Relaxation

Three Year Practical Teacher Training Program.

The CYF runs a rolling 3-year programme, which is made up of training days specifically for trainee teachers and workshop days, which both trainees and qualified teachers may attend. There are also 3 seminar days a year for all members (and non-members) of the Comprehensive Yoga Fellowship.

TRAINING DAYS:

There are 3 training days a year, (9 in total). These are a mandatory part ofthe course. A booking form will be provided when programme information is sent out to you and payment for the day is required when you book your place. If you are unable to attend the day after booking a place, a full refund will be given. Please note that in order to obtain your CYF teaching diploma certificate, all nine days must be completed.

Three training manuals will be provided, one for each year. Each manual will contain three units to cover the respective training day material. In the event of any material being different from that in the manual, an appropriate handout will be provided.

In addition to the nine mandatory days, there will be an additional day at the end of the third year. This day is not mandatory and is in place for trainees to use if they have any queries that have arisen throughout the practical training. This will be your chance to have any questions answered that may still be on your mind. Should you wish to attend this day, there will be space on your booking form to record your query so that we may have some idea of the nature and amount of material that is required for the day. Please note, attendance of this day is not required to obtain your teaching diploma.

The cost for each training day will be £25, (including the cost of the manual), payable when returning your booking form.

Throughout the three years we aim to cover:-

In addition there will be information on the practicalities of running a class, insurance requirements and some ideas on how to market yourself as a yoga teacher.

Please note: You may join the 3-year rolling programme of training days at any point, however, all 9 training days must be completed before the CYF teaching diploma can be awarded.

Repeat Training Days: Trainees and newly qualified teachers may repeat a training day if they wish, at a reduced cost of £20 a day. Priority will be given to those who are attending for the first time. Only new trainees will receive a mailshot for each training day, however, all members of the CYF will receive an annual calendar of events during December/January of each year.

WORKSHOP DAYS:

There will also be 2 workshop days a year over 3 years (6 in total). These days will also be mandatory for trainees. Ourworkshops are designed to broaden your teaching practice, focusing on more specific areas and will include:

A booking form, together with the programme for the day will be sent to you in order for you to reserve a place on the day.

The cost for these workshops will be £25 for the day, payable when returning your booking form.

A WEEKEND OF YOGA PHILOSOPHY:

We hope to offer a weekend of philosophy during the 3-year practical training period. This will not be a mandatory requirement of the course but will be beneficial to your understanding of what the CYF considers to be part of the most important aspect of your yoga training. The hours accrued will go towards your final total and will be included in the ‘Record of Training Hours’ booklet. It is hoped that this weekend will be held at the beautiful Tan-y-Garth Hall in the peaceful countryside of North Wales.

The programme and cost for the weekend is yet to be finalised.

SEMINAR DAYS:

We also offer 3 seminar days a year, which are free to all members. We hope you will be able to attend, although these are not mandatory. The more practical training hours you are able to accrue, the deeper your understanding of teaching the postures will become, experiencing different styles and widening your knowledge of the philosophy and other aspects of yoga.

FIRST AID CERTIFICATE:

It is recommended that yoga teachers hold a first aid certificate. A one-day course is sufficient and there are two options available to accommodate this:

1. You can make your own arrangements to attend any recognised first aid training day. This can be done at a time and place that is convenient to you.

2. The CYF will organise a one-day course to take place with Saint John Ambulance in Crewe. This day will be available once during the 3-year training programme. As your first-aid certificate is valid for a three-year period, it is probably best that we arrange for this day to take place during the third year of our training programme. This will give you the best value out of your first aid qualification.

All first aid certificates must be renewed every three years. This involves a one-day refresher course. We will need confirmation of your renewed certificate in order for you remain insured with the CYF.

If it is that you feel you would like a more in-depth first aid qualification, it will be your responsibility to make arrangements for this.

If you already hold a current first aid certificate we will require sight of this to exempt you from taking part in the training day.

If you make your own arrangements, the current cost for the one-day is in the region of £30 (there is a slight variation depending on which organisation you choose to train with).

Should you choose to attend the training day organised by the CYF, the cost will be in the region of £30, depending on how many trainees attend the day. A minimum of 10 people are required for the day to run.

RECORD OF TRAINING HOURS BOOKLET:

If you choose to train with the CYF, to be granted the diploma you will be required to complete a minimum of 200 training hours. This must include all our mandatory training and workshop days. The remaining hours can be made up from our seminars, the yoga philosophy weekend and any hatha yoga classes you attend. Please remember that you are required to attend one hatha yoga class a week on a regular basis throughout your training, taught by a qualified yoga teacher. Any other appropriate workshops, retreats etc., run by recognised yoga organisations will also contribute to valid training hours.

A ‘Record of Training Hours Booklet’ will be provided and all your training hours must be signed for by whoever is responsible for running the day/event or teaching your class. In the case of our own training and workshop days, either the tutor(s) running the day, or the tutor/teacher taking your individual group may sign for the day.

Please note that it will not be necessary for you to have every hatha yoga class you attend signed for. There is provision in your booklet for any two teachers (incase you have more than one teacher), to sign once a month.

COMMENTS SHEET:

We are aware that trainees may have their own ideas and opinions of what to expect from a training day. With this in mind, a comments sheet will be provided at each training and workshop day for you to note down any aspect of the day which you would like to be different in some respect.

Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate these requests, we may need to address the matter with the individual trainee.

Our timetable for the training days, workshops and seminars is as follows:

Teacher Training Days:
First Sunday in March, May (avoiding Spring Bank Holiday) (9 in total) and November.

Extra Training Day: One Sunday in January (day to be finalised) * (at the end of Year 3)

Workshop Days: First Sunday in April and December. (6 in total)

Seminar Days: First Sunday in February, June and October. (3 per year)

Philosophy Weekend: One weekend in July (to be finalised) * (once during 3-year training)

First Aid: One day during the third year of training (yet to be arranged) *

* Please note: these days are held once during the 3-year programme

Whilst we endeavour to keep exactly to this timetable, some changes may inevitably occur. If this is the case, you will be informed in advance of the day.

Our training/workshop day material may also vary slightly. If this is the case and the material is not in your manual, handouts will be provided.

This is a great deal of information to take on board. Please read it carefully to digest what is required for the course. Remember there will always be members of the committee, your personal tutor, other tutors and teachers to answer any questions and offer you support throughout your training.

The CYF is a small and friendly organisation and we want this time to be enjoyable and fun. It will, hopefully, be a personal journey of self-development, one to be savoured and relished. Our aim is for our teachers to conduct their classes safely and with due care (ahimsa) and in the true spirit of yoga (satya).

Barbara Tomkinson,

Education Co-ordinator (training days). October, 2007