Teacher's Path

YOGA TEACHERS PATH
Are you looking to take your yoga practice to the next level? Are you ready to teach others the ancient art of body-centered restful awareness?
If you’d like to learn to share the timeless wisdom of yoga, meditation,
or Ayurveda, email Shanti@shantiyoga.com.au

• Yoga Teachers training - govt. accredited & austudy approved
• Short Courses and Workshops
• Ayurveda
• Meditation

YOGA TEACHER TRAINING (YTT) CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Yoga Teacher Training (Govt. accredited and austudy approved) program is taught in the following stages:

Cert IV in Yoga Education
Diploma in Yoga Teaching
Advanced Diploma in Yoga Teaching.

Each stage has the following steps:
Step I
Upon payment and registration for the YTT program you will receive a Home Study Kit that will include your training manuals, DVD, CDs and all the recommended books for the training.

Step 2
In the course of your study, you will be fortunate to attend a week-long retreat with Shantiji at the Shanti Yoga Nirvana Meditation retreat and explore the depths of yoga healing and meditation that could balance, heal, restore and transform your life. In this 8-day (7 night) retreat, you will touch the soul of your Shanti Yoga and meditation practice each morning and evening, dine on Ayurvedic vegetarian cuisine and meditate with a small group of like minded individuals.
Each residential session at the Shanti Yoga Nirvana Meditation retreat includes light breakfast, daily lunches, manual and course materials, yoga classes, meditation, asana practice, mantra study, yoga sutra instruction, Sanskrit study, chanting, anatomy classes and various discussions with Shantiji and staff members.

Step 3
Your formal yoga teacher training will also include a seven day preparatory non-residential practice program at The Shanti Yoga™ Meditation Institute on the Gold Coast.

Step 4
Your ten months home study, review, practice and assignments from Modules 1-10 to be completed. During this home study period, teachers in training will need to participate in yoga practice, instruction, study and research with the materials provided by The Shanti Yoga Teacher Training program. Faculty members will be available during your ten month at home study period via email (approximately every two weeks). The total amount of time spent in practice, study and course prerequisites for each Government Accredited qualification will be approximately 600 hours.

Step 5
Final six day certification non-residential program at The Shanti Yoga™ Meditation Institute on the Gold Coast.
Additional Requirements
This can be done before, during, or after the residential part of the training. However, it must be completed in order to receive your Yoga completion certificate.
—Complete a local CPR program and supply a copy of the certificate.
Upon graduating from the certification course, instructors will be authorized to use the appropriate title eg. Cert IV,
Yoga Education; Diploma in Yoga teaching etc.

To learn more about 2007 Yoga Teacher Training and yoga retreats, email
Teacher News
We are proud to bring to the world our new graduate classes of Certified Yoga, Meditation, Ayurvedic Lifestyle
Consultants and Massage, Beauty and Bodywork. Congratulations!
Association News

YOGA EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAM
A preparation for teaching and life  The Meditation Institute is a non-sectarian organisation and provides equal access to our facilities and
courses to all people, regardless of race, colour, creed, gender, origin, etc. We are sincerely happy to be of assistance to all of you who have become students of the original and classical Yoga. Our earnest desire is to help you to expand your consciousness about the essential Truths, presented
through these incomparable teachings. Those who knock at the door of spiritual opportunity with their best efforts will always find it swings open. 
Calm your mind, counteract stress and tension, tone your muscles, acquire suppleness, stimulate your circulation and achieve overall health and fulfilment through the timeless practical philosophy and beneficial powers of  Shanti Yoga. A unique and effective system, designed with carefully graded movements, postures, breath and mind control techniques that unite body, mind and spirit for health and fulfilment. 

Shanti Yoga is a path which cultures the body and senses, refines the mind, civilises the intelligence, allows the soul to glimpse its Spirit and rest in the Self, at the core of being.  More than physical, it is cellular, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. It involves the entire being and teaches the highest principles of spiritual living. These include control of the mind-body, until you are its master and meditation combined with activity. The practice of Shanti Yoga results in an ease-ful body (without dis-ease), a peaceful mind and a useful existence. 

