Teacher Training Course
Course aspects
The Syllabus
The course follows the Syllabus together with the Training Specification and Standards as set out by the Irish Yoga Association and covers the following aspects:
• Āsana – standing, back bending, forward bending, twisting postures, seated postures, inversions, order of practice, teaching practice etc.
• Prānāyāmā – breath awareness, three phase breath, complete breath, Nadi Sodhana, Viloma A&B, Kumbhaka etc.
• Kriya, Mudrā and Bandha
• Relaxation – preparation, brain waves, techniques, teaching practice etc.
• Philosophy – history and types of yoga, cosmology, study of the Upanishads, Sutras, Hathayogapradipika etc. and practical application of philosophy in life.
• Meditation – exploration of attention, focuses for meditation, teaching practice etc.
• Class planning – from beginners classes to continuation classes etc.
• Anatomy & Physiology – bones, muscles and systems of the body, subtle anatomy etc.
• 1st Aid certification valid for two years
• Guest Lectures on specialised subjects
The TTC. Why a minimum training of 500 hrs over 4 years?
At the heart of the Yoga tradition lies one central truth: we are all inextricably connected. Yoga is a potent and life transforming practice and therefor teaching Yoga carries enormous responsibilities. A yoga teacher does not only have to deal with the physical but also with all the multidimensional aspects such as the energetic, psychological, physiological, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of the student. These teachings need to be received in a safe and sacred environment. The ability to transmit these non-verbal aspects of yoga is the fundamental quality that differentiates a real yoga teacher from other teachers.
The required minimum duration has not fallen out of the sky and is not based on an arbitrary decision by the EUY Education Team. This decision is based on over 20 years of practical experience in the field of yoga education by all member federations of the EUY, which agreed in 1996 that 500 hours over 4 years is a required minimum. For the mind and psyche: proper digestion (agni) and assimilation (ahara), from information to knowledge and insight is a slow process, it takes time and practice. Too much information in too short a period of time only causes mental and intellectual indigestion and information overload – a typical disease of our current “information society”. The required attitude, knowledge and skills to teach yoga should be administered in the proper measure, in the proper sequence, over a proper minimum time.
In fact 4 years is only the start of a lifelong quest, sâdhana, to deepen and broaden lifelong understanding and wisdom. During yoga education the transfer of experiential learning takes place in addition to the rational, academic aspects so that the essential elements of Yoga are conveyed and teachers may inspire and guide students on a profound journey of self-discovery.
Course contents
Students are chosen by written application, practical assessment (for which a set of guidelines is available entitled “Prospective Student’s Guidelines”) and by personal interview. It is required that applicants have two years’ experience in Hatha Yoga. Students must be members of the Irish Yoga Association.
Teacher Training Course Administrator
Sacha Johnston
ttc@iya.ie