The Training

200-Hour Yoga District Yoga Teacher Training

Yoga District’s transformational yoga teacher training is made affordable by our nonprofit mission to make yoga and mindfulness accessible to all. In addition to reading the info below, we suggest that you take a class with any of the teaching faculty and the many members of our teaching staff who have graduated from the Yoga District teacher training program. Past graduates of our program include Yoga District teachers Steve, Anna, Alicia, Bethany, Paul, Aqeel, Garen, Agnes, Marissa, and Caroline D. More recent grads include Kathryn Z., Ellie C., Fran, Carrie and Adrienne.

Yoga Teacher Training Session Dates

Winter 2012 200-hour Intensive Immersion Session: Friday January 13 – Sunday January 22, 7am-9pm daily. This training will have a very limited class size and is nearly full, so please apply soon. Held at our Ledroit Park studio at Florida and 3rd NW.

Winter-Spring 2012 200-hour Session: Saturdays 9am-6:30pm and Sundays 12:15-6:15pm from March 17-April 28 with a one week break before resuming from May 12-27. Held at our 14th Street studio at 14th and T NW.

Summer 2012 200-hour Session: Saturdays and Sundays June 2 through July 29 9am-6pm OR we will make this an intensive. Please let us know your preference. Probably held at the 14th Street studio.

Fall 200-hour 2011 Session: Class just graduated! Saturdays 9am-6:30pm and Sundays 12pm-6:30pm from September 24 – November 6 and continued December 3 – December 18, 2011. The approx. one month break during this session provided time for trainees to complete their community practice class requirements and other homework.

500-hour Session: Dates to be determined. Please email info@yogadistrict.com for more information.

A Yoga Teacher Training Offering Low Tuition, Work-Study, Scholarships, and Payment Plans

Early Bird Enrollment (both acceptance and full payment) one month before first lecture date: $2000

Regular Enrollment (for payment plans and those registering within the month before the first lecture): $2400

Payment plans are available to all of those in need! One full scholarships and up to 5 partial scholarships are also awarded each training session based on need, commitment (usually awarded to those who can do work/study with us) and demonstrated excellence. Please apply for yoga teacher training payment plans and scholarships according to the instructions here.

Work-study positions are awarded based upon availability. Those who already demonstrate commitment by volunteering with Yoga Activist, Yoga District, or similar organization will receive first preference. To apply to volunteer with Yoga District, please email a summary of your yoga experience, general skills, and availability to interns@yogadistrict.com. To volunteer with Yoga Activist, please see available position listings.

Those applying for work-study or payment plan programs must review and sign the Yoga District work-study / payment plan agreement linked here.

Teacher Training Focusing on Diversity: Modules on Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Alignment, Power, Classical, Sivananda, Restorative, Prenatal, and Adaptive Yoga

Yoga District offers a yoga teacher training program for Yoga Alliance certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level. Our curriculum features a variety of different schools of yoga to celebrate their similarity and diversity. Teachers specializing in different yoga traditions (Vinyasa flow, Iyengar, Dharma Flow, Sivananda, Power, etc.) and teachers bringing yoga to various communities (homeless, trauma survivors, corporate settings, studio settings, private settings, etc.) lecture and lead trainees in practice. The program embraces a holistic approach to yoga teaching, philosophy, and lifestyle. Given the diversity of instruction presented, trainees are assigned to mentors that will help them individually focus on the yoga tradition that best suits his/her personal style and strengths.

Experienced Training Leadership

Since 2008, Yoga District’s teacher training program has been led by senior instructor Michelle Mae Orr (E-RYT 200) and Yoga District and Yoga Activist Founder Jasmine Chehrazi (RYT-500). Michelle has taught yoga since 2001 and was trained directly for years by James Brown, a leader of the Yoga Works and Yoga Poser nationally acclaimed teacher training programs. Other experienced teaching faculty at Yoga District, as well as other special guests, also provide lectures varying by topic. To learn more about Michelle and our other staff, please see our Yoga District teaching staff bio site.

Location: A Nurturing Learning Environment in a Community Setting

Teacher training sessions will be held at Yoga District studios (exact studio location varies according to which training session you sign up for), or our H Street training classroom a few blocks from the H Street studio. All studios are metro accessible and carpooling can easily be arranged.

Many trainees and students comment on Yoga District’s community-vibe that’s focused on learning and sharing in a non-competitive environment. While focusing on acceptance, we help trainees move beyond comfort and discomfort, challenging themselves to make progress in their practice, personal development, and teaching.

