Overview
Take the leap, transform your life
Our Vancouver Teacher Training Program runs for eight months, from October to May. Students meet one weekend per month to go over a comprehensive curriculum and body of yogic teachings. Then, they have homework, meditations and other assignments to integrate and study more in depth what was learnt during the weekend.
The Aquarian Teacher Training Level 1: Foundation® is the first level of a three tiered KRI Certified Teacher Training Program of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Upon the completion of this transformative course you will become a Certified Kundalini Yoga instructor and qualify to apply as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYS®) at the 200hr-level by Yoga Alliance. Throughout this 220 hour, 8 month course, you will be part of a supportive, yogic community who will share this deep experience into the teachings with you. Life-long relationships and deep bonds of trust will form that fulfill the longing of the soul for fellowship and spiritual community.
Program goals
- Gain a solid understanding of the powerful technology of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.
- Cultivate the skills, confidence and consciousness to be a Teacher of Kundalini Yoga and Leader of the Aquarian Age.
- Develop a spiritual discipline (sadhana) to live a life of higher consciousness.
- Develop a meditative mind for calmness and clarity.
- Expand into your excellence and face challenges with great sensitivity.
Registration and costs
To register for the program download this registration package. Read all forms and agreements completely, and fill them out legibly. Once completed they can be mailed to, or dropped off at:
Yoga West | 2662 W 4th Ave. | Vancouver, BC | V6K 1P7
Please note that you must need to submit a $100 non-refundable deposit with your registration forms.
Before you are admitted to the course you are required to attend a short entrance interview with the teacher trainers. Yoga West will call you after your registration package has been received to book an interview appointment.
Registration Deadline is October 4, 2010.
Costs
The total cost of the program is $3500*.
*This includes the non-refundable deposit fee of $100 but does not include the price of books nor the price of the White Tantric Yoga course.
Payment Plan
For the payment plan an administration fee of $150 is charged over the total tuition cost. The payment schedule is as follows:
By October 4, 2010: $1900 + $100 (non-refundable deposit)
By December 17, 2010: $825
By March 18, 2011: $825
All future payments must be made by post-dated cheques or post-dated credit card authorizations by October 4, 2010.
For your information
The following is included in the course:
- Course fees for all instruction (220 hours over 8 months).
- A retreat weekend (3 days and 2 nights), includes food and accommodation.
- 10 yoga classes at Yoga West (students responsible for cost of other 10 required for certification.)
- A one-year Membership to IKYTA - the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers' Association (value $130).
A discount of 20% is available to full-time students and seniors.
During training students receive 20% off yoga passes at Yoga West as well as 10% off from CD's, books and sheepskins.
Yoga West is registered with the province (PCTIA) as a post secondary education institution. Students receive a T2202A form which allows claiming the program on your taxes.
upDates
The weekend training begins at 6pm on Friday evening and ends at 4:45pm on Sunday afternoon. The sessions during the first seven months take place at our West 4th Avenue location in Kitsilano. The eight and final session happens at Camp Raj Yog, our retreat site at Sunshine Coast, BC. For this final weekend plan extra time to travel by ferry to the site and back to Vancouver.
On Saturdays and Sundays during training you are responsible for your own lunch. Dinner is provided on Saturday evening. And you are welcome to eat from the langar (free community meal) that is served after Gurdwara on Sunday afternoon.
In addition to classes, the curriculum and schedule devote a substantial amount of time and focus to: assigned meditations, reading, written work and two 3-hour practice teaching training sessions All this combined concocts an intense, transformative experience. Be prepared to allot your time accordingly. A strong commitment is required.
Training Schedule
Fridays: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturdays: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sundays: 9:30am - 4:45pm
| 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|
| October 16, 17,16 November 12, 13, 14 November 20 (White Tantric Yoga) December 17, 18, 19 |
January 14, 15, 16 February 11, 12, 13 March 18, 19, 20 April 15, 16, 17 May 20, 21, 22 (Retreat) |
White Tantric Yoga happens on November 20, 2010. Starts at 8am and finishes at 6pm approximately. Note that attending to this workshop is a requirement for certification. You can learn more about it at our events page.
Other dates
Practice sessions
The practice sessions are invaluable in terms of feedback from your fellow students and teacher trainers. It is mandatory to participate in 2 out of 4. Dates will be available here soon.
upCurriculum
The curriculum of the Aquarian Teacher Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Program is rooted in the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Alongside the 220 hours of class time and experience with the Teacher Trainers, the comprehensive manual The Aquarian Teacher and an anthology of lectures called The Masters Touch provide you with the theory and a deep understanding of what it is to be a Kundalini Yoga Teacher.
