During the Yoga of Awareness teacher training, we will explore:
Evidence-based modules for cancer-related symptoms
Tailoring asana and pranayama to specific symptoms
Principles of Yoga of Awareness
Contexting yogic principles for people from various faith traditions
Effective and clear ways of presenting models of stress
Appropriate guidance for working with the mind
Partnering with the medical community
Group facilitation skills
Riding the Waves of Cancer
Teacher Training June 25 to July 1, 2010
Qualifications for becoming a Certified Yoga of Awareness Teacher
For this course to have meaning and vitality, the leaders delivering it must do their best to embody the practice of yoga in their daily lives. This will allow for them to lead from their personal experience and wisdom, rather than in a cookbook fashion.
A person may be certified as a teacher if she or he: (a) has an established meditation practice, as defined by Criterion 1 below; (b) has demonstrable group facilitation skills and experience; (c) has completed this Yoga of Awareness Teacher Training course; and (d) is a competent hatha yoga teacher with ample experience working with special populations, as defined by Criteria 3 - 4 below.
Criterion 1. Meditation practice: To become a Yoga of Awareness Teacher, for individuals who do not have experience with the type of mediation practices taught in Yoga of Awareness, you will be asked to establish a personal practice for a minimum of 6 months. During this time, you will be mentored by Jim and/or Kimberly bi-monthly via email. This will be an opportunity to deepen your experience of these practices, share observations, and ask questions.
Criterion 2. Registered Yoga Teacher: To become a certified Yoga of Awareness Teacher, individuals must be Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) as certified by the Yoga Alliance (www.yogaalliance.org) or have equivalent evidence of competency.
Criterion 3. Experience teaching yoga postures to general public: To be certified as a Yoga of Awareness Teacher, individuals must have a minimum of two year's experience of teaching yoga postures to the general public (e.g., yoga studios, fitness centers). If you have less than two year's experience with the general public, you may go ahead and take the teacher training course, and then fulfill this requirement subsequently before being certified for offering Yoga of Awareness.
Criterion 4. Experience teaching yoga postures to specialized groups: To be certified as a Yoga of Awareness Teacher, individuals must have a minimum of one year's experience of teaching yoga postures to specialized populations, such as expectant mothers, senior citizens, medical patients (e.g., MS, cardiac, cancer, patients with chronic pain conditions, at-risk groups). If you have less than a year's experience with such groups, you may go ahead and take the teacher training course, and then fulfill this requirement subsequently before being certified for offering Yoga of Awareness.
Certification
When the above criteria for becoming a teacher have been met satisfactorily, you will receive a written certification from the Carsons indicating your readiness to deliver this program.
As an outgrowth of the studies showing Yoga of Awareness is helpful for various stages of the breast cancer experience (please see Research summary for details), we are making plans to offer a 7 day teacher training at the state-of-the-art integrative medicine center at Duke University Medical Center. The training will be a blend of instruction, practice and discussion and will be designed to give participants an opportunity to experience how Yoga of Awareness unfolds. The training will focus on tailoring the program for people living with breast as well as other types of cancer.
