Cincinnati Yoga School

YOGA (TEACHER) TRAINING

Please Contact Will Brashear for Details and Dates.

� ...When I set out to deepen my practice through a yoga teacher training, I found myself drawn to the philosophy of Cincinnati Yoga School. I was familiar with "asana" (postures) and very much sought to understand yoga in the fullness of its meaning. Studying with Will has provided such an opportunity and I am truly grateful for the extraordinary journey he has introduced to myself and others.� ~Marissa , 2007 YTT Graduate

What you must know before deciding to take this training :

• This is a full-spectrum Yoga / Life Training! It is not just a teacher training and not just an Asana (posture) training. As the enlightened master, Sri Aurobindo, said, �All life is yoga.� This training is to not only help one to recognize this truth, but to live it!

• The fact that most go on to teach yoga after this course is a natural and likely consequence. Those who learn yoga for this reason -not just for a fitness occupation - are likely to be far better teachers because they are more true to the wisdom and aims of yoga.

• This training aims to de-mystify some of the popular notions about yoga by teaching universal truths and practices that are fundamental to yoga and yet have practically nothing to do with asanas (postures) or pranayama (breathing exercises). Nevertheless this training will avail students with a masterful understanding of asanas and the ability to teach them.

• It will also familiarize students with the popular Hatha Yoga ~Asana Styles and prepare them to teach to both casual and true seekers using a variety of styles or creating their own.

• As part of the training students will also be allowed to take free classes during their training at Frankfort Yoga Studio and any Cincinnati Yoga School (CYS) location.

• The Program consists of as many as 20 educational modules in techniques, methodology, practice, anatomy, physiology and practical instructions spanning topics of self-inquiry, human microcosm and universal macrocosm, resistance and dissociation, surrender and integration, meditation, duty, virtue, service to humanity and the yoga of religion.

• Each module is designed to elevate student consciousness, simplify living, and give a higher sense of purpose to make the most of ones life! 

PREREQUISITE

No prior experience in yoga is necessary to come to the understanding that most people need to undergo deep transformation in order to make the most of the human experience.  Only an earnest desire to alter life�s old paradigms is required. However, unwavering effort and patient endurance will prove to be the aspirants greatest assets.

CERTIFICATION

At the end of the training, students will qualify to be recognized as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level (RYT 200) by Yoga Alliance, a non-profit organization that requires and maintains fundamental educational standards and an international registry of certified yoga teachers. For more information visit their website: www.yogaalliance.org 

TRAINING SCHEDULE (Dates, Times, General Notes)

• Classes start promptly. Please arrive 10 minutes before classes begin. If arriving more than 20 minutes late to class please notify the instructor.

• Be respectful of �class-in-session�, particularly if there is a quiet or meditative program going on. Join the class as soon as practical. 

• Food, Drinks, Medications: Although there will be places to go for lunch or snacks, we advise packing light nutritional lunches, snacks, drinks etc.  Please DO NOT FORGET medications.

• Modest and practical attire for practice of asanas and meditation should be worn to each session. Skirts, blue jeans, clothing too tight or too loose, excessive jewelry, etc. can become impediments to the practice.

• Deodorants that are soft scented are appropriate. However, please refrain from wearing colognes, perfumes or any strong scented lotions.

COURSE CONTENT (Approach, Format, Flow, Basic Expectations, etc.)

a)      Approach

We will make every attempt to make each day with us as productive, enjoyable, and interactive as possible. You can expect each day to be a blend of several categories.  In other words, each day will include some combinations of theory / practice on the yoga mat, teach methodologies, meditation instructions and practice, interactive discussions, review of homework / readings, etc. You can expect several Modules unfolding in tandem during the course duration. 

b)      Advance Reading

We will provide you with a variety yogic resources. However, 4 essential books will need to be purchased prior to the start of the course. (This should not cost more than $50 and possibly less than $30). You are encouraged to begin reviewing them as soon as possible so that you can already be acquainted with some of the terms and ideas before we take an in-depth study.

c)      Minimum Classes

During the entire Course, you will be required to take two classes a week in the presence of, or offered by, experienced Yoga teachers, either at CYS or any other Yoga center of your choice. Such classes at CYS will be free during this time and will also enable you to experience many different Yoga Styles.

