Yoga and Jewish Spirituality Teacher Certification
Register now:
Week Three:
August 4-10,
2008
Week Four:
December 15-22,
2008
Instruction and certification for teachers of
hatha yoga and Judaism.
This institute is currently in session and closed to new participants. The next two-year cohort will begin Winter 2009 — click here to apply.
The
Yoga and Jewish Spirituality Teacher Training Institute is a transformational,
eighteen month program that will provide instruction and certification for
those who want to deepen and integrate their own teaching of hatha yoga and
Judaism.
The course of study includes four one-week retreat programs which began June 2007, and interim periods for home-based study, teaching and practice in consultation with program instructors.
For those who find that working through our bodies with yoga can help open the gates of spirituality within, and who seek to do so in a consciously Jewish way, this program will provide tools to integrate yoga and Jewish spirituality with depth and sustained focus.
Students will be guided throughout each facet of this program to grow as teachers of both Judaism and of yoga. Most importantly, graduates of this program will be able to teach a way for their students to access the depths of Jewish spirituality through the wisdom and power of the physical body and the practice of hatha yoga. In its primary focus on teaching a body-based approach to Jewish spirituality, this program offers a unique training for those called to become teachers of yoga and Jewish spirituality.
What will we study?
We focus on the aspects of Judaism that yoga teachers are most often called to explore when in Jewish settings:
- Jewish holy days
- the weekly Torah portion
- the Hebrew language
- Prayer
- Shabbat
- and more....
Each of these areas of study develops Jewish literacy, providing a strong basis for grounding yoga in a Jewish context. In addition, we spend significant time learning about middot, or inner qualities, that we will want to embody as we teach. We reflect on ourselves, understanding that cultivation of the inner life and self-awareness are necessary components of becoming a Jewish spiritual teacher and leader.
We will address essential aspects of yoga teaching and practice, and require regular and rigorous study and practice both in one’s own yoga practice, and in the art of teaching yoga.
How will we study?
Retreat Intensives
During each retreat, participants are immersed in yoga classes, partner work, Torah learning, and we work progressively towards more time teaching and leading each other, with mentoring from instructors. Between retreats, students work with instructors to design a personalized plan which includes regular yoga practice, Jewish learning, partner study, and communication and mentoring from the instructors.
Text study, Practice & Teaching
The interim periods are a core component of this work: the integration of the essential dimensions of learning take place upon reflection and in regular practice. The retreat intensives combined with the at-home learning and involvement allow each person to actualize their own synthesis of yoga and Jewish spirituality — with integrity, depth, and creativity.
Individualized Programs
Participants will receive guidance on teaching Jewish spirituality through Jewish yoga classes throughout this program. Students will be encouraged and coached to further their own growth in these areas, and to create their own synthesis of yoga and Jewish spirituality.
Who should apply?
This training program encourages those called to develop themselves as teachers of an integrated practice of both Torah and yoga, to join and connect with others who share that calling. Those with experience teaching yoga or Jewish learning should apply. Those who hope to teach in these areas will also benefit from the training. Diversity in approaches to both Judaism and yoga practice is honored. Application forms will be posted in the Fall of 2008. All interested persons are encouraged to apply and applications will be considered on an individual basis for acceptance into the new cycle, scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2009.
Register now:
Program Instructors
Rabbi Myriam Klotz is a certified yoga
teacher and Phoenix Rising Yoga therapist. She is the
Director of Yoga and Embodied Practices at
the Institute for Jewish Spirituality,
and a spiritual director. Myriam
has written about embodiment
and Jewish spiritual life in many
venues, and her recordings include
Preparing the Heart: Yoga for Jewish
Spiritual Practice. She teaches and provides
mentoring to teachers of this work nationally.
Diane Bloomfield has been developing
Torah Yoga in Israel, Europe and North America
since 1990. Diane is the founder of the torah
Yoga association, a Certified introductory level 1 Iyengar yoga teacher and
a Phoenix Rising Yoga therapist. She is the author
of Torah
Yoga: Experiencing Jewish Wisdom through Classic Postures.
She has been learning Torah in yeshivot in
Jerusalem since the mid-80s, where she lives
with her husband and daughter.
