Yoga teachers are, at heart, dedicated yoga students. As students, we are always learning, filling our wells and receiving deeper insights through continued practice and study. As teachers, continued study allows us to expand our repertoire and more fully develop our voices and yogic lifestyles. As practitioners, we seek a sangha, or community, with whom we can share our journey.

8 Limbs Yoga Centers, a state licensed vocational school, invites yoga teachers to join our 500-hour Advanced Teacher Training. Our goal is to provide a program and community to help you prosper – in your practice, in your studies and in your career as a yoga teacher. In this spirit, students will be exposed to a variety of texts, teachers and approaches. Not only will you receive instruction from senior 8 Limbs staff (each with at least 10 years of teaching experience), you will also have the chance to study with national and internationally renowned teachers such as Rod Stryker, Gary Kraftsow, and Sarah Powers, Shari Friedrichsen, Baxter Bell, MD, Nikki Myers, and Hala Khouri.

Most of our classes take place here in Seattle. Our locally-based education format gives students the opportunity to study close to home and integrate your studies “off the mat” into daily life. Enrollment for this program is ongoing. Participants can enroll a minimum of two weeks before the first module they want to take, and continue to register only for the modules they choose, as long as minimum requirements are fulfilled (see below).

Our 500-Hour Advanced Teacher Training will qualify participants for certification as a 500-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through the Yoga Alliance. You may join us as a 200-hour RYT through another school, or continue your studies at 8 Limbs upon completion of our 200-hour Teacher Training. This program provides the 300 additional hours of training for 200 hour RYTs to move to this next level of professional development. You may join the program at any time, and finish at your own pace.

“I seriously LOVED this past weekend of Teacher Training. I feel totally inspired and energized.

Signing up for your 500 hour program was one of the best decisions I have made. I am so pleased.”

With a lot of appreciation, Maria Williquette, MA, LMFTA, RYT

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Please join us for a Teacher Training Information Session to meet one of the Instructors in person, learn about the program, and ask any questions you have about our program. Info Sessions are not required for enrollment.

If you would like to be notified of future Info Sessions, speak to an Instructor or the Director before the next Info Session, or are unable to attend one, you may email the Admissions Coordinator at annephyfe@8limbsyoga.com with “500-hour Teacher Training” in the subject field.

500-HOUR TRAINING COMPONENTS

The 300 hours of study we offer follow Yoga Alliance Guidelines for 500-hour certification, which are:

• Beyond the Foundations of Yoga – 120 hours
  Study therapeutic and advanced asana, asana modifications and adjustments, traditional pranayama and cleansing techniques, restoratives poses, and specialties like Yin Yoga, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yoga for Healthy Aging, Yoga for 12-Step.
• Art of Teaching – 50 hours
  Develop your unique teaching style and voice. Learn new techniques in teaching, demonstration, observation and methods of assisting & supporting students. We also offer Non-Violent Communication courses to increase self-awareness and make empowering requests distinct from demands and expectations.
• Anatomy & Physiology – 25 hours
  Study physical and energetic anatomy and physiology and apply these principles to yoga practice.
• Philosophy & Yogic Lifestyle – 75 hours
  Examine principles of yogic lifestyles, Ayurveda for the seasons, healthy aging, ethics, social justice, and holding inclusive space. We will draw from the Yoga Sutras, The Upanisads, and from the health science of Ayurveda to support your personal practice and expand your practice of yoga on and off the mat.
• Teaching Practice – Practicum 30 hours
  Practice teaching in groups or one-on-one with mentor feedback. Learn in-depth tools to design asana sequences for intended themes.

As our program is flexible, exact hours will depend on the modules chosen. Of the 300 contact hours, the following minimums must be met:

• Techniques: 100 hours
• Teaching Methodology: 10 hours
• Anatomy/Physiology: 10 hours
• Philosophy, Ethics, & Lifestyle: 25 hours
• Practicum: 25 hours

In addition to the Core Training Components listed above, we offer studies in Art of Seeing, Ayurveda, Buddhism, Business of Yoga, Creating a Teaching Specialty, Pranayama, Pre/Postnatal Yoga, Restoratives, Subtle Anatomy, Therapeutics, and Yin Yoga.

APPROXIMATE SCHEDULE FOR WEEKEND MODULES*

• Friday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
• Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Sunday, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

* Prenatal Teacher Training Modules generally run Wed-Fri, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

The 500-Hour certification program offers regular 3-day learning modules. Modules are 20 hours of class time. To graduate you must take a total of 300 contact hours, or 15 modules (the Advanced Training Retreat II counts for more than one module). Registration for modules are only open to enrollees in the 8 Limbs 500-hour Teacher Training Program.

Students can participate in these modules at your own pace as budget and schedule permits. Visiting teacher weekends will be enhanced and supported by 8 Limbs senior teachers. You may complete the program over as many years as needed, your enrollment fee covers the first three years of your training. An additional $100 will be charged for each three-year period.

