500 hr Apprenticeship Program
URBAN SADHU YOGA™ 500+ HOUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Mentorship Program (“USYMP” or “Urban Sadhu Yoga Mentorship”) is a mentored curriculum facilitated by an Advanced Urban Sadhu Master Teacher. It focuses on mentored teaching skills, personal practice, self-study, additional workshops, and satsang, which combine for a total of 500-plus hours of training in the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ method. When combined with the 300-hour Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher Training Certification Course, this program certifies 800 hours of training. The mentor system enhances practical teaching skills of the apprentice, directs independent self-study, and integrates an asana and meditation practice schedule that contributes to a fully skilled yoga professional with an enhanced and deep sadhana. Certification is granted to those individuals who fulfill USYMP requirements to the satisfaction of their mentor. This program is only offered at authorized Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shalas or Schools as an in-person mentorship. This level of certification allows teachers: 1.) to call their classes Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Classes (in accordance with the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher Certification Agreement); 2.) to advertise and list themselves as an 800-Hour Certified Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher; and 3.)to be listed on the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ website as a current Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Certified Teacher.
This is a continuing education program, designed to polish skills as an Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher.
800-hour Certified Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teachers are also allowed to apply for Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shala or School franchises.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE USYMP?
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Any fully certified 300-hour Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher is qualified to apply for the mentorship program, after completion of the 300 hour program.
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Within the lineage, any fully certified 300-hour Jivamukti Yoga Teacher can apply as long as the mentor is a certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher.
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Outside the lineage, any fully certified 300-hour teacher who has been consistently attending Urban Sadhu Yoga™ at an Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shala for one year or more (a total of 121 classes within a year’s time frame).
WHAT IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE USYMP?
After completing the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ 300-hour Teacher Training and receiving certification, there is a continuing education program offered at the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shala or Schools in the form of a mentorship. The Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Mentorship Program (“USYMP” or “Urban Sadhu Yoga Mentorship”) is a mentored curriculum [augmented facilitated ?] by an Advanced Urban Sadhu Master Teacher; it focuses on mentored teaching skills, personal practice, self-study, additional workshops, and satsang, which combine for a total of 500-plus hours of training in the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ method. When combined with the 300-hour Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher Training Program, this program certifies 800 hours of training. The mentor will guide the apprentice into a deeper understanding of the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ teaching method.
Next to a daily practice, which is required, the largest components of the program are weekly apprenticing in both Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Open Class and Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Fundamental Classes, conferences with the mentor and giving and receiving personal assists during classes. The program also requires satsang attendance and mentor assisting during classes; Sanskrit study; and attendance at workshops with founder Austin Sanderson and/or certain other senior Urban Sadhu Yoga™ teacher. Certification is granted to those individuals who fulfill the full mentorship requirements to the satisfaction of their mentor, who is an Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Master Teacher. This program is offered only at full-program Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shalas or Schools worldwide.
WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES?
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Letter of intent from apprentice to the mentor you would like to work with.
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A letter of acceptance from the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Master Teacher who is an approved mentor at a host Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shala and who has agreed to act as the applicant’s mentor.
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Current professional yoga liability insurance.
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An in-person meeting with the Program Director, mentor and yourself.
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A meeting with the Program Director and yourself to cover all the guidelines.
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Payment of fees.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?
At any time after your successful completion of the 300-Hour Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher Training, you may begin the process of securing a mentor as described above. An Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Host Center may choose to offer ongoing open enrollment, or to enroll only during specific times of the year.
Apprentices must complete the program’s curriculum requirements to the satisfaction of their mentors after a minimum of 24 weeks and a maximum of 38 weeks (six to nine months). Apprentices must complete the USYMP within 38 weeks of the date of enrollment unless other terms were agreed to by the mentor, apprentice, management of the host Shala and the USYMP Program Director.
Successful completion of the USYMP certifies the teacher to call their classes Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Classes (so long as the classes are taught strictly in accordance with Urban Sadhu Yoga™ methods); to advertise and identify themselves as an 800-hour Certified Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher; and to be listed on the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ website as a current 800-hour Certified Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher.
800-hour Certified Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teachers are also allowed to apply for Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shala or School franchises.
WHO CAN BE A MENTOR AND HOW DO I GET A MENTOR?
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Speak with the Program Director at your chosen Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Shala or School. The Director will supply you with a current list of qualified mentors. Review the list of possible mentors, take their classes and select a mentor whose teaching truly inspires you. This must be a teacher you fully respect and from by whom you are willing to be critiqued (both positive and negative feedback will be given) with an open heart and mind.
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You will be expected to emulate your mentor’s successful teaching style. Selecting a mentor randomly, for example merely to start the mentorship program at a certain time or because that mentor’s teaching schedule is convenient to you, is not an acceptable criterion.
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If possible, informally discuss with your prospective mentor your intention to become their apprentice. You must next write the mentor a Letter of Intent. The letter should be no longer than one page. It must state why you want to work with that mentor, and why you want to go through the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Mentorship Program. Express the desired time frame during which you propose to complete the program and what you want to do once you become an 800-hour Certified Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Teacher. After the mentor has reviewed the letter, the mentor may ask to speak to you in person in order to reach a decision.
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Once the mentor has agreed to take you on as an apprentice, you must get together to discuss and write down a realistic schedule, taking into account expected holiday travel and pre-planned personal trips, as well as leaving space for the unexpected. At this time, the mentor and Program Director will show you his or her copy of the Complete Program Guidelines of the Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Mentorship Program. Read it in the presence of the Mentor and the Program Director, discuss any questions you may have regarding the curriculum, guidelines and/or agreements. The mentor will then write you a Letter of Acceptance, including in it the mutually agreed upon apprenticeship start and finish dates. With this second document in hand, you may arrange an enrollment meeting at the host Shala with your mentor and the Program Director. At enrollment, the Program Director will review and confirm the mentorship dates with you and your mentor and append them to the USYMP Mentor and Apprentice Agreement.
Please note: you may only work with only one mentor. If you find that your preferred mentor and you are not bonding during the first week of the program, you may ask for a transfer to a new mentor. It is the Program Director’s job to try and work things out with you and your mentor before the Program Director lets you change mentors. You must secure your own alternate mentor, and the Program Director must agree and authorize this change.
WHAT ARE THE TUITION AND FEES OF THE URBAN SADHU YOGA™ MENTORSHIP PROGRAM?
The USYMP tuition is USD $4,500.00.
(during a 24-week mentorship that is $187.50 a week).
This fee is due and payable to the Program Director at the beginning of the program. An alternative payment plan is available under which you would pay 50% at the beginning of the program and a second payment of 50% immediately after the third month of the program. The additional $200 paid through this plan includes interest and an administrative fee.
If the mentorship goes beyond the agreed upon time period, the host shala management may request an additional payment of $200 to cover up to 2 months of unlimited classes at the host center during the extended mentorship. Please check the host shala for their current policy.
Refund policies will be made clear during the meeting at which you, your mentor, and the Program Director go over the terms of the USYMP agreement.
Program Director Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Jersey City
Austin Sanderson contact at austin@urbansadhuyoga.com
OTHER URBAN SADHU YOGA TEACHER TRAINING OFFERINGS
From time to time Urban Sadhu Yoga™ will offer teacher trainings such as workshops for teaching the Urban Sadhu Yoga Tri-Guna™ class, aerial yoga, Trauma-sensitive Yoga or Urban Sadhu Yoga™ yin yoga.
We will also offer micro teacher trainings on subjects such as sound bath healing arts, breath work, energy healing, level one Reiki and other holistic healing art forms. Please check back with us for from time to time for announcements and updates of these offerings.