Teacher Training is an integrated and advanced program of Leadership development that includes 
• Yoga education 
• Yoga personal and professional development 
• Yoga wellness
by combining various Yogas and disciplines and various elements of Yoga, such as postures, breathing, esoteric studies, meditation, relaxation, work and life skills. 

The industrial revolution is over…with a major shift. We are no longer looking for the work we have been habituated to doing for the last 200 years.  We are asking, “What work does the planet want of
our species in the next thousand years?”  Because of the disorder inside, we have reigned disorder all around us. Everywhere people are asking, “What can I actually do that will make the difference?” And the answer is so simple that it's disconcerting at the same time. Each of us can work to put our own inner houses in order.  The knowledge of how to do this comes from our wisdom traditions, not from our science and technology.  It is our belief that there is no other profession so rewarding - or needed by the world, as teaching Yoga. The world, career paths, the 'job-market',  people’s interests and needs have changed.  Yours may have too. You may be ready to entertain the possibility of going beyond your  9  to 5  job, 
and equipping yourself, learning to teach Yoga within the expanding field of mind-body health. 

Many people see the viability of becoming health educators, or expanding their existing health care practices to incorporate the principles and techniques of this holistic healing science. The benefits of
this course do not extend to mere physical health, but include mental health and spiritual wellbeing, which can affect how we approach our work, our relationships and our environment. 

To succeed - to reach thousands of students over a lifetime, you need superb training. Down the road, a successful Yoga teacher must ultimately work for her/himself - organise her/his own life, time, classes, advertise, possibly be entrepreneurial, even hire other teachers, and be financially
independent.  This takes training and specialised skills.  The Meditation Institute is offering a comprehensive Yoga Studies, Teacher-Training and Leadership Development program to equip you with such skills.  

TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
Yoga is a system of lifetime learning. Some subjects can be taught without conviction, Yoga cannot!
Spirituality cannot be bought in the market-place. As the popularity of Yoga grows, so does the demand for suitably qualified Yoga Teachers to teach and guide people safely and effectively. The Meditation Institute provides on-going training and access to professional education and support to
deliver such training and reduce the likelihood that the public may be subjected to, or disadvantaged by unprofessional practices of course providers. The Yoga community and the wider community in general will ultimately be benefited with a superior standard of product. 
Learn to teach Yoga safely with easy-to-follow step-by-step guidance specially chosen to work on all the bodily systems by renowned Yogi and living master, Shanti Gowans. Shantiji has explained and exemplified all the traditional aspects of Yoga. She has rediscovered and systematised a whole range of postures, breathing and meditation techniques, making them available to Yoga practitioners of all levels, throughout the world. 
Through our Teachers' Training Program, from the fundamental principles and practices of Yoga and their use in everyday life, to advanced study, TMI would like its graduates to eventually become full-time Yoga teachers and Yoga therapists who earn a healthy living through this noble profession. 
Even if you don’t intend to teach Yoga, and some of our students don’t (at first, anyway), you’ll find that preparing to teach is a wonderful way to learn. In the meanwhile, you will experience the healing and transformational effects of Yoga within yourself.

Shanti Yoga is formative together with being informative. While it does not have for its end mere acquisition of knowledge, it develops natural talents and also shapes you to absorb and express the permanent values of Yoga. It stimulates your power of expression, both written and oral, at every
stage in accordance with the highest ideals attained by the great literary luminaries in the intellectual and moral spheres. It takes into account the full growth of a student's character, including the totality of relations that lead a student to the highest self-fulfilment of which she/he is capable. A study of forces, movements, motives, ideas, forms, in the art of creative life-energy through which it has been expressed in different ages is a single continuous process. While equipping the student with appropriate scientific and technical training, we will not sacrifice an ancient form or attitude to an
unreasoning passion for change;  nor do we retain a form or attitude, which in the light of today can be replaced by another truer and more effective expression of Yoga to capture the spirit afresh for each
generation to present it to the world.

