Overview Welcome to Kunga Yoga 500-Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training. “Kunga” is the kinyarwandan word for “help or service” and we chose this word as it represents the intention for our program – offering service as yoga teachers. Kunga trainings will allow students to live yoga both on and off the mat while working towards their 500-Hour Certification. This program meets and exceeds the standards set forth by the Yoga Alliance.
This is a creative, dynamic, and multi-tiered program, designed to encourage the individuality of each teacher, focusing on principles of teaching yoga in a modern world. Our goal is to offer the training in such a way that participants can choose to study intensively in a shorter time frame, OR take the modules at a slower pace, completing in up to five years.
The training is multi-disciplinary, with required modules, and also offers fun, creative ways of obtaining elective hours - such as optional volunteering at a preschool in Jamaica with our retreat group, or simply working in a local soup kitchen. You have the freedom to choose what works for you, and what is available to you within your budget and within your local community. There is ample opportunity to cultivate your knowledge of anatomy and yoga therapy, working with special populations for hands-on learning.
Service
A large component of the program is the service-based work and karma yoga classes for special populations. We view this teacher training as an opportunity for us to place enthusiastic, caring teachers in environments where there is currently no exposure to yoga classes - both locally and globally, providing the classes at no cost to underserved communities. The service component of the training will complement the comprehensive combination of advanced studies courses, retreats and independent study.
Overall, the program provides teacher-students the opportunity to deepen their own practice and refine their teaching skills in a very rewarding setting.
Our comprehensive program builds upon material introduced in any Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Teacher Training by encouraging participants to discover their own areas of expertise, and set the foundation for fully embracing the yogic lifestyle on and off the mat.
Faculty
Our faculty presenters are caring, experienced professionals, and “E-RYT’s” under Yoga Alliance standards, many registered at the 500E-RYT level. Several are notable presenters at the globally recognized Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health.
Click here for Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Kunga Yoga Teacher Training unique?
Kunga Yoga Teacher Training is multi-faceted, with a large emphasis on service and a comprehensive combination of advanced studies courses, retreats and independent study. We also offer fun, creative optional programs to choose as your elective modules, such as learning Thai Yoga massage, theories of Ayurveda, and learning to incorporate chanting and drumming into your classes. You get to choose what you most feel drawn to which supports your teaching.
Who is eligible to participate in the 500-Hour Training?
Anyone who has already earned a Yoga Alliance certification at the 200-hour level (from the Wilmington Yoga Center or elsewhere) is eligible for the 500-Hour certification. Also, those who are currently enrolled in a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance training may participate. Teachers wishing to participate in specific modules without going through the complete 500-Hour training are welcome to choose the module or modules of interest without having to commit to the entire 500 Hour program.
What are the benefits of a 500-Hour Teacher Training Certification?
The 500-hour level certification enhances your credibility as a yoga professional and the Yoga Alliance designations are trusted symbols of knowledge, training and experience for employers and students. You can use the RYT® designation following your name and on your marketing materials. Your contact information, education and experience will also be listed on the Yoga Alliance website, allowing prospective students and employers to easily locate you. Wilmington Yoga Center is one of the few yoga studios in the Southeast to offer advanced 500-Hour Teacher Training. For more information please visit www.yogaalliance.org.
How long will it take me to get my 500-Hour Certification?
Our entire program takes place over the course of approximately 18 months and then repeats itself. Therefore, 500-Hour certification can be earned in as little as 18 months, or as long as five years, according to Yoga Alliance Standards, and your own life cycles. You may take the modules at your convenience, as long as you complete them within the 5-year time period.
Do I have to take the modules in a specific order?
No. You have 5 years to complete the training with modules available several times during that period.
What if I miss a course?
If you miss a module, no problem. You can take it the next time it is offered. Also, we have created a “buffer” of extra hours in our program, so that in the case of an emergency, you may miss up to 2 days (24 hours) of training without having to make anything up. Beyond two “sick” days, however, attendance is required for the entire training in order to graduate and receive your advanced certification. There is also the option of completing some of your missed hours through private sessions, homework, and independent study, pending approval from the director.
Is there credit for training completed outside of Wilmington Yoga Center or past trainings that I have participated in?
Yes, pending approval, certain trainings that you may have participated in may be credited, depending on material covered and the presenter. Please email teacher training coordinator, Stephanie Ellis,
Can I attend an Advanced Studies course, without the intention of pursuing the 500-Hour certification?
Many of our Advanced Studies courses are open to teachers and students who wish to take these courses for personal enrichment or CEUs. However, some courses involve practice teach exercises or discussions on teaching methodology, so be prepared to work hands-on with others if you choose to participate.
What if I decide later on to pursue the 500-Hour certification?
