Teacher Training & Individuation Program

The Octopus Garden Yoga Teacher Training and Individuation Program is an in-depth and comprehensive training in three parts for serious practitioners and existing yoga teachers.

Part I: Basic Teaching Skills

To master the craft of teaching requires laying strong foundations. This process will begin over seven weekend intensives. The weekends will explore the essential skills needed for the formative process of any teacher or serious student; integrating asana, philosophy, anatomy, and teaching skills. In addition to these basic areas of study, topics will also include hands-on adjustments, the therapeutic applications of yoga, emotional anatomy, chanting, communication, meditation, and pranayama. The program is designed for serious students who have a minimum of two years personal practice experience, and who are looking to either deepen their understanding of the practice or initiate the process of becoming a great teacher.

Part I will be taught over seven weekends in 2008; Fridays 6:00pm-9:00pm, Saturdays 9:00am-5:00pm, and Sundays 10:00am-5:00pm.

Part II: Practicum

True learning begins through experience. Once the basic foundations of teaching have been mastered, trainees move on to practice their skills in supervised community classes held at the studio over a 3-month period. In each of these practicum sessions, trainees will provide and be provided with valuable peer and teacher feedback; allowing confidence to flourish naturally. This process allows each trainee to develop through the support and encouragement of the community.

Part II will be offered over three months from January to March 2009. Community class times: TBA.

Parts I & II exceed the 200-hour standards of the Yoga Alliance.

The cost for Parts I & II is $3,590 and includes unlimited classes for the duration of the program.

The deadline for applications is June 30, 2008. Applicants will be notified by August 1, 2008 of their acceptance into the program and tuition will be due in full at that time.

Part III: Mentoring

This more individualized section of the program will consist primarily of mentoring, including monthly private lessons, regular assignments, community teaching, assisting, and a final exam. Every student will spend time studying with the three teachers, JP, Scott, and Pat. The goal of this portion of the program is to honour how the seed of yoga and yoga teaching develops differently in each person, and thereby encouraging the individual and unique voice of a great teacher to emerge. Part III of the program will have very limited enrollment and will be open to those who have completed Parts I & II of the Octopus Garden training or another teacher training program, although neither guarantees admission. The selection process will be based on application, interview, and written essay.

Part III will be offered from April to July, 2009.

The cost for this portion of the program is $2,240 and includes:

Applications for Part III will be accepted starting in January, 2009.

Principle Faculty

Scott Davis: Scott was introduced to yoga philosophy and meditation by his parents at age 6. A trip to India in 1994 sparked Scott's lifelong passion for teaching. Through the use of alignment and vinyasa, Scott inspires his students to find the healing and transformative effects of the practice. In addition to yoga, Scott operates a private clinical practice in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Pat Harada Linfoot: Pat sees the practice of yoga as an opportunity for physical, psychological and spiritual inquiry. A background in psychology, as well as Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga, Buddhism and mindfulness meditation have been her primary influences. She began her study of yoga 15 years ago and has been teaching classes, workshops, and retreats for the last 10 years. She is especially grateful to teachers Ron Reid, Hart Lazer, Georg Feuerstein, Joan Halifax, and Judith Lasater.

J-P Tamblyn: With a passion for understanding and communicating the workings of the body and the mind in yoga practice, JP presents his instruction with a clarity that helps further his students' journey on the path to well-being and self-realization. He feels honoured to have had the opportunity to study with such exceptional teachers as Chuck Miller & Maty Ezraty, Eddie Modestini & Nicki Doane, Dharma Mittra, as well as his first teachers, Diane Bruni & Ron Reid.

Application for Parts I & II

Please provide the following information and include a $50 non-refundable application fee and a recent photo with your application.

The deadline for applications is June 30, 2008.

  1. Describe your current yoga and meditation practices, including how often, duration, and for how many years you have maintained this practice.
  2. Describe your educational and professional background.
  3. Describe your physical and emotional health.
  4. What does yoga mean to you? What is the most important lesson that you have learned from yoga?
  5. Explain the relevance of the yamas and niyamas to your life. In what ways do you feel in harmony with or challenged by the principles contained therein?
  6. Why do you want to enroll in this teacher training program? Please list objectives and expectations.
  7. What is your favourite yoga pose and why? What is your least favourite and why?