Yoga Vidya Academy:

300 Hour Advanced Studies and Yoga Teacher Training

-Participate either Virtually or In Person-

Unleash your Potential | Make a Difference | Live your Purpose

Foster your personal growth, well-being, and knowledge base through rigorous, but fun, study of classical yogic and Vedantic philosophy and psychology, hatha yoga, ayurveda, tantra, and yoga therapy. Develop the expertise to change lives with integrity and authority. Cultivate sangha, (supportive community) that shares your enthusiasm and worldview.

Increase your skillset and marketability as an expertly trained yoga teacher with capacities to guide students in far more than just what happens on a yoga mat.

The full program is for graduates of an approved 200-hour training who wish to more deeply and fully incorporate yogic tools and techniques into their lives and teaching. Students may take the courses a la carte with Director’s approval. (Please contact Lauren). The programs are hybrid and are available both in person in the Albany NY area or virtually via Zoom.

Please Note: It is highly recommended that students enroll for the ENTIRE COURSE to provide for the best possible educational and transformational journey. If there is space, applications for individual (a la carte) module registration will be considered.

Stay Tuned for 2024 Dates

Weekend program: Saturdays 9a-6p & Sundays 9a-4p
plus Webinars & Self Study

In person classes will be held at the former Elevate 518 studio, 407 Albany-Shaker Rd in Albany, NY.

The Roots and Wings of Modern Yoga

March 25-26, April 22-23

Demystify Tantra and expand your world! Discover how hatha yoga is rooted in the esoteric and exotic comprehensive world of Tantra, and take your practice, and life, to the next level.

Module 1: Tantra Vidya

Module 2: Sva Sadhana

Advanced Practice, Embodied Wisdom

May 13-14, June 10-11

Take your personal practice to new heights and greater depth! Create a life informed by and infused with Yoga and Vedanta as a comprehensive wellness and happiness modality. Explore advanced philosophy, pranayama, meditation, asana, and Tantric hatha techniques that expand your home practice and inform your ability to serve others.

Module 3: Ayurveda- The Basics & Beyond

July 1-2

Dive deeper into the art and science of Ayurveda as a life changing wellness system. Explore ayurvedic physiology, psychology and lifestyle. Learn assessment and diagnostic skills and how to advise individuals.

Director Lauren Toolin and guest faculty represent decades of experience, practice and training. Lauren has spent thousands of hours studying with renowned teachers and has been a practitioner for more than forty years. She holds advanced certifications in two separate yoga styles, is a certified yoga therapist and ayurvedic practioner, is a Master Miracle Minded Life Coach and has been teaching since the early 1990’s. She also helped develop and directed a worldwide teacher certification and has trained or mentored more than 1,000 yoga instructors since 2004.

Module 4: Advanced Teaching

August 5-6, Sept 23-24

Expand and refine your teaching skills!  We will explore skillful sequencing, advanced asana teaching and assisting, how to create and adapt class plans, developing meaningful workshops, presentation and teaching skills and much much more.  Boost your creativity, confidence and effectiveness with this immersion.

Module 5: Yoga Therapeutics*

Oct 14-15, Nov 18-19, Dec 9-10, Jan 6-7, Jan 20-21

Yoga is the ultimate self-care and healing modality. Expand and apply the principles, philosophy and techniques of yoga and ayurveda to the individual. In this, the culminative module of this training, you’ll learn how to organize and utilize your skills to assess and ‘treat’ individual students and their physical emotional and spiritual needs ethically and authoritatively. Advanced anatomy and physiology, qualitative use of techniques, self assessment and case studies are all part of this course.

*You must have taken all of the other modules in this training to participate in this course.

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HOW IT WORKS

Unparalleled Depth and Breadth… the Advanced Studies and Teacher Training Program is the result of decades of study and teaching. We know what works to fulfill the ultimate promise of Yoga as a path toward personal transformation and self mastery. We teach you how to share that with others as well, whether in a group setting or with individuals.

