Graduate Teacher Training

Our minimum requirements for admission are as follows:

• 750 hours of Teacher Training plus 1 year of teaching OR
• 500 hours of Teacher Training plus 2 years of teaching
• Regular breathing/meditation practice
• Regular asana/posture practice
• Completed application form
• Attendance at 3 classes (or the equivalent in workshops/retreats) at Esther Myers Yoga Studio with Monica Voss, Tama Soble or Paola di Paolo prior to beginning the programme. These classes provide you and the faculty with an opportunity to determine whether this course is the right fit for you. Acceptance is conditional if the mandatory 3 classes are not completed before beginning classes and workshops.
• Interview in person with a member of the Teacher Training faculty.

The following is an outline of our Graduate Teacher Training course requirements.

Daily Practice:

• A 15-20 minute breathing practice 4 days/week
• A 45-60 minute posture practice 4 days/week

On-going classes:

• A weekly intermediate or advanced class for your personal development for a total of 50 class hours.
• A weekly intermediate or advanced class as an intern in which you observe and eventually learn to do hands on assisting for a total of 50 class hours.

All Graduate Teacher Trainees must take the required classes and internship classes at the Studio with Teacher Training faculty (Monica Voss, Tama Soble or Paola di Paolo). Please discuss the class schedule with the faculty before determining which classes to attend and make sure you document your attendance. Any number of extra classes can be taken thoughout the year with any instructor. The Studio offers a one-year unlimited class pass which is included in the cost of the course. You may attend up to 25 hours in workshops or retreats to complete personal and internship hours (there will be additional fees if retreats are used to complete basic personal and internship class requirements).

Graduate Teacher Trainees will choose a series of workshops that focus on the subject area of their choice. A minimum of 60 hours of workshops is required.  The workshops that are eligible to fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Pre and Post Natal Yoga Teacher Training with Monica Voss and Valeria Blumenkranz (January)
• Yoga and Anatomy Weekend with Peter Blackaby (February)
• Awakening the Spine with Monica Voss and Tama Soble (March)
• The Power of Touch: Hands On Assisting with Tama Soble and Monica Voss (April/May/June)
• Yoga for Children with Special Needs with Jo Manuel (April/May)  This course is not offered every year.
• Ontario Yoga Retreats with Monica Voss or Tama Soble (March, June, August)
• Yoga Retreats elsewhere in Canada or abroad with Monica Voss and/or Tama Soble (at extra cost)
• Summer Intensive with Paola di Paolo (July)
• From the Ground Up: How to Teach Beginners with Tama Soble and Monica Voss (July/August)
• Yoga for Anxiety and Depression with Tama Soble and Valeria Blumenkranz (October)
• Empowering the Aging Body with Monica Voss, Tama Soble and Valeria Blumenkranz (November)
• Yoga Teachers’ Retreat with Tama Soble (November/December)
• New Year’s Intensive with Monica Voss (December/January)

A research paper on an approved topic of your choice, 20 pages double spaced, is required. Primary research will be conducted by teaching a minimum of 8 classes (12 hours) to a specific population as part of the research.

The faculty members assess each trainee on professionalism, including attitude toward learning and teaching, demeanour during internship classes, punctuality for all classes and workshops, and general appearance.

There is a subjective component in our assessment of your abilities.  Certification is not given automatically.  If the faculty has questions, doubts or concerns about a trainee’s competence, additional requirements may be set on a case by case basis.

PLEASE NOTE

There will be a progress assessment on a regular basis.

We are aware of time pressures. We want to work with you to help make the course work for you. You begin the course when you are ready. If you have not completed the requirements as of the regular graduation date (one year from when you begin), you will have six months extra to finish the programme. All requirements must be completed by the end of this six month period. The unlimited class pass, however, will expire one year from your start date.

The Graduate Teacher Training faculty reserves the right to adjust these requirements and costs at any time.  Reasonable notice will be given, and accommodation will be made, should changes result in hardship.

Graduate Teacher Trainees will be required to teach a minimum of 50 hours of classes.  A minimum of 12 hours must be taught as part of the research for your major paper. Each class must be 1.5 hours in length or longer.

You will be given a certificate upon satisfactory completion of the course outlining the number of hours per category, signed by two faculty members.

60 hours of workshops
50 hours of personal classes
50 hours of internship classes
50 hours of teaching
40 hours for the paper

We do not provide any type of written document for partial completion of the Graduate Teacher Training Programme.

Esther Myers Yoga Studio is a Registered Educational Institution. The 250 hour Graduate Teacher Training Programme will cost approximately $2,500.00 CDN. This figure covers the cost of workshops, intensives, retreats (at the Studio or in Ontario), unlimited classes, meetings, and the review of your paper. The fees are paid in three installments.

Upon acceptance, a $500.00 deposit is required to secure your place. You will also be asked to sign a contract indicating that you understand the format of the course, all course requirements, deadlines and fees.

Students enrolled in the Esther Myers Yoga Studio Graduate Teacher Training Programme will receive an official tuition fee receipt (T2202A) which can be used when filing your personal income tax. All fees for Graduate Teacher Training workshops, classes and the yoga portion of Ontario retreats are included in the calculation.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Acceptance into programme  -  $500.00
Installment #1                     -  $1000.00
Installment #2                     -  $1000.00

Please note that each graduate trainee will begin the programme on their own schedule.  Installment #1 will be due prior to beginning the training.  Installment #2 will be due one month into the programme.  There will be no refunds.