Teacher Training
The Richmond Integral Yoga® Teacher Training Program has been offered since 1999. The certification course meets the high standards and hours required by the Yoga Alliance, the National Registry of Yoga Teachers and Integral Yoga® International. Students will receive direct instruction from the main leader: Vimala Nora Pozzi, E-RYT500, C-IAYT, PRYT, YCaT, and a qualified team of certified integral yoga teachers who support the program as mentors and presenters of various topics contained in the syllabus.
The IYC, the first Yoga Center to offer a yoga teacher training program in Richmond, has trained more than 150 yoga teachers since 1999. The Integral Yoga® Center of Richmond is an affiliate of the International Integral Yoga® Institutes with headquarters in Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville. Its founder and spiritual leader, Sri Swami Satchidananda, was invited to came to the US in the 70’s to share his vision of Peace and Harmony for all people.
Vimala, an experienced senior yoga educator and trainer, created and developed this unique training in 1999. Her goal, at the time, was to meet the demands for a non-residential training in Richmond for her long time advanced students and to have more Integral Yoga Teachers available to supply the growing demand for classes at the Integral Yoga Center of Richmond.
The quality of a yoga teacher, according to Vimala’s experience, resides in his/her ability “to know oneself”, the essential teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda. She also believes that the most important aspect of being a yoga teacher is presence and authenticity, commitment to one’s personal yoga & spiritual practice, as well as to the students and the desire to serve. This can be only implemented with skills to communicate and convey the information in a manner that the students will understand, no matter their particular way of learning. This, was also learned from her teacher, who used to teach “Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate” and “Truth is One, Paths are Many”.
Vimala’s experience and expertise in the adaptation of yoga to meet the needs of different populations (cancer & heart disease, seniors, kids, teens, pregnancy, PTSD and other mental health issues, prisons and youth at risk, as well as hospitals and corporations) has made this program very comprehensive and unique, although not an easy one. She keeps studying and training in yoga therapy and other modalities to make yoga accessible to everybody, and continues to incorporate them into her training, making it an organic always changing and improving very practical educational and transformative system.
Eventually, this training, which focuses on developing a yogic lifestyle and establishing a strong daily spiritual practice, while geared towards teaching/mentoring others into the path of yoga, is essentially an opportunity for self-growth and self-inquiry. This journey fosters personal transformation of one’s life where the Goal of Integral Yoga® may be fulfilled: “An easeful Body, a peaceful Mind, a useful Life”, a universal formula for Happiness.
This 6-month long Teacher Training is offered once a year. Our next Training will start in the Fall of 2019 and end in the Spring of 2020. The highlight of this program is the 4day-3night Yoga Immersion Retreat at Yogaville, that offered direct teachings from most senior disciples of Swami Satchidananda in the various aspects of yoga, plus 3 meditations per day at various shrines of the ashram, 3 all-you-can-eat vegetarian meals, interfaith celebrations, and so much more.
Several Informational meetings will be offered before the training starts to explain the nature of this program and meet the main teacher and staff, as well as graduates of the program who will share their personal experience, In addition we will have available our Training Manual, textbooks, and program requirements.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, send us an email to inquiry about the upcoming meetings or to set up a personal meeting to address your questions.
DISCLAIMER: The yoga therapy components of my instruction and/or practice are based on my Certification by International Association of Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and PRYT, not derived from my status as an RYT® with Yoga Alliance Registry
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