The time for knowing yourself has come. Ultimately to be a Yoga teacher you need to be a Yogi, which  means going beyond the postures and physical aspects of Yoga and embracing Yoga as a complete way of life. We offer you all blessings and encouragement towards a life of dedication and example. This comprehensive Teacher Training program will enable you to  penetrate the profoundity of Yoga, which takes you from the surface of the skin to the depths of the soul. We share in your journey into wholeness and delight.

PRE-READING
• As a Twig is Shaped. Shanti Gowans
• Autobiography of a Yogi. Paramahamsa Yogananda
• Living with the Himalayan Masters. Swami Rama
• A Search in Secret India. Dr. Paul Brunton
• Jonathan Livingstone Seagull. Richard Bach
• Illusions. Richard Bach
• Ayurvedic Health & Wellbeing. Shanti Gowans
• Perfect Health. Dr. Deepak Chopra
• Radical Healing. Dr. Rudolph Ballentine 
• Reflections of a Meditation Master. Shanti Gowans
• Reversing Heart Disease. Dr. Dean Ornish
• The Prophet. Kahlil Gibran

OVERVIEW 
Education and training at each qualification level is designed to increase competencies and further specialisation within the systematic and coherent body of Yoga, provide on-going professional development, training and support, including access to the literature and research for indepth understanding in a specific area of knowledge. Education and Training courses are intense periods of self development, dedication, study and training in human excellence. Please come prepared to learn and work. The courses are mines of information for prospective and practising teachers of Yoga, with several levels of study. The material and practices are all geared towards practical application in your own life, and in the lives of those around you. So that you regularly update your skills and knowledge with the latest developments, The Institute recommends obligatory further education for ShantiYoga teachers. 

Through our Teachers' Training Program, from the fundamental principles and practices of Yoga and their use in everyday life, to advanced study, TMI would like its graduates to eventually become full-time Yoga teachers and Yoga therapists who earn a healthy living through this noble profession. 
Even if you don’t intend to teach Yoga, and some of our students don’t (at first, anyway), you’ll find that preparing to teach is a wonderful way to learn. In the meanwhile, you will experience the healing and transformational effects of Yoga within yourself.  At the Institute, Shantiji takes a personal interest in the student, inspiring and encouraging them to
achieve distinction in their studies and enters into their lives with a view to form ideals, remove psychological obstacles, and create in them a spirit of consecration. Development of respect for the teacher, a spirit of effort, study, and service towards all including the teacher, the Institute and
ShantiYoga™ arises in adopting the attitude of the student. Course Requirements for the full-time fixed program (on campus):
The training program offers the opportunity to complete an Advanced Diploma in Yoga Teaching,
either
- over a minimum of 3 years as a full-time fixed program (2 years for Diploma in Yoga Teaching) 
- or the opportunity for distance education with flexible learning and one week per year at retreat, and another intensive week of training at the Institute. Both weeks are inclusive in the fees.

Each year develops trainees to a particular level and while some trainees may elect to complete all three years of the program, others may find the first or second year sufficient for their purposes. The entire course is structured at 1800 hours.

Whist training is set to a number of hours, trainees are encouraged to take a self-directed learning approach. Thus a person can choose their own pace and learning style and can invest additional hours as they wish in order to derive more benefit from the training provided. All these three course are govt. accredited. Post graduate and further studies follow, presenting several subjects complimentary to each other, some of which are structured sequentially and are university style education. Each training year has requirements for the Advanced Diploma, plus a set of more general requirements which must be satisfied in order to progress to the next level. Demonstration of progression in terms of an explicit list of personal compencies is essential for progression to subsequent years and a Personal Process Journal. 

