Yoga Teacher Training

500 hour level

(Click here for the 200-hour Certificate Program)

Course Objective

This course is designed to:

• Encourage a flexible format. Provide a personally meaningful program.
• Increase one’s exposure to philosophy and practices of yoga.
• Strengthen one’s personal practice through deeper understanding
• Offer teaching opportunities and practicum in a supportive environment.
• Provide opportunities for student mentorship with senior teachers (Yoga Alliance refers to senior teachers as E-RYT or Experienced Registered Yoga Teachers).
• Enhance spiritual learning where students and teachers engage deeply with each other in an intimate setting (Indian Gurukul system).

The Teachings…

Yoga is a holistic system for health and well being as well as a ladder towards knowing our higher essence, our deeper spiritual selves. Though it often takes many years of study and practice to understand the subtleties of these esoteric teachings, students will have an exposure to various paths which include Bhakti (Devotional) Yoga, Sacred Sound and Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga and our underlying emphasis on Ashtanga Yoga, the eight limbed system elucidated in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Our core courses draw their theory from various scriptures including the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Siva Samhita and Gheranda Samhita. These source materials serve primarily as guides and supports for personal practice. The scriptures themselves declare that the wisdom of yoga is revealed and experienced best through regular practice.

Our Purpose

• Out of respect to the ancient tradition of yoga and to our own teacher Baba Hari Dass, we hope to provide others with the classical teachings as they have been handed down for thousands of years.
• To offer further training in theory, philosophy, benefits and practices of yoga to asana and meditation teachers as well as to yoga practitioners.
• To inspire students and teachers to continue with the worthy search for self knowledge and eternal peace.

Program Details

This program is registered with Yoga Alliance and provides 300 hours of study. Upon satisfactory culmination of the program, a certificate of completion at the 500-hour level is given.

• 250 hours must be taken in residence at Mount Madonna Center. Balance of 50 hours may be taken at MMC, from an off-site program approved by an E-RYT or an independent study project arranged with an E-RYT.
• Courses are divided into 1) Intensives of 45 hours or longer, 2) Mount Madonna Center Retreats, 3) Mount Madonna Center Weekend Programs and 4) Independent Study.
• The intensives and retreats are core courses and students must select at least one program in each of these categories or 3 retreats. Balance of hours is flexible.
• Specific Courses may vary annually.
• Some intensives have recommended readings which will be sent to you upon registration.
• Before attending each course, you must notify by email the director of YTT500.

Independent Study  (up to 50 hours)

Independent study is decided in consultation with a senior teacher. This can be done in a variety of ways including research and writing a paper, book reviews, creative projects, specialized workshops and apprenticing with an approved mentor in an agreed upon location.

Who Should Attend

This program is for Yoga teachers pursuing registration with the Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour level as well as for yoga practitioners wanting to increase their knowledge and experience. One should already have a 200-hour certificate from Mount Madonna Center (see YTT 200 page) or elsewhere before applying. You must apply and be approved before you can take YTT 500 program for credit.

Courses Approved For 2008

REMEMBER:

• You must apply to the program FIRST if you want to receive credit.
• YTT 200 is a prerequisite.
• 250 hours must be taken at MMC. The remaining 50 hours can be taken at mmc or as independent study.
•  1 core course and 1 retreat or 3 retreats are required.

Core Courses (1 core course required)

Core courses offer an intimate setting to explore and practice aspects of yoga in more depth. Practicum opportunities are included. We encourage students to take the core course close to the beginning of their program. One of these is required.

4-day Retreats in 2008 (1 retreat required)

Retreats offer extended opportunities for teaching as well as a strong experiential component.

Weekend/Elective Programs

Weekends offer a diversity of yoga, meditation and ayurveda programs presented by a variety of exceptional teachers, giving students an opportunity to focus in specific areas of interest.

Tuition

Please note that all fees for Mount Madonna Center programs have one fee for tuition and additional fees for housing and meals.

• Fees for MMC retreats and MMC Weekend Programs, please refer to Mount Madonna Center Housing and Fees.
• Fees for retreats offered by rental groups, see their websites, as listed above under Weekend/Elective Programs.
• Independent Study.  Tuition is $10 per independent study hour for first 25 hours and $8 per hour from 26-50 hours.
• One time non-refundable administrative fee of $200.

Cancellations/Refunds
Please refer to Mount Madonna Center Policy.
  

Scholarships for teacher training programs are available through YogaBasics -- www.yogabasics.com/scholarship/

Application

A.  A one time initial email application and introduction should be sent to:ratna@mountmadonna.org with the following information.

• Your name, email, phone and street address.
• Name and address of the Registered Yoga School where you received certification and the year completed.
• Describe yourself in terms of your yoga practice and teaching interest,experience or expertise. 
• Describe why you are selecting Mount Madonna Center for further training.
• Let us know about any areas of specialization you are interested in learning more about.

B. . Upon acceptance into the 500 hour program, please send the following to Mount Madonna Center Programs Office, attn: Jayanti, noting that it is for YTT 500 enrollment:

• A non-refundable administrative fee of $200 (payable to Mount Madonna Center)
• A copy of your certificate of completion from your YTT 200 hour training school for our files.
• A current photo of yourself.

We look forward to meeting you and to sharing the joys and challenges of studying, practicing and teaching the ancient science of yoga.