200Hr Yoga Alliance Tantra Teacher Training All Over USA
One of the country’s leading authorities on the ancient traditions of yoga, tantra, and meditation, Yogarupa Rod Stryker developed ParaYoga so students of all levels could realize the true promise of yoga in all aspects of life.
The term “Para” means supreme, ancient, highest, the culmination of all effort. According to the ancient tradition, yoga is a systematic process culminating in “auspiciousness”––that which attracts ultimate success and happiness. Through skillful use of body, breath, mind, and spirit, yoga can touch and improve all aspects of life.
ParaYoga is a practical and joyous system rooted in the Tantric tradition. Weaving together the threads of matter and spirit, it celebrates life as an exquisite tapestry. ParaYoga’s intention is to help students realize their potential and enable them to embody limitless power, freedom, and prosperity.
Students schooled in this system, become masterful at the science and application of asana, pranayama, and meditation as well as the capacity to apply the three key elements at the core of a ParaYoga practice.
The Three Threads of a ParaYoga Practice
1. Vinyasa Krama, as taught by the illustrious yoga master T. Krishnamacharya, is the vital teaching that defines every ParaYoga practice and set it apart from many other yoga schools. Sequencing pools together the vast streams of knowledge including Yoga, Tantra, and Ayurveda.
2. Tejas is a subtle force that, as it becomes more vibrant, leads to more creative, fearlessness, compassion, and helps attract the conditions and people most conducive to growth, happiness, and success. The correct application of the Principles of Sequencing unlocks the forces of Tejas and is a distinct feature of a ParaYoga practice––one of the main reasons why ParaYoga changes the way you feel as well as the quality of your life.
3. Smarana or “remembrance,” is the heart of the Yoga experience. The aim of practice is to recollect your wholeness and to rest in the beauty, joy and inspiration––the inherent qualities––with which we all come into life. When you remember who you are, you feel whole and are led to a truly fulfilling and meaningful life.
These three themes are woven into every ParaYoga practice. Trainees are steeped in the methods, theory, and ancient principles that allow them enliven these key elements of practice.
The science of ParaYoga, its scope, depth, and relevance for the modern practitioner aspiring to make the most of life are drawn from a Yogic tradition that has been a vibrant force for a millenium–namely, Tantra.
The ParaYoga Master Training Curriculum consists of 9 Trainings in 4 Tiers.
Excellence. That one word describes what ParaYoga® is all about. Appreciation for excellence, combined with two simple desires, has been the driving force that shaped the entire ParaYoga® Master Training (PYMT). The first of these desires was to honor the wisdom and breadth of the spiritual tradition of the Vedas––the source of Yoga; the second was to give today’s yoga practitioners the chance to practice and/or share the power of these extraordinary teachings. Both desires aspire to the reward that comes from living with excellence.
Everything about the PYMT––its course curriculum, reading assignments, practices, course requirements, (and for those who pursue accreditation) prerequisites as well as the thoroughness of its testing process––reflects an intention to instill excellence in all those who come into contact with ParaYoga® and particularly those who teach it.
Anyone wanting to deepen their experience or understanding of Yoga will be enriched by these trainings in countless ways. Learning to teach ParaYoga®, moreover becoming an accredited ParaYoga® teacher, no doubt requires time, commitment, and the passion necessary to be and to share the best of oneself and the sublime wisdom of Yoga. But for those who have felt touched by it, by the power of excellence, and are inspired share Yoga’s supreme approach to it, the ParaYoga® Master Teacher program is unlike any other.
PYMT modules are designed to enrich participants understanding, breadth of experience and, for those interested in teaching, to share the full spectrum of yoga’s teachings that attract and help to create a life of “supreme” success and happiness. In addition to 3 to 4 hours a day of combined Asana, Pranayama, and meditation practices, each includes lecture, discussion groups, Q&A sessions, exercises, and writing assignments. Required reading assignments as well as book reports (for accreditation) are also part of each Training.
9 AM – 12 PM and 1:30 – 5:30 PM
Morning practices are open to all dedicated practitioners (participation in the training is not required). These 3 hour practices, led by Rod, are devoted to unfolding a particular teaching of the theme of the particular training.
Afternoon Training sessions deepen exploration through lectures, additional practices, and Q & A sessions.
Rod Stryker is an American Yoga Master, the founder of ParaYoga®, and the author of The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom. He is widely respected as one of the country’s leading authorities on the ancient traditions of yoga, tantra, and meditation. Gleaned from more than thirty years of intensive study and practice, Rod’s teaching weaves together a depth of understanding and experience with a truly unique ability to make the ancient teachings and practices accessible to students of all levels. Rod trains teachers and leads retreats, workshops, and trainings worldwide. Rod is on the advisory board of the Kripalu Institute of Extraordinary Living, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Himalayan Institute. Rod also blogs for the Huffington Post.