Entry level for teaching is a one year course in foundational studies, course no. 30334: Cert IV in Yoga Education. Foundational studies in the first year (Cert IV) introduces trainees to the core principles of the Yoga discipline through an integrative approach of theory, skills and practice. There is a component of attendance and completion of personal training hours on the mat/meditation cushion with an approved ShantiYoga instructor, or via CD, DVD, video, etc. for distance education; at retreats, lectures and training sessions, written work and study of prescribed texts.

The main focus is on establishing an initial experiential familiarity with the basics of Yoga. This is followed by a one year instructor course no. 30335, Diploma of Yoga Teaching. In the second year (Diploma) training builds on the basis of the first year, but emphasises application of the principles of working with people under supervision. Neither flashy techniques nor clever interventions are seen as essential abilities for the teacher of Yoga.  Rather, authentic relating, presence, clear self awareness and unfetted observation constitute the underpinning requirements of Yoga teaching at the Diploma level. There is a component of: attendance at retreats, lectures and training sessions with class participation; essay on prescribed text, personal process essay, two seminar presentations on Yoga.
By the third year trainees hone those skills to a high level of competence to a Master Instructor, course no. 30336, Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching. At Advanced Diploma the Yoga teacher is a midwife, assisting a process which has its own natural rhythm of unfolding and which primarily
requires an ability to be finely tuned to the training components and the needs of the moment.

Study groups are structured by trainees throughout the three years, providing a forum to extend learning and build mutual support in the study process. A manual of exercises and discussion topics is provided which can be used in the study sessions. During the training year, 45 hours of group study time must be completed. They may contain between 2 to 4 participants. The structure is flexible in terms of frequency and duration.

 
Residential training is an effort to revive the traditional method of Gurukula system of informal education of India, i.e. Guru Shishya Parampara. References from the classics of Yoga indicate that a student with the blessing of their own family, joins the family ashram/teacher after an oath of initiation and learns the science and discipline both theoretical and practical aspects and acquires other knowledge and life skills enabling him or her to become a good member of society. Please understand that these are not retreats, nor merely workshops, although we do conduct many retreats and workshops which you are able to attend. 

TEACHER TRAINING (GOVERTNMENT ACCREDITED) COURSE
STRUCTURE

COURSE PHILOSOPHY

Knowledge and skills are essential in Yoga practice, and are underpinned by a fundamental faith in human resilience and the ability of people to uncover their own truths. The aim is to equip each person with a strong theoretical and philosophical grasp of Yoga as well as assist them to a point of personal integration and readiness to work with others in a Yoga framework. A climate of authenticity is fostered in the training and each person is supported in their personal growth. A deepening of awareness and responsibility is facilitated and trainees are encouraged to have faith in their own wisdom. 

LEARNING
The program is designed to constantly integrate personal meaning with theory and demonstrations.  The aim is assimilation and understanding, not rote learning.  The emphasis is on trainees taking responsibility for their learning process, identifying their unique learning style, and thus using the set training as a springboard for their learning journey rather than the endpoint. There is a constant endeavour to grasp abstract principles such as 'self-responsibility', or the 'I-Thou' dialogue and find ways to live them in relationship. 

The learning goals are supported by a complete list of competencies which outline the theoretical knowledge, personal competencies, and practice skills necessary for the Teaching of Yoga.  Trainees are encouraged to set their own learning goals within this framework according to their interest,
inspiration and areas in which they need development.  

Training sessions constitute theory presentation, discussion, exercises, individual therapy work, feedback, working with the large group process, and exploration of the field each person brings. Whilst a new topic may be introduced each training session, the emphasis is equally on process than
content.  This means that although it is important to get through the theoretical material set, there is always time and space for participants to reflect and digest the material, and for any personal issues which arise to be addressed.

Progression from year to year is not automatic, but on the basis of assessment by both faculty and trainees of themselves. The criterion used are the competencies framework for personal, theoretical and
practical skills, the completion of theoretical/written assignments and reading, attendance at training sessions, and completion of the matwork hours quota for the year.  feedback is ongling, and the aim
is to support the successful and balanced development of trainees. This is achieved through peer, self and trainer examination.  

