Local enthusiasts interested in getting certified to teach yoga will have the opportunity to do so this Fall. Cain Carroll of Prescott’s Yoga Shala will be offering a 200 hour standard and 500 hour advanced program beginning in August 2007. The advanced Yoga Teacher Training is one of only a handful of such programs offered in the state of Arizona.

The 200 hour standard Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program will begin in August of 2007 and will cover in-depth study of the following areas: yoga asana (postures), mantra (chanting), meditation, yogic philosophy, yogic texts, anatomy/physiology, diet, therapeutic applications of yoga, basic Sanskrit and more. Graduates receive certification and national recognition as an RYT (registered yoga teacher) with the Yoga Alliance. This certification is recognized by potential employers both nationally and internationally.

The 500 hour advanced YTT program begins in September 2007 and will offer those already certified at the standard level the opportunity to take their training deeper. This program will cover the same areas addressed by the 200 hour training but in greater detail. The course is broken into four educational modules: Warrior – Courage, Discipline and Self-Mastery; Scholar – Study, Contemplation and Insight; Mystic – Love, Devotion and Transformation; and Healer – Restoration and Wellness. The modules can be taken in any order, but completion of all four modules is prerequisite to certification.

Both courses will be taught over one weekend intensive each month to accommodate various schedules and those who plan to attend from out of town, as well as the needs of those with families. Planned graduation dates are March 3, 2008 for the 200 hour course and June 30^th, 2008 for the 500 hour course.

Teaching these courses will be internationally acclaimed yoga teacher Cain Carroll, co-owner of the Yoga Shala Studio and co-author of Partner Yoga: Making Contact For Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Growth (Rodale Books, 2000.) In addition to teaching at Yoga Shala, Carroll has taught YTT courses at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe and has mentored over 200 yoga instructors.

“What distinguishes Yoga Shala YTT courses,” said Carroll, “is the emphasis on the individual’s direct experience.” Carroll offers this approach in contrast to certification courses which focus instead on imparting information received through a particular yogic lineage or tradition. Participants in Yoga Shala’s YTT courses will be encouraged to develop their own yoga practice and unique teaching style.

The 200 hour course is open to anyone wishing to deepen their experience of yoga and personal exploration (whether or not they intend to move on into teaching yoga on a professional level.) The 500 hour course is open to anyone already currently certified at the standard level.

Interested parties should call (928) 443-8973 for more information or visit www.YogaShalaArizona.com