Home Study Certification Courses? Aura Wellness Center, etc

Yoga Teacher Training
#50

This is all very interesting, but Yoga Alliance is taking a serious look at recognising all online yoga courses. They’ve been gathering information for the past few years and recently contacted all the registered yoga schools with a survey. It really looks like Yoga Alliance might supply the training for schools who want to jump into online training.

We may be surprised but legitimate medical, legal, and biomedical degrees are being earned from all universities. It’s hard to find a university without online training. Looks like Yoga Alliance sees the smoke signals. Borders didn’t see Amazon coming. Sorry to say online education will surpass in-person training within the near future. That’s why every university has jumped into online course.

#51

Hi David,

I work with a lot of Senior Centers, Nursing Homes, and I also Sub at the local Yoga Studios, however I think the idea of a stand alone Yoga Studio in RI is a little foreign to our state. The RI scene for Yoga is studios paired with other heath related services, for example, Wellness Centers. Networking is a strong point we Rhode Islanders have and our schools stay around longer because of it.

Anyway, This was always my desire as I enjoy helping the elderly. All of my interviews consisted of a demonstration class, the hiring director, or studio owner wants to make sure you can teach, and whether you took an online degree at JWU or onsite, your credentials are checked. IE: If the school you came from is creditable, that your diploma is current/valid, as well as the fact that you can teach. One director shared how many YA Register teachers are running around with no insurance, and expired diplomas. And to give some insight on that, yes, I got hired over one of them. I find that to be unsettling, that this is allowed to happen.

I must also admit, some have been shocked that I came from an online teacher training.

I appreciate the opportunity given here to voice my opinions and tell my story. I do understand that some tend to be standoffish to online training. It bothers me more when misinformation gets out there. However, when Brown University and JWU are doing it, it certainly gives a lot of validity to online training.

Well, on to my busy week!

Happy Easter and God Bless!

#52

While I appreciate your taking the time to share your opinions, comparing “Yoga in a Box” to online classes provided by Brown University and using that as a means to legitimize online yoga training is disingenuous at best.

:lol: – There is no way Yoga Alliance will allow for 100% online yoga training courses to be accredited. If they do, it will be the end of Yoga Alliance as a legitimate (that’s questionable already of course) entity.

[QUOTE=Shahid;72768]We may be surprised but legitimate medical, legal, and biomedical degrees are being earned from all universities. It’s hard to find a university without online training.[/QUOTE]
Some courses don’t need in person interaction. Medical doctors will not be online only courses and neither should yoga. Any yoga studio that hires online certified teachers should be avoided like the plague. Any teacher whose certification is online only should be avoided like the plague. And any company who is offering such courses is shameful at best.

#53

I agree with David, these online yoga certification courses are big scams.

#54

[QUOTE=apatch;72735]Hi Monique,

I am a little confused by your post. Below I just took out some parts, to clarify, because I think you may have been given the wrong information.

[/QUOTE]

Hi Audrey - well wishes to you. I’m sorry if my post confused you or made you feel that your training was being called into question. My reply was to the original poster and not a personally directed at you. For this reason I will keep my reply below general and, once again, not directed at your personal situation.

I still believe that…

The yoga alliance is a recognized and respected form of self government in the yoga world. It is important to our legitimacy. It is a fact that the government is trying to encroach on the yoga world. Without the legitimacy and lobbying group of the yoga alliance we could be faced with government dictated training/licensing rules guidelines that are much more expensive and stringent than those of our self governing body.

This issue of government attempted encroachment into the yoga world is a critical issue that is currently being played out all over the states.

If someone has been studying yoga for years at an ashram before they submitted for yoga alliance ‘registration’ (just semantics), the yoga alliance will recognize them. So, the yoga alliance is reasonable in recognizing the value of traditional training. I personally know several folks who fall into this category.

Without validation by an organizing body one will find it very difficult to get affordable insurance, which is absolutely essential to a teacher. You are fortunate that you got insurance - good for you.

Yes, there are medical/nursing/med-assistant/pa schools that allow a [I]portion [/I]of classes to be taken online - I’ve had personal experience with them. BUT… as someone mentioned to become a licensed physician, nurse or whatever requires in person training as well. Online organic chemistry, while difficult is doable - but the systems in place are likely beyond the scope of what an online yoga school will do. For example…For my online OChem I had proctored exams, as well as a full chemistry lab at home. Very few schools will accept online A&P. I took them online and feel that I definitely made the wrong decision there, as it has limited my choice of medical schools AND interacting with a real life cadaver is much more meaningful than interacting with a virtual cadaver. Rounds and patient contact experience are all in person.

