Yogafit

[MarleensYoga]

Just to clear up something from the newsletter:

Yogafit does not get you Yoga Alliance certified in two days.
After two days and 8 volunteer classes YogaFit certifies you to teach, not Yoga Alliance. Any other yoga school can give those out too. As it is, anyone can call themselves a yoga teacher without any training whatsoever.

The yogafit training is meant for serious yoga students and fitness instructors who have a solid base in exercise when they start, but I will be the first to admit that they don't exactly check that.

If you want to be Yoga Alliance certified through Yogafit you have to do the equivalent of 200 hours of training, just like anybody else. That means you have to follow 4 weekends and one 4 day program of general training (including adjustments, chanting, the Gita, the Sutra's and chakras, etc.), 2 days of Anatomy, 2 days of modifications for seniors and injuries, and 2 days of either prenatal or kids yoga and some other stuff. Yoga Alliance does not give Yogafit students a free ride, 200 hrs is 200 hrs and those hours meet all the diverse requirements.

The real problem is that gyms don't care if you are Yoga Alliance certified or not. As long as you have a piece of paper from someone that says you can teach, it's fine. Especially if it's got the ok from ACE. All ACE cares about is that Yogafit really stresses the avoidance of injuries and physiologically correct alignment of the few poses that they teach in that first weekend, so in their eyes it's safe. And it is for that segment of the general population that isn't interested in the 'other side' of yoga. Yes, there is much more to yoga, but ACE doesn't care about that and most gyms only care what ACE says.

Yogafit offers a decent program if you do all the modules and get Yoga Alliance certified.

In my opinion, it is important that gyms (and ACE) and the general population become aware that the 200hr YA certification is a minimum requirement for a teacher, not an optional Quality Seal or some such.

[melhahn]

I was interested in whether anyone has heard of MetroYoga and another yoga outfit called YogaRevolution that sponsors Yoga For A Cure Foundation. Join the yoga revolution solicits yoga studio owners and asks that you let them promote your studio. This was founded by Johnnes R. Fisslinger who is behind Yoga Month http://www.yogamonth.org/aboutus.php. He also developed the yoga phone by sonopia. They promise that through their diverse marketing efforts with their partners, they promote your business and services to 10+ million health and social conscious individuals May-Nov. 2007. You are asked to sponsor them that in turn enables them to give 100% of their donations to charities. Hmmm-it all seems very suspicious to me. Finding the site gets increasingly more difficult.

Metroyoga promises to increase your monthly salary and help you build your business. Yoga Websites and Corporate Yoga Programs These guys are brokers. As soon as you fill out a form, you will be hounded.

Thoughts? Comments? Be careful out there. Namaste.

[Haleybird]

I have been very fond of this website and it's newsletter from the start. I respect both Sara and Harlan's opinions in regards to Yoga and Business. I do however believe you should do your research a little better before sending out such bold statements to everyone on your email list.

To receive your Yoga Alliance 200 RYT through Yogafit, you must
1. Complete Level 1 - 2 Day Training plus 8 hours of community service (teaching Yoga to people who would not otherwise receive Yoga instruction)
2. Level 2 - 2 Day Training
3. Level 3 - 2 Day Training
4. Level 4 - 4 Day Training
5. Level 5 - 2 Day - Training
6. Anatomy & Alignment - 2 Day Training
7. Retrain Level 1 - 2 Day Trading
8. Retrain Level 2 - 2 Day Training
9. Complete 2 of the following Yoga Kids - 1 Day, Seniors - 1 Day, Prenatal - 1 Day
To prepare for these trainings we were required to read and complete study guides on The Anatomy of Hatha, The Living Gita, the Yoga Sutras, Anatomy & Asana, and Our Body Speaks Or Mind.

In addition to learning how to teach Yoga poses & adjust Yoga poses safely, our trainings also teach us about Yamas, Niyamas, chanting, chakras, meditation, the 8 limbs of Yoga, Mudras, breath work...the whole 9 yards! We not only study these concepts, but we learn how to share them with our students.

To say that to complete this Journey was quick & easy like a cup of Instant Coffee is an insult. To say that it is inexpensive and mocks Yoga Tradition, just is not true. (Also and interesting comment from a website dedicated to make you more $...)

I started this Yogafit Journey after studying Yoga for many years. After moving to a new city I was unsatisfied with my Yoga options. I decided that I wanted to teach Yoga. Through weekend classes, I was able to do this. Many of us do not have a life that we can just up and leave. Moreover, I preferred to learn the material in "short" 18 Hour doses. It allowed me to assimilate all of the knowledge I had learned.

The truth is, when you go to gyms and studios, there are people there with NO training at all. I know because I have attended numerous classes (mostly at studios) by people who clearly did not have any training. This is the problem.