- The Aquarian Age consciousness
- Yogic history, philosophy and psychology
- Use of ancient techniques of mantra and sacred sound
- Breath (Pranayam)
- Kriya (sets): Asana, Mudra and Bandha
- Mind and Meditation
- Sadhana
- Yogic and Functional Western Anatomy (systems of the body, chakra system, the ten bodies)
- Humanology & 3HO Yogic Lifestyle
- Yogic Diet: Healing foods, herbs and food preparation
- Self transformation to the consciousness, essence and projection (identity) of a Teacher
- Yogi Bhajan's lecture and meditation videos
- How to prepare and teach a Kundalini Yoga Class
- How to market your class and present yourself professionally as a Teacher
Requirements for Certification
To successfully complete the course, students are required to:
- Attend all classes.
- Attend a minimum of 20 Kundalini Yoga classes during the course, outside of class time.
- Complete 15 Aquarian Sadhanas (daily spiritual practice done before dawn) including 10 group sadhanas.
- Complete 40 day meditation and other assigned meditations.
- Complete 1 White Tantric Yoga course.
- Participate in 2 out of 4 Yoga Practice Sessions*
- Complete a confidential evaluation.
- Attain recommendation of the lead trainer for certification.
- Complete Mandatory Entrance and Exit Interview.
- Satisfactory performance in one (1) supervised public class at Yoga West or equivalent venue.
- Passing grade on the oral and written final exams.
- Acceptable representation of the Kundalini Yoga Code of Professional Standards and readiness to be a Kundalini Yoga teacher as determined by the Teacher Training Team.
Certification Standards
- Certified by KRI — The Kundalini Research Institute.
- Registered with PCTIA — The Private Career Training Institutions Agency of British Columbia.
- Yoga West is a registered school with Yoga Alliance. The Aquarian Teacher Level I qualifies for the 220-hour certification.
- Completing Teacher Training Level 1 qualifies you as a KRI Certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher and serves as the prerequisite for the five modules of teacher training level 2.
Teacher Training Team
Guru Raj Kaur Khalsa
Guru Raj Kaur Khalsa is the Lead Trainer of the Aquarian Teacher Training and founder and director of 3HO Vancouver and co-director of Raj Yog Nivas / Yoga West. She has been teaching Kundalini Yoga for over 35 years and has been training teachers since 1991. A member of the International KRI Teacher Training Executive Council, and a KRI Certified Level II Senior Trainer she travels internationally as a guest KY Teacher Trainer inspiring student teachers with her wisdom, sense of humor and her loving and radiant presence. She is also the Director of Khalsa Ladies Camp; Yoga West's annual spiritual retreat for women.
Gurudev Singh Khalsa
Gurudev Singh Khalsa has been a student of Yogi Bhajan since 1977 and life-long yoga practitioner of Kundalini Yoga. As a KRI Level I & II teacher trainer he has led teacher trainings in Universities and Yoga Centres. He has taught workshops related to yoga, meditation, and yoga-based self-improvement in Canada, the US and Mexico. His pragmatic approach to spiritual living in the modern world draws from the wisdom and techniques of the ancient yogis, his personal practice, and his lifelong passion for science.
Dr. Hari Dass Singh Khalsa
Dr. Hari Dass Singh Khalsa has been part of the Teaching Team for over a decade. He has been a skillful, energetic, and loving healer, Kundalini Yoga teacher, and chiropractic physician in Portland, OR. for over 25 years. He taught the Western Anatomy section of the first Masters Touch Teacher's Training Level I, in Espanola, NM, has taught Anatomy in the Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainings in Anandpur Sahib, India, Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR. He delivers the practical information about how the body is aligned and how it works. His presentation is engaging, humorous and accessible, which many students have found valuable to their personal spiritual practice and to their teaching of Kundalini Yoga.
Bir Kaur Khalsa
Bir Kaur has been instrumental in the development of Teacher Training in Vancouver over many years. She is a leader of the new generation of Kundalini Yoga Teachers dedicated to the transformative process of creating teachers. She is a Director of 3HO Vancouver.
Hari Singh Khalsa
Hari Singh Khalsa was one of Yogi Bhajan's original students. Besides currently holding the position of General Manager of Yoga West / Raj Yog Nivas, he's also a co-founder and a co-director. In 2006 he founded Khalsa Men's Camp, Yoga West's annual spiritual gathering for men, and has served since as the Camp Director as well. Inspired by the teachings of Yogi Bhajan, Hari Singh lives and leads a conscious yogic lifestyle that allows him to move through his busy life with strength and stability.
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