Teacher Training
Contents of this page
- Introduction
- First become a student!
- Description Weekend Practice-Workshops
- Description Weekend Theory-Workshops
- Description week-long workshops
- Facts, figures, costs
- Dates | Descriptions
Facts, figures, costs
The training at iYoga=Iyengar-Yoga-Munich is accredited by the IYD. In addition, we comply with the latest health insurance guidelines, which subsidize the teaching of qualified yoga instructors.
The training complies with the current recommendations of the IYD (Iyengar-Yoga-Deutschland e.V.; this is the direct link in Germany to the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar). At least 660 hours (60 minutes each) of required workshop attendance. In addition, weekly practice in class, shadowing with a certified teacher and supervised teaching of one’s own group is required. The successful completion of the training entitles the student to take the IYD assessment to become a Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher.
Only with sufficient previous knowledge can one formally begin. (It should be at least 3 years of Iyengar Yoga classes.) We will be happy to advise you personally about the admission requirements (see “Become a student first!” on the right).
The training takes 6 semesters. One semester includes
- • 4 Weekend Workshops
- • 1 Week-long Workshop
- • 2 bis 3 Online Theory Workshops
and lasts about half a year.
Each type of Fundamentals Workshop (see the content of the WeekEnd Intensives to the right) is attended a total of 4 times, and the three Teaching Technique Workshop varieties are attended 2 times each.
In the week-long workshops, the focus is on practice. In the last semester (shortly before the assessment) the assessment preparation takes place as a week-long workshop.
The newly established online theory workshops cover relevant knowledge in the areas listed below, and the majority are taught by state-accredited professionals:
- • Anatomy, physiology and medicine (dealing with diseases)
- • Philosophy and history of Yoga
- • Pedagogics and psychology
- • Health promotion and prevention of disease.
Assisting in class, independent supervised teaching, reading and presentation of papers, practice diaries and photo analysis, and peer group work are other important learning methods.
The training currently costs 1320 € per semester (x 6 = 7920 € total, plus assessment fee). Payment in installments is possible. Not included are travel, accommodation and food costs, costs for personal internet access as well as for the required books. Ongoing weekly tuition for Yoga classes is also not included. We offer affordable weekly practice opportunities for trainees as well as accommodation in the studio for the duration of the workshops.
Dates – on site
| Date | Workshops – on site |
|---|---|
| 2.-3.12. | Foundations 2b |
| 16.-17. 12. | xxx Foundations 3b Date canceled |
| 2.-6.1.24 | New years week-long workshop with Michael |
| 20.-21.1.24 | Fundamentals 1a |
| 17.-18.1. | xxx Fundamentals 2a Date canceled |
| 10.-11.2. | Foundations 3a |
| 2.-3.3. | Fundamentals 4 |
| 23.-24.3. | Teaching technique 1 |
| 1.-5.4. | NEW: Week-long workshop assessment preparation Level-1 |
Dates – online
| Date | Online-Theory-Weekends |
|---|---|
| 23.-25.2.24 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Forbes) |
| 15.-17.3. | Pedadogy and psychology, part 1 |
| 10.-12.5. | Medicine Part 1. |
| 14.-16.6. | Pedadogy and psychology, part 2 |
| 23.-25.8. | Medicine part 2. |
Description
Week-long workshops
New Year’s Workshop with Michael
2.-6. JANUARY 2024
MC 241911 – 500 €
(Fee for interested persons as separate booking)
Tuesday – Friday: 9 – 17:00
Saturday: 9 – 13:00
Wednesday and Thursday additionally:
17:15-18:15 Lecture / Talk
ASSESSMENT PREPARATION Workshop Level-1
1.-4. APRIL 2023
with Margereta Eckl and Michael Forbes
MM 242912 –
500 €
(Fee for interested parties as
separate booking)
Monday to Thursday:
9 – 18:00
Friday: 9 – 13:00
We will train you to become a certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher:in
Nowadays, “yoga teacher training” is no longer a rarity in Germany. Nowadays, “yoga teacher training” is no longer a rarity in Germany. Many (very many) schools offer the opportunity to take classes in an intensive course and receive a certificate. In the last 20 years, most health insurance companies have started to subsidize yoga classes given by such “qualified” yoga teachers. They usually require a previously completed vocational training or degree (of whatever content) plus at least 480 hours of yoga teacher training. Major course organizers (fitness studios, adult education centers, etc.) look at the qualifications of applicants.
I (Michael) started as a Yoga teacher trainer more than 35 years ago (in 1988), at that time in the S. Kneipp Academy, Bad Wörishofen. Later, the Iyengar Yoga Association joined as a host for teacher training. Since 1999 I have been teaching groups of prospective teachers independently, following the guidelines of Iyengar-Yoga-Deutschland e.V.. It is a karmic circumstance for me and the fulfillment of my vision of helping the world be a better place.
