Integrative Yoga Therapy

The 500hr Professional Yoga Therapist Program (PYT-500) is a complete professional training program in Yoga therapy, certifying participants both to work with therapeutic groups and to develop a private Yoga therapy practice, offering one-on-one sessions. Through this course you will learn how to design and teach Yoga programs for groups and individuals with specific needs and specific health challenges. You will also develop an in-depth understanding of the philosophy, theory, process and application of Yoga therapy in the Integrative Yoga Therapy tradition.

This in-depth understanding will allow you to work in complementary settings such as health care, to develop Yoga based wellness programs for specific groups such as cardiac care and cancer, as well as develop a private Yoga therapy practice.

The 500hr Professional Yoga Therapist Program (PYT-500) has 3 components:

• Module 1: Foundations of Yoga Therapy A two-week intensive program with a focus on therapeutic group classes • Module 2: Yoga Therapy in Practice A two-week intensive program with a focus on individual private Yoga therapy sessions • Module 3: One Week Specialization Program or PYT Internship This week can be taken through IYT or another Yoga Alliance approved school or program with a therapeutic focus. You may also complete Chapter 1 of the PYT Internship to satisfy this requirement.

Participation Pre-requisites

• It is recommended that Module 1 be taken before Module 2, although Yoga teachers with extensive experience may take the modules out of sequence, prior approval required.
• Modules can be taken independently within a 3 year period.
• Students in the Professional Yoga Therapist program must have completed a 200hr teacher training program through a Yoga Alliance registered school or program.

Module 1: Foundations in Yoga Therapy

This two-week intensive module forms the foundation of the PYT Program. Its focus is on the theory and vision of Yoga therapy and the application of Yoga therapy for specific focus groups. Through this module you will learn how to design and teach Yoga programs for groups and individuals with specific needs and health challenges.

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Module 1 includes:

• The philosophy and psychology of Yoga therapy with an understanding of health as unity and integration at all levels of our Being, physical, psychological, and spiritual.  This approach is based on a survey of the original Sanskrit source materials of Yoga therapy. 
• Specific Yoga practices, including asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, meditation and Yoga Nidra, along with their benefits and contraindications for each system of the body. Emphasis is on theory and applications for the most common health conditions.
• The use of asana in healing musculoskeletal injuries through an in-depth study of kinesiology and understanding the effects of asana in strengthening, stabilizing and creating flexibility in every joint of the body. This study includes modifications and use of props for all asana categories.
• Evaluation skills and techniques for assessing imbalance at the physical, energetic, psychological, and spiritual levels including assessment of the joints, the breath, the chakras and the subtle body.
• Movement techniques for developing strength and flexibility, including Somatics, PNF, hands-on assisted stretching, and the use of the Theraband.
• Introduction to the essential principles of Ayurveda in relation to Yoga therapy including a study of the five element system and a full range of Yoga techniques to balance each element and dosha.
• In-depth exploration of the energy body, including the pranavayus, chakras and nadis, along with pranayama, and mudra, to address common health conditions.
• Practical tools and techniques for supporting clients at the psycho-emotional level, including stress management, relaxation, concentration, meditation, and Yoga Nidra.
• Yoga-based awareness methods such as body mapping, mandala drawing, and guided imagery for unlocking doors to healing.

This two-week module will introduce you to specific Integrative Yoga Therapy programs, including the IYT Healthy Heart Program, the IYT Healthy Back Program, and Repainting the Rainbow of Your Life, a Yoga and wellness program for depression.

Module 2: Yoga Therapy in Practice

This two-week intensive module focuses on the in-depth practice of Yoga therapy for the needs of the individual in the context of developing a private Yoga therapy practice. Deepen your understanding of Yoga therapy and learn the practical application of IYT's principles and techniques.

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Module 2 includes:

• Use of a variety of formats for evaluation and body reading at physical, energetic, and psycho-emotional levels that provide in-depth information from which the Yoga therapist can respond with appropriate Yoga practices for optimal healing.
• In-depth instruction in selecting and adapting Yoga therapy tools and techniques to provide a complete therapeutic practice for each individual that includes asana, pranayama, mudra, affirmation, meditation and Yoga Nidra.
• Understand how to develop and implement a complete Yoga therapy program directed toward the most common health conditions such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, arthritis and back pain.
• Learn therapeutic sequences that apply the principles of Ayurveda in Yoga therapy.
• Learn therapeutic sequences to balance the subtle body including pranavayus and chakras.
• Develop listening and dialogue skills to assist in opening clients to their own resources of inner healing.
• Observe one-on-one Yoga therapy sessions by master therapists.

The skills you learn in this module will allow you to work in professional settings and begin a private Yoga therapy practice.

Module 3: One Week Specialization Program or PYT Internship

These requirements can be satisfied in the following ways:

1. A one-week Yoga training program (minimum of 50 contact hours) with a therapeutic focus taken through IYT or another Yoga Alliance approved school. Training programs other than IYT specialization programs must be approved by the IYT main office. A qualified training program taken within the past two years of your PYT enrollment date will also apply.

2. Chapter 1 of the PYT Internship Program which includes an 8-week therapeutic class series and 4 one-on-one sessions along with coursework in your own community with the support of an IYT mentor.

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What Students Are Saying

"The training is challenging, informative, and enriching.  I learned so much from all the instructors.  Thank you!"
-Aimee P.

 

"This training deepened my love of the spiritual connection, deepened my knowledge of the yogic view of health in relation to the allopathic view, and in many ways to help specific conditions for my clients and students."
-Joy B.

 

"The depth of yoga tools and physiology taught in this course is difficult to describe.  I am taking home an understanding of Yoga concepts that brings one far beyond the physical aspects of the conditions of humanity."
-Cherie K.

"I went from knowing very little about the field and now feel that I can teach with confidence. I especially loved learning how to specifically apply Yoga nidra, meditation, and deep internal awareness in the postures in a therapeutic way. Every teacher and assistant was supportive, generous, extremely knowledgeable and wonderful."
-Mary P.

 

"The program had a great way of building on my previous knowledge without excluding my yogic lineage.  I love the way all of the parts come together for a very organized way of creating a therapy program for any condition.  I feel such gratitude for all of this knowledge."
-Danielle D.

 

"The program provided a deep respect for the complexity of working in the yoga therapy field.  The work itself provides the strength and tools to step up to the progression and teach."
-Barbara B.

 

 

 

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