The Foundation Training for Yoga Teachers 2023 (HK) with Patrick Creelman

23 November 2023 – 30 January 2024

About the Training

Personal transformation is the goal of this programme — through strong, intelligent daily practice and theory-based workshops for developing a solid foundation in teaching yoga. This training will focus on the most essential skills necessary to step into a classroom upon graduation and confidently guide a 60-minute vinyasa practice based on strength and intelligent alignment.

A time-tested programme with graduates currently teaching in major studios all over the world, this training has proven to be a professional step towards being a fully accredited yoga teacher and a huge leap into your own empowerment.

The Foundation is a 24-day, full-time training programme. It offers a positive philosophy grounded in recognising life’s innate goodness combined with Universal Principles of Alignment. To ensure that teachers retain the practical classroom skills and academic study of the history and literature of yoga, there are weekly summaries and exams to reflect the progress.

Patrick has over 10 years of experience in teaching teachers. He will lead and support the entire group through the challenge of becoming confident in your own potential, whilst embodying the knowledge that is most important and having practical experience with the essential skills. This programme has proven time and time again to produce life-changing positive results.

Yoga Alliance Accredited School
PURE Yoga is a registered school with Yoga Alliance. Our teacher training programmes and teachers are internationally accredited, have exclusive recognition and qualify for the 200-hr Yoga Alliance Certification.

Yoga Alliance is an international governing board for yoga teachers and training programmes in the U.S. and globally. Graduates of our programme are automatically eligible to register as a RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) with Yoga Alliance. Becoming a RYT means having a higher profile and gaining international recognition as a yoga teacher, attributes that many hiring studios look for.

Mission Statement
We offer this training in an effort to grow our community of committed yoga practitioners, empowering those who demonstrate dedication to a personal practice, by sharing the knowledge, skills and tools we have learned so they too can start teaching yoga.

We intend to guide trainees toward a healthy self-confidence, while at the same time invoking in them a sense of humility and excitement, knowing that they are at the beginning of a long journey.

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Part I

23-28 November 2023

7-12 December 2023

Part II

11-16 January 2024

25-30 January 2024

Daily Schedule
Thursdays – Mondays
7:00am–9:00am	Morning Intensive (Asana, Pranayama, Meditation)
10:00am–6:00pm	Study (Lunch break for 1.5 hours)
Tuesdays	(Morning Intensive only, rest of the day off)
7:00am-10:00am	Morning Intensive (Asana, Pranayama, Meditation)

Morning Intensives

The Morning Intensives are the daily asana practice. The intensives run 7:00am–9:00am daily. They include asana, pranayama and meditation practice.

They are an integral part of the programme where techniques are learned, skills are sharpened and the fire of transformation is fuelled. The commitment to practising with the same group of yogis over an extended period of time has enormous power in it.

This part of the programme is open to students who desire a life-affirming shift, but are not participating in the full Teacher Training. Those registered in the Full Teacher Training have this included in the programme.

MORNING INTENSIVE TUITION

Application is NOT required for Morning Intensive sign-up. Please register at PURE Yoga Studio reception.

	Regular Price On-site	20% Off Online via Zoom	40% Off for GRADUATES (Apply on-site or online)
One Part Morning Intensive (Part I or Part II, total of 24 hours)	HK$5,980	HK$4,784	HK$3,588
Any 6-Session Morning Intensives Must confirm the selected days upon registration (12 hours)	HK$3,518	HK$2,815	HK$2,110
Drop-In Morning Intensive Must confirm the selected days upon registration	HK$500 (*Tuesday Session: HK$750)

Special 40% off Graduate Discount Applies to:

Graduates of The Foundation Training for Yoga Teacher & WildLotus: 300-hour Advanced Teacher Training (One Part or 6-Session Morning Intensive Practice only)

To register, please contact any PURE Yoga studio or see reception.

