hamsa1800.jpg
osytt-hero.jpg

Open Sky Yoga Therapy Training

OVERVIEW

Open Sky is offering training in the fast-growing field of Yoga Therapy beginning September 2021. In the light of the recent health crisis, and COVID 19 pandemic, yoga therapy will be direly needed.

Note: Due to new health guidelines, all IYAT Yoga Therapy programs will also be offered online.

Participants will master a new therapeutic skillset under the guidance of a world-class faculty, and learn via direct internships and mentoring, that will eventually lead to certification from the International Association of Yoga Therapy. That certification will qualify the program’s graduates for opportunities to practice in hospitals and in private and clinical settings.

The training spans over 2 years, in accordance with the International Association of Yoga Therapists educational requirements. The program requires 800 to 1,000 hours of training and is delivered in weekend modules with residential, synchronous and online formats. At this time, we are prepared to roll out the yoga therapy training with synchronous and online formats for all participants.

Yoga Therapists work in the following environments:

  • in their own private practice charging anywhere from $40 to $175 or more an hour. Most find it useful to offer this sliding scale to also accommodate those clients who have less income.
  • private elementary, middle and high schools counseling their young students on social, family, personal and physical issues and instilling a sense of self confidence and self-awareness during confusing times in life.
  • with professional athletes in training centers, college campuses and in professional team settings helping them remain in top physical shape and providing rehabilitation support for injuries when needed.
  • in addiction centers, eating disorder clinics and recovery homes providing spiritual, mental and physical support to clientele helping them return to a place of balance and discover inner peace.
  • in medical settings including hospitals, cancer centers, mental health clinics and hospices alongside western healthcare professionals, offering different perspectives and healing tools that work in conjunction with traditional treatment protocols.
  • in senior centers, assisted living communities and nursing homes providing a means for seniors to regain declining abilities, including balance, mental acuity and dexterity, in order to live more independently and joyfully in their golden years.
  • in conjunction with other complimentary alternative medicine specialists such as Physical Therapists, Ayurvedic Practitioners, Chiropractors, and Acupuncturists to provide full spectrum holistic healing.
  • in Yoga Studios, spas and resorts where they are sought after to teach therapeutically oriented classes such as Yoga for a Healthy Back, Yoga for Cancer Recovery and Yoga for Chronic Pain to name just a few.

As more and more bona fide medical studies proclaim the healing power behind Yoga Therapy techniques the career options grow by leaps and bounds each year.

CURRICULUM

The training spans over 2 years, in accordance with iayt.org (International Association of Yoga Therapists) educational re- quirements. In the light of the recent health crisis, and COVID 19 pandemic, yoga therapy will be direly needed.

PROGRAM LENGTH

The official beginning date is now in September 2021 and so the 2-year program would end June 2023. The program requires a minimum two-year commitment involving 800 to 1,000 hours of training. This program is delivered in weekend modules with some online format. (More time for completion of the requirements will be at the programs discretion). At the end of this program, trainees will have acquired the needed education and hours to also be awarded the 300-hour advanced teacher training certificate. Those who already hold a 300-hour certificate and /or have a 500RYT or greater will be able to enter the bridge program of this yoga therapy training program (and have advanced standing). Some modules will be F2F (Face-to-Face) and some hours will be online, with group and individual mentorship through Zoom.

Yoga Therapy Training is 1000+ Hours and according to iayt.org regulations takes at least two years to complete.

There will be approximately:
810 Hours of Required Courses
150 Hours Required Practicum
50 Hours Required Non-Contact Practicum 20 Hours Required Thesis/Capstone Project

Note: 200 Hour Teacher training and a year of teaching experience is prerequisite for this program. If you already have your 300-hour then you can matriculate into our bridge program for the training.

ADMISSION

To gain admission, students must have completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training, such as a Yoga Alliances 200-hour registered school program (RYS 200) and have completed the following, which can be accomplished concurrently:

  • a) one year of teaching experience, with specifics to be determined by the program; and
  • b) one year of personal practice, with specifics to be determined by the program.

COMPETENCIES

Students will obtain competencies in Yoga Foundations, Biomedical and Psychological Foundations, Yoga Therapy Tools and Therapeutic Skills, Practicums (including mentoring), Ethics, and Professional Practice. All of these components follow the IAYT 2019 Accreditation Standards for Yoga Therapy Educational Programs. In addition, the program will offer opportunities for specializations. Examples are mental health, somatic education, movement, Ayurveda, and creative art therapy applications, all within a yoga-therapy format.

