Advanced Studies: Continuing the Expression of Yoga

300-Hour Program

Holy Cow Yoga Center is proud to offer an Advanced Studies Program for 200 hour teachers to continue their yoga education. Our Advanced Studies Program follows the Yoga Alliance guidelines in that we offer a variety of yoga training opportunities to accumulate the additional 300 hours needed to register as a 500 hour teacher and offer opportunities to continue tracking your hours toward 1000 hour status. We want to make your journey towards advanced certification as fun & educational as possible, so we give you specific requirements to complete along the way, as well as great electives to build your repertoire of experiences. *Please note that most teachers complete these hours over a 2 - 3 year period. This allows for integration into not only our yoga classes, but also our lives.

Students have the option to enroll as Full or Partial Status. FULL STATUS means you will complete all the training hours with Holy Cow Yoga Center with no application fee.  PARTIAL STATUS gives you freedom to do trainings at HCYC as well as other trainings outside of our center. PARTIAL STATUS participants need to include a $150 non-refundable application fee. (Don’t send this fee until you take your first program)

WE recommend starting with Full-Status as you may transfer to Partial-Status at anytime during the Advanced Studies Program.

The additional 300 hours will be spread out over four tracks.  All four of these tracks or equivalent are required whether you registered for Partial or Full status, and must be completed to qualify for the certification.

Upcoming Calendar of Events

 
 

Track I: Practical Teaching (85 hrs)

You must complete each of the below modules (or equivalent), and they can be taken in any order.  Each module contains a series of asanas to study including instruction, alignment, adjustments as well teaching concepts such as sequencing, kramas, building classes, philosophical approaches and sanskrit. We are still working on adding many programs and dates to our 2024 schedule, and we will keep you up-to-date.\

2024

  • February 1 7 - 18, 2024 Advanced Module (10 contact hours) Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 9am - 3pm

    Surya Namaskar and the Art of Flow: We will breakdown Sun Salutes in their varying forms and then apply the skill of teaching flow classes. We will also explore the two girdles of shoulders and hips as well as the philosophical approach of flow of the breath and mind as it relates to the Ashtanga (8 fold path).

    More Information & Registration

  • May 4, 2024 Advanced Module (5 contact hours) 11:00am - 4:30pm

    Hands-On Assisting: This one day module is the understanding of adjustments to students. We will look at some overall skills and then team up to experience safe hands on assisting.

  • August 3 - 4, 2024 Advanced Module (10 contact hours) Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 9am - 3pm

    Static and Flow: Each class we teach incorporates some standing poses. How we offer those can be either static (holding for a number of breaths) or flow (flowing with the breath). We will breakdown how to teach both, looking at the alignment and verbiage. We will also explore the foundation principles of the feet and the philosophy of Stira (meaning to feel steady) both body and mind.

  • August 24, 2024 Advanced Module (5 contact hours) 11:00am - 4:30pm

    Hands-On Assisting: This one day module is the understanding of adjustments to students. We will look at some overall skills and then team up to experience safe hands on assisting.

  • November 2 - 3, 2024 Advanced Module (10 contact hours) Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 9am - 3pm

    Dharma to Isvara: Opening and Surrendering - Backbends are heart opening and Forward bends are about surrendering to the force of gravity. In this module we’ll work on backbends and forward bends and show how to release tension, stabilize our spine and open our deeper energy centers (chakras). We will also explore the anatomy of the spine, neck and pelvis and the philosophy of surrendering to our high self (isvara pranidhana).

  • Other Modules will be added for 2025

  • Plus choose two or more of the following:

    • Gentle Teacher Training (part one May 18 - 19, 2024) (part two July 20 - 21, 2024)

    • Kids Yoga Training - tbd 2024

    • Prenatal Teacher Training (September 7 - 8, 2024)

    • Yin Teacher Training (part one April 13 - 14, 2024)

    • Deepening Your Yin Training - fall 2024 tbd

    • Restorative Yoga Training (October 18 - 20, 2024)

Track II: Anatomy and physiology (15 hrs)

Choose from:

  • Anatomy Training #1 (10 hours)

  • Anatomy Training #2 (5 - 10 hours)

  • Pranayama Training #3 (2 hours)

    • January 13, 2024 (11am - 1pm) Join Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian for this 2 hour workshop exploring the fundamentals of pranayama.

Track III: Philosophy and lifestyle (15 hrs)

Choose from:

  • Yoga Sutra Immersion (10 hours) Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 9am - 3pm

    • July 13 - 14, 2024 This immersion dives into the first two books: Samadhi and Sadhana Padas. Here Patanjali shares both the means to the end of our practice and also the practice itself. If Yogas Chitta Vrtti Nirodhah is the foundational principle of our practice what are the skills we need to navigate this vague and yet poignant sutra (thread of wisdom). We then deepen our understanding of the last two books: Vibutti and Kaivalya Padas.

  • Ancient Text Immersion (5 hours)

    • December 7, 2024 (11:00am - 5:00pm) This one day immersion explores the 3 ancient texts of Bhagavad Gita, Isha Upanishad and Gheranda Samhita, that can have a profound effect for our mental well being. We will approach each text through journaling, singing and drawing to glean insight that can be integrated into our daily lives.

  • Kirtans (2 hours for each)

  • Meditation Immersion (10 hours) Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 9am - 3pm

    • September 28- 29, 2024 This immersion shares fundamental understanding of meditation, but also looks at the varying practices that allow us to sit still. We learn to take a seat and bring a focus or presence to the mind. There are many ways to approach meditation, so we will explore techniques from Yoga, Buddhism and Christianity.

Track Iv: Electives (120 hrs)

These elective hours can be drawn from any of the above three tracks of study.  For us these usually include guest teachers and workshops.  If you do something outside Holy Cow Yoga Center you can submit an "outside submission" form.  Please note it is best to get confirmation that your program is acceptable to our Advanced Studies Program.  Email Us to get confirmation

Upcoming Calendar of Events

Upcoming Advanced Studies Workshops

Featured
Yin Yoga Foundational Teacher Training
May 18
Yin Yoga Foundational Teacher Training

During this foundational training weekend, we will study the key concepts of Yin which aim to cultivate a healthy body and mind, as well as nurture the softer, slower, deeper parts of our being. In addition to learning the essential poses of yin yoga and the related anatomy, we will explore modifications for the various poses, as well as the basic structure for creating a class. This workshop is geared toward yoga teachers, but is open to all.

Advanced Studies Module: Surya Namaskar & The Art of Flow
Jun 1
Advanced Studies Module: Surya Namaskar & The Art of Flow

We will breakdown Sun Salutes in their varying forms and then apply the understanding of flow classes. We will also explore the two girdles of shoulders and hips as well as the philosophical approach of flow of the breath and mind as it relates to the Ashtanga (8 fold path).