Requirements

Homework submission prior to the start of the course:

Bhagavad Gita – 250- to 500-word summary of the main teachings, PLUS choose 3 favorite chapters and write 1 paragraph on each: what you learned from it and why you liked it
Light on Life – Write a 250-word summary and what you found to be the most insightful or inspiring aspect of this book
Light on Yoga – Write a basic explanation of the Yamas & Niyamas as outlined in the first section of Light On Yoga and how they are beneficial to your life today.
Practice, study & memorise the WildLotus Foundation Practice Sequence (Students should know the poses by name and picture using Light On Yoga as reference)

Required readings prior to training:

Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar
Bhagavad Gita (any version)
Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar
WildLotus Foundation Practice Sequence (will be sent to students before training)

Students who are interested in participating should bear in mind that this will be a physically and emotionally demanding programme. It will require a strong commitment and personal sacrifice, as well as the support of the student’s primary support network.

Interested students must:

Have a deep desire to learn and personally explore the deeper dimensions of yoga
Have a minimum 12 months of regular yoga practice
Be free of major injuries going into the programme
Have a coachable attitude
Be fully committed and understand that 100% full attendance is required
Be willing to forgo most other personal or professional commitments for the duration of the programme
Have read the required readings and submitted homework below prior to the beginning of the course

SYLLABUS

Asanas	In-depth study of basic alignments for over 100 asanas. Beginner & intermediate poses Learn safe positioning for beginner-level students Key modifications for all standard poses for stiff, injured or beginner students Key guidelines for keeping students safe whilst practising with you Key understanding of balancing muscle engagement & active stretching Learn how to create optimal opening of the body in every pose Focal point intelligence – discover the centre point for each asana and how to benefit from activating towards and from it to perform the full pose Key descriptive language for effective teaching of asanas Benefits and potential risks of each asana Adjustments – physical and verbal
Yoga Props Usage	Study the proper use of a yoga chair, belt, blanket, blocks, bolster and yoga mat Learn quick use of props for flow classes Learn more methodical use of props for slower study of asanas Use props for injuries and to investigate poses from different approaches to go deeper
Anatomy & Physiology	Introduction to yoga anatomy – organs and systems of the body, skeletal system, muscular system, and the biomechanical intelligence of the body Study all the major joints – movements, restrictions, muscular system, physiology, postural muscles Understand the muscular system – muscles for movement and alignment in asana
Philosophy	Study the timeline for an overview of the historical Yoga Lineages Understand how we got here: from the first schools of yoga all the way to the modern era Tantra and modern yoga Buddha and Buddhism’s influence on yoga Classical Yoga of Patañjali =>Yoga Sutra study The Bhagavad Gita
Ayurveda	Understanding the Five Elements (Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth) The Three Doshas (3 main mind/body principles that create special mental and physical characteristics) Examine the basics of a Yogic Diet – You Are What You Eat
Yogic Practices	Esoteric Anatomy (the anatomical system of conscious energy within the body) Chakras (energy centres) Mudras (seal or locking energies) Bandhas (energy locks) Vayus (energies of the breath) Nadis (system of passageways through our bodies where we transform and move the energy of the breath)
Pranayama	Study the basic techniques for breath awareness Learn reclining pranayama for activating the ribs, then the lungs Learn Ujjaii 1, Ujjaii 2, Viloma & Nadi Shodhana Learn the benefits of deep relaxation Practise yoga nidra Kriya – explore the traditional basic active cleansing techniques
Meditation	Start a daily practice during the training with guided meditation techniques Daily journal exercises to contemplate the challenges and the rewards of meditation Begin a self-practice of basic meditation Learn the basics of teaching meditation
Teaching Methodology	Study the art of teaching Observe the structure of classroom dynamics Practise teaching one-on-one with fellow teachers Practise teaching small groups of 2-5 students Contemplate your key motivations for teaching and realise that by knowing them, you can use them to teach from the core of your being Establishing your teaching voice with exercises and feedback Introductions & closing exercises for professional classes The art of good demonstrations Ethics to consider as part of committing to the path of yoga and the seat of a teacher Explore confident and welcoming body language