Anusara yoga is among the newest schools of yoga. The subgenre advocates life-affirming philosophies that draw on ancient Indian ideas of Tantric beliefs and of the intrinsic goodness of all people and life. This type of yoga, which translates as "following your heart" or "glowing with nature," was founded in 1997 by John Friend. The school of hatha yoga celebrates the strength of all practitioners and the uniqueness of all, according to Anusara.com. Unlike in stricter schools such as Ashtanga, Anusara teachers retain creative control of their classes and, since the practice is still new, it is still changing and evolving and the community of teachers has a say in how that happens.
Prerequisites for Teacher Training
Unlike many other yoga teacher trainings, Anusara has a strict prerequisite before you set foot in the yoga studio or classroom. It is required that you have experience with yoga and that you have attended a 100-hour Anusara Immersion class before you may register for the Anusara teacher training. Yoga Kula, in Berkeley, Calif. holds the Anusara Immersion program and requires that their students have taken 30 hours worth of Anusara classes before taking the Immersion. According to their site, the immersion teaches all the postures from Level 1 and 2 Anusara, philosophy of Anusara and anatomy.
Teacher Training
To graduate from the Anusara Yoga Teacher training, you must complete 200 hours of lessons. According to Anusara Yoga Teacher Trainer and Ph.D. Betsey Downing, the course teaches alignment principles, how to structure a class, using effective and heart-oriented language and variations for injured students and beginners. The course builds on the framework taught in the Immersion class. There is often written homework and projects such as attending yoga classes of different styles and submitting reports about what you saw and learned.
Graduation Is Not the End
Once you graduate from your chosen Anusara teacher program, many of which are held in nine consecutive weekend sessions, you have authority to teach as an "Anusara-inspired" yoga teacher, according to Anusara.com. It is expected that you will gain experience teaching Anusara yoga for a year or two before preparing to gain your final certification.
Post-Graduate Anusara Studies
The final phase of certification involves taking a written exam that is expected to take 30 hours to complete as well as submitting one or several video of your class for reviewman. These videos eventually reach John Friend, who will call you to congratulate you if you make the cut as a licensed Anusara Yoga teacher.
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