Tahoe Yoga School

In our 200-hour teacher training program, aspiring yoga instructors can expect to embark on a comprehensive journey that equips them with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to teach yoga confidently and effectively. Guided by Yoga Alliance's Elevated RYS 200 Standards, you can expect to learn:
 

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• Teaching, Training, & Practice (75 hours)

  • Yoga Asana

    • Historical context

    • Poses specific to RYS's lineage—must include sukhasana and savasana

    • Complete sequencing (asana, pranayama, meditation) to achieve particular effect safely

    • Shared anatomical and alignment principles plus contraindications

  • Pranayama & Subtle Body

    • Historical context

    • Effects of pranayama on anatomy and subtle body

    • Complete sequencing of pranayama safely, including alternatives and adaptations Ujjayi, Nadi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, among others

    • Koshas, kleshas, chakras, nadis and prana vayu

  • Meditation and Mindfulness

    • Key meditation terms

    • Meditation methods by lineage

    • Ability to practice school's chosen meditation practice

    • Chanting, mantras, and mudras 

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• Anatomy & Physiology (30 hours)

  • Skeletal System, including:

    • Types of joints

    • Major muscles involved in asana

    • Types of muscle contraction

    • Major bones

  • Nervous System, including:

    • ‘fight, flight, freeze’ stress response, vagal theory, overall mind-body connection

    • Cardiovascular/circulatory, endocrine, digestive systems as they relate to yoga practice

    • Respiratory system, incl. muscles that affect breathing, involuntary vs voluntary breath, how air enters and leaves body

  • Biomechanics

    • Types of joint movements  

    • Joint stabilization

    • Safe movement as it pertains to balancing, stretching, awareness, and physical limitations

    • Contraindications, misalignments, adaptations  

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• Yoga Humanities (30 hours)

  • History

    • Term ‘yoga’

    • School’s lineage, style, and methodology

    • Dates and key ideas such as the Vedas, Vedanta, Hatha, Colonial, Modern  

  • Philosophy

    • Definition of yoga and key terms

    • Relationship between asana, pranayama, meditation per school’s approach

    • Familiarity w/ major yogic texts (i.e., Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika)

    • Self-reflection on how philosophy relates to practice

  • Ethics

    • Awareness of Yoga Sutras or similar yogic ethical precepts

    • Relationship to Yoga Alliance Ethical Commitment including Scope of Practice, Code of Conduct, and Equity Position Statement

    • Comprehension of and responsibility to increase equity in yoga

    • Accountability measures

    • Self-reflection on how yoga ethics relate to practice and teaching

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• Professional Essentials

  • Teaching Methodology

    • Sequencing

    • Pace

    • Environment Cueing (verbal,visual, physical)

    • Class management

  • Professional Developement

    • Yoga-related professional organizations, including the Yoga Alliance credentialing process

    • Ethical Commitment, including Scope of Practice, Code of Conduct and Equity Position Statement

    • Lifetime of learning and continuing education

    • General professionalism, including timeliness, consistency, cleanliness

    • Marketing and promotion

    • Liability insurance, waivers, invoicing

  • Practicum (Practice Teaching)

    • Knowledge,skills, experience across 12 key competencies

    • Mentorship component,incl. apprenticeship, feedback

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By the end of a 200-hour teacher training program, participants should have a solid foundation in these areas, enabling them to teach safe and well-structured yoga classes, understand the philosophy behind the practice, and embark on their journey as certified yoga instructors. It's important to note that while a 200-hour program provides a solid start, many instructors continue their education through advanced teacher training programs to deepen their expertise and broaden their teaching capabilities.