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WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR PARTICIPATING IN TEACHER TRAINING? There are no educational requirements; however, prospective students should have a regular yoga practice (2-3 times per week) of at least six months. The 200-hour training will cover fundamental asana (poses), vinyasa (flowing sequence), pranayama (breathing), philosophy, meditation, and teaching techniques from the beginning. WHAT STYLES OF YOGA ARE TAUGHT IN THIS TRAINING? You will learn to teach your practice in Yoga Garden’s yoga teacher training. As a way of learning how yoga works and how to share your personal understanding of yoga with others, we teach the physical practice using vinyasa (flow) and breath-based movement from the Ashtanga method combined with an anatomical understanding from the Iyengar method to deliver a safe and strong yoga practice. This training is designed to give you the tools to understand how to teach the poses effectively and how to sequence the practice for a desired result. The style you adopt will naturally come from your own practice as an evolving form. WILL I BE READY TO TEACH AFTER COMPLETING THE BASIC 200-HOUR YOGA TEACHER TRAINING? You will begin teaching early in the training, to give you the experience of growing your teaching from a place of practice, with curiosity and confidence. You will learn methods for teaching asana and pranayama. In practice teaching sessions will learn how to effectively communicate the information to others, find your voice, and develop language that is authentic and unscripted. WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO TEACH YOGA? I JUST WANT TO DEEPEN MY PRACTICE. DO I HAVE TO PRACTICE TEACH? Yes! Many of our trainees chose to join the teacher training program in order to deepen their practice, learn more about yoga, and find a community of like-minded yoga practitioners. Whether or not you choose to move forward as a yoga teacher, the teacher training will revolutionize your perspective on what yoga really is and help you integrate the practice into your life in a deeper, more meaningful way. Check out our testimonials page to hear more from our graduates! DO I NEED TO BE CERTIFIED TO TEACH YOGA? Most yoga studios, health clubs, fitness centers and holistic centers require a minimum certification of RYT200. Yoga Garden’s 200-Hour certification enables you to register through Yoga Alliance® as an RYT200. Yoga Alliance® is the largest nationally-recognized professional association for yoga teachers and schools. Yoga Alliance® maintains standards for both 200-Hour and 500-Hour level certification programs. Once you have completed your 200-Hour level training, you can apply for registration through Yoga Alliance®, upon which you can use the title RYT® (Registered Yoga Teacher). I ALREADY KNOW THAT I WANT MORE THAN 200 HOURS OF TEACHER TRAINING. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? Once you have completed Yoga Garden’s 200-Hour Basic Yoga teacher training, you can further your education through continuing education programs in your chosen area of interest: Ashtanga Vinyasa, Therapeutic Yoga, Prenatal, Children and Teens, Ageless, and Restorative, for example. Yoga Garden offers a 300-Hour Advanced Yoga teacher training, which qualifies you for Yoga Alliance® RYT500 certification. Our Pro-Elite membership enables you to take all 500 hours of training plus an annual membership and unlimited workshops for one low monthly payment. HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE TRAINING? Our yoga teacher trainings typically have between 10-20 students. This capacity allows us to work closely with each student, insuring quality interaction, individualized attention, and effective group dynamics. HOW MUCH TIME WILL I BE EXPECTED TO SPEND ON HOMEWORK? Reading and writing assignments will be made in each class, which may take up to one hour per day to complete. Immersions are very intense work periods, and participants should not plan other significant activities for their duration. Lunch breaks are scheduled, but that schedule may change, based on the instructors’ discretion, and work may be assigned during that time, so do not schedule other activities during planned lunch breaks. Plan on spending 1-2 hours of homework for every 6 hours of scheduled class time. ARE BOOKS INCLUDED IN THE TUITION? Most of your learning resources will be provided through an on-line lesson management system (LMS). Additional books required for the training are available for reasonable prices on Amazon. Many students purchase digital versions of the texts.

• The Path of Yoga: An Essential Guide to Its Principles and Practices by George Feurerstein, published by Shambala

WHAT IF I MISS A CLASS OR A WEEKEND? To get the most out of your yoga teacher training, it is important that you attend the first week of the 28-day program or the first three weeks of the 12-week program. Introductory concepts and course pedagogy are established and are necessary for the remainder of the program. If you miss class sessions (up to 20 hours) you may still complete the program with your class provided that you schedule a private session (or group session) with program faculty or their designated assistant within 2 weeks of the missed session. Private make-ups are charged at the private instruction rate. You may make up missed sessions in another training, as space allows. Make-ups are scheduled through your online training resource, LMS. You will incur a $50 fee per make-up session, all sessions of which must be completed within one year of your training for certification. Any minutes lost due to tardiness are recorded and must be made up. Classes start and end on time and you are responsible for the material and minutes missed at the beginning of class. Certificates of Completion are not awarded until all attendance and payment requirements are met. For more details, please see the "Make-Ups" section below. ADDITIONAL FEES Each pregnancy is unique and affects the mother differently. Based on our experience, we do not recommend participating in YGSF200 during pregnancy. YGSF200 emphasizes teaching and practice, making it a rigorous activity requiring your full capacities. We recommend that you wait until after your pregnancy to attend this program. If you are intent on attending the program while pregnant, you must participate in a telephone conference with our Admissions Manager or Advanced Studies Manager, where you will review the risks and responsibilities of attending the program while pregnant. If you become pregnant while in the program or feel your participation is compromised by your pregnancy, you may continue the program at a discounted rate at a future date. I HAVE AN INJURY. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING? Each student’s situation will be considered individually, and evaluated based on your yoga experience and your general health. I AM COMING FROM OUT-OF-TOWN, OR OUT-OF THE COUNTRY. CAN YOU SUGGEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE AREA? San Francisco is a tourist destination that welcomes long and short-term visitors. These accommodation resources are provided as a convenience to our students. We cannot guarantee availability nor satisfaction with your experience (though we believe every business listed here to be a reputable provider). The San Francisco hotel tax will be added to room rates, unless otherwise noted. THE METRO HOTEL Conveniently located across the street from Yoga Garden SF at 319 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 Phone: 415-861-5364 | Email: [email protected] or visit their website here. All rooms feature a television, a full and recently renovated bathroom, free wi-fi, service and housekeeping. Sample Rates:

• One double bed: $76.00
• Two twin beds: $87.00
• Two queen beds and one double bed: $130.00 (we can help you find others to share with if you wish).