Supplementing the facultys weekend seminars and hands-on training, learning formats will include experientials, video/ case presentations, mentoring practicum placements, and using apps to aid students in their practice and interaction with patients.

TUITION

$5500/per year;
Bridge Applicants $4500/per year;
Payment plans available.

MORE INFORMATION

Contact Ellen Horovitz at openskyyogatherapy@gmail.com.

Program Leaders:

Ellen G. Horovitz, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT

Ellen G. Horovitz, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, is the COO of Open Sky Yoga Therapy Training (OSYTT), and has 40+ years of experience as a licensed art therapist, psychotherapist, and is a certified yoga therapist (iayt.org) and yoga teacher. She received her essential and advanced teacher training under Francois Raoult at Open Sky, Advanced Restorative Teacher Training under Judith Hanson Lasater, Life Force Yoga Practitioner training under Amy Weintraub, Scoliosis Back Care training under Elise Miller, and certification in Chair Yoga under Lakshmi Voelker. Ellen has authored nine books, numerous chapter publications and peer-reviewed journal articles. Her latest book, Head and HeART: Yoga Therapy & Art Therapy Interventions for Mental Health Practitioners, will be released fall 2020. https://www.yogartherapy.com/

Francois Raoult, MA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT

Francois Raoult, MA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT is the founder of Open Sky Yoga Center and the CEO of Open Sky Yoga Therapy Training (OSYTT). Francois first felt the call to yoga at age 19, on the pilgrimage to India. Then, he toured Europe with an avant garde puppet theater and composed music for the plays. Franois began teaching yoga in 1975. A year later, he started training with the great yogi, Sri B.K.S. Iyengar. A graduate of the Ecole Nationale de Yoga in Paris and a certified Iyengar Instructor, Franois also has extensive training in meditation, Ayurevda and anatomy. Certified in Gong and Laughing Yoga, Franois completed the International Sound Healer program and received a masters degree in Ethnomusicology. Francois taught at Iyengar and Yoga Journal Conventions and initiated a back-care program at Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. He teaches creative Teacher Training programs and yoga retreats worldwide.
http://www.openskyyoga.com/francois

Faculty:

Michael Amy

Michael Amy, MSPT, E-RYT 500, OYI, C-IAYT is a Registered Yoga Teacher at Open Sky, and a licensed Physical Therapist with 20+ years of experience. Michael is an Opening Yoga Instructor for Adapting Yoga for Disability from Matthew Sanford's Mind Body Solutions and completed Essential Teacher Training with Francois Raoult, Relax and Renew certification with Judith Lasater. In addition, Michael has studied Pranayama with Richard Rosen and Fascia Release with Tom Myers. Michael synthesizes his knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuromuscular function and the core principles of yoga and mindfulness to help students and physical therapy clients discover their inner sense of freedom and a sense of well-being. He teaches anatomy modules in yoga teacher trainings internationally and offers a variety of workshops including back care andadaptive/inclusive yoga.
https://www.michaelamyyogapt.com/

Carla Anselm

Carla Anselm, RYT500, ERPYT, YAI500, began yoga training in 2001 at Shakti Yoga in NYC, and continues her education with Francois Raoult at Open Sky Yoga Center. She began teaching at Open Sky in 2004 after completing the Essential Yoga Teacher Training. Carla is an Advanced Restorative Yoga Teacher certified by Judith Hanson Lasater (2009) and has trained with various senior Iyengar yoga teachers. Carla is an experienced doula, teaches the Essential Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training offered by Open Sky Yoga Center and in Brussels, Belgium. She teaches all levels in weekly classes and various workshops at Open Sky Yoga Center.https://openskyyoga.com/teachers/

Christianne Asper-Contant

Christianne Asper-Contant, CAS, RYT 500, received her credentials as Clinical Ayurveda Specialist in 2003 from the California College of Ayurveda. Christianne's Yoga certifications include: Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy at the Sivanada Yoga Vedanta Centre, Relax and Renew with Judith Hanson Lasater PHD, and Advanced Teacher Training under the direction of Franois Raoult. Currently she conducts public Ayurveda workshops and is the director of Assisi Yoga, a program she established at The Assisi Institute.https://assisi-institute.org/about/

