VYF 300 Hour Advanced Yoga Studies TRAINING

VYF 300 Hour Advanced Yoga Studies content is founded on ashtanga yoga and power yoga

An Advanced Yoga Studies Curriculum based on the philosophy, tradition and practice of Ashtanga yoga utilizing current evidence-based science and wellness research. This curriculum consists of 170-200 required hours derived from 5 foundation weekends with lead teacher Johnna Smith. In addition to the 5 foundation weekends, 30 hours of advanced anatomy, 15 hours of Sanskrit for yoga teachers and 30 hours of advanced yoga studies practicum are required.

300 Hour Advanced Yoga Studies

LEAD TEACHER: JOHNNA SMITH, E-500-RYT, YACEP

TEACHERS:
ASHLEY DAVIS, E-500-RYT, YACEP
NATE DAVIS, 500-RYT
MARCY GOLDSTEIN, Ph.D
AUBRYN STREET, 500-RYT

FORMAT: This training has a 2-part format consisting of:

4-5 mandatory foundation weekends, advanced anatomy*, and Sanskrit for yoga teachers*, and Advanced Yoga Studies Practicum*.

The foundation weekends will take place at VYF (224 West Market Street, Johnson City, TN).

The remaining required hours will be obtained by elective modules. The elective modules will be available after the foundation weekends are completed.

*Advanced Anatomy (30 hours) and Sanskrit For Yoga Teachers (15 hours) will consist of pre-recorded content, in-person and online lecture, and independent study. The Advanced Yoga Studies Practicum (30 hours) will take place at VYF at designated times.

Training Dates and Topics

Example of Topics Covered in Foundation Weekends:

Yoga Sutras.	Roots of Yoga.
Yoga Nidra theory and practice.	Ashtanga practice and technique.
Koshic Theory.	Bhagavad Gita.
Pranayama .	Adhikara.
The Four Desires.	Pancha Maya Koshas.
Ashtanga Assists.	Meditation.

Kama Shakti, live a life of pleasure by following your Dharma.

Ayurveda Sadhana – includes the energetics of asana, elemental theory, Doshas and Subtle essences.

The foundation weekends will take place at VYF (224 West Market Street, Johnson City, TN) on the following dates in 2022:

October 14-16
October 28-30
November 11-13
December 2-4
January 20-22 (location and times for this weekend, TBA at a later date)

Tentative weekend schedule: Friday 5:45pm-8:30pm, Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 7am—5pm

Example of Topics Covered in Foundation Weekends:

Yoga Sutras.
Roots of Yoga.
Yoga Nidra theory and practice.
Ashtanga practice and technique.
Koshic Theory.
Bhagavad Gita.
Pranayama.
Adhikara.
The Four Desires.
Pancha Maya Koshas.
Ashtanga Assists.
Meditation.
Kama Shakti, live a life of pleasure by following your Dharma.
Ayurveda Sadhana – includes the energetics of asana, elemental theory, Doshas and Subtle essences.

The remaining required hours will be obtained by elective modules. The elective modules will be available after the foundation weekends are completed. Some modules will be available online to complete on your own time and some will be scheduled throughout the year, times and locations TBA. The modules will consist of a combination of pre-recorded lectures, in-person workshops and lecture, group activities and live (synchronous) online lectures.

Tentative Example Elective Modules:

Ashtanga Weekend Immersion (20)
Advanced Power Yoga Cuing & Sequencing (30)
The Nervous System and Restorative Yoga: Anatomy & Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System (20)
Ashtanga Residency (20-30)
Yin Yoga and Myofascial Release (20)
Core Strength for Yoga Teachers: Expert cuing and intelligent sequencing (10)
Scholarly writing: how to utilize current research with appropriate citations in fitness and yoga writing (10)
Hands-On Assists: Safe and effective assists for ashtanga-based instructors (10)
Yoga for Athletes (10)
Advanced principles and techniques of meditation (10)
Sanskrit practicum: utilizing Sanskrit appropriately in a yoga class (10)
Yoga Nuance and Musicality: how to format a playlist with intention (5)
How to safely teach arm balances and inversions: techniques and philosophy (5)
Fundamental Nutrition Concepts (5)

Texts:

Yoga Sutras – your choice of translation
The Upanishads – Eknath Easwaran
Tantra Unveiled – Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
Yoga Nidra – Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Sri Vijnana Bhairava Tantra – Satyasangananda Saraswati
Bhagavad Gita : Swami Satchitananda
Ramayana: Ramesh Menon
Yoga and Ayurveda – David Frawley

VIDYA IS A REGISTERED YOGA SCHOOL WITH YOGA ALLIANCE

Yoga Alliance standards require that all yoga teacher training programs provide information on the history and philosophy of yoga. However, many graduates of yoga teacher training programs lack the necessary skills to cue and sequence a yoga class. VIDA Yoga Teacher Trainers, Jen Eddins and Ashley Davis, require that graduates master the skill of sequencing and cuing a yoga class.

Yoga Alliance standards require that all yoga teacher training programs provide information on the history and philosophy of yoga. However, many graduates of yoga teacher training programs lack the necessary skills to cue and sequence a yoga class. VIDA Yoga Teacher Trainers, Jen Eddins and Ashley Davis, require that graduates master the skill of sequencing and cuing a yoga class.

