200 hr Yoga Teacher Training - MODULE B

Welcome to Module B - Teaching Fundamentals

Congratulations on completing Module A! Well done on all your hard work and effort so far!

This module has two main aims.

• To help you to develop a self-practice

• To help you to make the transition from being a student to being a safe and authentic yoga teacher

The course content gives you the structure and support to develop all of the components of a traditional yoga class.

Note that you still have access to all of the content from Module A as an aid to building up your self practice and as a reference. You also have access to the community forum as well as the continued support of all of the teachers as you continue your training.

As you move into Module B it is important not to lose momentum and the discipline you have built up so far. In order to maintain this, try to keep the goals you have for your training in mind. Here are some study tips for you as move into Module B and towards course completion.

Developing Your Personal Practice

To get you started, it is helpful to get into the following daily habits:

• Begin to build up a Chanting, Pranayama & Meditation and Asana practice, at a time that suits you.

• Initially, practice along with the videos, and then begin to develop your own self practice in these areas. A couple of times a week, turn off your computer completely, just using your chanting sheet and a print out of the Asana sequence.

• Continue writing your spiritual diary

• Practice saying the names of the asana out loud as you read along from the Self Practice Series sheet.

• Download the mantra chants, asana names and other content to your mobile devices

• Allow a period of daily study time of new material, review of old material and completing activity and other class related work.

Follow your plan

Keep coming back to your plan, reviewing once a week to check your progress, and adjusting timelines according.

Practice, practice, practice (and then practice again!)

You will be hearing the “P” word a lot! It is the most important aspect of becoming a confident, safe and authentic teacher. We recommend working through the training content step by step. For example, with the deconstruction videos, you can use the video content in a number of ways:

• Initially, just watch each video again (and again!).

• Watch the video, following along with the relevant pages from the Asana Handbook

• Practice along with the video

• Verbally cue along with the teacher

• Turn the sound down and cue yourself as you move through the practice.

• Practice with some or all of your group (see the next section)

Stepping into the Teaching Role

As you continue your daily practice, begin to think about making the transition from being a student to taking on the role of the teacher. You can begin to do this in the following ways:

• Use your own warm up set over and over so that you become familiar with the cues, thinking about the direction you should be facing etc.

• Turn down the sound and practice cueing Surya Namaskar, and similarly for the asana you will be teaching in your section of the class.

• Start to use the ‘Teaching Series Asana Practice’ more frequently

• Begin to cue yourself out loud as you are moving through your asana practice

• Begin to work with your colleagues on the training. Head over to the Community Forum and see if anyone would like to join you. Begin to build up and practice these elements and get feedback from your colleagues if you are practicing together:

  • Mantra & Pranayama

  • Warm ups

  • Tadasana & Surya Namaskar A & B

  • Teaching of asana

  • Closing Savasana

It is important to practice the modifications and using the props for each of the asana and begin to do this in your own self practice also.

We hope you will enjoy working through the content. Remember, if you have any questions at any time please let us know through the community forum.

Love & light,

Tony and all of the Himalaya Yoga Valley team

You can download the Module B manual from the 'Resources' link. Happy reading!

Your asana handbook contains a review of all class components with an overview of cues, modifications and physical adjustments.

Have a look at the 34 yoga asana (postures) that you will learn to teach. Download the asana sheet in the Downloads section. These asana form the basis of the remainder of your course.

This is a video of the "Teaching Series" based on the asana in the 'Teaching Series Asana Sheet' from the previous section. The class contains all the elements of a traditional yoga class. It gives you an idea of how to cue each of the asana, incorporating modifications and use of props. Begin to use this video a few times a week so you become familiar with the cues and asana in the 'Teaching Series'.

This video gives you some additional pointers on teaching all 34 of the "Teaching Series" asana. It also gives you an idea of how you would teach these asana in a face-to-face studio setting. There are some references to 'Classroom Management' which will be covered in the 'Teaching Principles' section later in this module.