Go to: Mission • Philosophy • Training Objectives • General Information • Faculty • Program Dates • Admission Criteria • Application • Acceptance • Tuition & Fees • Payment Plans • Refund/Cancellation Policies

Orbis Yoga Teacher Training Program

Located in the Clifton Center: 2117 Payne St., Suite 301, Louisville, KY 40206 502.454.4449

Mission

It is our mission to share the joy of the yoga with those who aspire to deepen their personal journey through intensive study, practice and commitment to the yoga path.

Philosophy

Yoga offers powerful tools that enable us to stand tall, be strong, and move skillfully and gracefully in the busy, hectic world in which we live. More than a physical practice, yoga enriches our lives mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. Through Precision Alignment Yoga, Orbis Yoga Teacher Training endeavors to provide students with a sound, solid foundation in yoga posture alignment and technique and practices to enhance growth and development of body, mind and spirit. Our program is based on the classical eight limbs of yoga. We welcome those who wish to join us in our journey.

Training Objectives

Students will develop a personal yoga practice to provide an experiential basis to study, learn and grow physically, mentally and spiritually.
Students will learn foundations of posture alignment, breath and meditation and be able to teach beginning and advanced beginning yoga classes.
Students will understand basic physical anatomy and physiology as it relates to yoga postures.
Students will learn how to correct common alignment problems, offer adaptations and/or modifications and assistance in teaching yoga postures.
Students will be able to design a series of basic yoga class for beginners.
Students will learn basic energy anatomy as it relates to the practice of yoga.
Students will be able to discuss and explain the historical roots of yoga, describe different kind and styles of yoga and their distinctions.
Students will be able to name and discuss the 8 limbs of Classical Yoga.
Students will learn the application of yoga on and off the mat.
Students will participate in community service as a practice of seva (selfless service).

General Information

Precision Alignment Yoga
Precision Alignment Yoga emphasizes alignment principles to improve form and techniques in yoga postures. You will learn correct, precise ways to position the body in order to gain maximum benefits from the postures and avoid injury. You will explore and discover how aligning the body can bring balance to your physical structure, while also helping align its energetic pathways. This balance allows “prana”, the vital life force energy, to flow freely throughout our entire being. With an aligned structure, the organs have the space and freedom to function properly and from that the systems of the body have the opportunity to work as they are designed.

The Orbis Yoga Teacher Training Program is an intensive, 300 hour in-depth study of yoga based on Precision Alignment Yoga as developed by Betty Larsen and John Charping (shown at left).

This program is nine-months in duration and will consist of weekly 3-hour classes, one 7.5 hour class per month and 2 weekend workshops. Course content will include foundations of posture and alignment, breathing and meditation practices, physical anatomy and physiology, energy anatomy, history, philosophy and ethics, teaching methodology and community service.

At home practice, and reading and written assignments are a part of this study. Students will be evaluated on class participation, written assignments, observed teaching and adherence to the Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct for Yoga Teachers. Upon successful completion of the program including all in-class hours, written assignments and projects, students will receive a 300 hour yoga teaching certificate from Orbis Yoga Teacher Training and will be eligible to apply to Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 level (RYT 200).

Orbis Yoga Teacher Training Faculty

OYTT Director and Primary Teacher

Linda B. Smith BS, George Peabody College for Teachers; MEd, University of Louisville

200 Hour Certification from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, 1996
1,000 Hour Certification from the Southern Institute for Yoga Instructors, 2003
17 years experience teaching yoga classes
Owner of Orbis Yoga Studio since 2005
ERYT 500, Yoga Alliance, 2011

Faculty

Betty Larsen MSW in Clinical Social Work, The University of Tennessee

International yoga teacher certification awarded by B.K.S. Iyengar, Puna, India, 1988
Over 30 years experience as a yoga teacher, trainer, administrator
Founder and former director of The Yoga Room of Nashville, administrator and senior teacher
Co-founder and former Curriculum Director of the Southern Institute for Yoga Instructors (SIYI)
Aesthectician
Artist and Sculptor