Yogafit's focus is on safety. So that YES, Yoga can be for everyone. Let's face it, most people in the West begin their Yoga Practice through Asana. Maybe it's out of order, but through Asana, most people find the other 7 Limbs.

Yes they teach all of the traditional poses, but then they modify, modify, modify. Yogafit acknowledges that some people would like to begin an Asana practice, however they may have old or new injuries making the traditional poses unsafe. All good Yoga teachers do this. Why would anyone slant Yogafit for making safety one of their key priorities. Yogafit's focus on safety is what has made it a "hit" to gyms. Is it right that Gyms get sued by anyone who as much as twists their pinky on their premises? No, but you can't blame the Gyms for wanting to hire people that are going to do everything they can to safely teach Yoga to the masses.

At my Studio I cannot tell you how many people have come to me wanting to study Yoga, but they or someone they knew had seriously injured them self in a class, because a teacher did not provide modifications or respect the diversification of the class.

Let's face it. There are good Yoga teachers out there and bad ones too. Just like there are good Doctors and bad Doctors, good lawyers and bad lawyers... Believe it or not someone could graduate top of their class from Harvard Law School and still be a terrible lawyer. Someone could study Yoga through Yogafit and become a wonderful Yoga Instructor. I did.

Sara & Harlan I invite you both to training. Go & experience one before judging. It's not our job to bash other schools. Let's practice Ahimsa and get our facts straight next time.

[sweetness71]

Hi Sara,
I wasn't offended by the newsletter, but, I do have this to say. I went through the first 2 days of training and I learned alot of information. It wasn't just a few hours, it was an intense 16 hours. Believe it or not we do follow several yoga principles. As a matter of fact since I started YogaFit I have lost 20 lbs. Everyone at the training had a background in yoga. I enjoy being able to share what I've learned with people who are new to yoga or who just want something to relax them and relieve stress. YogaFit does those things and much more. I love when my students tell me the benefits they are receiving because of something that I helped them with. I plan on taking all the trainings because I believe in what Beth is trying to accomplish. Yoga is for every body and YogaFit is designed to help beginners as well as advanced students. I watch your videos and I love the essence of what you do. I take from that and implement that in my classes. I take my practice to heart and my life has changed since I started YogaFit. It has not taken away the tradition of Yoga, but, it is changing the mindset of people who believe that Yoga is just "a bunch of breathing". Talk with someone who has the YogaFit certification and you will see that it is not about certifying someone in 2 days. Namaste

[YogaGirl98]

Well, I think my jaw hit the floor when I read this!

I think you should get your facts straight before judging something you clearly

know nothing about. One could "judge" you because you have "Certified

Yoga Instructor" behind your name instead of "Registered Yoga Teacher."

Some may think you are not qualified to teach yoga. You should use the

$ that you boast about and actually go take a training with YogaFit before

you assume something. Never judge something that you have never tried.

After receiving this newsletter and see how you "judge" other schools, it has

made me think twice about the two of you and your true motives. This was

very "non-yogic" of you. Maybe when you are on your mat today...you

should try and practice ahimsa and then sign up for a YogaFit training in your

area!

[billcoff]

I think you are way off base in your criticism of YogaFit. Use of phrases like "Taking the First Shot" and Yoga Wars does not sound in line with Yoga philosophy and portraying something that has been going on for over 15 years as new clearly shows you didn't do much research.

I have taken the YogaFit Level 1 and 2 trainings and did my 8 hours volunteer work at an Assisted Living facility. They, along with another Assisted Living facility and an Independent Living Retirement Community hired me to teach YogaFit to their residents. I have also taken the YogaFit for Seniors training. All of my training was provided in an intense stuctured environment by highly trained instructors.

I am confident that I don't do anything that would cause harm.

I am 66 years old and have been actively involved in fitness activities most of my life. YogaFit has provided me the opportunity to not only improve my own fitness, but take all I have learned over the years to help others.

As a senior myself, I can't run as fast as I used to and I can't lift as much as I used to, but I am much more flexible than I was when I was in my forties.

I wanted to help others, but at my age I did not want to spend over $2000 and commit to 200 hours of training until I knew it was for me. YogaFit has gven me the opportunity to take it one step at a time.

I am wondering if you are humble enough to admit your rush to judgment and offer an apology to Beth Shaw and YogaFit.

[gaileee]

Hmmm, is the intent in your ezine letters to elict response onto this forum? Because with this "old" news about YogaFit, you've certainly done so.

I'm the moderator of the TexasYogaFit Yahoo group and the First Level 4 YogaFit training Yahoo group, and we all come from various backgrounds in getting into yoga. Most I would say come from an group exercise background or for the love of yoga background. Many people on your forum are YogaFit teacher trained.

