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200-Hour JOY CERTIFICATION

Overview

The JOY of Yoga 200-Hour Teacher Training was created in 2006. It represents both western medical approaches and alternative methods to health and well-being, providing knowledge and insight into both the workings of the human body and the nature of mind. This program balances an understanding of the roots of yoga with innovative applications of yoga and mindfulness in contemporary culture.

The training is run by Jennifer Prugh and Noell Clark, both of whom have extensive background in running trainings, and who have devoted their lives to yoga. Jennifer and Noell bring their individual and unique areas of expertise to this program; joining science, art, philosophy, and practice seamlessly to form a well-rounded and holistic program.

This program provides the chance to deeply study a variety of modalities in the form of group classes, and will equip you with incredible skills for all aspects of life. You may take the JOY training to teach professionally, you may take the JOY training for personal development, or you may want to offer others what yoga has offered you. With any motive, you will leave this program equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to live a conscious and inspired life.

How It Works

  • The JOY of Yoga 200-Hour program consists of two phases: Foundations and Dynamics.
  • Once complete, students are eligible to register as a 200-hour certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance.
  • JOY of Yoga 200-Hour students receive complimentary unlimited yoga for 70 days (over $400 value), beginning the first day of your Foundations program.

Registration Requirements & Application

  1. Have a minimum of one year of consistent practice.
  2. Must be at least 18 years of age.
  3. Apply and gain acceptance in the JOY of Yoga 200-Hour program.

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete Phase 1 (Foundations) and Phase 2 (Dynamics).
    Each phase consists of 2 – 5-day intensives (totaling 4 – 5-day intensives).
  • During the Dynamics program:
    • Pass an anatomy test and a sanskrit test with a minimum score of 80%.
    • Teach a yoga sequence based upon the 84 postures to your peers.

Investment

  • Each 100 hour module:
    • $1800 (Regular)
    • $1650 (Early-bird)
    • 50% non-refundable deposit
    • Reading materials are a separate cost
Application form
Reading List
FAQs

Upcoming Courses

Faculty

Jennifer Prugh

Noell Clark

Joanne Varni

Bridget Puchalsky

Kirti Saran

Erika Palmquist-Smith

Matt Hahn

Christina Perez-Martin

Required Courses

Foundations

  • First 100 hours
  • Deepen your understanding of the vast tradition of yoga.
  • Science of asana; postures and alignment
  • Western anatomy and subtle anatomy (Noell Clark and Jennifer Prugh)
  • History of yoga and yoga philosophy (Matthew Hahn)
  • Evolution, cross-pollination, and varieties of yoga
  • Breathing practices (pranayama)
  • Meditation
  • Sanskrit pronunciation

Dynamics

  • Second 100 hours
  • Explore the fundamentals of teaching safely, efficiently, and effectively.
  • History of modern yoga
  • Principles of sequencing and assisting
  • Teaching techniques: methodology and reading bodies
  • Developing your voice and utilizing language
  • Pre and post natal practice adaptations
  • Trauma informed teaching methods
  • The psychology and ethics of teaching
  • The business of yoga

Reading List

Required

  • The Untethered Soul, Michael Singer
  • Functional Anatomy of Yoga, David Keil
  • Provided After Enrollment
    • Garland of Yoga, Jennifer Prugh
    • “Roots of Yoga – Historical Overview” from Roots of Yoga by Mark Singleton & Jim Mallinson
    • “Vedas and Upanishads” from A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
    • “Setting In Motion The Wheel of the Dhamma” from Samyutta Nikaya translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi
    • “Shorter Discourse to Mālunkyāputta (Poisoned Arrow)” from Majjhima Nikaya translated by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi
    • “Karma and Coming Home 24/7/365” from The Road Home by Ethan Nictern
    • “History of Yoga” and “Subject Matter of the Yoga Sutras” from Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Edwin Bryant

Recommended

  • The Joy of Living, Yongey Mingur Rinpoche
  • Ashtanga Yoga, David Swenson
  • Light on Yoga, BKS Iyengar
  • A Path With Heart, Jack Kornfield
  • Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Gary Kissiah
  • BTY’s free online video library
  • Provided After Enrollment
    • “Life of Shabkar – Mountain Meadow” from Life of Shabkar translated by Matthieu Ricard
    • “Harrapan World” from India: A History by James Keav

