500-hour

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500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program OVERVIEW: Downtown Yoga is a Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher Training School. The 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies program has been specifically designed to exceed the 500-hour Teacher Training program standards for registration with Yoga Alliance (www.YogaAlliance.org). When combined with Downtown Yoga’s 200-hr Advanced Studies program (240 hours), the total program comprises over 645 total hours of instruction in training, teaching methodology, yoga techniques, yogic philosophy and anatomy. The 500-hour program is individualized and self-paced. There is no limit as to how long a student may take to complete the program. Students may take up to 2-years or longer to complete the 500-hour program. The shortest duration possible for completion would be 15months. Downtown Yoga prefers the student not rush this program as the focus is on extended duration of practice and application. A student may start at any time in the cycle of the curriculum. The primary E-RYT Instructor of the program is Kate Coughlin, Director of Downtown Yoga. Kate is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) at the 500-hour level and one of the few “E-RYT-500’s” in California qualified and registered by Yoga Alliance to offer such a program. 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants are required to meet the following minimum qualifications: 1) Each applicant must possess proof of completing a 200-hr program from any Registered Yoga School recognized by, and in good standing with Yoga Alliance.org 2) Each applicant must demonstrate a proficient asana practice of over 2-years minimum. 3) Each applicant must complete an application and conduct an in-person interview with Kate Coughlin, Director. 4) Each applicant must provide at least one teacher recommendation and three student recommendations to participate in the 500-hr program. 5) Each applicant will be accepted into the program at the sole discretion of the Director.

PROGRAM GUIDE: TECHNIQUES TRAINING & PRACTICE (100 total hours – 65-contact hours with Primary E-RYT, 35-contact hours with other faculty) During this segment of the 500-hour program instruction and guidance will focus on the essence of all common standing poses, forward folds, twists, inversions and backward bends via the Iyengar-inspired method. Specific emphasis will be placed on having each participant develop the skill to specifically describe, demonstrate and modify the poses with use of props to a wide-variety of student abilities. Sanskrit pose names will be emphasized. Downtown Yoga’s 100-pose syllabus will be the main curriculum, in addition to referencing Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar. The Director, once per week in 90-minute increments, offers this segment of the program. Jim Coughlin, E-RYT-200 is the other faculty member offering the additional 35-contact hours, which may be taken in 1-hour increments once/week. TEACHING METHODOLOGY (20 total hours – 20-contact hours with Primary E-RYT) Participants will assist the primary E-RYT in Beginner classes with an emphasis on alignment, safety and appropriate use of props to find ease, comfort and accessibility in each pose. As an assistant the participant may be called upon by the Primary E-RYT to demonstrate poses in various stages and with modifications. As an assistant the participant will learn the method of instruction suggested by the primary E-RYT and how to develop class themes, plans, sequences and adjustments.

500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (25 total hours – 25-contact hours with Primary E-RYT). 16 of the 25 hours of this segment are covered in the Summer Weekend Intensive entitled: "Yoga: The Art of Form and Function". This workshop will focus on specific anatomical structure with respect to yoga and alignment - while playing on the "subtle" nuances and physiological changes that occur within the student. The book – Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain is the primary text for this segment. All bones, and major muscle groups will be reviewed and specific emphasis will be placed on action and directional forces of the body while in the poses. The additional 9-hours of anatomy will be covered in the once/monthly Friday evening sessions with the Director in one hour segments during the 4hour Friday evening sessions. YOGA PHILOSOPHY, LIFESTYLE & ETHICS (40 total hours – 20-contact hours with Primary E-RYT, 20 contact hours with other faculty) The Philosophy, Lifestyle & Ethics segment is broken into two primary parts A) Historical perspective, and B) Current day perspective. The historical perspective will focus on what the primary texts of yoga say about ethics an behavior. Emphasis will be placed on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with respect to Yamas/Niyamas. The current day perspective will take into account current day issues and problems that arise as a result of abusing power. Specific emphasis will be on student/teacher relationship, marketing and self-promotion of being a yoga teacher, relations within the medical community and with other studio owners, etc. This section of the course will be offered in 1-hour segments in the Friday evening sessions and also during the August summer intensive entitled “The Joy of Teaching to Beginners” PRACTICUM (220 total hours – 180-contact hours with Primary E-RYT, 40 contact hours with other faculty) It is the strong belief of the Director and other faculty of Downtown Yoga that constant and sustained practice is the key to understanding the implications of yoga. Therefore, the majority of hours in the 500-hour program are in this section – the day-to-day practice of asanas with modification. The July Summer Intensive workshop – “Finding your voice: from intention to Manifestation” is a part of this section. Additionally a regular weekly practice with the Director is required with at least on 90-minute session per week either as a private or with a group of other 500-hr attendees. Specific focus is on finding deepening, ease and release while maintaining strength and stability in all poses. The Sanskrit term “Sthira Sukham Asanam” is applied directly to this section. Firmness of body and happiness of the mental state is the method that asanas should be performed.

