Yoga Center |Yoga Class Information | Yoga Class Schedule | Yoga Events

It has been said  . . . To learn what you most want to master in life . . . teach! Teaching is one of the greatest Teachers!

The  Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program offered at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts is designed to support all who wish to deepen their personal spiritual connection through learning to master the principles and practice of Yoga. The Yoga Teacher Training program  offers students the tools to facilitate personal growth and development.
 
Some students who complete the program Yoga Teacher Training program in Tempe, Arizona choose to offer what they’ve learned to the community at large; others simply wish to use these tools for their own growth. Teaching is not necessarily the goal of all our students.
 
We believe deepening a connection to self and others is a benefit all students will carry with them into their lives after being a part of the Swiha Yoga Teacher Training program.
 
The foundation of the Swiha Yoga Teacher Training program lies in the principles and practices of the Classical Eight Limbs of Yoga. These include:

1.       Yama ('Right' behavior and attitude toward others)
2.       Niyama ('Right' behavior and attitude toward self)
3.       Asana (traditional yoga poses)
4.       Pranayama (regulation of breathing and control of the life force, 
          prana)
5.       Pratyahara (withdrawing the senses inward)
6.       Dharana (focused mental concentration)
7.       Dhyana (meditation)
8.       Samadhi (connection with universal source)
 
Swiha Yoga Teacher Training includes the study of the following elements of Yoga:

1.       History and philosophy of Yoga
2.       Principles and theory of alignment and the anatomy of
          movement as they relate to teaching Yoga asanas, pranayama 
          and meditation
3.       Methods of teaching as they relate to creating a complete yoga
          experience for future students
4.       How to design and structure a Yoga class employing elements
          of all eight limbs of Yoga
5.       Empowering future students (and yourself) to take the principles
          of Yoga off the mat and into daily living.

 
While it is recommended Yoga teacher trainees have an established Yoga practice for at least a few months prior to entering the program, Swiha welcomes both the experienced and the novice.
 
It is Swiha’s intention to hold the space for all who are passionate about Yoga and committed to learning what it means to be a Yoga teacher both on and off the yoga mat. Facilitators of the program help to guide students in developing their own personal practice alongside what is presented during the teacher training program.
 
All students who remain enrolled in the Yoga Teacher Training program receive a free 6-month unlimited pass to any of our weekly scheduled yoga classes at Swiha Yoga Studio
 
Swiha Yoga Teacher Training draws its elements from a variety of long established Yoga traditions. Our experienced facilitators hold certifications at the advanced levels in the Iyengar, Kripalu and Anusara Yoga.  Swiha also invites nationally and internationally-respected Yoga teacher trainers and Yoga-related teachers as guest presenters of our program. Our students have the opportunity to receive and experience the wealth of talent available both within and beyond our local Swiha community. 
 
As a participant in the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program at Swiha, students who complete the 3-module program will be certified as Yoga teachers. Because of its status as a Yoga Alliance-approved school (RYS), Swiha graduates of the YTT program are eligible to register with the Yoga Alliance and carry the official designation “RYT” (Registered Yoga Teacher). This designation is usually required for those seeking employment as Yoga instructors.
 
The main facilitators of the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program are Christy Burnette and Rhoda Miriam With more than 30 years combined Yoga teaching experience, Christy  and Rhoda  bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom to Swiha’s Yoga Teacher Training programs.

Classes fill up fast. Sign up soon!

Instructors

Christy Burnette is Director of Yoga Education at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. She is a certified E-RYT 500 Anusara Yoga instructor and owner of Arizona Yoga in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Christy has been a student of yoga for almost two decades, and has trained with John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga, since 1991.  Her long experience gives her an unusually rich detailed palette of teachings.  Among the first to be certified in Anusara, Christy is one of the most beloved teachers from the thriving yoga community in the western U.S.  Christy is known for her thorough, compassionate, rigorous mentoring of other yoga teachers.  Christy’s experience includes individual and group instruction, teacher training, national and international workshop and retreats.

Rhoda Miriam, BS, E-RYT500, is the Assistant Director of Yoga Education at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. She has taught yoga and meditation since 1993, and is certified as a professional-level Kripalu Yoga teacher, a Yoga teacher mentor, and as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner. Rhoda is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an experienced 500-hour instructor, and holds membership in the International Association of Yoga Therapists , the Arizona Yoga Association and the Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association. She has been certified by the Arthritis Foundation and trained by the National MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society. Rhoda believes that everyone can experience the benefits of yoga no matter what their age or physical ability. She specializes in helping those who are meeting the challenges of limited mobility, chronic and recurring pain, and stress-related conditions. Rhoda created the Yoga for Slow Living program as a mindful approach to yoga on and off the mat. In addition to teaching group classes, and leading workshops and retreats, Rhoda offers private sessions in Yoga therapy, guided meditation and relaxation therapy.