John Charping MSW, PhD, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University

CYI, Certified Yoga Instructor since 1989
Currently teaches numerous workshops on yoga, pranayama, holistic health and mindfulness
Co-founder and former Program Director for the Southern Institute of Yoga Instructors (SIYI)
Musician and Entertainer
Professor for 19 years in the graduate program at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work

Helen McMahan MA, Human Development, University of Chicago

Over 30 years experience as a teacher, trainer and therapist
Author of over a dozen audio tapes on meditation and yoga
Author of a book of guided meditations, “The Heart Has Its Seasons”
Creator, author of the “Weekly Astrological Weather” (subscription newsletter)
Current owner of The Orbis Farm, a retreat center dedicated to personal growth and spiritual development located in southern Indiana
Previous owner of Orbis Personal Growth Center (now, Orbis Yoga Studio) for over 20 years

Program Dates

Start: October 5, 2011

Completion: June 30, 2012

Admission Criteria

Age: You must be at least 18 years of age.

Physical, mental and emotional preparedness:

This program is an intensive study that will be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. To be admitted, you must demonstrate medical and mental-health readiness to fully participate. Additionally, you must be able to support the group learning process and may be denied admission if it is determined that your participation would in any way be a detriment to a safe and cohesive learning environment.

Yoga Experience:

In this training you will be expected to establish a daily yoga practice and participate in class sessions that may involve several hours of posture instruction in a day. One or more years of yoga experience is desirable. At a minimum, six-months of a regular yoga practice is necessary to benefit from this program. It is suggested that your practice has included ongoing yoga classes as opposed to studying only with books, videos or attending workshops.

Application

The application pdf can be downloaded here. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read this file. Download this free file here.

Acceptance into the Program

Your acceptance into the program will be based upon your application, references and a personal interview with the primary teacher. Intensive yoga study is a big step, involves time, energy and financial resources. The level of this study requires a mutual commitment from both teacher and student.

On review of your application, references and interview, a determination will be made and you will be notified directly by the primary teacher.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 300 hour training is $1575.

A $25 fee is due when you submit your application. This is a non-refundable processing fee and does not apply toward the tuition.

If accepted into the program, a $300 commitment fee is required to reserve your position in the class.

Tuition payment includes all classes required for certification including the monthly day-long and 2 weekend workshops.

*Tuition does not cover the cost of additional books that will be used as required reading text.

There is a program requirement that involves taking classes at other studio locations. Your tuition fee does not cover the cost of these classes.

Payment plan options:

Plan A

If paid in full by October 5, receive a 10% discount for a cost of $1417.50.

Plan B

Payments may be made in four installments @ $318.75 each

Quarterly installment due dates are October 5, December 7, February 1, April 4.

($1575-$300 deposit divided by 4).

Plan C

A monthly payment of $141.60 is due on the first Wed. of each month beginning October 5 and due the first Wednesday of each month through June 6.

($1575-$300 deposit divided by 9).

*Note: If you do not remit quarterly or monthly payments by the designated due dates, you will not be permitted to participate in class. It is important to honor payments as due.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

This is an in-depth, intensive study and teacher training program for serious yoga students. Full participation, including attendance at all class sessions, completion of all written assignments and class projects is necessary and expected. Your final course evaluation for certification will be determined by completion of course requirements.

This training may be physically challenging at times and will require considerable time, commitment, energy and financial resources. Please consider this carefully before submitting your application.

Students who cancel before September 30 will receive a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee.

Students who cancel after the course begins on October 5 will be charged for classes attended and refunded the remainder of any payment minus the $300 commitment fee.

If, due to medical or family emergency it is necessary to miss a scheduled class, a make-up class will be required. This may be scheduled with the course instructor and there will be an additional charge of $50 an hour for the make-up class.