Teacher Certification
FAQ
What are the deadlines?
For both the 200 and 500 hour LOAY TT programs, it is recommended that
you submit your materials as soon as possible, as space is limited and
applications are reviewed on a “first come, first serve”
basis. A reservation deposit is required upon acceptance into either
program to secure a place and full payment of tuition and fees must
be received at least seven days before the start of the program. Tuition
rates and discounts are dependent upon how early they are paid in accordance
with the payment schedule.
How do I qualify for the teacher training?
You qualify for the 200 hour LOAY TT if you have a sincere desire to
explore and practice Yoga in the way it has been transmitted from teacher
to student for thousands of years. You do not need to have had previous
contact with Sri Dharma Mittra or to have studied any aspect of Dharma
Mittra Yoga. People who have previously participated in this training
have represented diverse experiences and varied backgrounds. What brought
them together was a common will to learn Yoga in a dedicated manner
under the guidance of a master and his long time close disciples.
To qualify for the 500 hour LOAY TT, one must have completed a Yoga Alliance
approved 200 hour certification. If you are an experienced teacher and/or
have studied at a high level over a number of years, but have not taken
a 200 level certification, you may be admitted to take the 500 hour LOAY
TT. Please be aware that you will not receive accreditation by Yoga Alliance
until you additionally complete an approved 200 hour certification. It
is also recommended that one have taught at least 100 hours of class or
private Yoga and taken at least that many hours of class instruction beyond
the requirements of a completed 200 hour certification. The 500 hour LOAY
TT is designed to be an advanced training for serious aspirants.
What if I don't want to become a yoga teacher?
There are always a small number of students who take the 200 hour LOAY
TT program without the set goal of teaching. Their reasons for this
approach include a sincere desire to go deeper in their personal practice
and to gain real knowledge and experience of Hatha-Raja Yoga through
direct contact with a living master and his close disciples. For these
students, a letter of completion is awarded and they come away having
learned and studied the various means by which a Yogi strives to achieve
liberation.
How is it possible to compress
200 hours worth of training into 10 days?
Yoga Alliance demands a certain number of contact hours containing a
set curriculum to qualify for accreditation. These requirements are
met and exceeded in the 200 hour LOAY TT offered at Dharma Mittra Yoga.
The ten consecutive days that comprise the training contain at least
twelve contact hours. These ten days represent a complete immersion
in the theory and practice which are the essence of Dharma Mittra Yoga.
An additional 120 non-contact hours are gained through required reading,
essays on the reading, independent, personal practice, teaching and/
or assisting Dharma Mittra Yoga, Karma Yoga and a variety of internship
opportunities.
How do I prepare for the program?
Once you have been accepted and you have made your deposit or paid in
full, you will be sent a reading list and assignments pertinent to the
training you will be participating in. If you live within commuting
distance of the New York Center, you should consider taking some classes
to familiarize yourself with the foundational aspects of Dharma Mittra
Yoga as taught daily at the Center. If you live outside the New York
metropolitan region, The Maha Sadhana Level I and II DVD’s are
a sure way to gain an overview of Dharma Mittra Yoga. If regular spiritual
practice is not already a constant in your life, you might consider
taking on some aspect of regular practice as a way of preparing yourself
for the odyssey on which you are embarking. Resting-up during the final
weeks before the training will ensure that you enter into them better
equipped to deal with their mental and physical demands. Finally, although
not required, practicing vegetarianism will certainly help your preparation.
What is the tuition?
200 level program:
Application fee (non-refundable) $100
Late Application Fee less than 30 days prior $50
Reservation Deposit (upon acceptance) $2,000
Tuition 90 days in Advance $3,800 total
Tuition 60 days in Advance $3,900 total
Tuition 30 days in Advance $4,000 total
Tuition Less than 30 days $4,100 total
Late Registration Fee if less that 30 days prior $100
Books/Supplies 10% off (if ordered 30 days in advance)
Application accepted on a first come first serve basis. Trainings fill
quickly, so it is recommended to apply early. Payments may be made by
Visa, Master Card, or American Express (over the phone).
500 level program:
Application fee (non-refundable) $100
Application fee (DMY LOAY TT graduates) $50
Late Application Fee less than 30 days prior $50
Reservation Deposit (upon acceptance) $2,000
Tuition 90 days in Advance $4,750 total
Tuition 60 days in Advance $4,850 total
Tuition 30 days in Advance $4,950 total
Tuition less than 30 days $5,050 total
Late Registration Fee if less that 30 days prior $100
Books/Supplies 10% off (if ordered 30 days in advance)
Application accepted on a first come first serve basis. Trainings fill
quickly, so it is recommended to apply early. Payments may be made by
Visa, Master Card, or American Express (over the phone).
Where can I stay during the training if I
don't live in New York City?
Every trainee is responsible for his or her own room and board and the
expense for these arrangements fall outside the cost of tuition. There
are many inexpensive hotels
and hostels within walking distance of the New York Center. Some
of the listed properties offer group discounts and allow room sharing,
so please inquire about these features when making your reservations.
Additionally, there have been instances when a student at the Center
has invited an out-of-towner to stay with them in exchange for a paying
a portion of their rent. Please contact us if this might better suit
your needs during your training.
What are the meal options?
As with accommodations, you are responsible for your meals. It is recommended
that you bring snacks that you'll be allowed to eat during many of the
prescribed activities throughout the course of each day. Also, there
are many wonderful vegetarian
restaurants and health food stores in the area, many of which give
DMY student discounts.
