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.

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.