Hot Yoga Training – Level II

If you’re looking to advance your Hot Yoga teaching and your career, then I’d like to introduce you to the first-ever Level II, Hot Yoga Teacher Training.

This course helps you go beyond basics, beyond scripted classes, and allows you to find your true teaching voice and unique style.

Why Advanced Training Makes Sense…

Your first yoga teacher training is mostly about learning to get up and teach a class, from start to finish, without forgetting a pose or getting too nervous. In your first teacher training course, you probably did learn some anatomy and philosophy—and probably some more advanced teaching skills too. But for most students, much of what you learn doesn’t "stick" during their first course because the main focus is getting the basics down.

But here’s the thing…
After you’ve mastered the basics; after you can go out and teach good public class, that’s when you really begin to learn the art of teaching. The art of teaching is when you move beyond your foundational, scripted class, and start to bring your own experiences and your own personality into your teaching.

This is not easy and it doesn’t happen overnight—but it does happen! And a good teacher and a strong peer group will dramatically accelerate your learning.

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

Do I Need a Level II Training?

If you are able to teach a good class now—that’s great. The truth is, you don’t need a decade of practice and thousands of hours of experience to teach a good class. Many of our recent grads teach fantastic classes…

… but there comes a point very quickly when you ask yourself, “What’s next?”
As they say, “When you’re green your grow and when you’re ripe you rot!” And many, many Hot Yoga teachers reach a point where they’re not learning anything new at all. They’ve lost the enthusiasm they had when they first started teaching, but they still love the practice and want to reignite the fire.

So what do you do?

• If you’re teaching classes, and it feels more like "going through the motions" than actually teaching…
• If you find yourself using language you’ve heard other people say in class—rather than your own…
• If you love yoga and feel like you have so much to give and share—but you’re not sure exactly how to bring "you" into class…
• And if you’re really excited about growing and developing as a career teacher, as someone who creates magnetic classes and has a huge impact on the lives of their students…

A “Day in the Life” of a Teacher Trainee.

This yoga teacher training course is a lot of fun, but it would be a mistake to think of it like a holiday. Your days will be filled with yoga practice, posture clinics, practice teaching, and training drills. There are guest lectures, yoga films, anatomy sessions, and so much more.

Here’s what your day will look like…

Wake up early, take in the sunrise and the sea view, and then meet at the yoga studio. On training days, you’ll practice yoga first thing each morning at 7 a.m. The yoga practice sessions are for you to learn and experiences the poses in your body (not just your mind).

If you’ve been teaching a lot, it’s such a nice feeling to get up and just go to class and be a student again.
After the morning class, you’ll have a lovely breakfast with fresh fruit, homemade toast, tea, and juice. Shortly thereafter, you’ll have a morning workshop held in our airy and naturally lit studios overlooking the pool or the sea.

The schedule varies dramatically day-to-day, but you’ll have yoga anatomy sessions, public speaking, yoga business, and sequences sessions.
Lunch is at 1 p.m. The food is healthy and delicious, prepared by our exceptional team of cooks who have now been keeping yoga students healthy and fit for nearly 6 years straight.
After lunch, you’ll have some time to relax by the pool, get a massage, or take a nap before it’s back to work with presentations and hands-on practice sessions that address the more advanced teaching skills you’ll need to be an outstanding teacher.

Most days, there is a second class, and then it’s back
The training day finishes after dinner with an evening gathering just before 9 p.m.—and then it’s bedtime. Trust me, you’ll be tired. Now that’s a day well spent!

Meet the Teachers

Tomasz Goetel (director)

Voted by his Students the “Fun-nest, most Interesting Hot Yogi in Asia” – Tomasz Goetel is the founder of the Hot Yoga Evolution and runs his own yoga studio in Phuket, Thailand.
Tomasz originally trained under Jimmy Barkan, one of the most respected Hot Yoga teachers in the world, and he has developed his own unique approach to practice and teaching after years on the mat and leading public classes, trainings and workshops.

Tomasz is well-known for his passionate, inspirational approach, and the light-hearted sense of humor. On top of that, he has a strong, personal yoga practice and freely shares his abilities.

Tomasz is a people person and loves to connect 1-on-1 with each student. His Hot Yoga classes are infused with classic Hot Yoga poses, vinyasa movements, variations and modifications for all levels, beginners through advanced.

Through various training programs, workshops, and personal coaching, he shares his unique insight into the art of teaching yoga. The teacher trainings and workshops are centered around Tomasz’s own unique methodology, the ‘Modern Yogi’ development and improvement: body language, communication skills, developing attention, empathy, social skills, self-awareness and self-regulation. Since 2005, Tomasz has been helping Yoga Teachers further their confidence and broaden their methodology.
Tomasz has mostly been his own best teacher, but when inspiration is needed, he looks up to Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, Eckhart Tolle, G.I. Gurdjieff, and the ancient Persian poet, Rumi.