VYF 300 Hour Advanced Yoga Studies content is founded on ashtanga yoga and power yoga derived from the lineage of ashtanga yoga. This training is comprised of two main components: 4-5 mandatory immersive foundation weekends and elective modules completed at various times throughout the year. The foundation weekends will be with Lead Teacher, Johnna Smith. Additional mandatory foundation training will include Advanced Anatomy for Yoga Teachers with Ashley Davis and a Sanskrit Immersive with Marcy Goldstein. All graduates of the program must attend the mandatory foundation weekends. Absences may be excused if planned in advance but make up work will be required for absences prior to graduation.

After completion of the mandatory foundation curriculum, trainees will select remaining hours from electives. Electives will be chosen by the trainees with guidance from teacher trainers based on past yoga teacher training, teaching experience, interest, and skillset. These electives will be offered in various formats including pre-recorded lectures, in-person lectures, workshops, independent and group study, and readings. Some elective modules will be available online for self-study and others will be scheduled in advance throughout the year.

All candidates will have two calendar years to complete the requirements. This training prepares trainees to teach principles and techniques of yoga that are advanced and originate from a greater knowledge base than from that of a RYT 200.

VIDYA Mentorship

As an additional benefit, the teacher trainers at VIDYA understand that not all teacher trainees learn the same way or master teaching concepts at the same rate. For this reason, VIDA has implemented a mentorship program for recent graduates who wish to fine-tune teaching skills under the direction of an experienced RYT at VIDYA. The mentorship program helps establish confidence for new graduates to gain experience as yoga teachers in a supportive, collaborative environment.

a group of women in yoga clothing stand together in a studio space, all smiling at the camera

“I would highly recommend Vidya’s YTT program. During my experience, I gained a deeper knowledge of yoga, learned so much about myself, and furthered by own yoga practice. They provided a welcoming atmosphere and a great learning environment with top notch teachers. They set you up with everything you need to know to start as a RYT and I would tell anyone looking to take that journey to sign up! It was worth it!”
-Amanda McKee, RYT-200, Spring Class of 2021

Teacher trainers

“….The experience is life changing! The knowledge you receive through the program is thorough and prepares you to teach not only power yoga but foundational and restorative yoga. The lead instructors are a real asset to this program bringing years of fitness training and medical knowledge into an all-inclusive process….To all those considering the program all I can do is DO IT… whether your goal is to teacher or not there is so much to learn and further your own practice.”
– Toni Hobbs, RYT-200, Class of 2020

two women in yoga clothing demonstrate a combination pose. the woman on the bottom holds a wide-leg half-forward fold pose while the other woman lies on her back, facing the ceiling, and mirrors that pose, creating a six-pointed star effect

Lead Teacher: Johnna Smith
Johnna is an E-500-RYT, level 1 certified ParaYoga Instructor, certified Certified Baptiste Teacher® and trainee of the late, Guru Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore India. Johnna is currently studying with Sri R. Sharath Jois. In 2016 Sri Sharath blessed her with Authorization Level 2 ashtanga. Johnna has particular interest in Ayurveda, and studies with Dr. Marc Haplern from the California College of Ayurveda. A native of Charlotte, NC, Johnna is an internationally sought-after yoga instructor and teacher trainer.

Ashley Davis
Ashley is an E-500-RYT, YACEP (Yoga Medicine, Y2 Yoga, Charlotte, NC), Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Yoga Specialist, Mobility and Myofascial Release, RADroller Certified instructor
and is also the Owner/Creative Director Vidya Yoga and Fitness. Ashley has a doctoral degree in nursing and has been faculty at several colleges and universities. She has extensive knowledge in anatomy and physiology and is a lecturer for The University of Tennessee School of Graduate Studies.

Marcy Braverman Goldstein, Ph.D.
Marcy is Marcy has a Ph.D. In Religions Studies. She is one of few doctoral prepared Sanskrit experts in the country. At the University of California, Santa Barbara, Marcy was immediately riveted by Sanskrit. Her meticulous notebooks with thorough grammatical analyses and translations confounded her friends, but she relished every detail of the mellifluous language. Mrs. Nandini Iyer, M.A. introduced her to the world of grammar. She then took advanced classes on the Bhagavadgītā and Yoga Sūtra with Dr. Gerald Larson who really launched her love for the language. Participating in Muktabodha Indological Research Institute’s Sanskrit Seminars co-taught by Dr. Douglas Brooks and Dr. Paul Muller-Ortega refined her translation skills. A grant from Muktabodha supported her study of Kashmir Śaiva traditions in India with the late Dr. B.N. Pandit, Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit and Philosophy at Himachal Pradesh University, and Dr. Debabrata Sensharma, Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit at Kurukshetra University. http://www.sanskritrevolution.com

Nate Davis
Nate is a 500-RYT and owner/founder of Vidya Yoga and Fitness.

Aubryn Street
Aubryn is a 500-RYT, educator and instructor at Vidya Yoga and Fitness.

Additional Guest Lecturers and Electives TBA