I have studied many sciences online and am a veteran web developer. In fact, for my site, HathaYoga.net, I do plan to offer some online workshops. Howevermy teacher training program will be in person, perhaps with some online modules to ‘add’ to the in person training, not to replace it.

It is my personal opinion that that 100% online training for a yoga teacher is not appropriate for the aspiring teacher or for the students that he/she teaches. I would be shocked if yoga alliance allowed the core training of a yoga teacher to occur 100% online. I could see allowing modules to be online or sub specialties, but not 100% of all training, including the core training. I agree with the person who said that if the yoga alliance were to allow 100% online training for basic training it would be the end of the alliance as a respected self-governing body.

I’m planning to open a yoga studio next year. When I do I will only hire formally trained instructors - from in-person training programs.

Of course, I also believe that, if possible, it is better to receive one’s training in a residential intensive that fosters an ashram-like atmosphere, which I know not all folks agree with. Personally, I am not attracted to certifications that basically produce teachers who teach ‘yoga exercise’.

I should add - that I am also a certified and experienced personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I had those certs before becoming a yoga teacher and do not feel that they, in conjuction with an online course, would have been appropriate training to become a yoga teacher .I studied at a traditional ashram-like environment and am glad I did so. I see so many teachers teaching yoga exercises, who may know a few yoga buzz words and very remedial yoga theory, but actually know nothing at all about the science of yoga.

#55

Once again, very interesting that online education is fine, but learning about yoga online is taboo. To imply teaching yoga online is a scam has no substance. Yoga Alliance has endorsed 20 non-contact CECs for RYTs over a 3 year period. Ten hours of contact are also required to meet their continuing education requirements.

At the same time, Yoga Alliance is definitely researching online yoga with baited breath. Much like the way they researched prenatal yoga before jumping into registering. This time they contacted their network of schools (RYS) with a detailed survey to see who wants to jump into a field that is coming up. We can try to put our heads in the sand, but the tsunami is coming.

It is a fact that universities have medical, legal, and biomedical courses. In fact, the list of courses online is endless. It is also a fact that Audrey can get insurance from more than one company and jobs from studios. I would hire her under the same requirement as any other teacher. I don’t care who signs the diploma, I want to see if an applicant can teach first. It also helps when teachers have compassion for others and I agree that you can’t learn philosophy or a yogic way of life in an exercise class, but there are many schools who only teach exercise.

Lastly, there is no single end all for yoga courses. Like any other field it requires continuing education. If we take one yoga course, we’ll take more.

#56

I have purchased the yoga in a box teacher certification and I have contacted a yoga studio in Venice Beach and obtained permission to them to take the Asana and hands on module of their teachers training course in studio. That way for the things that are just reading and studying I can do those things at home. And the portion that needs most detailed attention on my posture etc., will be done hands on.

#57

Hi everyone!

First of all, I apologise for my English as I am not a native speaker.
When I read this forum and some angry comments here the desire arose in me to state my opinion.
I am a Yoga teacher and made my diploma at Aura Wellness, and I am proud of it! :razz: That’s that.
They are professional, kind and keen on safety (looooads of videos on safety) again and again. Any question is answered within hours. Although I have my diploma, they still keep answering ANY question I have and within hours only. Actually, I feel in good hands.
So far to them.
And “No”; they did not ask me to write this and they do not pay me nor promised me any advantage and I am not a family member.

I have always been very spiritual and have been doing meditation during years; before starting with yoga.

During a very bad time in my life I had the luck to find this path and after only a short time I knew that this is my way!
So, I looked for courses. Thousands of Euros in times of crises like these … years of studying in cities that are far away. I have a family, I am in my 40s … so a 3-year-education would have been ok at an earlier stage but not for now anymore. I would have loved to go to a “normal” Yoga Center and to learn. But I simply had not the money nor the time.
How becoming an instructor? For my biggest surprise, my beloved yoga teacher who is YOGA (she represents ALL of yoga) told me: do an online course just like I did.
What??? She did an online course??? If somebody can be sooo yogic I can do that, too.
She - like me - had no money to pay these extremely expensive courses. She is just perfect in alignment, assisting, being the best person … and she said: you don’t have to worry, because you make the online course and do yoga with me so you will learn a lot!