Edwin F. Bryant

Edwin F. Bryant, PhD, is an American Indologist and professor of religions of India atRutgers University. He taught Hinduism at Harvard University. He published seven books and authored a number of articles on Vedic history,yoga, and theKrishnatradition. Edwin has been acclaimed worldwide for his commentaries on Patanjali yoga sutra . His latest book is Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana. http://www.edwinbryant.org/

Roger Cole, PhD

Roger Cole, PhD, is an internationally recognized Iyengar yoga teacher trained in Pune, India, and an accomplished sleep research scientist educated at Stanford University and the University of California. Rogers yoga writings include Yoga Journals Anatomy column, Master Class Column, and Ask Our Expert Column, and Yoga Internationals Asana Solutions column. He currently teaches and continues his scientific studies in Del Mar, California, and conducts workshops worldwide.http://rogercoleyoga.com/

Jan Cook

Jan Cook, MS ED, is an educator, consultant, Registered Somatic Movement Educator, Registered Somatic Therapist, Body-Mind Centering practitioner and ordained meditation teacher. Jan was ordained as Buddhist dharma teacher and has been a teacher of Body-Mind Centering and Somatics for 25 years; she has studied with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Mark Taylor, Susan Harper, and many colleagues and teachers on the leading edge of embodiment. https://www.livingandworkingwell.net/

Debra Corea, RYT 500

Debra Corea, RYT 500- Debra's training includes Spirit Rocks MYMT, Open Sky's ETT, Kripalu's YTT, Continuum Movement teacher and University of Rochester faculty offering courses in their Mind-Body Somatics Cluster. Her primary yoga and pranayama training was with Francois Raoult at Open Sky Yoga, certified in Judith Lasater's Advanced Relax and Renew, Yoga for Scoliosis with Elise Miller. Her somatic exploration studies were inspired by Deborah Raoult, visionary Emilie Conrad, and Susan Harper. Debra accompanied Thich Nhat Hahn, her most influential mindfulness teacher, on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Buddha in northern India. https://continuummovement.com/profiles/debra-corea/

Ronald M. Epstein, MD

Ronald M. Epstein, MD, is Professor of Family Medicine, Psychiatry & Oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and board-certified in Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Epstein is active in research and medical education. He is a family physician, palliative care physician, writer, researcher and teacher of communication and mindful practice in medicine. With over 300 juried journal publications, Dr. Epstein is author of Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity. Ron has also studied yoga under Franois Raoult at Open Sky. http://www.ronaldepstein.com/

Richard Rosen

Richard Rosen began his study of yoga in 1980 and began teaching in 1987 after completing a two-year training program at the BKS Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco. He is the author of five books on yoga, the most recent being Yoga FAQ: Almost Everything You Need to Know about Yoga from Asanas to Yamas. He has also written numerous articles, book and video reviews for various magazines, including Yoga Journal, which for many years he served as a Contributing Editor. Since being diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2002, Richard has worked individually with many people dealing with the same condition. Richard lives in Berkeley, California. https://www.richardrosenyoga.com/

Joseph Schmidlin, DO

Joseph Schmidlin, DO, is an osteopath, teacher and practitioner of wholistic medicine. Joseph has over 25 years of teaching and practice in the field of Energy Medicine. His practice encompasses traditional Chinese Medicine Ayurveda, Zero Balancing, Lymphatic Drainage, Visceral Manipulation, Massage Therapy and Cranial-sacral therapy, Nada yoga and Sonic Vibrational Medicine. He frequently leads trainings retreats, sound immersions and meditations around the world. http://www.jschmidlin.com/

Amy Weintraub, MFA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, YACEP

Amy Weintraub, MFA, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, YACEP, is the founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, and authoredYoga for DepressionandYoga Skills for Therapists:Effective Practices for Mood Management. Her latest book, Temple Dancer, was released in 2020 and Amys yoga card deck for depression and anxiety was published by Sounds True (Spring, 2021). She has been a pioneer in the field of yoga and mental health for over twenty years and written for magazines likeYoga JournalandYoga Internationaland wrote the first feature article about yoga and depression called Yoga the Natural Prozac, which appeared on the cover ofYoga Journalin 1999. Amy offers trainingsfor mood to health and yoga professionals and offers workshops for everyday practitioners. https://www.amyweintraub.com/