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Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics
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Discuss therapeutic modifications and assists by explaining how to adapt postures and offer appropriate support to address common limitations or challenges, while prioritizing safety, consent, student autonomy, and scope of practice in both private and group settings
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Apply therapeutic yoga practices in personal and small-group settings by selecting and adapting postures, breath practices, pacing, and supportive strategies to meet individual needs, while prioritizing safety, consent, student autonomy, and appropriate scope of practice
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Identify physical cues and observable behaviors that indicate when specific assistance is needed in asana practice by accurately noticing signs of strain, instability, confusion, or disregulation and responding with appropriate, safe, and ethical support within scope of practice
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Discuss how the muscles, bones, and joints of the spine, shoulders, and hips interact during yoga poses and transitions by explaining joint actions, muscular engagement, and skeletal relationships that support stability, mobility, and safe movement
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Describe the nervous system and its core functions by explaining how yoga practices—including sequencing, breath, pacing, and classroom environment— support nervous system regulation, with particular emphasis on the vagal complexes and patterns of activation and settling
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Explain the benefits and contraindications of selected yoga postures, pranayama techniques, and meditation practices on the nervous system by describing how these practices influence activation, regulation, and recovery, and identifying when practices may need to be adapted or avoided to support safety and wellbeing
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Discuss the benefits and contraindications of selected yoga poses and transitions on the muscles, bones, and joints of the spine, shoulder complex, and hip complex by analyzing how these structures are loaded, mobilized, or stabilized within class plans and sequences, and articulating when adaptations are necessary to support safety and functional movement
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Practice Skills
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Demonstrate willingness to engage in practices that support growth and balance, even when they are not personally preferred by showing commitment, discernment, and consistency in practice choices
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Practice a regular personal practice with mindful awareness by observing how physical, mental, and energetic experiences shift over time and reflecting on how practice evolves in response to changing needs and circumstances
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Embody consistent engagement with yoga practice on and off the mat by integrating movement, breath, meditation, and ethical awareness into daily life, demonstrating yoga as a holistic and lived practice
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Develop an evolving understanding of “self” and the “observer” within meditation practice by exploring direct experience of awareness and identity, and discuss these insights with reason, clarity, and openness through reflective dialogue or writing
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Demonstrate meditation and pranayama practices appropriate to current physical and energetic needs by selecting appripriate technique and pacing, in response to bodily cues, breath quality, and internal state
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Yoga History & Theory
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Discuss the bhagavad gītā and patañjali’s yoga sūtras as integrated philosophical systems by explaining their core teachings and articulating how key yogic frameworks—including the eight limbs, chakras, vayus, koshas, gunas, elements, and nadis—interrelate to support self-awareness, ethical living, and the path of yoga
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Explain yoga’s relationship to other physical movement disciplines—such as gymnastics, dance, boxing, and calisthenics— by describing how cross-cultural influences, physical culture movements, and somatic practices contributed to the development of modern yoga practice
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Compare and contrast major styles of yoga with informed understanding and practical familiarity, demonstrating particular knowledge of the ashtanga and ashtanga vinyasa lineages including their historical roots, sequencing structures, teaching methodologies, and intended outcomes
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Apply the frameworks of the vayus and the koshas to yoga practice by developing and explaining sequences that intentionally direct awareness, energy, and experiential focus
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Compare the four primary paths of yoga—bhakti, jñāna, karma, and rāja— by explaining their core intentions and practices, and reflect on one’s own path or combination of paths through direct experience in teaching and personal practice
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Teaching Skills
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Adapt class structure and thematic focus quickly and seamlessly when an original plan is no longer effective using observation, real-time decision-making, and flexible sequencing to maintain safety, coherence, and student engagement
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Teach accessible postures, techniques, and modifications that are both more and less accessible by offering clear, inclusive options appropriate to varied skill levels and physical abilities, supporting safe participation and informed choice within group and individual settings
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Plan and sequence classes that can be modified across all skill levels with minimal effort by designing scalable structures, layered options, and clear transitions that support safety, accessibility, and cohesive group experience
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Teach alignment as dependent upon individual anatomy and the purpose of a given pose demonstrating the ability to recognize, explain, and apply personal modifications that support functional intent, safety, and student autonomy rather than fixed or idealized form
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Guide pranayama using a teach-then-try approach by clearly explaining the technique, purpose, and safety considerations before practice, and responding skillfully to common concerns or sensations of discomfort with appropriate pacing, reassurance, and accessible modifications
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