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Introduction

The City Fitness 300-Hour Yoga Teacher program is designed for health and fitness professionals and yoga teachers who are interested in gaining a well-rounded foundation for teaching yoga. This full program is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 200-Hour Level.

The 300-Hour Samayama program is a 10 month commitment and includes our Core Fitness Professional Course, Samayama Basic Course, CPR, and Skill Development Workshops, and participation in Samayama Yoga classes (both attending and student teaching) at City Fitness which are required contact hours by the Yoga Alliance. In addition to the mentioned contact hours, structured home study, practice, and journaling are required.

All segments of the course may be taken individually by teachers or practitioners wanting to deepen their own practice or teaching.

We call our program Samayama Yoga. In Sanskrit, Sama means equal, evenly distributed, the divine quiet and peace. Yama means self-discipline and a code of moral conduct. Our goal of Samayama Yoga is to help teachers and students reach perfect mastery through self-discipline, equanimity, and divine peace, ultimately leading to the knowledge of Self.

Samayama Yoga is grounded in many teachings, including those of: Ashtanga, Yogi John Friend’s Anusara Yoga, and well-known Yoga Erich Schiffman’s ground-breaking work. His book Moving Into Stillness will be read as part of the course.

Teaching yoga is more than leading a class in an exercise program. Our training focuses on giving you the tools to guide others to experience their own practice, realizing freedom and inner self, including:

Philosophy
Study the oldest system of personal development. Explore Vedantic philosophy, Pantajalis 8-limb path, the nature of the mind and the spirit. Discuss yoga becoming mainstream. Investigate the “New American Yoga” and its roots. Begin to teach yoga as “service” and learn the yoga teacher’s code of ethics.

Anatomy & Physiology
Learn the three main elements in Hatha yoga; the benefits of Asanas and Pranayama, both physically and energetically; how alignment affects the body; and how to recognize body types and tendencies. Discuss the physiology of stress reflex and relaxation response.

Science & Technology
Asanas: Learn the teaching techniques for Asanas, including the science of the spine and methods for precise, safe alignment, and the correct approach to hands-on adjustment. Learn how to use sequencing, timing and music. Pranayama: Learn the principles of prana, and the effective use of the breath in practice and different pranayama techniques. Investigate the subtle link between the body and the mind. Explore the nadis, chakras and effects of guided relaxation.

The Art & Skill of Teaching Yoga
Learn the keys to effective teaching and the principles of correct sequencing including demonstration, observation, assisting and correcting. Learn how to lead a class, the use of voice, touch, momentum and presence. Review class participation, structure and environment for mixed levels of classes.

Samayama Course Descriptions

Core Fitness Professional Course
7 sessions · 28 hours
See full description and schedule

Both Western and Eastern styles of exercise are built on basic knowledge of the body. Learn the basic nutrition, anatomy, physiology, injury prevention and business tools to become a well-rounded fitness professional.


Samayama Basic Course
10 sessions · 50 hours
See schedule

Through teaching asana, we share the power to strengthen, balance and heal. Through teaching pranayama, the link between the mind and body, we share a valuable tool that increases vitality, relives stress, and enhances health. And finally, by teaching relaxation and meditation techniques, we encourage students to access deeper state of consciousness, collect their thoughts, develop concentration skills and learn how to be more effective and perceptive. This 50–hour course can also be taken by yoga teachers and practitioners who do not wish to enroll in the full 300–hour program.


Skill & Practice Building Workshops
Variety of sessions · 27 hours
See all descriptions and schedule

Workshops are all part of the 300–hour curriculum and attendance in 22 hours is required to receive certificate of completion for the course. Participants not registered for the 300-hour course are able to take these workshops on a “per class” basis.

Raja Yoga
Michael Plasha

East Meets West: Blending Yoga
and Strength Training

Elie Cossa and Lucinda LaRee

Yoga Flow Sequencing
Judy Shapiro

Structural Yoga Therapy
James Foulkes

Tantra Yoga
Michelle AVA


Balance of Program Hours
In addition to the traditional classroom time listed above, our full course includes a combination of reading, journaling, self-practice, regular class attendance and an in-depth mentoring program. In the mentoring phase, we pair you with one of our master teachers who helps guide you through teaching small sections of a class to the point of leading a full class on your own. Times and dates are arranged privately with you and your mentor teacher.

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Training & Professional Services:
» Core Fitness Professional
» Become a Personal Trainer
» Become a Fitness Instructor
» Samayama Yoga
» Workshops & Master Classes
» On-site Fitness Programs

Samayama section:
» Basic Course Schedule
» Skill and Practice Building Workshops

Samayama page:
» Program Introduction
» Course Descriptions


Photo: Tai Chi
Photo: Samayama Pose
Photo: Tai Chi
Photo: Samayama Pose


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