200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Our Mission
The 200-hour yoga teacher training program is designed to prepare students to deepen their own personal practice and study of yoga and to teach general wellness yoga to diverse individuals and groups of students in a variety of settings.
Weekend & Weeknight Sessions
There are 7 weekends over 12 months plus select Monday & Thursday evenings. Paced for those who have full-time jobs and/or family commitments. Next program start date is April 30, 2022.
Credentials Earned
Students who complete the course are eligible to apply for RYT-200 with Yoga Alliance, the national credentialing organization for yoga teachers.
Prerequisites
A sincere desire to learn more about yoga. Immersing in personal practice or taking Viniyoga classes, workshops or retreats is very helpful but not required. You can find a variety of Viniyoga classes at www.5koshasyoga.com.
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Faculty
The lead teacher and school director, Mary Hilliker, has studied with her teacher, Gary Kraftsow, for the last 20 + years. Mary has been training yoga teachers in the Midwest since 2009. She has assembled a group of talented teachers trained in the Viniyoga lineage to assist in the training. See 200-Hour Faculty.
Yoga Lineage
Our approach to Yoga adapts the tools and techniques of yoga to the individual and group. Our philosophy is to keep the time-honored and authentic tradition of yoga alive and relevant for the modern context. We transmit teachings consistent with the lineage of Viniyoga™, as transmitted to us by Gary Kraftsow of the American Viniyoga Institute. Gary’s teacher was TKV Desikachar, the son of “the father of modern yoga,” T Krishnamacharya.
Distinguishing features of this approach include:
- Breath-centered movement
- Use of repetition and stay in postures (asana)
- Functional benefit of the posture (asana) over an exact form
- Safe and intentional sequencing of practices
- Adaptation of yoga tools and techniques for the practitioner and group
- A comprehensive set of yoga tools to assist the practitioner including asana, pranayama, meditation, sound, yoga philosophy, nyasa, mudra and more.
The trademark for the term, Viniyoga is the property of Gary Kraftsow and the American Viniyoga Institute.
Students who complete this program are welcome to continue with our 300-hour advanced teacher training.