This immersion and training is based in millennia old tradition that can be applied seamlessly into our modern world. You’ll learn authentic yet practical application of the philosophies, techniques, concepts and rituals that reveal our inherent wellness and connection.

The Yoga Vidya 300 Hour Training is a multi-weekend format, with significant work done outside of classroom hours as well. (Reading, writing, home practice, studying, etc)

 

EXPECTATIONS

Engage and Practice! Your individual practice is key to the wellspring of health and wisdom that is Yoga. You will be expected to practice a minimum of five days per week, for at least 20 minutes, and you will also journal as a tool to gain additional insight.

  • Attendance at all trainings and workshops is mandatory in order to receive a certificate of completion and to graduate.

  • Completion of all reading and writing assignments in a timely manner.

  • Active participation and attentiveness at all trainings will enhance your experience in the course and will also help you to find your voice.

  • Willingness to be guided in your studies and personal growth. In this program, you are not just a number. You will have several opportunities for private consultation with faculty.

  • You must show an increase in your skillet and be able to communicate that in group discussion, practice teaching and homework.

CURRICULUM

Knowledge, Immersion, Application

  • Connect to your purpose as a practitioner and as a teacher

  • Learn specific practices that generate profound and lasting positive shifts

  • Explore Yoga from the Inside Out with in depth exploration of both physical and energetic anatomy

  • Apply yogic philosophy and world view principles to daily life

  • Increase your ability to design sequences and practices that heal and transform holistically.

  • Truly understand the science and application of seemingly esoteric concepts like dosha, kosha, chakra, mantra and kundalini

  • Explore the practical spiritual potential that is inherent in authentic yoga.

  • Develop your ability to become a powerful leader and teacher

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Testimonials

  • I taught my first workshop and it went great. I was pleasantly surprised on how relaxed I was and how well it was received. Thank you for all your teachings and Wisdom. It wouldn't have been possible without your guidance and teaching.

    -Amit G

  • I learned so much and found so much joy in the whole process; every last second of it was delicious spiritual food for me. Yoga is the greatest gift and joy of my life and I am so deeply grateful to you.

    -Loretta P

  • You're a great teacher and an inspiration. I'm so grateful to have found you and to have been part of this training. I have so much respect and appreciation for what you do and how well you do it. I know you say it's not you and you're just the channeler of the teachings, but I think the channeler does make a big difference. Because of your authenticity, intelligence, and compassion, your transmission of yoga comes through loud and clear, its relatable, and very powerful. Thank you, thank you , thank you.

    -Adam B

  • Lauren embodies an impressive depth of experience and emanates a truthful and powerful elegance in teaching and sharing this incredible practice of yoga. And for those of us, yogis still searching for a model of "what it looks like" to be a woman who is living her yoga in the full expression of who she is, fearlessly embracing her power and accessing awakened energy in everyday life, Lauren has much to teach us all. If you want true freedom, you must learn from someone who already has it. It doesn't take much time with Lauren to see that, clearly, she has It.

    -Carla N

  • Thank you once again for all you have done for me. It is really amazing to look back at the past 8 months and see just how far I have come, but to also see the journey ahead of me with excitement and adventure. At the start I wasn't sure just how "life changing" this would be, but it has far exceeded anything I thought. Thank you, thank you for being you and doing the work that you do. I look forward to crossing paths again and again : )

    -Wendy G

  • I want to express how powerful and awesome this program has been for me. I. All of those people in that room have become like family members to me... I wanted nothing more than to stay there with everyone because their and your presence, aura, vibes, whatever you want to call it is just so inspiring and makes me feel content. I never thought about the making friends part of this program when I signed up. It is truly amazing what you created. Reflecting back, my entire view of yoga has changed. It has become an entire lifestyle. I had no idea what I was in for and I am so happy that I had the privilege of experiencing it with you and all of my new family members. This has truly been a life-changing experience.

    -Lynda H