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Frequently asked Questions

  1. What kind of yoga do you teach?
    Ajna Yoga Center teaches a range of hatha/ flow styles. We draw on our own training in – Hatha, Anusara, Ashtanga, Flow, Power Vinyasa, Therapeutic, Pre-Natal, Vijnanya yoga - and share a blend of these teachings. You will graduate from the course with a certificate to teach yoga to beginner level in the hatha/ flow style.
     
  2. How will my certification help me find work as a yoga teacher?
    Ajna Yoga Center is registered at the 200 hour level with the Yoga Alliance. The Yoga Alliance is the International overseeing body of yoga. Registering as a Yoga Alliance certified teacher means that you can work anywhere in the world teaching beginner hatha/ flow yoga. When you successfully complete the course, you will receive a certificate from Ajna Yoga Center. To register with the Yoga Alliance, you send in a copy of your certificate and the Yoga Alliance will send you your registration number.
     
  3. How much yoga will I do?
    There are four yoga classes a week. We begin each session with a yoga asana class. This is to help you to develop a regular yoga practice and to experience the benefits of having a regular yoga practice. The yoga classes are taught by your two main teachers (Jules and Michelle) and by guest yoga teachers. We invite in guest teachers to give you a range of styles of styles of yoga teaching.
     
  4. I do not practice very advanced yoga postures. Can I still take the course?
    Yes, we require that you have experience of a regular yoga practice, but not 'advanced postures'. We focus on developing a consistent practice for you as a yoga teacher. The curriculum covers a core number of postures that we workshop during the course. The core postures are the postures you will learn to teach your beginner students. The great gift of yoga is that we can practice it for all of our life, and continually learn new ways to move our body and new ways to experience familiar postures.
     
  5. I have an injury I am recovering from. Can I still take the course?
    Teachers, just like everyone else, have injuries and other challenges in their bodies. Our yoga practice helps us to identify what we can do to best serve our body’s needs in each moment. This course helps you to identify therapeutic applications of postures, breathing and meditation that will help you and your students with challenges that come up.
     
  6. What is the balance between theory and hands-on practice?
    Ajna Yoga Center believes in experiential learning. The principles of alignment, anatomy, yogic theory and teaching are all taught through workshop-style classes. You will have reading and writing assignments to complete each week. The class time will be a balance of discussing the theory, experiencing the principles in your body, observing the teaching in other bodies and practice teaching.
     
  7. I’m not sure I want to teach yoga after the course ends. Can I take this course anyways?
    Yes, many students take the 200 hour level course to further their own practice. The course helps you to deepen your own practice. You do not need to make a decision about whether or not you want to teach before you begin the course. Students find this to be a transformative experience, whether or not the main objective is to teach right after graduating.
     
  8. I am nervous about speaking in front of a large group. Do I have to teach in front of the class?
    Our focus is creating a supportive atmosphere to learn in. We gradually introduce speaking in front of the group during the course. Many very shy students find that they ‘come into themselves’ during the course, as a result of the practice teaching.
     
  9. How much time is there for practice teaching?
    You begin the process of practice teaching in the beginning of the course, with your peers. Then you work with one teacher, observing and assisting in their classes.  As you gain confidence in teaching in front of the group and in your teaching skills, you will practice- teach longer sections. There is lots of opportunity for feedback and questions during your practice teaching sections.
     
  10. What are the required books for the course?
    Ajna Yoga Teacher Training Manual – readings and assignments for the 200 hour curriculum (given to you on the first day of class) Yoga Anatomy, by Leslie Kaminoff- (to be purchased before the start of the course) Yoga Sutras  (to be purchased before the start of the course)
    There is also a list of recommended books.
     
  11. What is your approach to teaching anatomy?
    Ajna Yoga Center teaches anatomy in a hands-on, practical way. We teach kinesiology (movement of the body) in relation to yoga postures and common limitations of the body, such as back pain, and other common injuries. There is a special focus on therapeutic applications for people with certain medical conditions such as arthritis and heart disease. We also look at the different systems of the body –e.g. how we breathe (respiratory system), how we relax (nervous system)  and how yoga practices can help lead us to health. The curriculum also covers yogic anatomy, such as the chakras. We integrate the yogic anatomy with the western anatomy (kinesiology and systems of the body), covering different themes each week.