Module Dates: 9-10 DecemberChristian Almeida (anatomy)

Chris is a part of the renown Options Pilates team, one of the most well-known and well-trained fitness groups in Asia.

As a teacher trainer, Chris finds it most rewarding to see teachers achieve their own health goals first, and then to bring their increased knowledge out in to the world through their teaching.

As a teacher trainer, Chris loves to help teachers add a depth of understanding to their teaching by incorporating applied anatomical principles to their classes.

For teachers, Chris sees the biggest challenge is to balance the science of body and the teachings of yoga; listening to the body to prevent injuries but at the same time believing in what the body can do to maximize its potential.

Module Dates: 11-12 DecemberAkash Karia (public speaking)

Ever wonder why actors can learn to teach yoga so effortlessly? It’s because they’ve had professional voice and speaking training.

Yoga teachers have to play many roles—the coach, the spiritual guide, the counselor—and the fundamental skill needed for ALL your roles as a yoga teacher is the ability to lead and speak with authority.

Yoga teachers often fall into patterns that distract students… maybe you wring your hands while you’re speaking, maybe you repeat the same words over and over, or maybe you need to work on your projection or articulation.

In this module, you’ll work with Akash Karia who is an award-winning speaker and public speaking and leadership trainer. Through mock classes, practice drills, and peer evaluation, Akash will help you become a more powerful teacher, almost immediately.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to use your voice to increase the energy or calm the room
• How to use your own physicality to clearly convey your message
• How to keep your speaking voice natural, interesting, and fresh
• How to use humor and stone-cold seriousness when appropriate
• How to clean up your personal ticks and habits that might be detracting from the effectiveness of your classes

Module Dates: 15-16 DecemberRachel Tsai (history/philosophy)

Rachel has been studying the great tradition of yoga over the past twelve years both in and outside India. She teaches courses and workshops in yoga/yoga philosophy, Ayurveda and Sanskrit in Asia on training courses.

She has made multiple trips to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with the late great teacher Sri K Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy. Currently her principle teacher is Richard Freeman with whom she studies yearly and has completed the month-long teacher intensive in Boulder Colorado. Apart from being dedicated to the Ashtanga lineage and practice, she also continues to broaden her study of yoga by immersing in the Iyengar tradition with senior teachers in the lineage.

She completed the studies of Ayurveda and Yoga (Therapy) with Wellpark College of Natural Therapies in New Zealand, a leading education establishment dedicated to the science of natural healing. Rachel has also done extensive internship of herbal studies in Vrindaban, India at the Dhanvatari Dham Herbal Research Centre. Rachel has an ongoing study of the language of Sanskrit with her teacher for the past seven years. She is currently studying on the MA program in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation with School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of University of London.

Prof Qualifications: Dip. Ayurveda Lifestyle Management (NZQA), Dip. Yoga (Therapy) (NZQA), M.B.A. The Claremont Graduate School, California, USA, B.A. Taiwan

How Do I Know if I’m Ready for This?

There are some teachers who have just completed their level I course, and others who have been teaching for over 10 years. To answer the question, “Are you ready?” you need only ask yourself how passionate and excited you are about yoga.

Truthfully, you’ll always be learning and growing as a teacher. That never changes. 5 years from now, you’ll be a stronger teacher—no doubt. But the best time to learn and grow as a teacher is when you are most passionate and excited to do so. In many cases, if you try to wait until you feel 100% ready, you’ll never feel 100% ready—so if you’re excited and eager to join now, now is probably the best time.

Do I Have to Do Really Advanced Poses?

This course is about advanced teaching, not about advanced yoga. There will be intermediate and advanced poses and sequences introduced so you can add that to your teaching portfolio if and when you’re ready, but advanced poses is not in any way the of this course.

90% of your students will always be beginners, this is true of every yoga teacher all over the world. So the important thing is that you

Facilities, Rooms & Food…

If you’ve never been to Koh Samui in Thailand, you’re in for a wonderful surprise. Absolute Sanctuary is located on a quiet hillside overlooking the sea. We have a health food restaurant called, The Love Kitchen, a DVD lecture room, a detox center, a spa, and a 2 bright practice studios with hardwood floors.

After a long day, you’ll sleep like a baby. Your room is just up the hill from the studio with air conditioning, hot water, and a flat-screen TV. We encourage trainees to enjoy Absolute Sanctuary’s swimming pool, steam room, and spa which are all a great way to unwind after practice.

Let’s take a closer look…

The Yoga Studios

All classes and most workshops will be held at Absolute Sanctuary’s “Ocean” studio, our newest yoga room overlooking the sea. This studio is bright and sunny, with industrial-grade heating and cooling systems so you’ll stay comfortable.