True! I have learned and I am still learning. Now I also teach. Yes, you un-believers, people told me that I am a good teacher. I do research every pose I prepare though, I am a perfectionist.

Meanwhile, I try to do as many yoga workshops as I can; I go to yoga retreats, read a lot, watch videos etc.

So this is my recommendation to people who decide to do the online yoga teacher training:

  • also attend a nearby yoga class if possible
  • do workshops and keep on learning when you have your diploma you can never learn enough (also as a yoga teacher from a Yoga Center you have to keep on learning as Yoga changes continuously. We have learned a certain Asana with its alignment and after some years they tell us THIS IS ALL WRONG! Do it the other way. )

During years and more years yoga was only for those who leave their families and dedicate their lives completely to this philosophy and their Guru. Women were not in this circle.
Now everyone everywhere can do yoga. And that is how it should be. Times have changed. You will agree with me on that.
In changing times yoga changes as well and why not “using this tool of Internet” making this wonderful path available to everyone?
Just make sure if you choose a long -distance course to go to classes, as well.

And now my contra-question: how many of those “Yoga Centers with a good reputation” have been slammed down recently? This is another thread actually we could discuss about.
How many Dollars/Euros or whatever currency have been paid for long courses “en-situ” and are now looked upon with doubt? So where is the sense?

PEOPLE STOP ARGUING - JUST DO YOUR YOGA!!! That’s what we have all in common and it is not important how when or where. Yoga is fantastic so it is a shame to read so many ugly things here.
Try to be the best person you can be! Try to give this positivity on to other people - whether they are your students or not!

It is sooo sad that we are all here together, we love yoga but argue about it. Why should someone decide to become a yoga online-teacher (so to say) if he / she is not spiritual for example? One could become a Pilates or Aerobic teacher. If we decide for the path of Yoga it is because we have found “something” that yoga gives us and we want to give it on. Whether online, outline offline … times and tools change as I said and it is fantastic that I sit in Spain (I am German btw) and can participate in this Forum.

Thanks God, or Prana, everyone has the chance to learn via Internet, being informed etc. Come down your mountain, open yourselves and be “open minded” as yoga teaches us!

I love yoga, I love it’s philosophy and I saw many teachers who made their diploma in a Yoga Center and I do not like the way they teach, how they are what they represent.
It is in YOU! You must make the development inside yourself and this development cannot be made in a Center or online. It is a private journey.

BTW and last thing after my almost book: there are so many 4-weeks courses in India, Thailand wherever. Do you think you learn so much more paying thousands of Dollars in a month than online at home??? But then you are a YA member. Doesn’t make a sense!

BE YOGA!

Om Shanti, Namast? my friends

#58

In regards to Aura Wellness Center, they ARE listed as a Yoga Alliance accredited school, look it up on the YA website. This may apply only to CEU’s, however, I think it is an important factor to take into account. Also, I want to point out that I earned my certification through a worldwide, YA certified program. I traveled to one of their locations to attend in person, and I feel that the training was somewhat lacking. It felt like we were just there as a formality, as though attendance were enough. There was at least one girl there who was clueless about yoga, even at the end of the training, yet she received her certification like the rest of us-with the intention of working with the elderly!!! Vinyasa for the elderly…taught by a teacher lacking the ability to achieve healthy form herself.

Overall, the “Yoga Teacher in a Box” is probably more intensive than the “intensive” I had attended, and probably covers more information. Students are also probably tested, which is something that did not happen at my training. As far as “hands on” training, I don’t think that people who have never done yoga generally just wake up one day and say, “ya know what? I think I wanna get me a yoga teacher certification.” I had been doing yoga since eighth grade and became certified when I was thirty-four. I wish I had saved myself some money and gone with an online certification.

#59

[QUOTE=allie;66436]The other thing I have found with The Aura place is that one of the level 1 programs you can study is Power Yoga, Which i really enjoy, but is also not available in NZ. [The Aura Pre/post natal course is a level 2 and is only available to students who have already completed level 1.] I look forward to your responses. Allie[/QUOTE]

The real yoga starts after the achieving the 4th stage in the eight fold path of yoga. Do we really only want to benefit by means of Asanas and restrict yoga to that whereas yoga can offer much more?

