For this course, you need to have already established a regular Hatha yoga or restorative yoga practice. In addition, you should already be a yoga teacher because we can’t properly train you in “how to teach yoga” for the first time through an online platform. In other words, you should already have some yoga training under your belt because we’ll assume that you have basic anatomy and physiology knowledge as well as the foundations of yoga mechanics. For a professional-level online training like this, you need to also be organized and a self-starter, because you’ll need to have time for approximately 7 hours of coursework every week (part of that is a couple hours of practice time). You’re expected to participate online multiple times per week, at times convenient for you. Finally, you need to be comfortable with computers or mobile devices, because although it’s not difficult, it is part of the course.
Everyone moves through the course together, week by week, and you’ll have assignments due each week. That’s the only way to have extensive, quality interactions with classmates and build a dynamic learning community.
The course will be laid out in 4 Units with several lesson plans:
Unit I: Introduction to Restorative Yoga
– Restorative Yoga Origins
– Who are your students & Using Props
– Guided Warm-ups & Stretches
– An Ananda Yoga Restorative Class 1 ½ hr. (Routine #1)
– Demonstrating poses: video assignment #1
– Teaching Diaphragmatic Breathing
– Self-Quiz, Journaling & Q&A
Unit II: Teaching Ananda Yoga Restorative
– Review Routine #1 & Practice Teaching with Classmates (via zoom)
– Sequencing an Ananda Yoga Restorative Routine
– Each One Teach One: video assignment #2
– How and Why we Use Ananda Yoga Affirmations
– Ananda Meditation & How to Sit Comfortably
– Self-Quiz, Journaling & Q&A
Unit III: Restorative Yoga for the Chakras
– Understanding the Chakras
– Guided Exercises to Awaken the Chakras
– Guided Warm-ups & Stretches
– Ananda Yoga Restorative for the Chakras 1 1/2 hr. (Routine #2)
– Review Routine #2 & video assignment #3
– Self-Quiz, Journaling & Q&A
Unit IV: Other Poses & Further Topics
– How to use fewer props & poses
– Guided Warm-ups & Stretches
– Teaching Advanced & Intermediate Poses (Routine #3)
– Advertising your classes
– Self-Quiz, Journaling & Q&A
– Resources
– Developing your practice at home
If you plan on taking this course to deepen your own practice and you have no plans to teach restorative yoga afterwards, you can make-do with simple props from around your home including folded blankets, bath towels, bed pillows, couch cushions, etc. However, if you plan on teaching we suggest that you have the following available:
- 1-2 Flat Rectangular Bolsters
- 2-4 Blocks
- 5-8 Mexican Blankets
- 1-2 Bed Pillows
- 1 Strap
- 1 Eye Pillow
After you apply for the course and are approved by the instructor, you’ll be sent a more thorough list of suggested props for purchasing and the specific websites we recommend using for wholesale prices.
There are only a few webinars, and because we have students from all over the world, the webinars are recorded for those who cannot attend “live.” Most other coursework can be done at times that are convenient for you.
Don’t worry: We often have students with this difficulty. This course is almost entire “asynchronous,” which means that you can participate at the hours of the day that work best for you. Yes, there will be about 4 “live” sessions during the course, but the timing will be decided by you and another trainee to fit your schedules’ needs.
It depends on when, and for how long, you would be unable to participate.To resolve any questions about it, please write our instructors, who will be available through email once you’ve submitted an application form.
You are free to do your coursework at whatever times of day suit your schedule. We expect you to log in and do some work (15 minutes to an hour) on multiple days each week. Also, during some parts of the course, you will need enough flexibility to find a mutually agreeable time to meet with classmates for practice teaching via internet video (using Zoom); this is usually quite doable.
As in any high-quality online training, you need to be organized, responsible, and a self-starter. You need to devote an average of 7–8 hours to coursework every week. You also need to be comfortable with the technology aspects of the course, such as website navigation, online written discussions, and making and uploading videos. Though not difficult, those activities are central to the course. If this online course doesn’t feel like a good fit for you, Ananda also offers an in-person Restorative Yoga Teacher Training at The Expanding Light Retreat in California.
For more information visit www.expandinglight.org.
Yes, you’ll have lots of interaction! In fact, many of your assignments require it: discussion forums, Q&A forums, “live” one-to-one practice teaching fellow trainees via Whereby, and a final team project. Plentiful interaction is a best practice in online learning, and this course is structured entirely around best practices. You’ll love being part of the supportive learning community that forms.
Yes, and we recommend it! We open the course web page about 2 weeks prior to the scheduled start date of the course, and we send a notice to enrolled students at that time.
You’ll also receive pre-course reading assignments once you’ve been approved for the course.
Yes. This course takes place within the tradition of Paramhansa Yogananda and his direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda. Participants should be open to learning and teaching their approach to yoga postures and yoga philosophy. Those who come from a different tradition—or no tradition at all—should register as far in advance as possible in order to learn and practice those techniques before the course begins; we will send those links to you before the course web page opens. Then your course experience will unfold much more naturally, and your teaching and personal practice will benefit much more. Please note: We do not ask that you discontinue your current yoga practices if they are different; we simply ask that you do the practices that are required for this program.
The course web page is easy to use and intuitive, and it offers many “how to” instructions to help you. Plus we’ll have a special “video tour of the course” webinar early in the training. These days, everyone knows someone who can help them with such basic technological tasks as making videos and uploading them to the web. If you think you will need such help, we recommend that you find a helper early in the course, rather than waiting until an assignment is due. All in all, please know that many “tech-challenged” people have done very well in this course.
You will post it on YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, Dropbox, or a similar service. Again, if you don’t already know how to do that, you probably have a friend who can help you with the process. And don’t worry about the privacy of your video: you can post your video in such a way that the general public will not be able to see it.
We offer technical support for using the website that hosts this course. Technical support for using Zoom, and other online services will be limited. You’ll receive written instructions for how to make videos and post them within the course webpage.
We realize that emergencies or illness can arise. We will work with you to try to find a solution—and the more advance notice we receive, the more likely it is that we can find a solution. But please realize that, because all the students move through the course together, we can do only so much to accommodate late assignments, even for emergencies or illness.
Yes. However, Yoga Alliance and Nursing CE hours may differ.
Absolutely. You will receive a periodic newsletter as well as have opportunities for online Q&A and other resources, and individual mentoring (extra cost). Ananda also offers a wide variety of other learning experiences — both online and in person — that will benefit your practice, your teaching, and your understanding of practical spiritual living.
