Curriculum & Schedule
The Integrative Yoga Therapy ( IYT) Teacher Training Program at Pura Vida is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a 200-hour Teacher Training certification program (RYT-200).
The Integrative Yoga Therapy 200-hour teacher training program meets and exceeds the Yoga Alliance 200-hour standards, . Many IYT graduates teach Yoga-based wellness programs in hospitals, businesses, and complementary health care settings ,teaching general wellness, senior wellness, prenatal Yoga and Yoga for specific health challenges such as back pain, heart disease, cancer and auto-immune conditions as well as teaching Yoga classes for the general public.
Yoga Alliance requires 180 contact hours (classroom) and 20 non-contact hours. IYT’s program is comprised of 180 hours of contact study and 20 hours of non- contact hours. Contact hours are earned through regular attendance and non-contact hours are substantiated by completion of at home independent study (assignments, reading, quizzes and take home assessments) and 4 hours of volunteer teaching hours.
Program Curriculum:
All students who attend must arrive with a good understanding of English, even though it may not be their first language.
Techniques Training & Practice ( 100 hours contact hours):
These hours are a mix between: 1) analytical training in how to teach and practice the techniques and 2) guided practice of the techniques themselves.
Teaching Methodology (30 Contact Hours)
Anatomy and Physiology (15 Contact Hours)
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers (20 Contact Hours)
Practicum (15 Contact Hours)
Specialty Focus:
Woven into the above hours will be curriculum addressing:
Group Presentations:
At the end of the course student groups will present a Yoga therapy program directed toward a common health condition applying what has been learned throughout the course in order to deliver the following:
Typical Daily Schedule:
Classes meet every Saturday & Sunday for 10 consecutive weeks.
Classes begin at 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. with one hour for lunch.
Please note the start and end times on Saturday and Sunday. These never vary. The time given to each topic does vary, depending on what is being studied each weekend. Please note that students will also need to participate in weekly Yoga classes outside of this schedule. there will also be reading, written home work, 4 hours of volunteer teaching, and a group project to complete before certification.
The Integrative Yoga Therapy 200-hour teacher training program meets and exceeds the Yoga Alliance 200-hour standards, . Many IYT graduates teach Yoga-based wellness programs in hospitals, businesses, and complementary health care settings ,teaching general wellness, senior wellness, prenatal Yoga and Yoga for specific health challenges such as back pain, heart disease, cancer and auto-immune conditions as well as teaching Yoga classes for the general public.
Yoga Alliance requires 180 contact hours (classroom) and 20 non-contact hours. IYT’s program is comprised of 180 hours of contact study and 20 hours of non- contact hours. Contact hours are earned through regular attendance and non-contact hours are substantiated by completion of at home independent study (assignments, reading, quizzes and take home assessments) and 4 hours of volunteer teaching hours.
Program Curriculum:
All students who attend must arrive with a good understanding of English, even though it may not be their first language.
Techniques Training & Practice ( 100 hours contact hours):
- Includes yoga poses , adaptations, common adjustments, verbal cueing & contraindications
- Body awareness & relaxation techniques
- Breath awareness, pranayama and prana vidya, mudras and bandhas
- Yoga nidra & various meditation techniques
These hours are a mix between: 1) analytical training in how to teach and practice the techniques and 2) guided practice of the techniques themselves.
Teaching Methodology (30 Contact Hours)
- Includes the IYT 10 Step Class Structure- with thematic focus and sequencing
- Discussion and practice of the use of language and voice including active and passive language
- Cueing poses, tone,habitual speech patterns and choosing language to direct attention and create an experience
- Attention is given to the subtle principles of teaching asana, giving attention to all 5 koshas.
- Introduction to Sanskrit, lecture and hands on exploration of posture, movement, and healthy therapeutic alignment principles.
Anatomy and Physiology (15 Contact Hours)
- Includes human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.)
- Subtle anatomy and physiology including pranavayus, chakras and nadis
- Anatomy and physiology principles will be applied to Yoga asana and yoga therapeutics.
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers (20 Contact Hours)
- Includes IYT's philosophy and approach to yoga
- The yoga therapy tradition with an exploration of the history of Yoga
- Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the 8 Limbs of Yoga
- Samkhya philosophy , Gunas, Kleshas.
- Yoga lifestyle and the business & ethics aspects of teaching yoga
Practicum (15 Contact Hours)
- Includes practice teaching
- Receiving feedback
- Observing others teaching and hearing and giving feedback
Specialty Focus:
Woven into the above hours will be curriculum addressing:
- Therapeutic principles of Alignment
- Yoga for Back Care,
- Yoga for Osteoporosis
- Chair yoga
- Yogassage
- Somatic movement
- Restorative Yoga
- Therapeutic Ball work and Wellness Screenings.
- In the Ayurveda module, we will take an in depth look at the effect of the doshas in the body according to season, day time and age, diet and Daily Regimen for each dosha. The students are also given the guidelines for ayurvedic diet according to each body type or dosha.
Group Presentations:
At the end of the course student groups will present a Yoga therapy program directed toward a common health condition applying what has been learned throughout the course in order to deliver the following:
- Proposed Yoga Therapy Sequence
- Proposed Pranayama Practices
- Proposed Meditation Practices
- Proposed Yoga Nidra
- Proposed Lifestyle changes.
Typical Daily Schedule:
Classes meet every Saturday & Sunday for 10 consecutive weeks.
Classes begin at 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. with one hour for lunch.
- 8:30- 10:15 Yoga Practice
- 10:15-12:30 Yoga History/Philosophy
- 12:30-1:30 Lunch
- 1:30-2:30 Yoga Nidra
- 2:30-3:30 Anatomy & Physiology
- 3:30-5:00: Methodology
- 5:00- 6:30 Asana Focus (detailed study of poses)
Please note the start and end times on Saturday and Sunday. These never vary. The time given to each topic does vary, depending on what is being studied each weekend. Please note that students will also need to participate in weekly Yoga classes outside of this schedule. there will also be reading, written home work, 4 hours of volunteer teaching, and a group project to complete before certification.