Registration Information
Program Fees
The tuition for this institute is $1400 and does not include the cost of Room and Board. We strive to make our programs affordable to everyone. For information about Financial Assistance, please see below.
Room and Board
Room and board includes housing, meals, evening activities, hot tub, yoga, meditation, and full use of our facility. All rooms are air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. Adults fees apply to ages 18 and higher. Rates are per person, and include all meals. For double or triple occupancy, you may either request a roommate, or be matched with one by our staff.
Deluxe rooms
Deluxe rooms have private bathrooms. Single and double occupancy are provided with queen-sized beds, triple occupancy has twin beds. Handicap accessibility available, please call (800) 398-2630 x307.
| Deluxe Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 1,875 |
| Double Occupancy | 1,015 |
| Triple Occupancy | 715 |
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Plus rooms
Plus rooms have private bathrooms. A limited number of queen-sized beds are available for a $15/night surcharge, please call for availability.
| Plus Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 1,540 |
| Double Occupancy | 940 |
| Triple Occupancy | 640 |
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Standard rooms
Standard rooms share a bathroom with one other room. A limited number of queen-sized beds are available for a $15/night surcharge, please call for availability.
| Standard Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 1,275 |
| Double Occupancy | 790 |
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Economy rooms
Economy rooms have twin beds with the bathroom in the hall.
| Standard Rooms | Training Institute |
| Single Occupancy | 975 |
| Double Occupancy | 600 |
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Dormitory rooms
Dormitory rooms are either triple or quadruple occupancy with bunk beds and bathrooms on the hall. Campers supply their own tents and equipment. The commuter fee includes all meals and snacks, use of the facility and its amenities, and participation in any open programming provided, such as prayer, meditation, or yoga.
| Dormitory Rooms | Training Institute |
| Dormitory | 525 |
| Camper | 450 |
| Commuter | 340 |
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Financial Assistance
Financial Aid for Room and Board
We provide limited scholarship funding to reduce room and board fees for those in extreme financial need. Financial aid is only available for dormitory rooms with hall baths for single adults and economy rooms for couples and families. If you would like to request financial aid, please complete the financial aid form. Please note financial aid requests must be received at least three weeks prior to the retreat.
Student Aid Provided by The Lasko Foundations
Up to 50% scholarship is available for graduate students in rabbinical school, cantorial school or in Master’s degree programs in Jewish Studies. To apply for this scholarship, please complete the Lasko Scholarship form. Lasko awards may not be combined with any other financial aid provided through Isabella Freedman.
Financial Aid for the Jewish Arts Institute
A grant from the Mazer Family Fund of UJA-New York covers up to 50% of the program fee for the Jewish Arts Institute. To apply for this grant, please complete the financial aid form.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation's
Jewish Experience Fund for Adults
Thanks to a generous grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, adults 21 years of age or older who are residents of Western Massachusetts and want to participate in a program at Isabella Freedman are eligible to apply for up to a 50% subsidy of the total cost of the program to a maximum of $500 per program. This funding can be applied to Program Fees and Room and Board Fees. To apply for this grant, please contact The Harold Grinspoon Foundation directly.
Cancellation Policy
Payments made will be refunded in full (less a $75 processing fee) if you cancel more than 10 days prior to a retreat for which you are registered. If you cancel within 10 days or less, a non-refundable credit (less a $75 processing fee) will be held for one year from the date of issue. This credit is non-transferable. No credit or refund is available if you cancel less than 24 hours prior to or on the workshop’s arrival day, if you do not show up, or if you leave a retreat early for any reason.
Isabella Freedman reserves the right to cancel any program at any time. In the event of such cancellation, you will be given a complete refund. A full transportation refund is available if you cancel at least 3 days (72 hours) in advance. No transportation refund is available with less than 3 days notice.
If you are participating in a Training Institute and you miss or cancel one retreat session, your Room and Board Fee will be refunded according to the policy above, but the program fee for a missed or cancelled retreat session is still due. Withdrawal is permitted only after the first retreat session. If you withdraw from a Training Institute after the first retreat session, or if you are asked by faculty to leave the institute, you will receive a full Program Fee refund for any remaining pre-paid retreats.
