500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
February 02 - June 24, 2024
Our Yoga Alliance approved, 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training gives yoga teachers the advanced tools to rise to the top in a yoga career. From philosophy to pranayama to advanced practices, our training helps you develop personally and prepares you to support students through their unique yoga journey.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
The advanced studies coursework is composed of three modules of 100 hours each. Given the significance and depth of the material, there are adequate pauses in between each module to absorb and practice.
SCHEDULE:
Module 1: SCHEDULE: Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM - 5 PM
February 2-3-4, 9-10-11, 16-17-18; exam on February 25
Module 2: SCHEDULE: Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM - 5 PM
March 8-9-10, 15-16-17, 22-23-24; exam on March 31
Module 3: (Optional for those who have taken 300-hour Training at YFL)
Complete Internal Practice Part 1
Details of each module is described below.
EVOLVE FROM A YOGA INSTRUCTOR TO A YOGA TEACHER
To be a Yoga Teacher is to become an embodiment of yoga knowledge through which you can inspire and transform students, well beyond the skillset of an instructor of yoga. In our 500-hour training modules, you'll learn to develop your own style, master the techniques of skillful, experienced teaching, and further your own practice of yoga with a high level of integrity and rigor.
ELIGIBILITY
This program is for those who have completed at least a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified coursework. If your training was not with Yoga for Life, please share a copy of the syllabus or curriculum that you went through such that we can gauge and help with your success.
What is Universal Yoga?
Universal Yoga (TM) is a multi-faceted yoga system with the goal of spiritual growth and liberation, created by Guruji Andrey Lappa. To achieve this goal, Universal Yoga employs traditional yogic methods and techniques, from the rich philosophical heritage of Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantra (collectively called Himalayan Yoga), and combines modern science. The system is suitable for any practitioner seeking to become conscious of and liberated from their behaviors and individual patterns. This individual evolution is used to influence change within and then in the individual’s surrounding environment. The goal of this micro- and macro-change is to inspire all beings towards karmic liberation: enlightenment. Yoga Teachers who are well-versed in the Universal Yoga “superset system” can intelligently teach any style of yoga asana classes that are effectively “sub-styles” of practices of yoga. Find out more.
PROGRAM TUITION:
Tuition for each module is $1600, including registration and certification fee. Tuition does not include room and board.
A $300 discount is offered if you pay for all three modules together ($4,500 instead of $4,800).
Repeating students receive a maximum of 30% discount on tuition.
Registration fee of $500 is due within seven days of acceptance in the program. All remaining payments are due by one month prior to start date of each module.
MODULE 1: February 2024
Segmentation and categorization of yoga asanas, including reconstruction of complex asanas with anatomical understanding
Active and Passive asanas based on human ranges of mobility as described in Universal Yoga
Foundations of Universal Yoga and sub-styles
Single and multi-sector posture creation and alignment techniques and practicum
Advanced Yoga philosophy and decoding cornerstone Yoga texts
Principles and applications of adjustments based on anatomical and energetic alignments
Pranayamas and breath techniques based on Himalayan Yoga
DATES: Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM - 5 PM
February 2-3-4, 9-10-11, 16-17-18; exam on February 25
MODULE 2: March 2024
Single and Double mat Mandala Vinyasa Sequencing
Advanced Vinyasa sequencing principles based on complexity of postures and logical progression
Cultivation of Tantrayana, Mantrayana, and Yantrayana practices
Sequencing techniques based on orientation on mat and developing psychic-energetic states in practitioners
Teaching Pranayamas and Bandhas within a yoga class, according to Universal Yoga
Meditation for teaching and personal practices
Partner yoga
DATES: Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM - 5 PM
March 8-9-10, 15-16-17, 22-23-24; exam on March 31
MODULE 3: June 2024
Internal Practices of Tantrik Yoga in a retreat format
Theory and practice specific to last four limbs of Raja Yoga that is rare outside of deep and ancient lineages in Himalaya.
Specific sequences of Pranayama and Bandha to cleanse Nadis (energetic channels) and remove of Granthis (energetic blocks)
Asana as Mudra practice to invoke and raise Kundalini shakti through activated Chakra system
Chakra meditation through Tantrik Shaivism, including methods of invoking dormant energy through practical Brahmacharya for household men and women
Kriya of Neti, Nauli, Basti, and Mitahari (guided 1-3 day fasting, and observances of silence)
DATES: Internal Practices Retreat
A YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED EDUCATION CENTER
We offer training programs that continuously surpass all standards set by Yoga Alliance. The curriculum ensures our yoga practitioners and teachers grow to understand an authentic yoga lineage, while learning about anatomy, alignment and complex sequencing theories. Our advanced training programs also offer life skills and health information grounded in the yogic tradition.
FACULTY: Raj Patra
Raj’s yoga journey started in Kolkata, India at the age of seven at Ghosh’s Yoga College which was established in 1923 by Bishnu Ghosh, younger brother of Sri Paramhansa Yogananda, the author of “Autobiography of a Yogi”. Incidentally, Raj grew up on the same street, blocks away from the birthplace and house of Swami Vivekananda, the personality single-handedly responsible for introducing Yoga and Hinduism to the United States in 1893. For Raj, yoga involved not only physical exercises, pranayama, and meditation, but a prescription of lifestyle, in close association with Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and helped cure ailments and improve quality of mental and physical connections.
Over the the past four decades Raj has studied in the lineages and inspirations of Yogananda, Sri Anandamayi Ma, Swami Vivekananda, Bishnu Ghosh, Dr. A. G. Mohan, Zhander Remete, 17th Gyalwa Karmapa of Kagyu Lineage, venerable Chöje Lama Phuntsok Rinpoche, and most importantly, Guruji Andrey Lappa, founder of Universal Yoga and teacher of Tantrika. Raj is well-versed in systems of Hatha yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga and its western derivations, Bikram yoga, Power yoga, Yin yoga, Shadow yoga, and the extensive system of Universal Yoga and Shiva Nata (Dance of Shiva), and has spent time in Ramakrishna Mission, Dakshineshwar Temple, Balur Math Vivekananda Institute in Kolkata, and Karma Lekshey Ling monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Raj’s mission is to educate yoga practitioners and teachers about Yoga in its authentic and universal way, enriched by centuries of lineage. His activities and energy these days revolve around teaching ancient philosophies in modern and scientific contexts, and inspire people to live life in conscious and meaningful ways.
“I honestly can’t praise the teachers and curriculum highly enough. I feel the program was really well balanced across everything that is important to teach and advance my own practice. I feel very confident in everything I’ve learned to both teach others and help them along their path and to take care of my own path as well. I was always treated with respect by everyone involved in the program too. The program expounded on so many topics that I’m looking forward to continuing to explore too. I really just can’t say enough great things about the program and the teachers. I’m grateful I went through this program with Yoga For Life, and I would whole hardheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in yoga training.”