YOGA SHANTI GOLD: Inversion Modifications

Sometimes practicing inversions is not going to happen for a myriad of reasons. We believe that these are important poses and should not be skipped. But, how can you teach them safely in a public class? Also, many will just never feel safe being upside down with the weight on their arms. We will show modifications and alternative poses that will give you the essential effects of each basic inversion. There is an internal journey that these inversions and their replacements will open the door to. Never be left out again in a class that includes inversions!

Submitting any questions relating the topic above by midnight on Saturday, June 25th to sagharbor@yogashanti.com with “Gold Question” in the subject line of the email.

YOGA SHANTI GOLD: Janu Sirsasana

Iyengar says that if you understand Janu Sirsasana (one-legged seated forward bend) that you will understand the essence of all of the forward bends.  What are the elements that make up this important pose? Where does it belong in sequences? We will break it down and make you fall even more in love with this crescent shaped, asymmetrical closed twist and forward bend.  Come and open up the treasure chest of Janu Sirsasana.

Participate in this discussion by submitting your questions relating to the topic above by midnight on Saturday, April 30th to sagharbor@yogashanti.com with “Gold Question” in the subject line of the email.

200Hr Yoga Teacher Training (Spring 2023)

This program is OPEN for enrollment. The application process is as follows: Step 1) Register on our Union page and pay tuition. Please select to “Register for Zoom Session” even if you intend to participate in some (or all) of the sessions in person. Step 2) Complete this application form. Step 3) Once your tuition has been paid and your application form has been reviewed we will confirm official acceptance within 48 hours. Please contact us with any questions.

Yoga Shanti’s 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training is an opportunity to open a doorway into self-awareness of body, mind, and spirit! This hybrid training includes 3.5 months of direct study with Colleen Saidman and Rodney Yee, with the option to participate entirely online, in-person, or a combination of both! This carefully curated program is designed to immerse you in the study of yoga, enriching and strengthening your personal practice, and preparing you to teach a set of safe Shanti-style sequences. The curriculum will include cultivating a daily home practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation with a focus on alignment, flow, and inquiry of the subtle. You will develop teaching skills including sequencing, seeing and understanding bodies, and manual adjusting. Your study will also include anatomy and philosophy. Plenty of individual attention and mentorship will be available for each student. This training has the potential to transform your life, and we hope that you will join us on this ever-unfolding journey.

Read Graduate Testimonials Frequently Asked Questions

Program Structure

The training comprises nine long-weekend immersions roughly every 2 weekends (see exact dates below). The group also meets for compulsory one-hour mentorship meetings on Tuesdays. Students are required to attend all sessions live for a minimum of 80% real-time participation. The entire program will also be recorded and available for on-demand replay so that students can bring themselves up to speed if there is an occasional scheduling conflict. These replays are also an invaluable resource for students during the entire program, allowing for the review of content during home study.

8 Weekend Sessions Over 3.5 Months:

  • February 3-5
  • February 17-19
  • March 3-5
  • March 17-19
  • March 31 – April 2
  • April 14-16
  • April 28-30
  • May 19-21

Fridays: 6:00-8:00pm (EST)
Saturdays: 9:30am-5:00pm (EST)
Sundays: 9:30am-4:30pm (EST)

Weekly 1-hour Mentorship Calls:
Tuesdays, with the option of 12:30pm or 7:00pm (EST)

Additional Required Classes:
Students are also required to take at least one additional public Yoga Shanti class each week. This can be taken live or on-demand at any time within the same week. In addition, students must also take 5 Beginner Classes and complete 3 class observations during the program.

Reading List

  • Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar
  • When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
  • Yoga for Life by Colleen Saidman
  • When Love Comes to Light by Richard Freeman
  • The Yoga of Breath: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pranayama by Richard Rosen
  • The Mirror of Yoga: Awakening the Intelligence of Body and Mind by Richard Freeman
  • Also required: Subscription to Gaia Yoga Foundations for the duration of training.

Suggested Props for Home Practice

  • A Yoga Mat
  • 2 Yoga Bricks (foam or cork)
  • 3 Blankets
  • 1 Yoga belt or strap
  • 1 Sandbag (fill with 5 lb fish tank pebbles)

Technical Requirements

  • A reliable internet connection and computer/smart-phone with camera.
  • A location in your home that you can set up as a yoga practice space.
  • A setup so that instructors can review your practice virtually. Your space should be well lit so that you are clearly visible on screen. It is important that instructors are able to see your full practice space.
  • The WhatsApp mobile application
  • The Zoom application

Tuition

Tuition for this program is $3160 (for online, in-person or hybrid participation) and includes a 30-class yoga pass to use during the course of the program. Several monthly payment plans are available during the registration process. Graduates of previous Yoga Shanti Teacher Trainings can participate in this training at a reduced tuition of $1960. Please email your graduation certificate to training@yogashanti.com to access this discount code.