What is the daily schedule like?
200 level program:
Be prepared to spend each day at the center with one meal break. Days
begin at 7:15am and end at 8:30pm.
Check these detailed accounts of past students' training experiences:
February
2007 | June
2007
500 level program:
Each 4 day intensive will consist of Thursdays 11:30am-9pm , Fridays
and Saturdays 7:15am -9pm, and Sundays 7:15am-5pm.
Each 4 day weekend (4 total) consists of 40 contact hours with Sri
Dharma Mittra and his faculty. In addition to these 160 contact hours
(over the 4 intensive weekends), you will receive credit for non-contact
hours through required reading, written reports, teaching in the community
and Karma Yoga. For registry at the 500 hour level with Yoga Alliance,
you must complete 300 additional hours with an accredited school. Over
half of these will be contact hours during the Dharma Mittra Yoga teacher
training, and the remaining will be non-contact hours.
What is covered in the 500 level training?
In addition to studying Dharma Mittra Yoga Levels II & III and practicing
Level IV, the advanced course invites the student to go deeper into
the esoteric, spiritual studies at the core of traditional practice
in the lineage of Sri Dharma Mittra. These include study of the scriptures,
psychic development, Karma Yoga, purification techniques and specific
pranayama and meditation practices discovered by Sri Dharma Mittra.
While major components of the 500 level training are covered in the
200 level training (divine purification techniques, psychic development,
meditation, scriptural study, etc), the 500 level “Life of a Yogi
Maha Sadhaka” course is designed to place focus on the deeper
traditions and values of Yoga. It will bring the student toward the
true understanding of Yoga on many levels and transform one’s
personal practice.
What work comprises the non-contact (aka
internship) hours for the 200 hour certification?
• Keep a personal practice and journal.
• Choose electives that appeal to you.
• Minimum of 40 hours combined home-study, service, teaching, and
practice.
• Real world experience teaching public classes to varied populations.
• Assist experienced DMY teachers in setting up and supporting
students.
• Schedule and design free student-teacher workshops and/ or classes
at the New York Center.
• Organize your own Dharma Mittra Yoga events and begin to build
your own community of students.
• Work with the supervision of Dharma Mittra Yoga staff and advisors.
• Pass three evaluations with your DMY mentors to review your progress.
• Clarify your path and remove obstacles to your practice and teaching.
Please note that all work is supervised and reviewed by the resident
Dharma Mittra Yoga faculty for your training.
What if I have to miss a few days or hours?
Due to the intensive nature of these programs, you are required to be
available for the entire duration of your training. On-site hours meet
and surpass the Yoga Alliance minimum standards and categories of training.
In addition, we require you to lead a Yogic lifestyle throughout your
intensive course of study. It is not advisable to start new projects
at this time or to schedule other activities. We have set aside this
whole time to be with you and expect and want you to be 100% with us.
Absence is discouraged, as you are responsible for any missed hours
and will have to pay out-of-pocket for private sessions to make-up the
difference.
When do I receive a book & reading list?
You will get the lists upon receipt of your reservation deposit.
Who is on the faculty?
Sri Dharma Mittra teaches and is a mainstay of both the 200 and 500
hour trainings. The supporting faculty of 5-8 teachers includes close
devotees of Sri Dharma who live and breathe his teachings and message.
Of note are Jeffrey Meyers, M.D., Chandra Om and Andrei Ram, long-time
disciples who have been with Sri Dharma for a combined fifty years.
Special guests have included Krishna Das and Bhaghavan Das. The work
of the core faculty is supported by a group of mentors who are regular
teachers at the New York Center and are generally graduates of its certification
programs. For more detailed information on various faculty, please visit
our teacher's page.
Should I have taken the 200-hour program
at DMY in order to qualify for the 500-hour program?
It’s not necessary, but you need to have taken a 200-hour program
that is approved by Yoga Alliance. If you have a great deal of teaching
experience and/or in-depth studies and do not wish to take a 200-level
course first, you may apply to take the DMY 500-level program. You will
not automatically receive a 500-hour Yoga Alliance Certification at
the end of the course. You will still need to complete a 200-hour program
to receive the 500-hour certification. With pre-approval, students have
done their DMY certification in reverse. To do this, one must have practiced
at a high level over a number of years and have a working knowledge
of Yoga’s core tenets and techniques.
What does Yoga Alliance require for the 500-hour
registry mark?
• Basic 200-hour certification
• Advanced training (totaling over 300 contact hours)
• 100 additional hours of teaching experience (internship), either
in classes or privately.
How can I apply for either the 200 or 500
hour LOAY TT's?
Apply using our Online Application
Form. Or by post or in person by submitting a completed
paper application, essay answers and application fee together.
Does everyone graduate?
In order to receive your diploma and become certified by Yoga Alliance,
you must complete all required assignments and turn in written documentation
for all teaching done outside the New York Center. You will also be
evaluated based on actual teaching of Dharma Mittra Yoga Level I for
the 200 hour certification and Levels II and III for the 500 hour program.
Once all requirements have been fulfilled and all assignments are reviewed,
a diploma will be awarded. Three months following your training, a graduation
ceremony will be held at the New York Center. If you are unable to attend
graduation in Manhattan your diploma will be mailed to you.
Good luck on your journey and please call or e-mail us with any additional
questions or concerns. Om Shanti Om and may we all be receptive to the
grace of G-d.
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