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Practice Skills
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Demonstrate correct alignment in foundational poses: practice modifications using props for varied body types; execute safe transitions between postures in a vinyasa flow
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Execute smooth, breath-linked transitions between foundational postures in a continuous flow; demonstrate a sun salutation sequence with clear verbal cuing and appropriate pacing for a beginner audience
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Explain how yoga nidra and the kosha system — guiding awareness progressively through the five body-sheaths — shifts the nervous system from sympathetic activation into parasympathetic rest, and activates the alpha brain state
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Teaching Skills
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Offer variations of each foundational asana category — beginner, standard, and advanced — and offer clear verbal cuing for each; implement props to accommodate anatomical variation in a live class setting
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Design two original sequencing assignments showcasing different peak pose structures and themes demonstrating the ability to build a class arc from concept through delivery without using a pre-built template
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Apply the principles of brahmana (hyperoxic, inhale/retention-dominant) and langhana (hypoxic, longer exhale/suspension-dominant) to classify any given pranayama technique according to its autonomic nervous system effect identifying whether the breath ratio activates the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system regardless of the technique's traditional name or category.
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Apply samavritti — the practice of equal-ratio breathing with inhale, retention, exhale, and suspension held at even counts — as a deliberate teaching tool for breath awareness using the symmetry and predictability of the equal breath, for reductions in chitta vritti
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Describe the components of a complete yoga class structure (setting up the breath, warm up, flow to peak, backbends and inversions, cool down, savasana)
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Teach a 60-minute yoga class to a live or virtual audience (karma class practicum); demonstrate effective use of voice, pacing, and spatial awareness during instruction; facilitating an opening and closing rituals that set an inclusive tone for diverse students.
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Identify the key elements of effective verbal cuing in yoga: anatomical specificity, breath integration, invitational language, and motivational tone; explaining the difference between directive and invitational cuing frameworks.
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List the structural components of a themed yoga class: physical, energetic, metaphoric cues incorporated with asanas, pranayama, and music that reinforce the intention of the theme
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Facilitate a complete one-hour yoga class to a live audience — applying all seven curriculum domains simultaneously in a single, cohesive teaching experience without coaching or assistance
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Analyze the purpose and appropriate use of alignment-based adjustments versus deepening assists, and demonstrate ethical consent practices that honor each student's physical, emotional, and mental autonomy throughout the duration of class
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Yoga History & Theory
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Name the eight limbs of yoga (ashtanga) as defined by patanjali; list the yamas and niyamas with their sanskrit terms; identifying the primary yogic texts (yoga sutras, bhagavad gita, hatha yoga pradipika).
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Interpret the principles of ahimsa, satya, and dharma within a modern teaching context; explaining the concept of the koshas and their implications for yoga instruction; describe the historical development of yoga from ancient tradition to contemporary practice.
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Explain how personal experience, yogic philosophy, trauma-informed principles, and professional values synthesize into a coherent teaching identity; describing how a teaching philosophy functions as both a compass for decision-making and a communication tool for prospective students.
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Lifestyle & Ethics
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Identify the key elements that distinguish cultural appreciation from cultural appropriation in a yoga teaching context, such as taking from another culture and using it for personal gain without understanding its history, or holding its lineage and traditional applications sacred
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Discuss the foundational principles of inclusive yoga instruction: accessibility, body neutrality, disability awareness, cultural humility, and trauma sensitivity; identifying common exclusionary elements in mainstream yoga class design
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Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics
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Identify contraindicated movements and poses for the most common yoga-related injury sites (rotator cuff, hamstring origin, lumbar spine, si joint, knees); and the key signs that a student may need modification or referral.
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Identify the major muscle groups, joints, and bones involved in foundational asanas; listing the primary body systems (skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, endocrine); and common injury sites relevant to yoga practice (shoulders, knees, lower back, hips).
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Explain the function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in yoga practice; describing how fascial lines connect and affect movement patterns across the body; classify asanas according to their primary anatomical action (flexion, extension, rotation).
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Business Skills
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Prepare a teaching resume and professional bio as a newly certified yoga teacher; use social media or community outreach to attract students in an ethical, values-aligned manner; execute a complete karma class with full administrative preparation (sign-in, waiver, setup).
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Discuss the primary revenue streams available to an ayc level 1 teacher (studio classes, private sessions, workshops, online content, corporate wellness); identifying the basic legal and liability considerations for yoga teachers (waivers, insurance, scope of practice).
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Analyze the business models of established yoga teachers and identify transferable strategies for building a values-aligned career; examining how race, body size, gender, and socioeconomic status shape access and opportunity in the professional yoga world.
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