Homework, Lectures, and Special Projects

Trainees will meet for lectures (lecture days include practice of asana, pranayama, teaching, and meditation) on the dates specified above. Trainees will also schedule and attend at least one private consultation with a teaching faculty member.  Before graduating, trainees must attend at least 18 Yoga District yoga classes led by teaching faculty and provide written analysis of each class according to a variety of assigned topics, successfully complete written and practice assignments and exams, assist/adjust/observe students in at least 5 classes at Yoga District led by teaching faculty and complete related writing assignments, and teach at least 5 community classes with related reporting and writing assignments before graduation. Please note that all dates, times and requirements are subject to change. Graduation will be considered once all assignments are complete, rather than date of last lecture.

Why do the teacher training?

Because you love yoga and want to share its gifts. Trainees have joined our training programs for a wide variety of reasons. Whether it’s to teach in studios, schools, corporate or outreach settings, or just to advance your own practice, Yoga District’s diverse program helps meet trainees’ needs.

How to Join the Training

Applications (see below) must be submitted with two recommendation letters related to your dedication to the practice of yoga and/or your dedication and ability to commit in general.  Applications must be submitted  with a $200 deposit, to be applied toward the total program fee (see above for fee info). Total program fee does not include the cost of books (generally under $100 depending on source of your books- books are listed below).  Full payment must be received at least one week in advance of the first lecture date unless you receive approval for a yoga teacher training payment plan (requires financial references, bank, employer, credit card, and basis of need information and documentation). To pay your application deposit, please click here and once you create / log into your account, select the appropriate “teacher training” item from the menu.

Application for Participation in Yoga District’s Teacher Training Program

Please provide answers the following questions (send to both info@yogadistrict.com and michelle@yogadistrict.com) as well as two letters of recommendation (must be sent directly by the reference to michelle@yogadistrict.com or mailed to 457 Luray Pl NW, Washington DC. 20010) and a $200 deposit to Yoga District (may be paid through our online store linked in paragraph above, or mailed as a check payable to Yoga District to 457 Luray Pl NW, Washington DC. 20010).

The purpose of this application and our request for reference letters is to confirm that you are dedicated to yoga and this teacher training, and that you will be able to sufficiently dedicate your time to the teacher training program for successful graduation and subsequent teaching opportunities.

Name:

Contact information:

Training session you are applying for (indicate season and year):

1. How long and how often have you physically practiced yoga? Please mention and explain any gaps in your practice, e.g., if you practiced for one year then stopped then started again.

2. With studios, places, teachers, or mentors have you practiced?

3. What types of yoga have you practiced?

4. Which yoga tradition do you prefer, if any?

5. Which yoga teachers/classes/experiences have been most important/ influential to you and why?

6. Do you have a home practice? If so, please describe.

7. If you have not had a committed yoga practice of 2 years or more, please explain how you feel you may have gained comparable experience during the course of your practice.

8. Have you ever taught another person any yoga postures or anything about yoga, whether formally or informally?

9. Please describe how your lifestyle reflects philosophical teachings of yoga, or how you might like your lifestyle to do so in the future.

10. Have you discussed becoming a yoga teacher with a member of our staff?

11. Aside from Yoga Alliance certification to teach yoga at the 200-hour level, what do you hope to gain from the teacher training program at Yoga District, and what would you after being certified as a RYT-200?

12. What would you like to see included or focused on during the course of the teacher training at Yoga District?

13. Please describe any volunteer work you do, describing the communities you work with.

14. Optional: How did you learn of the teacher training at Yoga District?

15. Why do you practice yoga?

Book List

·      Required: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Satchitananda (Sutras)

·      Required: Bhagavad Gita by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood (Gita)

·      Required: Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff  (Anatomy)

·      Required: Integrative Yoga Therapy Teachers’ Toolbox (Toolbox – If you buy this on your own online, it costs much more- we buy them wholesale so you can purchase a copy from us on the first training day for $50.)

·      Yoga Posture Adjustments and Assisting by Stephanie Pappas (Adjustments)

·      Hatha Yoga Pradipika

·      Autobiography of a Yogi

·       Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Saraswati (APMB)

·       Yoga: The Iyengar Way – Silva Mehta

·       Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers, and Practitioners – H. David Coulter

·       Chakra Yoga: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-Being – Alan Finger

·       Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga… – B. K. S. Iyengar

·       Scientific Keys Volume I: The Key Muscles of Hatha Yoga – Ray Long

·       Anatomy of Movement – Blandine Calais-Germain

·       Teaching Yoga – Donna Farhi

·       The Language Of Yoga: Complete A to Y guide to Asana Names, Sanskrit Terms, and Chants – Nicolai Bachman

Payment plans and work study information: Click here.

Information on Ayurvedic Analysis recommended for training: Click here.