“Thank you for the rich and wonderful experience!!! Before your teachings, I thought that the Yoga Sutras were complicated and somewhat dry reading but now I find them to be a truly wonderful study and a great resource or “Bible” to my own direct experience of life. Your intensive has truly enhanced my life…Thank you, Rod, for your teachings, thank you for sharing and my gift to you as a student will be to listen, to learn, to live your teachings so that I may share my knowledge with those I meet in this lifetime and lifetimes to come.
“I just wanted to send you a quick note with a thank you for the change in my life I have received since beginning yoga practice 6 months ago. Through your teaching I have realized a peace and Serenity I have never imagined in my life. My intention with yoga was to stretch out some muscles that were bothering me and to my delight and surprise I found the…Meditating and regenerating aspects were profoundly more productive in changing something in my life I had no idea was missing. Thank you.”
We received the following email after a recent Sequencing Training… “When I got home Sunday night, I planned out a… class for this week, following the ParaYoga blueprint. I taught it to my regular class… One new student who had been taking yoga for over 15 years had told me before class began that she had to leave 15 minutes early. As her time to leave approached, she never left. After class was over, she came up to me and said, ‘I just wanted to tell you that was the best yoga class I have ever taken in my 15 years of yoga’. Thank you, Rod. I feel transformed after last week and hopefully, some of that will flow over to my students”.
Do I need to be a teacher or aspiring teacher to participate in the PYMT?
You are welcome to participate in the PYMT whether you aim to teach ParaYoga or not. The trainings are an ideal setting to experience and study the culmination of yogic widom or learn how to teach a modern rendering of the ancient wisdom.
Many of the trainings offer drop-in morning sessions in addition to the full, in-depth Training curriculum. This gives students new to ParaYoga® the opportunity to explore the richness and depth of ParaYoga® classes while studying with a master teacher.
In addition to Rod’s regular teaching schedule, you are encouraged to study with any of ParaYoga’s Certified Teachers who offer classes as well as weekend workshops throughout the country––another way to tap into the richness of the tradition!
How does the PYMT Program work?
The PYMT curriculum offers two levels of ParaYoga® Teacher Certification. In addition, ParaYoga has created a unique certification––ParaYoga Ambassador–– for those highly dedicated practitioners who are not planning to teach yoga asana, but are strongly motivated to share the wisdom of ParaYoga. Certification as an Ambassador entails completing most program requirements, and is a formal recognition of your capacity to share the teachings of the tradition.
If I have extensive training in another system do I need to fulfill all of the new requirements?
After completing four PYMT’s (Vinyasa Krama, Sutras, Tantra, and Kosha) a student can apply to the ParaYoga® Certification Team for an individual assessment. You will then be given an outline as to how you may be able to streamline your accreditation process.
Is the ParaYoga Master Training a Yoga Alliance Registered School?
Yes, we are indeed. ParaYoga is registered at both the 200 and 500 hour levels with Yoga Alliance.
In fact, Yoga Alliance has recently recognized the depth and rigorous scope of the PYMT Certification process. As a benefit to our teachers, we are one of the only “styles” of yoga whose certification process allows you to automatically qualify as an RYT with Yoga Alliance upon achieving your ParaYoga teacher certificate. A ParaYoga Level I Certification qualifies you as an RYT200 and a ParaYoga Level II Certification qualifies you as an RYT500.
Upon receipt of your graduation certificate, you simply fill out the appropriate level application on the YA website and mail in your fees to YA. They will verify your certified status from the PY website and will issue you an RYT card.
What does the program cost?
Each PYMT module is paid for upon participation. Module costs vary depending upon location. For specific costs, please refer to the Events page where you will find a complete schedule of upcoming ParaYoga® Master Training modules.
How long does it take to be a Certified ParaYoga Teacher?
Since ParaYoga Level I Certification requires the completion of five PYMTs (along with corresponding book reports and additional coursework outside of the classroom, including a minimum of 2 years of practicing ParaYoga), it will require no less than three years to be certified.
However, the time it will require an individual to complete the program depends entirely upon how they choose to engage in the curriculum. Becoming enrolled in the program by submitting an Enrollment Application will help expedite the process of becoming certified.
How does ParaYoga Support its Certification Candidates?
Some of Rod’s most senior teachers play an active role in mentoring and evaluating candidates’ readiness to become certified. The ParaYoga Certification Team is a group of PYCTs who have been selected and trained by Rod to guide you in your process. They play a critical role in the certification process, evaluating individuals’ written examinations and teaching. They interface with candidates directly and mentor you in your evolution toward your process of becoming certified.
These special teachers exemplify the essence of what being a ParaYoga teacher is all about. They are dedicated to their own practice, their authentic and compassionate teaching, and to supporting you and others as this tradition continues to grow. You are encouraged to seek them out, to study with them and to utilize their counsel to help you grow in ParaYoga.
Contact Us To Learn More
