Apprenticeship Program
The Best Way to receive training to become a qualified Yoga Teacher is to apprentice with an experienced yoga teacher.
The important assumption here is that the student who is interested in apprenticing is qualified him or herself for the apprenticeship.
At The Center For Yoga of Seattle, we practice, study, and teach Iyengar Yoga. Iyengar Yoga is considered to be the most developed method of yoga in the world today. Developed over the past 90 years by Yogacharya BKS Iyengar of Pune India and his family, Iyengar Yoga is practiced by over 10 million people worldwide with millions more affected by this Brilliant Method of Yoga.
Richard has trained in Iyengar Yoga Asana, Pranayama, Therapeutic Yoga direcly with the Iyengar Family.
He continues his study of Iyengar Yoga with Abhijata Iyengar, BKS Iyengar's Grandaughter, and Yoga Philosophy with Prashant Iyengar, BKS Iyengar's son, and with Srinet Iyengar, BKS Iyengar's grandson.
Yoga apprenticeship involve learning to become a qualified assistant in an ongoing Iyengar Yoga Class with lots of supervision.
Apprentices learn how classes are taught. They learn how courses are developed. The learn how to help those who need special attention, often employing props in very particular ways. Apprentices learn how the experienced teacher helps each student in often very different ways.
No one is an excellent, experienced, knowledgeable teacher who knows how to work with different students for many years.
Students who choose to study an intelligent, well thought out, and customizable Method of Yoga like Iyengar Yoga, are learning a type of yoga that when they become teachers, can be used to help a large number of people of different ages, fitness levels, each with their own challenges.
Obviously many aspiring or current yoga teachers in the Seattle Area would like to work closely and be trained by Seattle's Most Experienced Yoga Teacher! Please understand that we can only admit a few students to apprentice in an ongoing class in order to give the necessary supervision and training.
What is the path to being allowed to Apprentice with Richard Schachtel at The Center For Yoga of Seattle?
- You need to be a student of Richard's studying Iyengar Yoga. This means you are taking at least one weekly class with Richard in person, not online.
- You need to be practicing Iyengar Yoga on your own, having what is known as your own personal Yoga practice.
- You need to have dedication to Iyengar Yoga.
- If you are taking other kinds of yoga, or practicing other kinds of yoga on your own or via the internet, you are not at the level of commitment to Iyengar Yoga to be accepted to apprentice in Iyengar Yoga. Sorry only those dedicated to this method of yoga will be selected.
- You have to be a certain type of individual who is very observant and who is quick to catch what the teacher is teaching, and what the teacher wants you do(after having been given clear instructions). The learning and understanding develops slowly over some time. It is not a crash course. The apprentice has to be able to calmly receive direct feedback on what they need to do to improve.
- Richard selects his apprentices carefully. Not everyone is admitted, and some have to wait several years to get the opportunity.
I notice you have a Introduction to Iyenger Yoga Teacher Training Course starting in October 2024? What is the difference between Learning to Become a Yoga Teacher through Apprenticeship or taking the Preparatory Teacher Training Course?
The first thing is that although the Introductory Teacher Training Course is Selective with important qualifications to be admitted, the Apprenticeship Program is even more selective.
We will admit students to be in the 6 month initial teacher training that we will not admit for apprenticeship(initially).
Ideally each student would be in an ongoing teacher training course, along with taking one or several weekly regular classes a week, and apprenticing at some time either after the prospective teachers course or at the same time.
It is very important to know at there is huge difference in quality of New Teachers who have apprenticed with a Senior Teacher and those who have only taken yoga teacher training courses, with apprentice background teachers being much better trained to handle to challenging job of teaching yoga.
Dates for the 6 Month 2024 Apprenticeships
- April 29th - May 3 Starting dates through October 2024 For Richard's Evening Course
Monday 7:45am-9:00pm Beginner Starts 4/29
Or
Thursdays 6:00pm-7:30pm Beginner Starts 5/2
Or
Fridays 6:30pm-7:45pm Slower Yoga Starts 5/3 - Early Morning Twice a Week Apprenticeships For Richard's
Tuesday and Thursday 5:30am-6:45am and 7:00am
Meets in May, June, August, September, November
Fees
- The Evening Apprenticeships are $1,000
These meet one class a week for 6 months.
- The Early Morning Twice a Week Apprenticeships are $1,500.
These meet over 7 months.
You can talk to Richard after class to find out your readiness for Apprenticeship.