#60

You are just paying for a certificate…be mindful that the relationship with a real teacher is key…it is they who transmit the essence of yoga into a ripe student.

#61

Exactly … without the inspiration of my teacher I would not have found the path to yoga. That is why I said - although making an online-course - you should go on retreats, workshops and attend nearby yoga classes (may be you do not fancy that yoga in particular but you always learn something and get out something).
Most of the people here have an economic problem I think and that is why they take the decision, or it is simply difficult to find a teacher training nearby.
However, I think whatever we say here in defense we will never be right but criticized. Such a shame as we all love the same thing (I am repeating myself).
The clue is not to make an online course and stay there - but to move on and get as much “touchable” experience as possible. That is what Aura recommends by the way.
Namast? BloomingLotusYoga and as you said, it is beautiful to be inspired by a yoga teacher; but I have found some uninspiring ones on my way as well and can only draw my conclusion out of it and make it better :slight_smile:
Om Shanti & Love to you all out there <3

#62

[QUOTE=David;54732]Can you please also link me to a series of DVDs so I can learn to be a doctor from home?

If Aura Wellness is offering home-based yoga certification, I will state that, in my opinion, Aura Wellness either has no idea what yoga might be, is run by shady people after little more than a quick buck, or both.

The art, wisdom, and knowledge of a TRUE yoga teacher cannot be learned from home via some DVDs or online courses in 300 odd hours. It’s absolutely absurd and shameless.

Make no mistake, if you learned to be a yoga teacher via a home course and spent 200-500 hours on it, you are [B]NOT[/B] a yoga teacher and I hope your ass gets sued to hell and back when you start hurting people. And I’ll be the first expert witness in line to testify against you.

It’s time for us to start building a real foundation for yoga in the west. Home based courses do nothing more than crumble what is already a foundation made of balsa wood. Wake up and take some personal responsibility people. Go earn yourself some ethics.

edit Good god.[/QUOTE]

Arguing home study is like learning to be doctor using DVD is as bad as modern certified Yoga teachers, who do not live the yogic life, claiming to be yoga exponents.

If I can be to allowed throw away the Yama [moral codes, Niyama [self-purification and study], Pratyahara [sense control], Dharana [concentration], Dhyana [meditation] and Samadhi [absorption into the Universal] and just master only the two broken limbs, Asana [posture] and Pranayama [breath control] in a commercial yoga institute, personally trained through a RYT 200/500 certified trainer, do you think it is better than self-learning?

Yoga was about a century back learned and perfected by Gurukul practice. If that has become a mockery, it is time to accept that in-person training through commercial institute is also a mockery.

Take it easy David. If Yoga is just Asanas and Pranayama, you don’t need a personal trainer. If it is a way of life, it is [B]PREFERABLE[/B] to have a real Guru to live with and learn.

Just jumping high and above and bending back and forth and holding breath can be performed even by kids in high school gyms.

In other words, let us discuss from the bottom of our heart, how many institutes run BY RYT 200/500 certified trainers have real trainers who live and follow eight limbs of Yoga. [B]MOST OF THE OCCASIONS[/B], Yoga institutes focus more on being a socializing clubs for singles and forced singles.

If I am a true yogi at least by mind, I will avoid socializing too much through a routine yoga schedule to avoid sense dissipation and thus will truly enhance the practice of Pratyahara.

It is just [B]perception VS commercialization[/B], whichever is convenient I may speak and advocate for.

#63

I agree with you 100% Sahasrara. Most of the “commercial yoga institutes” are not producing yoga teachers either. That doesn’t excuse “Yoga in a box”. Neither are producing yoga teachers.

#64

I find all of your comments very informative. I do not have experience teaching yoga (only practice) but do have 20+ yrs teaching young children and adults who inspire to be educators themselves at undergrad and graduate levels. I’ve been both an instructor and a student in traditional, online, and hybrid classes. There are good and bad teachers in any subject; some who come with very high credentials. In an ideal world we’d all have time and money for face to face quality classes with good teachers but that is not so. After an extensive review of curricula from several yoga teacher training courses, I’ve decided to take correspondence ‘box’ courses which probably will take me 1-2 years to complete (requiring exams, papers, study, practicum, and videos of teaching. I’m fortunate to have yoga mentors where I live but no teacher training school. I consider this a start on the right path. Sometimes the hardest thing is to begin and given my circumstances am grateful to have options.

