Yoga for Mental Health Teacher Training  21-23 June, 2019, Lennox Head.

Requirements for Registration: 

• 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate, or Registered Health Professional
• minimum 6 months teaching experience or relevant clinical experience
• Basic anatomy: familiarity major bones, joints and muscle groups, basic anatomy of breathing, movements of major joints
• Short Statement of why you want to undertake this training and what you intend to do with it. 
• Please note: this course is directed to teachers and therapist who want to offer yoga that supports mental health. It includes using yoga for self care and self regulation, but cannot, in such a short space of time, or with a group of this size, offer the continuity or personalised support for a person who is acutely unwell or in crisis. ​

Course Content:​

• The Yoga for Mental Health Teacher Training is designed to educate and support yoga teachers to offer classes that train resilience, self regulation and self empowerment through yoga. In a safe environment, with a supportive teacher, yoga is a means of finding and cultivating a positive healthy relationship with ourselves.
• The concept of Recovery in mental health and the Yogic framework for mental health
• Scientific explanation of how yoga supports mental health
• Bottom up versus Top Down approaches are explained and explored in practice
• Evidence based approaches and practices which support resilience, recovery and self regulation.
• Important contraindications and guidelines for anxiety and depression.
• A definition and explanation of trauma informed care (this training does not focus exclusively on trauma sensitive yoga) and how to implement it in practice.
• Each of the three days will have time for theory, practical training, reflection, and discussion.

People who took the training have said:

"The Yoga for Mental Health Course is about understanding mental health from a yogic framework and from the framework of recovery, it is about understanding how yoga works on a scientific and experiential level, and it is about knowing how to create a safe, ethically responsible, trauma informed environment in which to offer yoga. I would highly recommend this course to anyone" 

​"Maria leads by example. Very valuable to observe her as a teacher - how to hold space for students in such a professional, caring and loving way."

"I particularly loved that the manual had everything we did in the practical elements, so I wasn’t scrambling to write it all down I could just absorb it all and know I could go back to check again."

"Maria Kirsten’s Yoga for Mental Health training is a course that should be included in all level 2 teacher trainings. It is vital learning the science behind mental health as it provides a framework for teachers to do their own work and be more able to support positive mental health in whatever communities they are in. Maria facilitates a safe and supportive community that encourages discussion and inquiry."

"Perfect balance between theory, practical and discussion."

"I felt very safe and supported"

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Course Structure:

• Yoga for Mental Health is a 20 hour training run over three days. The exact hours may depend on the training location. 
• The June 2019, Lennox Head training will have a daily schedule as follows:  
• ​ Friday 21st June: The training starts at 9am with Maria's Yoga for Grownups Friday morning class from 9 to 10:30 am to see how she teaches and see real grownups doing yoga. 
  • 9 am -10:30 pm                            Yoga for grownups class
    
  • 11:00 - 12:30                                ​Opening circle and introduction; first session of the training
  • 12:30 -  1:30 pm                           Lunch
  • 1:30 - 4:00 pm                              Discussion, theory and practical training
•  Saturday 22nd June
  • 7:30 - 8:30 pm                             Morning led class
  • 9:00 - 9:30                                   Tea break              
  • 9:30 - 12:30                                 Discussion, theory and practical training
  • 12:30 - 1:30 pm                           Lunch
  • 1:30 - 4:00 pm                             Discussion, theory and practical training
• Sunday 23rd June
  • 7:30 - 8:30 pm                             Morning led class
  • 9:00 - 9:30                                   Tea break              
  • 9:30 - 12:30                                 Discussion, theory and practical training. Group photos
  • 12:30 - 1:30 pm                           Lunch
  • 1:30 - 3:00 pm                             Discussion, theory and practical training. 
  • 3:00 - 3:30 on the dot                 Closing circle

Supporting Materials:

• Comprehensive, referenced Yoga for Mental Health Manual

Do I need to bring a mat and props?

• If you can easily travel with props, then it would be great if you could bring a bolster or two. I have enough of everything else to borrow.
• If you cannot easily bring props, then don't worry, there will be props to use at the venue. 

What will I receive on completion of the course ? 

• A certificate from Yoga for Grownups for 20 contact hours in Teaching Yoga to Support Mental Health
• Maria is ERYT500 and YACEP with Yoga Alliance and a Registered Senior Yoga Teacher with Yoga Australia, so all contact hours can be used for continuing education points. 

Cost: 

• Lennox Head Training, 21st- 23rd June,  2019: $600.00, or $550.00 if fully registered by 15th April​, 2019. 
• A deposit of $200 will be accepted to hold your place in the course
• Cancellations before 15th April will be refunded fully with non negotiable $50 admin fee
• Cancellations after 15th April will be refunded only if your place can be filled from the waitlist.
• The training will be limited to 20 people admitted on a first come first serve basis. Those interested will be put on a wait list.

Are meals and refreshments included? 

• No, but healthy, inexpensive food will is plentiful nearby. A kettle for tea making, a microwave and a fridge for storing food will be available. The surf club has a large verandah where we can eat lunch. 
• We will organise a table where we can all eat together to share meals. 

Where is the course being held? 

• At the Lennox Head Surf Club on Pacific Parade near the crossroad with Ross Lane.  The Surf Club has a cafe underneath it, the ocean in front of it, and a tea tree lake and a caravan/camping park behind it.  It takes about 3 minutes to drive into the main part of Lennox Head and about ten minutes to walk it.

If I am travelling from outside the area, where are the nearest airports, do I need to rent a car, and what are my options for accommodation?

• Lennox Head is 15 minutes drive north of Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport.
• Lennox Head is 1 hour drive south of Coolangatta/Gold Coast Airport.
• Lennox Head is 2.5 hours drive south of  Brisbane International Airport.

If you are staying in Lennox Head in the village, it is possible to walk to everything, however if you want to explore the Lennox Head Byron Bay area you will needs a car. 

​There is lots of accommodation in Lennox Head. The caravan park is across the street from the surf club and is next to the lake and the ocean. It has camping sites and cabins. 

Registration Process:

• Complete Application Form then await application approval email. If all places are filled you will be given the option of being placed on the waitlist.
• Upon receipt of approval email, deposit course fees to confirm your place in the course: $600.00, or $550.00 if fully paid by 15th April 2019.​ 
• Direct Deposit to Account: please use your last name as the identifier. (It gets confusing)
  • Maria Kirsten
  • BSB 082 522
  • Acct 36 571 5279

Need more information or want to ask a question?

• email: maria@yogaforgrownups.com