DAY’S INN CIVIC CENTER 465 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 864-4040 daysinn.com This is an easy one-mile walk from the studio and is located in one of SF’s hippest neighborhoods, Hayes Valley, and adjacent to San Francisco’s civic center. CASA LOMA HOTEL 610 Fillmore St San Francisco, CA 94117-2696| Telephone: (415) 552-7100 A budget hotel that allows stays of up to 28 days. Rooms range from budget single with a shared bathroom at $41.65 per night to superior single at $65 per night. For bookings and information please refer to their website.  VACATION RENTALS BY OWNER (VRBO) For a list of rental apartments and houses, you can refer to the vacation rental by owner website. There are a number of places listed in the “Haight-Ashbury” area, that will offer attractive monthly rates. AIRBNB Airbnb connects travelers seeking authentic experiences with hosts offering unique, inspiring spaces around the world. Airbnb is a trusted online marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world. Unlock local experiences and travel through the eyes of a local. Visit Airbnb on their website. CRAIGSLIST Craigslist offers an extensive list of available accommodation in San Francisco for temporary housing or subletting. This list changes frequently, so refer to their website for an current list of availability, and contact information. YOUTH HOSTELS Although youth hostels can be a more affordable option, due to California law, there is a maximum stay of only 14 days per hostel. However, there are three different “Hostelling International” hostels located in San Francisco, so it could be possible to move between hostels during your stay. Refer to their website for availability: Locations and contact details: San Francisco City Center Hostel: 685 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 474-5721 San Francisco Downtown Hostel 312 Mason Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 788-5604 San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel Fort Mason, Building 240 San Francisco, CA 94123 Phone: (415) 771-7277 DO YOU OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS OR WORK-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS? Yoga Garden SF does not offer work-exchange for the 200-Hour Teacher Training or Advanced Studies. However, we do offer work-exchange in return for regularly scheduled yoga classes. If you are interested, apply HERE! CAN I ATTEND CLASSES FOR FREE AT YOGA GARDEN DURING THE TRAINING? Yes! During the training, you can attend one class per day of regularly scheduled weekly classes at Yoga Garden. You also receive a Teacher Training Unlimited Yoga Membership during your program. For the Full Time Immersion, your membership includes your training month, plus an additional month either before or after. For the Part Time Extended training, your membership is valid for your three months of training. IS THE DEPOSIT REFUNDABLE? Yes, cancellations are accepted up to 14 days prior to the start of your training; if you choose to cancel, your $500 deposit and any associated payments will be refunded to you. If you withdraw from your training 14 days or fewer before the start date, you are liable for the full balance of your teacher training tuition. No exceptions granted. CERTIFICATION Certificates (and by association, confirmation of RYT-200 status through Yoga Alliance) will only be granted to students who participate in all hours of the training and/or all make-ups required, and who have fully paid their tuition. Each student will receive one hard copy and one electronic copy of their certificate on the day of graduation or the day of their last make-up, whichever is later. Additional hard copies of certificates may be requested at a fee of $35 each. ATTENDANCE Students may only miss up to 10% (20 hours) of the training. If you miss more than 20 hours of training, you may be un-enrolled from the training. You are still responsible for full payment of the training and, should you default, will be referred to collections. To receive certification, students must retake the training again at full price. A discounted price is available on a space-available basis. Attendance is mandatory for the first week of the 28-day program or the first three weeks of the 12-week program. During that time, essential course pedagogy and introductory concepts are taught that are necessary for the remainder of the program. If you expect that you will miss part of the beginning of a 200 hour training, we recommend that you wait to start a training until you know you can be present for the beginning. Any minutes lost due to tardiness are recorded and must be made up if amounting to 50 minutes or more. Classes start and end on time and you are responsible for the material and minutes missed at the beginning of class. MAKE-UPS Students who have missed up to 20 hours of the training may make up the hours in two ways: 1) Schedule a private session with your instructor ($125/hour) Depending on the content of the missed coursework, make-up time ratios may vary from 1:1 to 1:4. 2) Join a future training for the day(s) you missed, as space allows ($50 administrative fee per session missed) All make-ups must be completed within one year of your training. Please log into the LMS and view the module "Schedules: Current and Future Trainings". List the dates and times in your preferred training that include the content missed. Make-ups may only be requested through the make-up form. PAYMENT Payment for the 200-hour program must be made in full before the end of the program and in order to receive a certificate of completion. Students who register with a deposit of $500 must pay off the entire balance within 14 days of the start of the training. If the full amount is not paid in time, this payment option will be converted into an automatic payment plan and the $400 advanced payment discount will be forfeited. Students who do not pay the full cost of the training by the last day of the training may be referred to a collections agency. All costs associated with collection will be the student’s responsibility. CHECK HERE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE DETAIL OF YOGA GARDEN SF POLICIES