#65

[QUOTE=BloomingLotusYoga;75278]You are just paying for a certificate…be mindful that the relationship with a real teacher is key…it is they who transmit the essence of yoga into a ripe student.[/QUOTE]

“The Real Guru” … Huh! One in a million in this Kaliyug.

Alas! average human life is only about eighty.

It is too short and sweet to not to keep experimenting on guru after guru for a real guru who transmits essence of yoga. You will be fed with lots of nonsense by pseudo gurus till your life time and at the age of eighty you will still be finding. Many accept pseudo-gurus in the street corner yoya-money minting shops as their real guru because of their shear ignorance, and they go about spreading the pseudo-ism.

I guess, the previous two posts are pointing to this. Why not self learn from a detailed set of videos and online support, instead of wasting time with pseudo gurus life long and becoming a pseudo guru.

#66

I am a yoga student, I practice Bikram yoga daily sometimes even twice a day. I have young children and can not leave them for 9 weeks to follow a teacher training course. I have looked into aura wellness center and I think that they teach a very thorough program through the home based learning.
I agree that nothing replaces a live teacher, however, just because one may follow a TTC in person, will not make them a good nor a bad teacher. Being able to teach is a gift you have or don’t, it is not something you can learn to do.
I also think that any type of knowledge one acquires is fantastic, no matter where it comes from. And I also might add that a good yoga teacher is one who has a strong and focused practice. Those hours of practice are better than any course that one can take. Learning terms, definitions , history… Can be done through memorization , it is practice that will make one a great teacher.
I also believe that an important philosophy of yoga is not to be judgmental. I think as yogis our minds should be open and accepting .
Again, it will not be a certificate or an accreditation that will make one a good teacher.
Namaste

#67

[QUOTE=Ekbella;77895]
I agree that nothing replaces a live teacher, however, just because one may follow a TTC in person, will not make them a good nor a bad teacher. Being able to teach is a gift you have or don’t, it is not something you can learn to do.
I also think that any type of knowledge one acquires is fantastic, no matter where it comes from. And I also might add that a good yoga teacher is one who has a strong and focused practice. Those hours of practice are better than any course that one can take. Learning terms, definitions , history… Can be done through memorization , it is practice that will make one a great teacher.
I also believe that an important philosophy of yoga is not to be judgmental. I think as yogis our minds should be open and accepting .
Again, it will not be a certificate or an accreditation that will make one a good teacher.
Namaste[/QUOTE]

Well said. You took the words right out of my mouth. I was surprised by some of the negative posts as I read through this thread. Some people seem to have a permanently embedded stick. I have practiced many forms of yoga over the past two years and I have never asked for any credentials, nor has it ever mattered to me. I always appreciate what the teacher is providing as I’d prefer to believe that they are doing the best they can. When I find myself practicing with new teachers, I find humbleness, patience and their desire to share their knowledge. Anyone with the desire to teach should not be hesitant to try a home based study. It’s all about what you put into it.

#68

i too was surprised by the negative posts, especially coming from yogis!!! i thought it was all about not judging, and being accepting and open towards everything life has to offer.
I am starting an online course as i have kids and a husband who need me at home, I practice daily sometimes twice a day and i think i will be an awesome teacher mainly because i have a very open and accepting mind.
Namaste :slight_smile:

#69

Yes, a yogi is someone who accepts all the BS the world has to offer and bends over and takes it when greedy people are putting money before the practice. I’m pretty sure that is sutra 2.1.

Om.

passes the tea

Om shanti shanti shanti.

In less sarcastic news, I notice that pretty much everyone who supports such material degradation of the practice of yoga is simply justifying their actions.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!"
I’m not a yoga teacher. I’m well aware of that because I am honest with myself. I have a piece of paper saying I am one, but I am not. And neither are/will most of you. The problem is, you’re going to hurt a bunch of people first because the lineage of teachers has been broken. There is no longer the master who is ensuring that someone doesn’t teach until they are ready. Instead, we have yoga in a box.

Disgusting.