If you decide at a later date to pursue the 500-Hour certification, prior attendance in any Advanced Studies courses will be counted towards your certification. You may take up to five years to complete the entire training. You will receive a certificate at the completion of each teacher training module, documenting your hours.
What Advanced Studies courses are offered?
Please note each of the first seven core modules listed are required. Then you have a choice of one three-day elective and an additional 4.5-day elective. Also required are the karma class teaching and dharma service projects. Click here for more information about the modules, electives and service projects.
Are there any requirements in addition to the modules listed?
Yes. You are required to receive certification in CPR training before your completion of the program. We will offer an opportunity to take CPR training through the WYC. The date for this will be posted on the Center’s website and announcements will be made during the modules. In addition to this you will need to complete the Mentorship Documentation, Karma Class Teaching Project, Dharma Project, and Completed Grid of Required Hours.
What if I can’t afford the time and financial commitment of Retreats?
No problem. Retreats are completely optional and not required. Also, we sometimes offer assistantship positions on retreats, and partial scholarships to teacher trainee alumni and those currently enrolled in our trainings. Please let us know if you would like to go and need financial aid, or are interested in assisting.
Are books and materials included in the price of the training?
Presenters will provide a resource packet with the training. Some presenters will include larger bound manuals and are an additional cost of $20 - $30. Additional books and readings are not included.
How will my mentor help me during my training?
The primary role of your mentor is to serve as a sounding board for any questions, concerns, needs you may have along the your teaching path. This could include anything from how to give hands on assists to what to do when working privately with someone with a fatal disease to sharpening your verbal skills. The mentorship program also provides an opportunity for you to work intimately within a live class, learning to give adjustments, and observing a skilled teacher in action. In some cases you will be able to choose the mentor you would like to study with from our list of approved mentors. In other cases we will place you with a mentor that we feel is a good fit for your needs.
Will I receive any special discounts on other WYC-related offerings?
Yes, as a participant in the 500-Hour Teacher Training you will receive a 20% discount on all WYC Retail and 10% discount on all Retreats.
Will I have to keep up with any documentation for the 500-Hour Teacher Training?
Yes. Student documentation includes the following:
Registration
Mentorship documentation
Karma Service Class
Dharma Service Project or Service Retreat
Grid of Required Hours
Teaching Video Requirements- Karma Class
MODULES, ELECTIVES AND SERVICE PROJECTS
Modules
Core 35-Hour Modules (Required)
*Please note that below dates are estimated guidelines, and occasionally change due to Directors availability. Please check with our Teacher Training Coordinator,
4.5 Day Pre/Post Natal Teacher Training Jan 16-20, 2008
4.5 Day Living Yoga: Service & Lifestyle TBA
4.5 Day Assists & Adjustments TBA
4.5 Day Advanced Pranayama & Ancient Texts March 11 - 15, 2009
4.5 Day Yoga Therapeutics TBA
4.5 Days Vinyasa Immersion Teacher Training Sept 3 - 7, 2008
4.5 Day Anatomy of Yoga March 2009
35-Hour Electives (Must choose one)
4.5 Days Ayurveda for Yoga Teachers July 16-20, 2008
4.5 Day Restorative Yoga Jan 2009
4.5 Days Thai Yoga Massage October 15 - 19, 2008
14-Hour Electives (Must choose one)
3 Days Kids Yoga Teacher Training TBA
3 Days Meditation Intensive TBA
3 Days Eastern Anatomy Feb 2009
Karma Class Project (Required)
This project includes at least 20 hours of teaching yoga & meditation as a free service to a special needs group, particularly with populations that do not have access to yoga classes. This includes the homeless, poverty-stricken, handicapped, prison inmates, at-risk youth, seniors in nursing homes, etc… Written report to follow as well as a DVD of one-hour class with special population. This DVD will be considered your final review to graduate from the program.
Dharma Service Project OR Service Retreat (Required)
Includes at least 20 hours of work dedicated to fulfilling one’s dharma, or life’s purpose. Examples may include volunteering at an animal shelter or soup kitchen, developing a conscious business or product idea, providing services to a special needs group, etc. Written report to follow as well as one-hour video about your project. Participants may also fulfill this requirement through one of WYC’s Service Retreats.
MODULE & ELECTIVES SCHEDULES:
Below is an outline of the daily schedule for both the 35-hour (4.5-day) and 14- hour (3-day) modules:
Application & Mentor Fee: $300
$150 of which will go directly to your assigned mentor. This fee is for three hours of one-on-one time with your mentor as well as assisting your mentor in class. As soon as you submit your registration & mentor fee along with your application, you will be entered into the program, and will be contacted with a welcome email.
