Q: What are Judi and Laurie’s qualifications for these trainings?
A. The program will be taught by Judi Harvin, E-RYT 500, YACEP of Soul Farm Retreats. Judi has been a yoga instructor for nearly 25 years and has led teacher trainings since 2011. Assisting her will be Laurie Schryver, RYT 500.
Q: Do I need to attend the Immersion, the Teaching Skills, and the retreat if I want to be certified?
A: Yes. You are required to receive 200 actual training hours to be certified. All of the modules need to be attended to be certified.
Q: What if I want to be certified but miss a class?
A: We will record the class and you will have one week to watch. You will need to demonstrate the concepts you missed in the class.
Q: Am I required to attend all classes if I am not interested in certification?
A: No! This is your practice and learning experience. We will record classes for you, but it is up to you how you take advantage of this program.
Q: I hate quizzes. Do I have to take them?
A: Well, if you want to be certified, we will ask you to take them so we know if you are learning the skills we are presenting. This helps us know if we are instructing you well! If you are simply doing the Immersion, it is up to you. But, it’s a great way to make certain you are digesting the material.
Q: What style of yoga are you teaching us?
A: This training explores the classical style of yoga as described in the Yoga Sutras. It is a wonderful, basic, foundational training, not linked to any newly created styles. Instead offers a very basic knowledge that can be applied if you decide to explore something different.
Q: If I decide to teach, what does this training qualify me to instruct?
A: Our goal is that after this training, you are able to competently instruct a beginning, or all-levels yoga class.
Q: I am interested, but this training is 1-2 hour drive from my home.
A: We have considered that this will be a commute for many students. That is why we have minimized the number of in-person classes. Only you can decide if the additional commuting time is worth it. However, we feel that in-person is the only way to be interactive, create a community, get personal feedback and be able to learn to teach effectively. We also feel the commute home will be a marvelous time to digest the day’s material!
Q: What topics are covered?
A: Topics covered in the Yoga Immersion include: chakras, basic Ayurveda, Subtle Anatomy (koshas, vayus, prana), basic philosophy and history, anatomy, and detailed exploration of over 50 asanas. The Teaching Skills component includes cueing, sequencing, class structure, adjustments, interaction, legal issues, ethics, and more.
Q: I am a beginner. Can I do one or both of these components?
A: Yes, you can. However, it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of the poses before beginning. You may just need to work a little harder to learn the basics, but we will be right there with you.
Q: What requirements do you have for students interested in taking this training?
We recommend that you are physically capable of a basic yoga practice. Can you easily get on the floor and stand back up? Can you safely practice in an beginners class? If you have an injury, are you able to modify? We can discuss specific limitations with you to determine if the class will be enjoyable.
Also, if you are seeking certification, are you able to fully participate in the classes? Yoga can be a wonderful help in working with physical, and emotional issues. But, your participation in the classes is mandatory. It is scary to learn new skills and it feel vulnerable to begin teaching. We offer a supportive environment to learn, and we do require that you are willing to participate in practice teaching.
In addition, if you are seeking certification, please put the classes on your calendar, and be willing to put at least two hours per week of home practice into this training. Yes, it is a time commitment. We want you to be successful, and we ask that you review the time requirements against your other life commitments.
Q: Is there a payment plan for these modules?
A: Yes, we offer a plan of 50% paid up front, with two more installments to complete payment by December 1, 2025.
Q: What if I come to the first class and decide it just isn’t for me?
A: We understand that this is a commitment and you need to feel good about the training. We offer the opportunity to request a refund after attending the first online and the first in-person class. But, we think you won’t want to!
Q: What student should join us in the Yoga Immersion module?
- The yoga student who would like to learn far more about the practice of yoga than they receive in a weekly class or Youtube practice
- The experienced student looking to dive deeper
- The beginning student who wants to learn correct skills and alignment from the start
- A teacher, counselor or other professional who would like to share with others how this ancient science can benefit wellness
Q: What student would add the optional Teaching Skills module?
- The student who is interested in teaching yoga
- The practitioner who feels a Yoga Alliance approved certification will benefit them professionally
- A professional (teacher, therapist, trainer) who would like to share some of the practices with clients.
Q: What if I only register for the Immersion, but decide I would really like to teach?
A: Make sure you attend or watch all your Immersion classes, and you can add in the Teaching Skills module any time before it begins.
