INTRODUCTION

HATHA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING AND HATH YOGA TEACHER CERTIFICATION

The Yoga Association of Alberta provides a Teacher Training Program in Hatha Yoga and a Certification Program in Hatha Yoga.

These Programs are funded in part by the Government of Alberta, Community Development for the residents of Alberta.

YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training – Only YAA members who are registered in the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program fall under this category.

YAA Hatha Yoga Certification – Only Yoga Association of Alberta Certified Hatha Yoga Teachers fall under this category. In order to qualify for Certification, a yoga teacher must be a full member of the YAA; must have met the YAA Certification requirements through the YAA Teacher Training Program or through a non-YAA Teacher Training Program; and must have applied and been approved for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification by the YAA Teacher Training and Certification Committee and the YAA Executive.

The details of both programs are documented in YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines. Page references in the following information refer to this document.

There are three distinct categories in the Yoga Association of Alberta – YAA Membership; YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification. For definitions of these categories, click here.

YAA HATHA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM (TTP)

 A. Program Summary / Overview

By the end of the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program (TTP), a student is required to have an understanding of Level One and Level Two Asana / Pranayama Required Practices (Appendix C) and is required to be able to teach them safely, in order to be eligible to apply for certification.

The hourly requirements (details Appendix G-2) for this Hatha Yoga Teacher Training 300-hour Program are:

• 100 hours of weekly Hatha Yoga classes with Senior Teacher
• 100 hours of Hatha Yoga Workshops / Retreats
• 10 hours of Anatomy and Physiology
• 15 hours of Psychology / Philosophy
• 15 hours of Breath Awareness
• 10 hours of Meditation
• 10 hours of Special Needs
• 40 hours of Apprenticeship.

In addition, a student is required to complete six written assignments (Appendix G-4). Finally, a student is expected to do 10 hours of Karma Yoga (actions performed with yogic awareness and in service to others on a volunteer basis) for the YAA or for another non-profit or charitable organization.

The YAA recommends that TTP students and certified teachers take a CPR course.

The YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program may be completed in a minimum of 2 years providing the student fulfills all requirements (300 hours).

B. Required Qualifications to Apply

The YAA-TTP is geared to mature students who will take responsibility to complete the hours required and who have the time and finances to do so. The full cost of the program depends on the overall number of classes and workshops / retreats attended for which payment is made at the time of the classes and workshops / retreats. The approximate minimum cost is $3000.00, the payment of which is spread over the time that the student is in the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program.

In order to qualify for the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, the applicant:

• must be at least 18 years old
• must be a full member of the YAA
• must be an Alberta resident
• must provide a letter of introduction / recommendation from a yoga teacher with evidence of at least 2 years of recent formal classes in hatha yoga (see Appendix A for definition). Please note that workshops, retreats, classes taken prior to applying the YAA TTP are credited towards meeting the 2-year pre-requisite requirement and are not credited to meeting the TTP / Certification requirements. The only exceptions are workshops / classes / retreats taken during the month prior to applying to the YAA Teacher Training Program, upon approval by the YAA Teacher Training and Certification Committee. A rural applicant without a full two years of recent attendance in formal hatha yoga classes must submit a letter proposing how he / she could upgrade to the 2-year requirement (e.g. weekend workshops, a week of classes in major centre / month, etc.).
• must be familiar with the following Level One required practices:

C. To Register

Contact the Yoga Association of Alberta office at:

Tel.: (780) 427-8776 FAX: (780) 427-0524

E-mail: yogaab@telusplanet.net

For further information and application forms download YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines

YAA HATHA YOGA TEACHER CERTIFICATION

 A. YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Policy

The Yoga Association of Alberta only recognizes and certifies teacher training programs that provide systematic instruction first and foremost in the core body of asanas, then in the rudiments of pranayama and meditation, all supported by basic study of the textual background of hatha yoga.

The YAA recognizes that each particular tradition or school of hatha yoga approaches this training differently and prescribes only that all the requirements for certification, as detailed in the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines, be fulfilled in order for any particular training program's students to be recognized for YAA certification. If an applicant is missing any of the requirements, the applicant must be registered in the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program while completing the missing requirements.

Please note that a prerequisite of 2 years of regular hatha yoga practice in formal classes plus apprenticeship with an experienced Senior Teacher over a minimum of 2 years are two of the defining requirements for completing the program and for recognizing a teacher’s certification from a Non-YAA Teacher Training Program. An established personal practice and an apprenticeship take precedence over any short-term training.

YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification may be obtained by submitting an Initial Certification Application and required supporting documentation to the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and Certification Committee for review and recommendation, which is then approved by the YAA Executive.

For further information and application forms download YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines

B. YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Recertification

A YAA Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher must apply for recertification every three years in order to maintain his / her certification status.

YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Recertification may be obtained by submitting a Recertification Application and required supporting documentation to the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and Certification Committee for review and recommendation, which is then approved by the YAA Executive.

For further information and application forms download YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines

Download the following to print at your computer: 

YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines (pdf file*)

YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Summary of Hours (pdf file*)

or YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Summary of Hours (Excel Spreadsheet)

*Download free Adobe Reader to read pdf files.

For further information on the YAA Teacher Training and Certification Program, contact the Coordinator by e-mail at yaa.cert@telus.net

 

The TTP Committee does not endorse TTP students teaching in a formal setting before they are certified.

Insurance Information for YAA Certified Teachers