Payment Plan Options

Various payment plans are available for a $45 admin fee and are outlined below. The initial installment is payable when you register and the follow-up payments occur automatically on the same day monthly thereafter. Note: Because tuition must be paid in full by the end of the program the longer-term plans become unavailable as the program start date draws nearer.

  • 3 monthly installments of $1315
  • 4 monthly installments of $987
  • 5 monthly installments of $789
  • 6 monthly installments of $567
  • 3 monthly installments of $1100 (previous grads only)
  • 5 monthly installments of $660 (previous grads only)
    Previous graduates should email training@yogashanti.com for a discount code.

Diversity Scholarship

Yoga Shanti is dedicated to making yoga accessible to as many people as possible and to increasing diversity in the yoga community. As part of our commitment to this endeavor, we have established The Yoga Shanti Diversity Scholarship to encourage and assist people from under-represented groups to join our training program. The scholarship application deadline for this training is midnight on January 3rd, 2022.

Enrollment Process

The application process is as follows: Step 1) Register on our Union page and pay tuition. Please select to “Register for Zoom Session” even if you intend to participate in some (or all) of the sessions in person. Step 2) Complete this application form. Step 3) Once your tuition has been paid and your application form has been reviewed we will confirm official acceptance within 48 hours. Please contact us with any questions.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Students may withdraw from the training up until end-of-day on December 20th, 2022 for any reason for a refund of any tuition paid, less a completely non-refundable $300 administrative deposit. After December 20th, 2022 no refunds will be given but the funds may be used towards another training should we schedule another within one year from the student’s original application date. Students on payment plans who withdraw are required to complete their tuition payments on the original schedule in order to be eligible to participate in another training within one year. In the event that we do not schedule another training, the entire sum will be non-refundable. In the event that a student is refused continuation of the program at any time for any reason, there will be no refunds made and the student will be charged any remaining tuition balance.

YOGA SHANTI GOLD: Jalandhara Bandha

  1. What is Jalandhara Bandha?
  2. What is the architecture?
  3. What is the action?
  4. How do we prepare for it?
  5. Why bother?
These are some of the questions that will guide our inquiry into Jalandhara Banha. Join us for this upcoming Gold session where together we illuminate and experience the power and subtlety of the valve at the base of the throat.

Participate in this discussion by submitting your questions relating to the topic above by midnight on Saturday, March 19th to sagharbor@yogashanti.com with “Gold Question” in the subject line of the email.

Manual Adjustments Yoga Training

We will build a deeper understanding of sequencing and manually adjustments by using our hands, eyes, and knowledge to align poses and create classes that produce more ease, rhythm, coordination, and harmony. Not only will this enhance your ability to teach, but it will reinvigorate your own practice. To be keener in your observation and more confident in your touch is to be more skillful in life. Join us for this illuminating journey of touch, observation, understanding and sharing.

Please note that this training takes place at Souk Studio in New York City (12 West 27th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001) and is designed for students who have already completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher-Training program. Serious practitioners looking to continue their personal studies in yoga are also welcome to attend. Please contact us by email here in such a case as admittance is on a case-by-case basis.

Tuition: $450
CEUs: This training qualifies for Yoga Alliance 15 hours

Schedule

  • Friday, June 9: 600-8:00pm & Kirtan 8:00-9:00pm
  • Saturday, June 10: 1:00-3:30pm and 4:00-6:30pm
  • Sunday, June 11: 10:00am-1:00pm

Location

Souk Studio
12 West 27th Street, 2nd Floor
New York
NY 10001

Cancellation policy: Sudents may cancel their attendance in this training up until April 30th, 2023, and receive a refund, minus a $50 non-refundable admin fee. After April 30th there will be no refunds or credits if you withdraw from this program for any reason.

YOGA SHANTI GOLD: What is Pranayama, the Fourth Limb of Ashtanga Yoga (the Eight-Limbed Path)? 

Can pranayama be translated as breath control? What is the relationship between pranayama and Sutra 1.2, “Yogash Chitta Vritti Nirodaha,” which translates to “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind”? Why is breath considered to be the bridge between the body and the mind and how do we work with it in asana practice? Should different pranayama practices be done at different times of the day or different times of our lives? How long and how often should one practice pranayama? These are some of the questions that will fuel our inquiry into Pranayama. We will do a practice that includes a few different types of breathwork and we will take the time to notice the effects of each one. You may think of it as a “breath sampler”. Join us for this experience and inquiry into one of the vital yoga practices. Your questions are encouraged.

Participate in this discussion by submitting your questions relating to the topic above by midnight on Saturday, January 15th to sagharbor@yogashanti.com with “Gold Question” in the subject line of the email.

Anatomy Academy: Forward Head Position

Practicing yoga without focusing on the feet can be like driving in a car without checking the pressure of the tires. During this workshop we will look at how the structures of the feet support the entire body and how yoga asana directly supports our foundation, our feet.