TRAINING
The training is akin to a journey, inviting people to stretch, work through unfinished business, take responsibility for their lives, get in touch with messy feelings and generally go through a process of
transformation. It can take trainees to places in themselves they hardly knew existed. What is required is a willingness to experiment, to chart new territory and learn more deeply from previous experience.
It is fundamentally about becoming more of who one really is, with an enriched vocabulary of expressiveness whilst acknowledging the validity of the way each person supports themselves. Although this is what we may long for, the process of actualising oneself requires going beyond what is familiar and comfortable.

The course is not just about running up a certain number of hours, collecting a bag of skills, or being able to repeat the theory. The criteia for successful continuation and eventual completion is weighed
primarily in terms of personal development and attitude, rather than solely measures of objective knowledge. 

Knowledge is valued, but only in the context of the wisdom which comes from personal integration. What is looked for in the student is a eagerness to learn, to explore themselves, to stay with what is happening, to hang in with the difficult processes and flow with the joyful ones; in all a commitment to one's own growth and a willingness to dialogue. The training is an invitation to plunge into ever more authentic living; this requires the development and fostering of a certain kind of courage. 

The rewards are always high, and the learning gained can form the basis of a lifetime of rich self awareness. Yoga is primarily an approach to living. It is not possible to split the personal and professional into two discrete parts. Genuineness, freshness and aliveness are themes which cannot be
limited to one aspect of a person's life.  Thus the training focuses on developing clear, moment-by-moment awareness in the individual as well as teaching the skills and knowledge necessary for practice as a professional.

TRAINING MAP
UNDERSTANDING THEORY: • Training Sessions • Classes • Retreats • Journaling • Study group • Concept maps • Reflection • Background reading • Writing /Assignments

PRACTICE SKILLS • Daily living • Training sessions • Classes • Retreats • Study group • Work • With family and friends

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT • Reflection • Journaling • Work • Daily Living • Training sessions • Study group • Personal Therapy • Retreats

ASSESSMENT is based on:  Understanding theory;  Practice skills; Personal development and includes: • Assignments • Attendance at Training • Trainer Observation • Ongoing Feedback • Concept maps • Peer evaluation • Self evaluation • Competency exam

STUDY OPTIONS
Regular full-time courses in Australia are conducted on an on-going basis under Shanti Yoga™ trained teachers in centres on the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. 

Commitment to attending your regular classes during the period of study is a prerequisite for 

i. certification 

ii registration 

iii. placement 

iv. employment through us and 

v. for admission to further study with us.  Standards are very high. 

Please be sure to read through all related material for a thorough understanding of the course and requirements.  It is the student's responsibility to keep up to date with course dates and times to fulfil graduation requirements.  

You have two choices, Internship and face-to-face learning or distance education:

1.   FULL-TIME FIXED & Face to face learning  • 100% physical attendance at lectures and workshops is strongly recommended. •  80% attentive attendance at all lectures, tutorials and workshops is highly advised.

The Full-Time Fixed Programs are ideal for  those students who wish to complete their qualifications in the least amount of time possible. As the programs are accelerated they are also very demanding.
You will need to ensure that you have adequate home study time to keep on top of your workload. Having a support network such as friends and family is also greatly beneficial.  Being together in a close environment for the duration of your course you also form strong support network with
classmates.   Entry to these programs is by interview. This can be arranged by contacting administration on +61 7 5531 0511

In Yoga training you learn, assist, attend classes on the yoga mat & meditation cushion under supervision - nominal 15 hours/week, per year for each of Cert IV, Diploma & Adv. Diploma at the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. In addition (see calendar for dates):  i. 
several residential retreats (on the Gold Coast only) or non-residential week-ends (in Melbourne)  ii 
Level 1 tutorials - Gold Coast on Saturdays, monthly or thereabouts.          
Melbourne monthly tutorials, Sunday, from 10am-
 4.30pm.   All other students are offered a residential week in retreat with Shantiji (8 days, 7 nights) on the
Gold Coast.