• Step 1. Send or deliver Application Form, Enrollment Form, $100* Enrollment Fee, Headshot, and Copy of 200-hour RYT Certificate** to 8 Limbs Yoga Centers a minimum of two weeks prior to your first Training Module
• Step 2. Email the Admissions Coordinator at annephyfe@8limbsyoga.com to say that your Enrollment is on the way/delivered.
• Step 3. We will confirm your completed Enrollment within two weeks of receipt.
• Step 4. Register and pay for individual modules once your have received notice of acceptance.
• Step 5. Apply for RYT Certification when a total of 15 modules are completed.

*As of July 15, 2015, Enrollment Fee for graduates of 8 Limbs 200-hour Teacher Training Programs is $50 per three years of participation.

**8 Limbs 200-hour Teacher Training Graduates DO need to provide a copy of your certificate.

Required modules: Breitenbush Summer Immersion Retreat at Breitenbush

All active 500-hour Training Enrollees can receive a 20% discount on 8 Limbs drop-ins classes, passes, and memberships.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND MAKE-UP OPTIONS

The 8 Limbs Mentorship may be counted as one module. Click here for pricing and information for this program.To make-up hours missed during a 20-hour Module, students may take up to twelve hours of alternate 8 Limbs workshops/retreats with 500-hour teacher staff over the course of their enrollment. They will be subject to rate of workshop but no additional administrative fee. Participants may also elect to take one outside (non-8 Limbs) workshop or retreat with 500-hour teacher staff to count towards one module (up to 20 hours). Also subject to teacher’s workshop or retreat rate and an additional $25 administrative fee to 8 Limbs.

TEACHERS

8 Limbs 500-hour Teacher Training Staff:

Melina Meza, E-RYT 500,YACEP, Instructor and Director of Teacher Training

Anne Phyfe Palmer, E-RYT 500, RPYT, Instructor and Studio Director

Chiara Guerrieri, E-RYT 500, Anatomy and Non-Violent Communication Instructor

Claudette Evans, E-RYT 500, Sanskrit, Restoratives and Philosophy Instructor

Michelle Johnson, LCSW, 500-RYT

Nancy Burtenshaw, MIT, 500-RYT, YACEP

Douglas Ridings, E-RYT 200

Visiting Teachers (all E-RYT 500):

Rod Stryker, Gary Kraftsow, Sarah Powers, Shari Friedrichsen, Baxter Bell, MD, Hala Khouri, Nikki Myers

Note: 8 Limbs Teaching Staff will join all visiting instructors to enhance and support their teaching weekends and provide continuity in the training.

PREREQUISITES FOR TRAINING

• 200-hour RYT certified by the Yoga Alliance
• Complete 500-hour Advanced Teacher Training Application and Enrollment Form

REQUIREMENTS FOR 500-HOUR CERTIFICATION

• Complete a total of 300 contact hours, through fifteen 20-hour modules (5-day trainings count as two modules, 7-day Advanced Training Retreat counts as three modules)*
• Fulfill minimum requirement in the training categories set up by Yoga Alliance
• Complete Breitenbush Summer Immersion Retreat at Breitenbush Hot Springs, Oregon*
• Complete homework assignments, when applicable (no grading other than complete/incomplete)

When all requirements are completed participants will receive a Certificate from 8 Limbs. This Certificate can be used to apply for 500 RYT status through The Yoga Alliance.

*This retreat is usually seven days and counts as three modules. Some years it will be only five days and count as two modules.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

20-hour modules: $380* each (through December 31, 2019)

Breitenbush Summer Immersion Retreat: 2018 cost is $1090-1600 for 5-day retreat (rate depends on rooming option and early bird registration).

Insight Yoga Training with Sarah Powers will be offered in three payment options: full Payment (all at one time) of $1750 through July 28, 2018, $1850 after. Installment Plan is $1950 total, paid in 9 monthly installments of $216.50. To register for this training please call or visit 8 Limbs Capitol Hill. For this module please follow same registration instructions as general public on the workshop information page.

Mentorship Program $380

*an additional $20 will be charged for registration within two weeks of module. Be sure to register two weeks in advance to get $380 rate.

Not sure what all of this means? Please contact annephyfe@8limbsyoga.com or attend one of our Info Sessions to learn more.

8 Limbs is committed to increasing diversity, accessibility and safety in the Pacific Northwest’s yoga community. This includes a commitment to empowering a yoga teacher pool that is representative of the diversity in our area. As one part of these commitments, 8 Limbs offers partial scholarships to applicants of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and/or other under-represented groups. To apply for this scholarship please include a brief description of why you qualify with your application or enrollment.

Retired and active duty military personnel receive a 20% discount on Teacher Training Tuition.

APPLICATIONS

To apply, follow instructions above (“How the Program Works”) and mail to:

• 8 Limbs Yoga Centers
  Attn. 500-hour Teacher Training
  500 East Pike St.
  Seattle, WA 98122
• If not accepted of if you decide to not participate, your application fee will be refunded. Once you begin the program, refunds are allowed according to the Cancellation and Refund Policy above.

Please email annephyfe@8limbsyoga.com with any questions or to join the 500-hour Mailing list so that we can contact you with any changes or updates to this program.