Teacher Apprenticeships

Since
2002

Yoga can be practiced by EVERYBODY.
Therefore we must learn to teach it to ANYBODY!

- Michael Gannon

Check the Schedule page for currently scheduled GAVY Teacher Apprenticeships.

Next Training: September 5-27, 2011 — Playa del Carmen, Mexico

GAVY 200: Gannon Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Apprenticeship (200 hours)

Become a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level

The GAVY 200 is foundational training for serious practitioners and aspiring teachers, based o­n the traditional form of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. The way that GAVY founder, Michael Gannon, learned it during 10 years of visits to India, training with the living Guru, Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois. BUT, we take a giant step forward, making this system digestible for the western mind. This GAVY 200 Teacher Apprenticeship foundation program has graduated over 150 teachers from 30 countries to teach yoga.

At GAVY we know that time o­n the mat is what develops a foundation to effectively share the magic of yoga. And the Ashtanga Vinyasa system is the ideal tool to start developing this deep practical experience. GAVY demonstrates how this is the original Vinyasa system that the yoga world has used to derive so many now popular flowing styles of yoga.

We use this pure, ancient and proven system to nurture the practice skills necessary to then develop teaching skills. It is being grounded in this structured system first, that allows Apprentices to then find their creative teacher inside as they grow toward becoming a yoga teacher.

GAVY Home Study Course

All programs require/include the GAVY Home Study Course.

This is a 6-week course consisting of :
- Study Guide
- Awaken Your Life Force and Quiet Your Mind (Michael’s CD)
- Primary Series Poster
- Weekly audio files with Michael teaching the basic theory, philosophy and meditations.
- 8 Limbs of Yoga (Sanskrit and English)
- Sanskrit (asana names, mantras, numbers, etc..)
- Dristis, Bandhas, Vinyasa
- Asana Benefits
- Guided meditations
- Pranayama
- Energetic Anatomy

Apprentices must be grounded in all material BEFORE coming to the programs first module. There are regular proficiency exams (verbal, written & practical) o­n this material throughout the Apprenticeship. The Home Study Course should start at least 6-weeks before the first module. Many students choose to start the Home Study course earlier, giving them more time to prepare and go deeper.

GAVY 200 Format

The GAVY 200 is currently offered in an intensive  program format.

Month Long Intensive
23 days straight. 8 hours per day. Drop your life for 100% focus! Go deep!

All GAVY 200 are pre-approved worldwide at the RYT-200 level by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Alliance UK. Apprentices completing the GAVY 200 will receive a certificate and letter of completion that they may use to register with Yoga Allianceand Yoga Alliance UK at the RYT-200 level and share with prospective employers. This also qualifies Apprentices to apply for the GAVY 300 Advanced Yogi Studies.

Click image to see many GAVY Teacher Apprenticeship photos

GAVY 200 Teacher Apprenticeship Content
Training content is organized in modules. If trainees miss a module in o­ne city, they may request an opportunity to make it up in another city at another time, and at an additional cost.

Module 1: Ashtanga Made Simple — Strength and Balance
- Ashtanga Made Simple (lecture)
- It’s all about the Breath! (lecture)
- Open Lecture/dicussion of the 8 Limbs of Yoga (lecture)
- Surya Namaskara A & B
- Tristana: Breath/Vinyasa, Bandhas & Dristi
- Class Organization y Observation
- Mysore Puzzle
- The 6 Fudamental Standing Asana
- 2 Standing Forward Bends
- 4 Jumps to the Right
- 2 Balancing Poses
- Finishing Sequence #1: Final Seated Sequence
- Creating your Personal Practice Space
- History of Yoga/Ashtanga (lecture)
- Approximations vs Variations (lecture)
- Yogi Veggie Diet/s (lecture)
- Proficiency Exam (verbal, written & practical)

Module 2: Conecting to the Earth
- 2 Standing Flowing Poses
- Standing to Flying Techniques
- Seated asana sequence breakdown
- 2 Straight Legged Seated Forward Bends
- 2 Bent Knee Seated Forward Bends
- 3 Janu Shirsasanas Forward Bends
- Activating your Core: jump thru, jump back
- Repetition is the Mother of Perfection
- Finishing sequence #2
- Teaching Circles
- Inversions and Agni
- Nauli Kriya
- Proficiency exam (verbal, written & practical)

Module 3: Energy and Core Development
- Seated Asana Sequence Breakdown Part 2 (upto Backbends)
- 2 Marichyasana Seated Forward Bends
- 2 Marichyasana Seated Twists
- Navasana
- Keys to Gateway Poses
- Legs Behind the Head Preparation
- Bujapidasana
- Kurmasanas
- Temezcal Tapas
- Teacher Assisting
- Asana Demos Experience
- Energetic Anatomy: Chakras and Energy fields
- Pranayama Lecture & Practice
- Proficiency exam (verbal, written & practical)

Module 4: Breath, Patience and Flexibility
- Garbha Pindasana & Kukutasana
- The Konasana Sisters
- The Padangusthasana Brothers
- Chakrasana Techniques
- Magic of Bandhas
- The Correct Vinyasa
- Mysore Style Self Practice
- Yoga Nidra
- Giving good Savasana
- Full Finishing Sequence #3
- Moving into Meditation
- Teach What You Master
- Proficiency exam (verbal, written & practical)

Module 5: Yoga Anatomy  (weekend)
- Joint classification & components
- Connective tissue forms and purpose
- Muscular, skeletal & nervous system overview
- Exploring the leg
- The knee and lotus
- Pelvis and hip joint
- Psoas and Spine
- Discs, their functions and dysfunctions
- Integrating psoas into your practice
- Exploring the shoulder girdle, rotator cuff
- Movement of the clavicle, scapula and humerus
- Diaphragm anatomy and function
- The psoas and breathing

All modules also contain in depth training o­n personal practice, extensive clinics of Hands o­n Adjustment Techniques, Verbal Guiding/Teaching, Partner Work & Teaching Simulations, Svadyaya (study of the SELF) and proficiency exam (verbal, written & practical)

Philosophical aspects of yoga will be mixed into the context of each module as specific questions arise.

Download the entire GAVY informational PDF

Download the GAVY Application PDF

Check the Schedule page for currently scheduled GAVY Teacher Apprenticeships.