Aims of the course Booking period over
This course will enable yoga teachers to acquire the knowledge and skills to create, competently and independently, yoga classes which are fun, beneficial and varied for children. All the physiological and psychological aspects of yoga for children will be covered in detail, and at the end of the course teachers will be ready to teach to children of all ages, from babies to teenagers, and of all abilities, including children with special needs. Going beyond the use of postures, the techniques explored will include more complex tools such as breathing exercises and meditation.
Who should register
This course is open to yoga teachers, yoga teacher trainers, and anybody with a serious interest in yoga for children.
Course structure
This course comprises four long weekends of training, from October 2008 to May 2009. Each training session will be intense, comprising approximately 18 hours of teaching. In between training sessions students will be advised to consolidate what they have learnt, and they will quickly be able to start putting it into practice with their younger students or relatives. Mentoring sessions will be available by appointment for those who need some personalized support for their teaching.
Weekend 1.
Focus on: The reasons why
We will start this course at the beginning, by learning about the history of yoga for children, and how today’s youngsters can benefit from this activity in the same way as their young Indian counterparts did in the past. We will see that the effects do not stop at increased strength and flexibility, but extend to intellectual and emotional development too.
We will then move on to examine the differences between yoga for children and yoga for adults. Identifying the main tools to use with children, we will study the influence of each tool on the different layers of the human system.
Weekend 2.
Focus on: Creative teaching
Teaching a class to a group of children is quite an art. Here we will learn more about creating fun and smooth sequences – or Vinyasa Kramas – increasing the effect of each posture as it is approached and left fluidly and safely. As with an adult’s class, each practice and each sequence of postures includes preparation, a main goal and rest, only the nature of each stage is quite different, both in appearance and in effect.
Weekend 3.
Focus on: The subtler skills
Many adults come to yoga to learn more about its subtler side, wishing to explore techniques like breathing exercises and meditation. If these are taught to children in the same way as to adults, there is a good chance that frustration and despondency will soon set in. However, this is not a reason to dismiss these techniques when teaching to children as long as they take a suitable form. Indeed, it would be a shame to miss out on their benefits : Increased confidence, improved listening skills, stimulated imagination, greater calm and self awareness, to name but a few.
Weekend 4.
Focus on: Adaptation
Having aquired general skills and knowledge about yoga for children, during this fourth weekend we will learn how to adapt it to each age group and each special case. From babies through to teenagers, each age group will be studied in detail. We will also learn about teaching yoga to children with special needs, in the singular context of a one to one class.
Venue
We have chosen a venue which we feel will add a lot of enjoyment to the course. Peaceful and restorative, Gayles is just a short walk from the cliff tops of the Seven Sisters’ country park. The yoga room is reserved as a quiet space for personal practice outside of lesson times. There is plenty of room to relax and chat in front of the log fire of the main house, where wholesome home-cooked vegetarian food is served at mealtimes. Accommodation is provided in simple yet comfortable dormitories.
The exact address is: Gayles, Friston, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 0BA
Directions and transport information will be provided. We can also provide information about accommodation in the village if you do not wish to sleep in the dormitories. If you do not want any accommodation at Gayles, we do recommend you take your lunch and dinner with us, as meal times give everybody the opportunity to get to know each other better, and add to the group spirit throughout the course.
Dates
This course comprises four long weekends of training. Here are the dates for each workshop:
24th to the 26th October 2008
9th to the 11th January 2009
27th to the 29th March 2009
15th to the 17th May 2009
Each training session begins at 2pm on the Friday, and ends on the Sunday evening, at approximately 5pm.
Costs
Teaching fees
The teaching fees come to £120 per weekend. This includes approximately 18 hours teaching per weekend.
Individual mentoring sessions with Marc can be booked on request, and cost £40 per class. Please contact us if you wish to book a class.
Food and accommodation
The cost for food and accommodation comes to £100 per weekend. This includes dinner on Friday, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday, and two nights dormitory accommodation.
Food only
The cost for food without accommodation comes to £60 per weekend. This includes dinner on Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday.
Other information about food and accommodation
Please contact us well in advance if you have any food allergies or intolerances.
Please note that some participation in the laying of tables and washing of dishes will be required.
Quilts and pillows will be provided. Please bring your own bedsheets, quilt cover and pillowcase for a single bed.
Contact details
For more information please contact Jessie on 07774 500599 or write to her at
jessielaverton@googlemail.com
Registration
The deposit for the teaching fees for the whole course is £200. The balance for each weekend is to be paid during each workshop.
To register for this course, please send a letter specifying that you would like to register for the yoga for children course with Marc Beuvain, and your requirements for food and accommodation. Send it to the following address, along with your non-refundable deposit of £200 for the teaching fees and payment for food and accommodation: 310 Wood Lane, Sheffield, S6 5LR.
Please note that these four weekends of training constitute a whole course. It is not possible to register for individual workshops.
Cancellation policy
Teaching fees: The deposit for the teaching fees ( £200 ) is non refundable.
Food and accommodation: For cancellation before the 26th September 2008, you will receive a 50% refund for your food and accommodation. No refunds will be given for food and accommodation beyond the 26th September 2008.