500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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SCHEDULE (required): ASSISTING - One class per week assisting the Director of Downtown Yoga (1.5 hours x 50 weeks = 75 hours). Until the 20 hours of Teaching Methodology hours are reached then hours are use for Practicum. REVIEW, LECTURE & DISCUSSION - One 2.5-hour session with the Director on the 4th Friday evening of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (2.5 hours x 18 months = 45 hours). These hours include discussion of Philosophy, Ethics & Lifestyle, and some Anatomy SUMMER INTENSIVES – Attend all three-Summer Intensives with Director (16-hours x 3 = 48 hours) – See description of Summer Intensives for 2012 below. ADDITONAL DIRECTOR CONTACT HOURS – Two sessions per week with the director at 1.5 hours each for 50 weeks. Total additional hours = (2 x 1.5 x 50 = 150-hours class per week as a student of Director). TOTAL DIRECTOR Contact Hours = 318 OTHER FACULTY CONTACT HOURS - One session per week at 1.5 each for 65 weeks = 97.5 other hours. TOTAL CONTACT HOURS = 318 Total Contact hours with Primary E-RYT-500 and 97.5 hours with other faculty. Total hours = 415.5

TUITION & REGISTRATON: Tuition for the entire 500-hr Program is - $3,950.00 Tuition includes all 415.5 hours required above. $350 discount if paid in full at acceptance and prior to start ($3,600 total paid in full/early discount). Otherwise $350 deposit required at acceptance Ten (10) equal payments of $400 due on the first of each month. All applications must be submitted to the director with proof of completion of a Yoga Alliance registered 200-hour program.

500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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Summer Intensive Programs for 2012: June 29, 30 & July 1, 2012 "Yoga: The Art of Form and Function". This is the first of the "Summer Intensive" series. This workshop will focus on structural alignment while playing on the "subtle" nuances of adjustments from within. Hours are: Friday - 6/29 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 6/30 & 7/1 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This 16-hr program may be applied to the 500-hr RYT program. July 20, 21 & 22, 2012 “Finding your voice: from intention to Manifestation” Setting our intention for our own yoga practice and for a class brings clarity and focus to the practice. We will learn how to verbalize our intentions, and to integrate them into one’s teaching. We will investigate ways to organize the thoughts in our heads to guide our students in clear sequences. “The art of verbal and manual adjustments” Learning to read the body is invaluable to offering an adjustment. We will observe the valleys and hills in the physical body to see where we are storing tension and where we can create space. We will also practice the art of teaching both to the physical body and the energetic body with clear instruction. Our meditation practice will bring about clear thinking, and clear teaching. Times: Fridays 4:00 – 8:00 Saturdays 1:00 – 8:00 (dinner break at 4:30) Sundays 1:00 – 8:00 (dinner break at 4:30) August 17, 18 & 19, 2012 “Joy of the practice, teaching to beginners” Most new teachers will begin by teaching to beginning students. The new student needs clear, basic guidance, encouragement and inspiration. It is a time of tremendous transformation, mentally, emotionally and physically. It is an art to remain true to your own path and teach in an inclusive way to all students. “The yamas and niyamas in asana practice” The guidelines of the yamas (our way of being in the world), and the niyamas (our way of being with ourselves); sets the stage for a deep and meaningful group asana practice. We will work with intention and design sequences that help us explore these first two important limbs of the yogic path. Times: Fridays 4:00 – 8:00 Saturdays 1:00 – 8:00 (dinner break at 4:30) Sundays 1:00 – 8:00 (dinner break at 4:30)

PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Kate Coughlin – 500hr –ERYT - is the Director of Downtown Yoga. She received her B.S. degree in Dance from Evergreen State University in Washington in 1972. Kate spent much of the 70’s traveling between Hawaii, Alaska, Seattle and Europe. During this time she was fortunate to meet and be touched by Swami Muktananda, Indra Devi and Oscar Ichazo. Kate performed and taught modern dance in Seattle prior to moving to California in 1985. In 1989, Kate developed the Yoga Program at Stanford University. She taught hundreds of students at Stanford from 1989 until spring of 2000 when she moved to Pleasanton, California with her husband and twin daughters. Kate founded Downtown Yoga in March of 2002. She is a graduate of Erich Schiffman’s Teacher Training program. Kate continues to 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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develop her practice by taking pranayama and asana classes Donald Moyer at the Yoga Room in Berkeley, California.

OTHER FACULTY: Jim Coughlin – E-RYT 200. Jim has been teaching since 2002 and received his 200-hour registration in 2006. He has travelled to India over a dozen times to learn yoga from H.S. Arun – an Advanced Certified Iyengar Yoga Practitioner in Bangalore, India. Jim will primarily teach a portion of the Ethics and also the Practicum of the 500-hour program.

REFERENCE TEXTS: The following texts will be referenced throughout the program. Students are not required to purchase these materials but they are strongly encouraged to do so. Light on Yoga – BKS Iyengar Light on Life – BKS Iyengar BKS Iyengar Yoga – the Path to Holistic Health – BKS Iyengar Anatomy of Movement – revised edition – Blandine Calais-German Bringing Yoga to Life – Donna Farhi Teaching Yoga – Donna Farhi The Breathing Book – Donna Farhi The Bhagavad Gita - Eswaran translation The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – BKS Iyengar commentary

500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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APPLICATION: Date:____________________ Name:______________________________________________________ (as you want it to appear on your certificate of completion) Address:_____________________________________________________ City:____________________________ State:_______ Zip:____________ Tel:____________________________ Cell: ________________________ E-mail address:_______________________________________________

Where did you receive your 200-hr RYT?_______________________________ Please write a description of your yoga experience (past and present). Use additional pages as necessary. Please include: • • • •

How often you attend classes Which teachers you have taken classes from Where and how often do you teach – how long have you been teaching yoga? Please describe your personal practice in detail.

What is your intention in taking this course? Are there specific areas of interest that you would like to explore? Do you have an idea of what you would want to learn or accomplish during this program? Do you have any additional comments or questions or special needs that we should know of?

500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Advanced Yoga Studies Program Downtown Yoga – 220B Division St. – Pleasanton, CA 94566 – 925-819-9983 www.pleasantonyoga.com

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