International Basic Programme
(ITP), Minimum Yoga Teacher
Standards of International Yoga Federation The International Yoga Federation have this
International Basic Programme (ITP), Minimum Yoga Teacher Standards, this
programm is the same in Latin American Union of Yoga, European Union
of Yoga, European Yoga Federation, European Yoga Alliance Asian Union of
Yoga, and Yoga Alliance of Africa International Yoga Federation has worked carefully
to construct MINIMUM standards for yoga teachers. We also recognize
that many individual teachers , schools, ashrams and national yoga federations
that train teachers exceed these standards. These standards are designed
to be broad and inclusive while providing a meaningful assurance of quality
to those who depend on the IYF is selecting their yoga teachers. International Basic Programme (ITP) proposed to the Yoga teachers' training
Schools (summary) AIMS The IBP wishes to offer the students the means
to develop one's knowledge, abilities and qualities required to become competent
Instructors, Trainers and Yoga Teachers and to provide them with the essential
basis which will allow them in the long term to deepen the study of Yoga
philosophy, Science and Art, principles and techniques. Such teachers should be able to pass on the Yoga
methods to their students, in a way to help them to understand the true
essence of Yoga, to improve their physical and mental well-being and to
provide them with the necessary elements to their spiritual development.
They should teach Yoga in being faithful to the
Ancient Wise Men's teachings, while being conscious of the wide development
of Yoga today. This implies studying and analysing various traditional paths
of Yoga, in order to promote the invaluable qualities of soupleness and
tolerance which have always been the prerogative of the Yogic thought. . Yoga is Science,
Art and Phylosophy of Life What essentially Yoga can bring
to our global society is precisely the reverse processus, which gathers
and centres these faculties This gathering and centering
experience can be found only by practising Yoga. This practice leads little
by little and at all levels towards a state of harmony. Immediately, this processus
improves our physical condition and our understanding of life. Yoga is not Religion, but is Spiritual Science
International Yoga Federation has worked carefully to construct International
Basic Programme (ITP) and MINIMUM standards for yoga teachers.
We also recognize that many individual teachers , schools, ashrams and national
yoga federations that train teachers exceed these standards. These standards
are designed to be broad and inclusive while providing a meaningful assurance
of quality to those who depend on the IYF is selecting their yoga teachers.
Yoga Instructors' and Trainer of Yoga training Schools
Yoga is Spiritual Education
The goal fo Yoga is the Samadhi
With out Samadhi nothing is yoga
Today, our human faculties are subject to be scattered
faster than ever.
Practice affects the methodic re-education of our attitudes as well as the
control of the body, control of the breathing, of the senses and of the
mental for the harmony of spirit and control of feelings.
Yoga is a search of the self, based on an inner practice and detachment. In this perspective, the International Basic Programme (IBP) proposed to the Instructors', Trainers' and Yogateachers' training schools, encourages a personal evolution towards the Essential while offering the SPIRITUAL, theoretical and practical means necessary to the teaching of Yoga, as Science, Art and Phylosophy of Life
Yoga is a inner and personal adventure and it represents
work of a lifetime. So, it cannot be possible to intellectually judge a
spiritual development.
Knowledge
(summary)
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
a)India :
1) Its religious and philosophical traditions, its history and its culture
Veda |
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the 6 orthodox Darshana |
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the epics |
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Hinduism |
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Jainism |
Tantrism |
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Sikhs |
Buddhism |
2) Its médicine : Ayur Veda (cf. Pradìpika).
Texts : concerning of this two points :
Bhagavad Gìtà |
Upanishads |
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Patanjali Yoga Sutra |
Samkhya Karika | ||
Hatha-Yoga-Pradìpika |
Gheranda Samhita |
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Shiva Sutras |
Viveka Chudamoni |
b) the West :
1) Its religious and philosophical traditions, its history and its culture :
(No suggestion is made under this heading to give entire freedom to each Training school to develop this section as it wishes).
Texts : the Scriptures
Mystical texts
2) modern Sciences :
(Studying man: anatomy, physiology, psychology, holistic health).
COMMENT :
The teacher should know the fundamental importance of Ashtanga Yoga, to be able to apply the sutra in his/her own life and to emphasize their importance in his/her teaching of Yoga. The teacher should be able to teach the main themes of Bhagavad Gîtâ and Upanishads. S-he should practice svadhyaya through the study of the Indian texts and the Sciptures of his/her own tradition.