Suggested Resources

Jennifer Prugh is the founder of Breathe Together Yoga, the JOY of Yoga School of Integrative Learning and she leads four international yoga and mindfulness retreats a year. Jennifer is passionate about making wisdom from a variety of traditions accessible and embodied, through movement and breath, self-inquiry, and meditation. She has a Master’s Degree in Art and Consciousness, eight years as an associate professor of storytelling, storyboarding, and creativity, and ten years as a professional artist, all of which are woven into a passionate exploration in utilizing the instrument of the body to take up residence in an enduring state of well-being so that we can be a benefit to those around us.
Noell has been teaching yoga and movement for well over a decade. Her classes combine traditional yoga with mobility and strength-building techniques to help students find greater freedom in their bodies and longevity in their chosen sport or movement practices. Since 2012, Noell has led more than a dozen yoga teacher trainings, as well as courses in kinesiology and human anatomy. She is a lead trainer for the JOY of Yoga School of Integrative Learning and holds certifications in Yoga, Pilates, Functional Range Systems, and the ELDOA method.

Joanne’s philosophy as a yoga teacher is to help people who seek personal empowerment feel connected to their bodies, quiet their mind, stimulate a healthy nervous system, and release tension in the body caused by stress, anxiety, or trauma. Her teaching techniques use a combination of breathwork, meditation, gentle asanas, somatic yoga, medical qigong, and neurogenic tremoring.

Joanne is an E-RYT 500 and earned her certification through Jennifer Prugh’s, YA-certified JOY of Yoga teacher training and is a Level 2 TRE facilitator. Joanne teaches classes, workshops, teacher trainings, as well as runs retreats locally and internationally. She is co-founder of the Yoga for Trauma Recovery Program and teaches trauma-informed yoga at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose, California and has voluntarily taught yoga to women incarcerated at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas and the Center for Survivors of Torture in San Jose.

Bridget found yoga through a long-ago bout with lower-back tension from skiing and biking. It led to a passion for teaching that influenced her career path as an acupuncturist and Ayurveda practitioner. In addition to being a yogini and healing facilitator, Bridget is a listener, herbalist, adventurer, nature lover, and environmental protector. She is a board-licensed acupuncturist, master herbalist, certified Ayurveda practitioner, L.Ac. MTCM, registered E-RYT and E-RYT 500 yoga instructor. Bridget is the director of Breathe Together Yoga’s Wellness Center and core faculty member in the JOY of Yoga teacher training. You can connect with her for private healthcare sessions, yoga classes, or seasonal wellness-based cleanses.
Kirti Saran, B.Sc., Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India – Chemistry (major) Biology (minor), E-RYT, YACEP and holder of a graduate diploma in classical Indian dancing (Bharatnatyam) from Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir in her hometown, Patna, Bihar, India. Having been born in Canada and migrated to India at a young age, Kirti understands the challenges faced by non-native speakers of Sanskrit and Hindi It is her endeavor to quench the thirst of knowledge and cross barriers of fear for those who desire to dive deeper into the root of yoga: Sanskrit.
Erika Smith, LPCC, RYT-500, is a licensed clinical counselor who practices in the Bay Area. With over 15 years of experience in the mental health field, she specializes in using mind-body tools to help patients living with chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, and depression. For the past several years, she has worked with Breathe Together Yoga to offer training and skills to yoga teacher trainees to make their classes feel supportive and safe for anyone on a mental health journey. You can learn more about her at www.erikasmithcounseling.com.
Matthew Hahn is a member of the Boundless Freedom Project Sangha and a program facilitator for Mindful Prisons, a mindful community meeting behind the walls of San Quentin State Prison. A co-founder of the Recovery Dharma program, he teaches mostly to system-impacted and recovery communities. Starting meditation in 2005, Matthew has practiced principally within the Insight tradition, but has also studied in Burma within the Mahasi / U Pandita lineage of Theravada Buddhism. He has been personally mentored by lay teachers within the Insight tradition and was empowered with lay ordination by Venerable Pannavati and the late Venerable Pannadipa. Matthew Hahn has taught the history of yoga philosophies for BTY’s teacher training since 2016.

Christina’s yoga journey started when she was twenty. After suffering from depression and anxiety and years of trying different medications and countless counseling sessions, a counselor suggested yoga as a tool to manage anxiety. In 2008 Christina completed yoga teacher training and started teaching classes. Since her 200 hour training she has added multiple trainings including; prenatal/postnatal, hot fusion and advanced yoga training. 

​Since 2015 Christina has coached 1 yoga teacher training and lead 7 others. Christina enjoys teaching different styles and different levels of yoga.