d)      Practice Teaching, Modifications, Assisting, Adjustments

You will receive and observe �adjustments� from teachers that enable students to move safely and most effectively into postures. This will culminate in learning to do such adjustments on your own, while connecting with each student as a �whole person.�

e)      Record keeping

Journaling is only highly encouraged. However, all students will be required to keep log all formal yoga practice sessions outside of class. This should be done with diligence and care as it is sometimes needed for submission to Yoga Alliance for your RYT Certification.

f)        Homework Assignments

You will find that you get much more out of your class time if you review your reading assignments before you attend class.  Homework Assignments must be submitted when due. Please contact the Instructor ahead of time for help completing the assignments.  Incomplete homework only slows down the entire class and requires all of us to stay late to �stay the course�.

g)      Testing

We will have �announced� as well as �Un-announced� Quizzes and, of course, a Final Exam.  A 90% passing grade is required. This should not be a cause for alarm since we will give you whatever assistance you need to be proficient and reach the desired grade level.

h)      Karma Yoga / Selfless Volunteer Work

All students are expected to perform some sort of volunteer work for 12-16 hours.  Teaching yoga in a public setting will qualify for such work, but this is not ideal. We prefer your service involves what the yoga scriptures refer to as �Nishkaam Bhavana� - i.e. with no expectation of any type of benefit or reward. Teaching yoga at this stage in your training would help you �gain� experience. What would be preferable is to choose some activity beneficial to society and yet not necessarily something you would enjoy doing. The task would then be to find some way to alchemize, not the situation, but your own being. This does not meant that you turn the situation into a positive, but that you learn to be peaceful and equanimous with whatever the situation is, �as it is�.

Nonetheless, we also recommend doing some volunteer work for CYS (or VFI) as this will enable you to become more familiar with the organization and business side of teaching yoga, while simultaneously helping out a great cause.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS :

• Upon graduation from the Course it is quite possible that CYS can find you a teaching position.

• Consequently, you will also be allowed to take all CYS classes for free and enjoy wholesale discounts on most workshops for as long as you teach for CYS.  

• Receive discounts on books, music, seminars, retreats, etc.

• You will also qualify for a significant discount in the event you decide to join us for the upcoming RYT-500 Hours Yoga Teacher Training. (200 hr training must be completed )

CYS Teachers and YTT Faculty:

From Astanga to Zen - with a mixture of Laughter Yoga, Thai Yoga Massage and Yoga Meets Dance in between - all of the teachers at CYS will contribute to your yogic education during this training. CYS teachers are some of the most experienced around and certified in a variety of styles. What this means is that you can choose to specialize in a style or styles of your choice with a CYS teacher that is adept at that style as your personal mentor! ~This training was built on the knowledge that a good teacher brings everything they have learned throughout their entire life to their teaching.

Primary Teacher / Directors Bio:

Will (Wm Brashear) is the president of Cincinnati Yoga School. He has studied yoga since 1987 and has traveled back and forth to India for the past 5 years to deepen his practice. He was certified in India as an Astanga Yoga teacher by Masterji Vishwanath (nephew and former assistant to �Guruji� Patabhi Jois) and certified in America in the Kripalu Yoga tradition by Martha Abbot. He was also certified in Thai Yoga Massage by Rishi Dion. In 2004 he assembled a crew of yogic teachers from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and other yogic lineages throughout India to create a model Graduate Degree program for Antioch University McGregor (AUM) in Integral Yoga Psychology (now under the name Integral Studies). In total, Will probably has over 3000 hours in various yogic trainings and 12 years of teaching experience. He has served on the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of Cincinnati and other communities for many years and was asked by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of India to create materials to help Baha'i communities connect and correlate with Hindu and Buddhist communities through the teachings of yoga. A long time student of comparative / complementary religion, Will is the author of The Yoga of Religion (Inland Press,2004) and was the host of YOGA: The Other 98%, a radio talk show that was on the station formerly known as 1530 WCKY -The Revolution of Talk Radio

About Cincinnati Yoga School:

CYS was the first yoga school in Cincinnati exclusively dedicated to the art of Yoga, and the first Kripalu affiliated studio in the country. Many of the yoga studios and holistic practices in Cincinnati today can trace their beginnings, trainings or inspirations back to CYS. Today CYS has 4 locations / collaborations and therefore affords many opportunities for our newly certified teachers to launch into the noble life of seva (yogic service) either through CYS or through the many connections CYS has in the yogic community.

