We are thrilled to announce Sarai’s first 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training! This training will deepen your knowledge and broaden your scope of what yoga is and how to share it with others. It will be led in person by our incredible teaching staff: Samara Speller, Rita Murjani, Lulu Soni, Azuri Jenkins, Amy Priya, Abigail Stevenson, Bryan Hogan, & McKenzie Dreher. Not only is it for those who wish to teach but also for anyone looking to embark on a journey of self inquiry through daily practice, intensive study, and a supportive community.

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DATES:

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Saturday, September 3rd, 12pm-6pm 

Sunday, September 4th, 12pm-6pm 

Monday, September 5th (Labor Day), 10am-6pm  

 

September 9th-November 20th:

Fridays 6-9pm

Saturdays 12-6pm

Sundays 12-6pm

 

All sessions and class observation hours must be completed in order to receive a certificate of completion. If you must miss a session it is your responsibility to schedule time with your instructor to make up those hours. The cost of any make up hours is not included in the original cost of tuition.

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WHY SARAI?

 

RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION

A small group (under 20 people) ensures you will feel personally attended to, be able to ask all of your questions, have more opportunities to practice-teach, and receive individual feedback throughout the training. You’ll also become part of a close-knit community anchored in shared interest and experience.

 

STUDY A CURRICULUM THAT IS WELL ROUNDED AND NON DOGMATIC

A non dogmatic approach to yoga means our teachers are trained in a variety of lineages including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Traditional Hot, Katonah, Restorative, and Prenatal Yoga. Students often ask what is the “right” and “wrong” way to do a pose. The answer is “it depends.” It’s not that anything goes, but if the pose isn’t serving the person doing it there are ways to adjust it so that it will, without losing the integrity of the pose or further reinforcing existing habits or limitations. 

 

LEARN TO TEACH FROM THE GROUND UP

Most trainings teach you how to teach a group of people, but not an individual. We’ll teach you how to teach one person first and build your way up to teaching a full class. You’ll receive personal feedback each step of the way. 

 

WE VALUE COLLABORATION

A collaborative approach means we don’t pretend to have all the answers or to be the definitive authority on all things yoga. We believe that questioning tradition is healthy and that everyone who participates in this training has something valuable and unique to offer the group by way of their life experiences, training in other modalities, and perspectives. 

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CURRICULUM:

 

MAHA SADHANA: THE COMPLETE PRACTICE

Consistency is key to an effective yoga practice. Each weekend day we will begin with a 2 hour group practice that will include asana, pranayama, and meditation. We will build from the foundation up, safely progressing to more advanced postures, more technical breathwork, and longer sits to establish a practice that is both sustainable and progressive.

 

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY: FORM & FUNCTION

Using the world’s most advanced 3D anatomy platform we will explore the human body and how it functions in relation to yoga practice. We will discuss anatomical differences among bodies and how yoga asana can be utilized for any body. You will develop the skill of observing students’ bodies with the purpose of offering options that are both fitting and functional.

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ASANA CLINIC 

What you see when you look at a yoga posture is only the surface of all that is happening within it. When we hold a pose we are always moving different parts of us in different directions at once, traversing the terrain of our body with our mind. Together we will precisely break down each yoga posture as well as how to embody it. Learn variations of each pose so that you can best serve the range of people who come to your class. 

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YOGA HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, & ETHICS

Learn the origins of Yoga and what it truly means. We will dive into the following topics:​

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• ​What is Yoga?

• Chronology of Yoga

• Meaning of: Om, Shanti, Namaste, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

• Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

• The Ashtanga Yoga System/ The Eight Limbs of Yoga

• Yamas & Niyamas

• The Subtle Body: Nadis & Chakras

• The Role of Prana: The 5 Vayus

• Mudras & Bandhas

• Pancha Kosha Theory

• The Upanishad: The 6 Enemies of the Mind

• The 5 Kleshas

• Samkhya Philosophy

• Dharma, karma, seva, sankalpa

• Ethics 

 

TEACHING METHODOLOGY

Teaching is an art and requires presence, patience, improvisation, astute observation and the ability to articulate your message clearly and succinctly. In this training you will learn nuanced and clear cueing that will set you apart from other teachers. You will learn how to teach to what you see and shift your plans accordingly. A great teacher sounds like themself, not anyone else. Learn to speak from an authentic and honest place and how to infuse that into your teaching. You will practice-teach to one person first, and work your way up to teaching the entire group. Even if you don’t intend to teach yoga after this training you will still learn how to read and command a room, be precise with your speech, and portray yourself in a way that garners others’ respect and attention. 

 

INTRO TO THE THERAPEUTIC PRIVATE

A private yoga lesson is very different from a group class and is a great way to address conundrums or questions that require more personal attention than is available in a group setting. Someone seeking a private lesson may be experiencing an injury, ongoing pain, or discomfort, lack of mobility, hypermobility, fatigue, anxiety, or another challenge. We’ll introduce some key concepts, poses, and prop setups that will be helpful to a broad range of people.  

 

HANDS ON ADJUSTMENTS

When a verbal cue does not suffice, hands on adjustments are an incredible tool to help redirect and reinform a student’s pose. Adjustments can help students get out of their own way, uncover blind spots, and understand where a tweak or a pull is coming from and how to remove it by reorganizing the pose. Learn and practice supportive physical adjustments on different body types in a safe environment. 

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SEQUENCING

“Vinyasa” is derived from the Sanskrit term nyasa, which means “to place,” and the prefix vi, “in a special way,” Understand how one pose gives birth to the next so that you can create safe sequences with intelligent progressions. Once you learn the family tree of yoga asana you’ll uncover the possibilities of where each pose can lead and how to teach each branch.

 

INTRO TO PRENATAL YOGA

Learn the basics of poses that are generally recommended for and contraindicated for different stages of pregnancy so that you may be able to include and safely teach pregnant people who come to your class. 

 

DIVERSITY, INCLUSIVITY, & SOCIAL JUSTICE 

Although the practice of yoga comes from India, in the West the yoga scene has been largely dominated by and marketed toward young, thin, white, wealthy, able bodied, cisgender people. This affects how people who don’t fit into those categories feel and are treated when they enter a yoga space. In this training we will discuss our experiences as well as how we can each work toward creating more inclusive and empowering spaces for all people. 

 

THE BUSINESS OF YOGA

Learn how to reach out to studio owners, prepare for teaching auditions, build an online presence, and connect with your students in a way that promotes the growth of your classes. 

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TUITION:

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Early Bird Pricing (until August 6th)

$3,000

 

Standard Pricing (after August 6th)

$3,300

 

Reserve your spot with a $500 deposit and fill out the registration form. The deposit is nonrefundable and may be paid via check or Zelle (see registration form).

 

Upon receipt of your deposit you will receive a list of required texts and homework assignments. Tuition must be paid in full by August 31st via check or Zelle.

 

SCHOLARSHIP:

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We are offering one full scholarship to a Black, Indigenous, or other Person of Color (BIPOC). To apply, please fill out the registration form by July 31st. No deposit is required. The recipient will be notified by August 3rd. 

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Update (August 3rd): This scholarship has been awarded.