MODES
(summary)
Admission to the training courses
the candidate should :
have already practiced
for a minimum of 2 years |
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present proof of it |
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show enthusiasm for her/his practice and be sufficiently motivated to become a teacher |
Duration of training :
4 years minimum |
500 hours minimum of teaching |
courses outside the training School but approved by it. |
2 years minimum |
350 hours minimum of teaching |
courses outside the training School but approved by it. |
1 years minimum |
200 hours minimum of teaching |
courses outside the training School but approved by it. |
COMMENT :
The basic programme should aim to encourage the candidate to develop her/his capacity to transmit Yoga to her/his students in a way to improve the quality of their life. The candidate should show a real desire to share and pursue the experience of Yoga.
At the end of her/his training, s-he should show that s-he conformed with the aims, the quality criteria and the conditions of the International Basic Programme.
Controls :
Assessments take place during the training to ensure the quality of the acquired knowledge. To sit the final examination, the candidate will have shown regular attendance and a responsible attitude all along her/his training.
Final Examination:aThe choice of methods for the final examination is left to the Yoga Master (Yogacharya). It should include a spiritual part, meditation part, practical and oral part as well as a written part.
Examples :
- Presentation of a dissertation of 40 à 60 pages
- A written test on twenty questions which cover the training programme
- To attend a viva about the dissertation
- to give a Yoga practice session
-to give Meditation practice session
- To sit a written examination on the main subjects
- to answer any question coming from his Yogacharya or Master.
COMMENT :
The most important quality is the candidate's motivation. However, as the assessment is always subjective, it should be carried out by several examiners. The main point is to assess if a candidate is capable of teaching Yoga in a responsible manner and of transmitting the essential principles of Yoga. It should be clear for the candidate as well as the examiner that such an examination is not like an academic degree. The examination should assess the candidate's maturity in her/his practice of Yoga rather than her/his knowledge.
The assessment methods should be conducted with
care and should aim to a positive result. The examination is not the only
proof of success. It is important to keep in mind that the candidate's behaviour
all along the training period should also be a reference. At the end of
the course, the training teachers should be convinced that the candidate
has acquired the basic knowledge to teach Yoga as well as the capacity to
transmit the great Tradition of Yoga, and that s-he would be able to encourage
her/his students towards a deep inner research.
Teaching methods
(summary)
The art of teaching implies to be able to pass
on the spirit and the techniques of the Yoga tradition. The teacher should
:
adapt the teaching to the students in order to guarantee their safety ( cf. contraindications) |
offer a gradation in the session (warming-up, stretching, tonic, relaxing exercices, etc.) |
structure the progression of one-year course |
make the students aware of health issues and the source of well |
COMMENT
The teacher should be able to adapt her/his teaching to the students' condition, inorder to meet their individual needs and to respect their limits.
S-he should be able to develop a course within
several lessons and to progress step by step according to the planned scheme
towards the proposed aim. The teacher is advised to get used to the various
methods of teaching, in order to choose the one which suits best her/his
students' need
COMMENT
The teacher should be able to adapt her/his teaching to the students' condition, inorder to meet their individual needs and to respect their limits.
S-he should be able to develop a course within several lessons and to progress step by step according to the planned scheme towards the proposed aim. The teacher is advised to get used to the various methods of teaching, in order to choose the one which suits best her/his students' needs.
Ethics
(summary)
Ethics in the relations :
- of the teacher with himself or herself,
- of the teacher with her/his students,
- of the teachers between themselves,
- of the teacher with the outside world in the respect of all forms of life.
COMMENT :
The absolute trust in the Master who gave generously his teaching to his student and the respect of the taught thing have contributed to pass on this ancient art in a flautless manner. But today, Yoga has to spread in a way that it must be grafted on other plants on other lands, which means to be vigilant if its integrity and its efficacity have to be preserved without being misrepresented.
It is expected from a yoga teacher to be aware of the relation between her/his practice and her/his daily life and to apply the experience of her/his practice in the various life circumstances. S-he should be aware of the way to apply Yama and Niyama in human relationships. S-he should consider life as a challenge here and now and be capable to concentrate on what s-he does without being attached to the fruits of her/his actions. A teacher should be aware of her/his responsibility towards her/his students, respect the private character of the relationship and should avoid to behave like the only authority on the subject of Yoga.
200 Hour Standards
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500 Hour Standards
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