judith Lasater, Paul Grilley, and Sarah Powers. Eija’s yoga journey is supported by the practice and study of the Feldenkrais method as well.

Apart from yoga, Eija is also a professional translator and continues to share her passion in yoga by translating yoga books and related works from English into her native, Finnish. Her translations include the work of John Scott, Louise Grime, BKS Iyengar and Donna Farhi.

Eija’s true passion is the ongoing study of human structural and postural alignment. She sees yoga as a way to support the systems of the body and access the deeper layers of our being. She is thrilled to join The Yoga Academy training team in Thailand for this rare, long-form course.

The Training Center

Absolute Sanctuary is a very unique resort in that it was specifically designed as a yoga training and wellness center. Nestled on a hillside overlooking the sea, it’s a small enough resort that you’ll know all the staff by name, but big enough to have everything you need.

The facilities include:
• 2 professional yoga studios
• Infinity swimming pool
• Complete wellness spa
• Health food restaurant
• Juice bar
• Steam room
• Fitness Center
• Wifi (free throughout resort)

Absolute Sanctuary is newly-built resort in Moroccan style, with modern rooms containing all the conveniences you are accustomed to, including flat screen TVs, hot water, aircon, and hair dryers.

THE LOVE KITCHEN

The resort’s restaurant, The Love Kitchen, serves up homemade, wholesome foods from around the world. Breakfasts include cereals, yogurts, and fresh fruits. Lunch might be soup and salad. And dinners include stir fries, burritos, casseroles, and savory Thai curries.

The food is mostly vegetarian, but there are animal protein options available daily so everyone is well taken care of. Meals are served family-style, in a buffet, and while it’s not fine-dining, it is delicious, natural, and supports yoga students perfectly.

THE YOGA STUDIO

Absolute Sanctuary has two completely separate yoga studios specifically designed for large groups. They have wood floors, natural light, great circulation and a complete stock of props including: blocks, straps, mats, bolsters and meditation cushions.

THAILAND & KOH SAMUI

Thailand is a beautiful, safe, and welcoming place… if you’ve never been before, you’ll fall in love! The food is amazing and the people are so friendly. It’s such a wonderful place to study yoga.

Koh Samui Island was nothing but coconut trees until about 30 years ago. Today, it has become an international tourist destination, but it still retains most of its beauty and charm.

The beaches are stunning, with rolling hills and powerful sunsets. There are 3 international hospitals on the island, dozens of banks, a Tesco Lotus, and a movie theater… so if you forget something, or need something, it’s no problem at all.

ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION

The Yoga Academy is a Yoga Alliance 200-Hour accredited school as is Absolute Yoga in Thailand. Yoga Alliance is the largest accreditation board for teacher training programs in the world, and the 200-Hour level has become the international standard for teachers everywhere.

PLEASE NOTE: negative attitudes, absences, and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. This is a serious course, and students are expected to behave in a supportive and positive manner throughout.

FINAL ASSESSMENT & TEACHING

The course finishes with a final assessment and peer teaching day. This is a fun and exciting time when you get to put everything you’ve learned to use.

To celebrate, you and the entire training course will take a 20 minute boat ride to a very small island called, Koh Som, where you’ll spend the day teaching, practicing, and enjoying the sun and surf. It’s a wonderful way to complete the course.

COURSE INVESTMENT

A yoga teacher training program is an investment that will pay for itself many times over—both monetarily and experientially. It’s a big decision, of course, but one you can make with confidence.

Fortunately, this course is held in Thailand where the cost of living is substantially lower than most other countries. Because of this, we’re able to offer superior accommodation and facilities for less than the price of a long residential course of this nature back in your home country.

Tuition Cost: 3,710 USD
Shared Room & Food: 1,555 USD
Total Investment: 5,265 USD

Early Discount: Just 5,115 USD*
SAVE 150 USD!
Check Exchange Rates: www.xe.com

*Early discount available only to students who register and pay in full before
15 October 2010 (sorry, no extensions).

NOTE: full tuition is all-inclusive with no extra fees. You will receive 3 meals daily, shared room, transport to-and-from the airport, and all materials. The only additional costs would be personal expenses and pre-course reading.

BONUS GIFTS…

Extra Bonus #1: Free Yoga Mat
Along with your early discount, if you apply and register in full be fore 15 December, you’ll also receive a free yoga mat (yours to keep) so you don’t have to bring yours on the flight!

Extra Bonus #2: Free Welcome Foot Massage
Thailand is famous for its masseurs, and Absolute Sanctuary’s spa staff is exceptionally good at helping to relax our yoga students. So after you check in, treat yourself to a complimentary foot massage on us!

Extra Bonus #3: VIP Training Pass
As an Absolute Yoga graduate, you’ll be given 20% off any additional trainings within a full 2 years of graduation…this includes retreats, workshop, advanced courses, and more!

THE NEXT STEP IS YOURS

Students are always asking, "How do I know if I’m ready to teach?" It’s a good question and the same question I had before my first teacher training—but it’s not something that anyone can decide for you. You see, it’s not about having the perfect postures or practicing for 10 years straight… it’s simply a feeling you get in your gut that this is your next move.

So ask that question to yourself, "Do you feel ready to teach?"

If the answer is yes, on behalf of Simon Low, The Yoga Academy, and Absolute Sanctuary, I’d like to cordially invite you to apply for this course. The next step is yours…

Keep practicing,

Lucas Rockwood
ABSOLUTE YOGA

p.s. If you have not yet done so, enter your name and email address below so you can listen to a recent tele-class Simon held called, "Transitioning From Student-to-Teacher." I think you’ll enjoy it…

APPLY NOW