Tosha Yoga Teacher Training

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A guided journey in self-inquiry; a program designed to challenge you to expand to your fullest, thriving radiance.

The program is aimed at honing the clarity to make yoga an integral part of the rest of your life.

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To be a yoga teacher is to guide others on the quest of what it is to be alive. To do so requires the capacity to look deeply within oneself. Each of us growing this ability to self-reflect nudges humanity upwards- this program is an accelerated nudge.

This program is not just an intensive in yoga asana- it is an immersion in living fully- explored from many angles, and with the expectation that you come prepared to open, reveal, examine, and evolve. Because of the rigor and intimacy of the program- the cohort is selective and small- a container of like-minded souls that you will journey with to experience deeper, synergistic embodiment together.

We begin with a morning practice intensive. From there, the program meets one weekend per month between August and April.

The emphasis of the course will be Vinyasa yoga - a flowing sequence of specific poses coordinated with breath. Vinyasa also refers to the cyclic nature of life in general-  the natural expansion and contraction or creation and destruction of life. Throughout the course we will learn to live the cycles of our life more whole-heartedly and with more grace. 

The beginning of the course will delve into the of the roots of yoga- the Vedas. And from there- explore the classical texts such as the arguably paramount yogic text, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which gives an endless depth of material to enrich any practice or teaching.

We will also be devoting extensive time to studying applied physical anatomy and biomechanics of breathing and spinal movement so that our understanding of asana is woven with a knowledge of what’s below the skin.

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The middle of the program will be focused on the psycho-spiritual subtle body. This portion of the course will be an immersion into the elemental body- and they lived practices of tending a healthy system through the tools of Ayurveda.

When the body is explored closely enough we see how some of the principle philosophies of yoga are actually mapped into our cells and reflected in our physiology.

Lastly, we will develop the skills of applying our knowledge of yoga to teaching. Our main areas of focus will be:

• How to hold space for ourselves and a class of students

• The principles of ritual and the science of catharsis

• Tuning the instrument of the voice

The course will not include simple teaching formulas. It will instead ask you to be present and responsive to life’s complexity.

Towards the end of the course we will turn our focus to some of the elements of the business of yoga such as marketing and finances- elements often under explored in most teacher trainings- and yet necessary in order to confidently pursue teaching. We will delve into the process of applying to teach yoga, the art of taking quality yoga photos, and dissect music playlist structure (among many many other topics).

The aim of the course is to give you the functional knowledge to create a strong platform for a thriving business teaching yoga so that you can continue to evolve the teachings of yoga through your unique lens.

A 200-hour program is aimed at whetting the appetite for a life-time of investigation and experimentation through yoga- not teaching everything there is to know. The aim will be depth rather than breadth.

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The coursework combines didactic and experiential modes of learning woven together to give time to absorb the material. We will be doing deep exploration into the dream world and will require you to be seeing your entire life through the lens of yoga.

Supplemental videos will help you have down-loadable lessons so you can study and absorb some of the denser material at your own pace.

The course is comprehensive and rigorous demanding that you push yourself- and expecting excellence along the way.

You will be expected to show up and engage deeply with the ideas, tools, asanas, and texts and to practice diligently and share with the group conscientiously.

Beyond the teachings of yoga, this course will give you the framework for studying yourself.

The tools of yoga can help us unwind trauma from the body and learn to live in a more enjoyably embodied way- but growth is uncomfortable and takes courage. You will be required to vulnerably open, which will challenge you, but will ultimately help serve your freedom and confidence to be who you truly are- which is the only way to become a teacher.

Together we will hone the tools of curiosity, resilience, and compassion.

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If you’re wanting to to pursue a path of teaching yoga- this course is for you; It will prepare you for the challenges of beginning to teach and give you the tools for handling those challenges with confidence and steadiness.

And if you’re simply wanting to deepen your knowledge and relationship with yoga so that every area of your life is more intentional and vibrant- this course is for you as well.

This teacher training is a journey towards deep self-recognition and empowerment using the tools of yoga. Its aim is to guide you in kindling the heart fire, finding the true voice, and harnessing and surrendering to the powerful alchemy of breath.