Becoming a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher begins with a long-term, thorough, and dedicated yoga practice. One first becomes an Iyengar Yoga student before becoming a teacher.
Certified teachers are committed to passing on the method authentically (without mixing in other styles or disciplines), keeping their own personal yoga practice vital, and continuing their education with experienced teachers and/or at the Mother Institute in Pune, India.
First become a student!
Teaching Iyengar yoga with authenticity and confidence is demanding. The issues that concern a teacher are not the same issues that students struggle with. Teaching content requires that the facilitator has already deeply reflected and internalized the content himself. His focus is then on the students and their problems.
Therefore: For those interested who have attended less than 3 years of classes with a teacher in the Iyengar method, we recommend continuing to attend weekly practice classes (at our studio or with other certified Iyengar yoga teachers). Also the advertised practice workshops can be attended by all interested people and aspirants with the appropriate basic knowledge. This creates a sustainable basis for the intensive training. If you have any questions or uncertainties, we will be happy to discuss the specific situation with you in person or by phone.
Description of the workshops
Fundamentals Weekends: Practice and teaching technique
Content
There are 7 varieties of Weekend-Intensive, which focus on the content of the textbooks “Prelimnary Course” as well as “Basic Guidelines for Teachers” by Geeta Iyengar:
- Foundations I: Standing postures (Utthita), forward extensions
- Basics II: sitting postures, inverted postures, twists, abdominal postures
- Basics III: Standing postures (Parivrtta), backbends, Surya Namaskar and special sequences.
- Basics IV: Practice for women, Pranayama, Remedial (= ways of working with problems), Regenerative
- Teaching Technique (“U-Tech”) I: Giving Instruction, Problems in the Classroom.
- U-Tech II: sequences part 1, energetic anatomy
- U-Tech III:Sequences Part 2, Introduction to Mentoring
Schedule
On Fridays 17:00 – 19:00 there is an optional practice session with Michael. This is not formally part of the WeekEndIntensive. However, participation is highly recommended as an introduction to the weekend. (see class schedule and booking details here).
We start all workshops with asana/pranayama practice class.
Teaching Technique workshops are otherwise freer in design with lecture, discussion and teaching rehearsals at the forefront.
Foundation workshops take place like this:
| Saturdays | 9:00 – 11:00: Asana practice under guidance 11 – 13:00: Deepening the asana practice 15:00 – 18:00: lecture, presentation, interactive, photo analysis, more practice (from the portfolio of the participants), further practice under guidance |
| Sundays | 9:00 – 10:30: Asana and Pranayama practice under guidance 10:30 – 13:30: Deepening the asana and pranayama practice. and -teaching technique, lecture, presentation, interactive |
Week-long workshops: Practice
Different sequences are practiced through to give a deeper sense of a real daily practice (dynamic sequences with standing postures, forward and backward stretches; centering sequences with twisting and inverting postures; regenerative sequences [auch Menstruationspraxis]with supported postures and / or pranayama). The focus is on normal practice under guidance. Michael and guest teachers provide experience and a sense of rhythm, intensity, variability while emphasizing fundamentals of asana and pranayama practice.
Sensitivity and understanding, stamina and strength in practice are fostered in intensive classes. Yoga teaching is explored and reflected upon through trial teaching samples, and anatomy and philosophy content is integrated into the weekends. The Weekend-Intensives are the main building block of the teacher training.
Week-long workshop: Assessment preparation
We deal with the asanas as well as theoretical questions as they appear in the exams. The main focus is on deficits that still exist, as they show up in practicing the asana lists as well as in teaching rehearsals.
Level 1 certificate assessments are generally held at the end of October.
Qualified prospective students may attend even if they do not immediately intend to take an exam this year.
Online theory workshops
As of 2022 in the new format:
- 60 hours (1x in each semester) Anatomy/Physiology – 15 hours per weekend – Lecturer: Dr. Hermann Traitteur, Berlin | Detailed curriculum here
- 60 hours (1x in semester 1-4) Philosophy / History of Yoga – 15 hours per weekend – Instructor: Elke Pichler, Vienna | Detailed curriculum here
- 30 hours of pedagogy / psychology – (format to be worked out) – 15 hours per weekend – instructor: Claudia Böhm, Berlin
- 30 hours health promotion / prevention – 15 hours per weekend – Lezenti:in: Claudia Böhm, Berlin; Michael Forbes
The theory classes meet the new requirements of the health insurance companies regarding yoga teacher training degrees from the year 2025. It is held by accredited professionals (with the exception of “Health Promotion/Prevention”, which may be held by teachers with “practical expertise”).
All lessons are held online via Zoom. Access of the participants to the recordings will be granted upon request.
Times:
- Friday: 17 to 19:oo
- Saturday and Sunday: 9 to 13:oo and 14.30 to 17:00