As being the first graduate with the RYT from YogaFit International Training Systems, I know for a "fact" that I did not purchase my title of yoga teacher. Over a course of two years, I completed the training from Level 1 to Level 4, along with intergration training, specific populations. And yes, from Level 1 training, I'm able to teach a safe yoga class, to a diverse set of population in the class. The beauty of YogaFit, is that they "teach you how to teach", and they teach you this, in a safe ACE recognized manner.

I loved learning about the Gita, the Sutras, the Bandas, the Breathing, the Sanskrit, how to sequence poses, how to do hands on corrections, all the most interesting stuff about anatomy and alignment, and all the inner soul searching with the "Power of Now", and the creative visualization.

Mind you, YogaFit has had its journey, because of the demand to know more. Our YogaFit community has request to know more of the traditional aspects of "traditional" yoga, and has morphed into a traditional school of yoga.

They are still changing as they are getting into the RYT500 with the following:

Next year, YogaFit is going expanding into the RYT 500, and with that the 3-Week Intensives will be taught by YogaFit Master Trainers and Sri Jayakumar Swamysree from the University of Mysore, India. Sri Jayakumar holds the following degrees in yoga and physical education: B.Sc., M.P.Ed. (Mysore), D.Y.Ed.(Lonavala), Y.T.H.P.(Bangalore). Sri Jayakumar represented India (ICCR) and worked for the embassy of India, Moscow, Russia for four years. Presently he also teaches yoga in the University of Mysore, and is the head of the department of Yoga, Meditation, and Spirituality. He has been practicing yoga for 28 years and will teach theory, philosophy, mantra, Sanskrit, meditation, and pranayama for YogaFit

[Rescue Yoga]

My Friends, I am a soon to be 200RYT(not with YogaFit) but have attended some of the YogaFit training courses. They are good for people with tight schedules who are concerned with teaching safely and don't have the time or money for a 3 week submersion training in Costa Rica or some other program. There are pros and cons that can be said for every yoga teacher training program in this country. We have the arguments of gym yoga vs. traditional yoga, to register or not to register with Yoga Alliance, meat vs veggies, this list could go on an on. I would just like for everyone to remember what is was that brought you to the mat in the first place. Reguardless of where you practice, what you practice, or who you practice with, you practice. As long as your heart is in it, whatever you do matters. Everyone has a different path to their journey but we all end up in the same place, right where we are supposed to be.
Keep that in mind as we pass up on judging our fellow teachers and their backgrounds. The way I see it is as long as yogis unite to get the american couch potato up and active, we are helping our fellow humans to become happier and healthier. Overall wellness should be the goal, rather than money or certifications.

Namaste,
Jennifer

[HipYogaChic]

I've read the Newsletter from Sara and Harlan now as well as most of the posts in reply from the Forum community.

I'm disappointed to see so much finger pointing. While I agree that the Newsletter about YogaFit had a negative tone and wasn't fully correct with its facts....the people who posted in response were quite negative and somewhat aggressive in their judgement of Sara and Harlan's post. That's unnecessary.

Every well-intentioned system of learning is susceptible to corruption. Most things that have been cherished for centuries or generations have been divested from their 'spirit' by someone somewhere with a desire to make money that is not checked by ethic and moral grounding.

Yoga is no exception.

But the people who really are seeking the real deal from a teacher who is committed to the path of teaching Yoga and living that path with pure intentions....THOSE people will find us, time and time again.

Because nothing is more potent than pure intentions and devotion to selfless service of humanity through facilitating the spiritual awakening of the mind/body/spirit. AKA Yoga.

I'm not threatened by YogaFit, and neither should anyone else. The good that can come out of their school will make itself manifest, and the bad will fade into ignonimity in years to come.

At the end of the day, I believe the most important thing we can do is encourage each other with love and acceptance.

It sounds like YogaFit isn't all bad based upon the corrected facts from the other users here who have posted. But even if it were as bad as what was described in the Newsletter, it would be okay.

The cream always rises to the top. Make a commitment to being the best yoga teacher you can be, and no matter what school certifies you, you will indeed be a great teacher and servant of humanity, and students will love and appreciate the service you do.

~Namaste to everyone~

[pegasus]

I realized pretty early on in my experience with yoga that there are sort of two different groups in the yoga community - one side approaches yoga in a traditional way, and the other approaches more from a fitness perspective. I understand the value on both sides, and I think we could all agree that both approaches have had their own measure of popularity and success. I think that yoga is always evolving and can be used for good in many ways, and that it's big enough that we can make room for all without butting heads.

As for Sara's letter... I would have preferred that she gathered more accurate information and not have reacted so harshly. I certainly didn't ever expect to see the words "yoga" and "war" used side by side.

OM Shanti... Peg