2024-2025 Program Structure:

Opening Intensive Morning Sadhana: Monday, August 19th- Sunday, August 25th

6:00-8:00 am

Opening circle - Sunday August 25th 3-5 pm (no practice Friday, the 23rd)

Weekend Intensives: Fridays- 8-4:30, Saturdays 12:30-6, Sundays 1:30-5

• Weekend 1 - August 30th- Sept 1

• Weekend 2 - Sept 20-22

• Weekend 3 - October 18-20

• Weekend 4 - November 15-17

• Weekend 5- December 13-15

• Weekend 6- January 17-19

• Weekend 7- Feb 21-23

• Weekend 8- March 21-23

• Weekend 9- April 11-13

  
  plus- 4-8 hours of self-practice, reading, study per week plus 1-3 hour videos per month plus one group study session per month

For your application to be considered you must have done at least a year of consistence yoga practice.

Acceptance into the program is selective and is based on experience, application quality, practice history, and demonstration of commitment. Even with these qualities- applicants are only accepted if they can demonstrate a commitment to excellence. Every student will be held to a high bar- as the caliber of the entire program is compromised if even one student isn’t showing up with curiosity, love, and effort.

Price: $4,800

The price includes in-person and virtual instruction and printed materials. Course includes a resource binder that will be your companion for years to come- it does not include the required texts. ($1395 of this tuition goes to pay your unlimited yoga pass at Tosha for the duration of the course)

There is a payment plan available- simply inquire.

You may either pay a non-refundable deposit of $600 or the course balance by July 15th. Payment may be made in cash to Suzanne or via check or money order mailed to Tosha Yoga PO BOX 645 Arcata, CA 95518

In past years the application process has been competitive- there have been many more applicants than there are spots in the program. If you feel called to join submit your application. If there is still space and if you seem like a good addition to the cohort you will be accepted.

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About Suzanne:

The training is led by Tosha Yoga founder Suzanne Dunning.  Suzanne aims to share her unique compilation of the teachings of yoga within a reverent yet non-dogmatic and applicable context. She believes that teaching yoga is both an art as well as a science- and aims to do due justice to both.

Suzanne has been teaching for over 20 years, leading trainings for seven, and practicing yoga since she was 14.

She studies continuously - but first trained with Alice Joanou, a Vinyasa teacher in the TKV Desikachar lineage and later with Leslie Kaminoff of The Breathing Project in New York, Karin Gurtner of Slings in Motion/Art of Motion, Christopher Wallis (Sanskrit/Tantric scholar) and Christopher Tompkins (Tantric scholar)- among many others.

Before moving home to Arcata, she taught in the San Francisco Bay Area while earning a degree in Medical Anthropology from UC Berkeley. She has been influenced by her practice and training with Lori Snyder, Tom Meyers, Jack Kornfield, Joanna Macy, Shiva Rea, David Moreno, and Tias Little. She is currently studying with Josh Schrei. She humbly bows to all her teachers.

Suzanne’s ultimate aim is to help each student become more peacefully at home in the body.

Drawing on the rich knowledge in our community the training may be woven with the occasional guest teacher.

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Reviews from graduates of the course:

“Suzanne is a spectacular teacher and a wellspring of wisdom. She provides sacred space and essential tools to work with the subtle energies of the body. This training isn’t just a yoga teacher training that will give you a script to teach- this is a training that will guide you into your own authority & power to create your own script to teach. My experience of this program is invaluable, and has been a pivotal experience in my growth as an individual.” - Chelsea Brunnett

“The yoga teacher training was a delightful and rich experience for me. A balance of intellect and heart, of playfulness and practicality and of flow and structure. Suzanne is a trustworthy, dedicated, adaptable, highly competent and compassionate human, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have gone through this training with her.” - Corinne Basanez

“The growth and healing I experienced during the program was profound and continues to unfold in surprising and gratifying ways. The program was ambitious and unique, and in many ways, I feel like I got exactly what I hoped for and more out of a yoga teacher training program.” - Nina Transue

“This training made us all much better teachers (and humans).” - Emily Benvie

“I am just beyond myself with gratitude for the training. It opened up windows into my soul that I didn’t even realize were boarded up.

I am lighter and much more fearless.” -Kali Wooner