CYS Karma Yoga Projects:

If we wish to have real change in the world we will have to start with children. - Gandhi

CYS karma yoga (selfless service) projects are primarily geared towards children. Although providing yoga classes here in Cincinnati for several after-school childcare programs, many people do not know that CYS opened an elementary school in Chandigarh, India for severely impoverished families in an area of town where the so-called �untouchables� live. This school is run by CYS' registered non-profit organization Virtues First International. Schools for �untouchables� are often either non-existent, too far away, or too far below the standards of schools in areas for more privileged children. The goal of VFI is to provide an education that far exceeds the mainstream system and actually ennobles the �untouchables� community by making its school system a coveted model for neighboring areas. Consequently, VFI teachers have been asked to do a variety of trainings for other public school systems. The result is a palpable change in these schools that principals, administrators, parents and students speak of with (healthy) pride.

For further questions or assistance contact:

William (�Will�) Brashear or Brandia Allen
6125 Ridge Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45213
 Phone: 513-247-9642 Fax:  513-247-0078       

      Email: Will - Will@cincyoga.com / 513-284-6723
	       

APPLICATION FOR CYS (RYT 200) YOGA (TEACHER) TRAINING 6125 Ridge Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45213, USA Phone: 513-247-9642 Fax: 513-247-0078 email: info@cincyoga.com / will@cincyoga.comemail: email: Contacts: William Brashear or Brandia Allen

Please download or cut and paste this form into a word document, print out all the pages, complete the form legibly with any relevant documentation, include the deposit fee and forward it to CYS. Feel free to add additional pages where necessary. All information provided will be treated in strict confidence. CYS will review your application, contact you if additional information is required and notify you if you are accepted in the Yoga (Teacher) Training Program. In the event your application is not accepted, your deposit will be returned to you fully before the start of the Program. Please indicate which course you wish to apply for: □ Yoga Teacher Training RYT-200 - Fall- Winter 2008 □ Yoga Teacher Training RYT-500 - TBA (Tentatively Summer 2009, contact Will for details) Please provide the following information: _______________________________________       ____________________________________________________ FIRST NAME                                                                                   LAST NAME ____________________________________________         ______________________________________________ DATE OF BIRTH                                         GENDER: female [ ]     male [ ] ______________________________________________________________________________________________ NATIONALITY: U.S. CITIZEN?    Yes [ ] No [ ]        If No, Explain:                                               ______________________________________________________________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS ________________________________,         _______________         ______________         ____________________ CITY                                                                   STATE                                  COUNTY                ZIP CODE (___)_____________________         (___)_____________________        (___)_________________________________________________ PHONE - home                                  PHONE- work                                     PHONE- cell                       E-MAIL (____)__________________________      (___)_____________________(___)___________________ EMERGENCY CONTACT                        PHONE- work                                     PHONE- cell                                                         Education: Please indicate highest level of academic achievement, school or college attended, years of graduation along with subjects of major studies. Major Subjects             Diploma or degree earned                    Name of School            Year Graduated ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Professional skills/Aptitudes: Skills                                         Training Received                       Duration of course, Certificate, Diploma (if applicable) ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Current employment/occupation: (If not engaged in work-force, please summarize your activities, including any volunteer work activities) Current occupation/position                     Employer                            From         To (dates) ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Yoga Practice: Practical experience: Please tell us about your current practice: ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ How long have you been practicing yoga?     No. of years/months _______     Frequency ______________ Yoga Classes: Have you attended or do you attend regular yoga classes? _________     For how long?_______________ What style(s) of yoga do you practice? _____________________________________________________________________________________ Yogic Training/Workshops/Seminars/Retreats/Yoga centers: (If self-trained, what do you use for source/inspiration?) Include copies of Certificates, diplomas etc. as may apply) ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Yoga Teaching Experience: (if any): How long have you been teaching? ________ From ______ To ________ Locations: ________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Average no. of classes per week: ________ Style(s) of Yoga taught: _______________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Describe your Fitness/Health/Medical/Psychological Conditions: (Explain if under ongoing care of a health care professional. List all current prescribed medications (This will help us better address your special needs, if any.) ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Legal Matters of Significance: (Please explain if you have ever been convicted of a felony or been arrested). ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ References: Please provide two references from any well-established members of your community (excluding family members); preferably from established yoga teachers who can provide supportive statements of your mission. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Name:                                        Professional Status                                                    Phone number(s) ______________________________________________________________________________________ Name                                        Professional Status                                                     Phone number(s)                                                       ______________________________________________________________________________________ What inspired you to become a Yoga Teacher? (Feel free to provide as much detail as you wish, your goals for the future, your expectations, etc. Use attachment if you need more space. _____________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________