• Hardwood floor studio
• State-of-the-art heating & cooling systems
• Showers, lockers, changing rooms
• Bright, breezy practice space
• Excellent natural light and green hillside views

The Food

We serve simple, healthy meals every day in buffet style. To keep your training costs as low as possible, the food is self-serve (no waiters) and family-style. Don’t expect fine dining, but our Thai and international chefs do a great job preparing tasty, healthy meals made from scratch for you to enjoy.

• 3 group meals daily
  (included in course fees)
• Group menu includes: fruits, homemade breads, burritos, stir fries, rice, noodles, Italian, Thai, American, and Mexican food
• Additional food, snacks, and beverages can be purchased at any time from The Love Kitchen

All classes and most workshops will be held at Absolute Sanctuary, our newest yoga facility on Koh Samui nestled into a hillside overlooking the sea. This studio is bright and sunny, yet it stays cool from the sea breezes.

Accommodation

All trainees will stay at Absolute Sanctuary, our newly-opened, Moroccan-style resort. The facility is located on a quiet hillside over-looking the Gulf of Thailand, and the cool evening breezes are spectacular. Rooms are simple, private and comfortable – ideal for yoga students who need a place to study and escape. Hotel standard is 3-3.5 star rating. Simple and lovely.

• Quiet location with an infinity pool and full spa
• Outdoor gazebo (some sessions held here)
• TV, air-con, hot shower rooms,
• Shared room (private rooms available for extra charge)

The Curriculum

The curriculum of the course is focused entirely on helping you develop and enhance your ability to teach and lead. There is particular emphasis placed on sequencing, class structure, the “new student experience,” practical anatomy, history, philosophy, public speaking, and business.

The day-to-day focus chagnes dramatically. Unliked your level I teacher training where you built up toward your final exam and your final test teaching, this course is modular and focuses on one specific skill set at a time, and then you move on, and add on to what you’ve learned.

About Your Certification

Everyone who successfully completes the course will receive a Yoga Alliance 100hr teaching certificate. Yoga Alliance is the largest accreditation board in the world, and the 200hr level is the standard level of certification for 98% of teachers. Your certificaiton is your own and you are free to teach in studios, health center, gyms, and privately.

NOTE: if you are a RYT-200, this course counts as your required 100hr continuing education credits.

Learn More About Our Accreditation

What Students Are Staying…

“I am so pleased to have had the good fortune of benefitting from your hot yoga classes! You are a positive force in my life now, and I’m most grateful. I love the challenges and benefits felt by following your practice. Thank you for making the hot yoga experience so interesting, challenging and rewarding. With warm regards…”

~ Edan, Thailand

“A big thank you for such an amazing week! The course was really amazing and I feel I got so much from it on so many levels. The candle lit class on the final night was the highlight for me. Really special and emotional. I have come away from this week feeling like I have met some really wonderful people and have learned so much and feel more enriched and excited about my yoga practice and moving forward to my teacher training. Hope to see you again soon!”

~ Amy, The United Kingdom

“Dear Tomasz, it was a great pleasure and opportunity to attend the Hot Yoga Immersion workshop and to have met you, and it was such a great experience for me. I’d like to thank you for all the insights you have provided, excellent techniques, and ways to improve myself, and the great knowledge you have imparted in me. I can bring all that I’ve learned from the workshop and course and share it with my fellow yogi friends back in Singapore. My stay has been a wonderful experience and I have to tell you this is one of the best yoga retreats I have ever attended!”

~ Yahnee, Singapore

“…Wanted to share some awesomeness – lately I have been getting lots of great feedback from students, feeling recharged in my teaching and my path as new possibilities seem to unfold every day. This week a student asked me how I feel when I’m teaching a few classes a day and I joked to her that it’s all good, except for the talking and sometimes I wish I could just lead a silent class. And she said, “No! The talking is why we come to YOUR classes. You talk TO us, not AT us and I don’t care if there’s 20 people in class I always feel like you are talking right to ME. That’s awesomeness!”

~ Corinne, USA

“I feel wonderful! I’ve been exposed to a whole new world of hot yoga and I’m so excited to continue this beautiful journey with my new found knowledge and experiences.”

~ Anna, Sweden

“Tomasz is brilliant! Compassionate, experienced, friendly, funny, understanding, inspiring, calm, open-minded. He did not impose ideas on us, rather opened are minds to new ideas, new perspectives. He surprised me, and had more impact on me with every day. The process of the course was great. SUPER!”

~ Kay, Scotland

The Next Step is Up to You!.

Once you’re working as a professional yoga teacher, one of the most difficult things in the world is to simply stop, refocus, and invest some time in your own education. In the short term, there is no question it’ll be challenging, but in the longer term, continued education is the hindge that swings open the door to so many opportunities.

Thanks for your interest, and we hope you can join us!

Keep practicing,

Lucas Rockwood
Absolute Yoga Academy
p.s. This course is designed for a maximum of 25 students, so if you are interested, please do apply early to reserve your spot. APPLY NOW!