Ananda Yoga Therapist Training

What Is Yoga Therapy?

Yoga therapy is about helping individuals with specific health challenges through the application of yoga techniques and principles (including guidelines for a healthier lifestyle). Yoga therapy can be used for prevention, easing of symptoms, and an improved sense of well-being. Even more important, it works at deeper levels of being, where health challenges originate. It is individual and specific, applied in private sessions or with small groups who share a particular challenge.

At Ananda, we view physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness as inseparable. We therefore train you to apply therapeutic tools that work on all three levels. Our approach comes from the renowned tradition of Paramhansa Yogananda, and from his close, direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda.

Ananda Yoga Therapist Training (Level 1)

Modular Format

This certification training prepares you to apply Yoga techniques, practices, and lifestyle interventions for persons with a variety of health challenges. It is approximately 400 hours beyond your initial 200-hour (or more) training. It takes place primarily at The Expanding Light, although some of those 400 hours are completed at home.

Graduates of this program can become Registered Yoga Teachers at the 500-hour level with Yoga Alliance.

Prerequisite
You must be a Yoga Alliance RYT or an Ananda Yoga Teacher Training graduate. See the links below for additional prerequisites for individual courses.

Yoga Therapist Training Courses Scheduled:

Courses Tentatively Scheduled

2013

May 1 – 5	Spiritual Counselor Training
May 5 – 12	Radiant Health Teacher Training
July or August	Essence of the Bhagavad Gita

2014

No date set

Yoga Therapy Specialty Areas II

Course Structure

The training requires the following courses and activities:

• Principles of Yoga Therapy —If you are not an Ananda YTT graduate, you must complete Bridge to Ananda Yoga, Part 1 or Yoga Teacher Renewal before taking this course.
• Musculoskeletal Yoga Therapy
• Advanced Pranayama
• Restorative Yoga Teacher Training
• Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy
• Yoga Therapy Specialty Areas I
• Ananda Yoga Teacher Training Assistantship
• Meditation Teacher Training
• 50-hour at-home practicum
• 100 hours of experience as a lead teacher (not an assistant) after having completed Level 1 Ananda YTT or Bridge to Ananda Yoga .

We plan to offer each of these courses once per year (except for Meditation Teacher Training, which is three times per year). Whenever possible, we schedule two or more of these courses back-to-back for the benefit of those who must travel from a distance.

Ananda Yoga Therapist Training (Level 2)

Modular Format

This advanced certification training builds on the Level 1 Ananda Yoga Therapist Training. It introduces:

• A deeper spiritual element (including spiritual counseling)
• Training to address additional health challenges, especially chronic conditions
• More in-depth training in Ananda Yoga, emphasizing personal practice as well as teaching and therapeutic skills
• Applying the principles and techniques of the Ananda Radiant Health System.

This training adds approximately 250 hours to Level 1. It will commence in 2012 and takes place primarily at The Expanding Light, although some of those 250 hours are completed at home.

Course Structure

This training consists of the following:

• Ananda Level 2 Yoga Teacher Certification, which includes training in spiritual counseling plus a deeper study and application of the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras.
• Ananda Radiant Health Trainer Certification (5 days, second half of 2012)
• Yoga Therapy Specialty Areas II (8-10 days, second half of 2013)
• 40-hour at-home practicum

See the individual links above for prerequisites