2.  FULL-TIME FLEXIBLE
If you cannot commit to a fixed format but would still like to study full time then the Full-Time
Flexible program will work for you.  By following the shortest flexible suggested study plan on our
course outlines you will be able to design your timetable to create your own full-time program.  This
is especially important if you are not a morning person. 

3.  PART-TIME FLEXIBLE
If you are working full time or have too many commitments then you can structure a part time program of study to suit your life.  Being a part time student you are able to increase or decrease your your next terms workload in accordance with your life's
fluctuations.  Financially the flexible format can be beneficial as you pay per subject.

4. DISTANCE EDUCATION
Off Campus. Self-Paced  When HOME is too distant, you can join the information highway from your own lounge room. Off campus distance education is by correspondance, via CD or notes, video, home study, Yoga diary. In addition to your class attendance and involvement, for Melbourne & Sydney students, three-day
intensives and lectures are scheduled annually in the Yoga calendar. 

Courses are available for self-paced, home study. Notes provided are complete and are: Easy to learn Uses a main point outline method of presentation. Course notes are exceptionally clear and well
organised as well as remarkably concise.  With audio and video back-up where necessary:  It has become possible for students living in isolated locations to study this course at home while still having confidence that the techniques are being learned correctly. Written for Westerners:  Simplified so that somewhat archaic formats and complicated Sanskrit language has been re-written in English. Comprehensive:  Includes basic principles & practices. Practical:  The material and exercises are geared towards practical application in your own life and the lives of those you will assist/instruct Time Effective:  With home study, you save time. You can start when you like, study at your convenience, retain your
current job and lifestyle, set your own pace and have ample time for completion. There is no class room competition.

5. WEEKENDS

5i.
Weekend Workshop:   Weekend intensives are offered for many courses and are a great alternative to weekly classes. Usually they run for 7 hours per day over weekends. They accelerate your learning. Pre-reading and post course assignments are recommended, as not all week-end courses have a final exam. Some are residential.
Accommodation fees may apply. 

5ii.
Weekend Retreats: To refine and deepen your practices and for added input, Friday to Sunday, with live-in facilities for far away people.  Accommodation fees may apply.

6.PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
While yoga classes are an effective way of learning and practising, yoga remains an entirely personal practice. We believe that there comes a time when students are best served in a one-on-one
relationship with a teacher. Some appropriate times to have private lessons include: - getting started with yoga, especially if classes seem     overwhelming or intimidating - when your practice seems to have plateaued - when you have had an injury or are recovering from illness - when you keep encountering the same blocks or problems. Private lessons are generally 60 to 90 minutes long. Private lessons are held either at your home or at our locations where we can provide the props and environment that meet your needs. Rates for private instruction: $75 1 hour, $95.00 for 90 mins. 

ENTRY CONSIDERATIONS, ELIGIBILITY, SUITABILITY
SUITABILITY You do not need to be fantastic in Yoga to apply. We help you develop through our training. Whether you take up Teacher-Training - to any level, as a hobby or part-time pursuit, The Shanti Yoga Meditation Institute aims to develop full-time professionals. So, we ask a lot from you:  • Commitment • Dedication • Devotion are mandatory.  

Enrolment is conditional.  We look for trainees that are •  Mature, dependable, responsible  •  A caring nature required in the teaching of Yoga and for     Ayurvedic treatments, body-work, counselling •  Prepared to make and devote time •  Devoted to (i) the art of Yoga (ii) furthering Shanti Yoga    (iii) The Meditation Institute •  Pull their weight and are not shirkers or slackers •  Have and/or are willing to develop good communication     and interpersonal skills •  Willing to practice and learn. We do not accept trainees that 'know it all'  •  We recommend a nominal 15 hours a week in class on yourmat/cushion, which is additional to
retreats and tutorials.  You must attend ShantiYoga™ classes and get your     Attendance Diary signed by an instructor nominated by TMI