35-hour (4.5-day) modules: $500 Early Bird Rate (generally up to 2 months before the module begins), $550 Regular Tuition rate
14-hour (3-day) modules: is $200 Early Bird Rate, $250 Regular Tuition rate.
**Please note that prices on individual modules may increase slightly in 2009.
Additional Optional Costs: If you are interested in participating in one of our Service Retreats to fulfill the dharma project requirement, please visit the Retreats page of our website for cost and details on each retreat. You may also however fulfill your dharma project requirement locally, at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, your own home, etc. Retreats are not required and are completely optional.
Register:
To register, you may mail in your registration and payment to:
Wilmington Yoga Center
Attn: Stephanie Ellis -
Teacher Training Coordinator
5329 Oleander Drive
Suite 200
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 350-0234
Faculty:
Kristin Cooper Gulak, 500 E-RYT
Kristin Cooper Gulak, 500E-RYT, is an experienced registered teacher with Yoga Alliance at the 500hr level, teaching since 1999. She works with students with cancer and HIV, and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). Kristin has worked privately with celebrity clients Ashley Judd, Katie Holmes, and the cast of Dawson’s Creek. She is founder and director of Wilmington & Southport Yoga Centers, and travels as a teacher trainer and percussionist for world-renowned yoga teacher Shiva Rea, working as Mentor for Shiva’s Prana Vinyasa 500hr Teacher Training. Kristin has also assisted the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health 200hr Teacher Trainings. She is the creator of Rhythmic Flow Yoga w/live drumming and leads workshops and international retreats around the world with her percussionist husband, Loren Gulak- www.rhythmicflowyoga.com. Her personal practice has been inspired and guided by an extraordinary group of human beings to whom she is extremely grateful, including: Loren Gulak, Bryan Kest, Shiva Rea, Teresa Spanos, Yoganand, Beryll Berch, Kevin Simpson, Gurumukh, David Life and Sharon Gannon, and her loving family!
Heather Till, 500 E-RYT Heather Till brings to her teaching a life-long passion and study of movement and dance and has enjoyed sharing this passion with her students for the past 10 years. She is a Professional Yoga Therapist with the School of Integrative Yoga Therapy where she has served as an assistant and mentor for teachers in training. She is certified in the Khalsa Way Prenatal Yoga, Prenatal Yoga with Janice Clarfield, Pilates and Reiki. Heather has also trained with Itsy Bitsy Yoga and holds a BS degree in Psychology. She is one of the original co-founders of the Wilmington Yoga Center teaching cooperative and has enjoyed being a co-facilitator of the Wilmington Yoga Center Teacher Training Program since 2004. Heather has worked with the Healing Arts Network through New Hanover Regional Medical Center offering yoga therapy for patients with cancer and ante-partum women on bedrest. She has always been drawn to a deeper understanding of the body-mind connection and stories we carry in our bodies. This interest inspires her approach to yoga as gentle and heartfelt, emphasizing mindfulness and moving with the breath to create awareness, release deeply held tensions and open to our body's natural healing resources. Heather greatly enjoys teaching students of all levels and abilities throughout southeastern North Carolina. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500) and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
Elizabeth Evans, RYT, CPT, PMA
is fully credentialed and certified in Pilates Mat and Pilates Comprehensive Apparatus and certified Yoga Instructor, with Yoga Alliance registration and completed her 200-hour training at The Wilmington Yoga Center, under Kristin Cooper’s guidance. She has completed her 500-hour training through Shiva Rea’s advanced teacher program, with RYT-500 registration pending.
Elizabeth is the owner of Body+Soul Studios in Raleigh, NC. She offers both private and group training in Pilates Mat and Equipment, including the Reformer, Cadillac, Tower, Wunda Chair and the Spine Corrector. Elizabeth has attained the PMA (Pilates Method Alliance) Certification Designation, which less than 1% of all Pilates instructors in the U.S. possess, and only a select few in North Carolina.
She has trained directly with Shiva Rea as well as with Twee Merrigan, Simon Park, Seane Corne and Paul Grilley.
Elizabeth has been active in the fitness industry in the Triangle area for the past 19 years as an ACE-certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. She is also a National Fitness Presenter for IFTA, conducting workshops throughout the United States. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hilary Garivaltis, Dean of Curriculum for the Kripalu School of Ayurveda
received her training at the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine and the Rishikesh College of Ayurveda in Rishikesh, India. She continues to train with the world’s leading teachers in the United States and India.
Jonas Westring, PT, E-RYT 500
Is a licensed physiotherapist in his native Sweden and in the USA who began his yoga studies in 1981 at the Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School. A multi-certified yoga instructor and yoga therapist, Jonas is an Anusara Yoga teacher™ and has studied with John Friend since 1999.
Formerly core faculty member for Integrative Yoga Therapy and other teacher training programs, Jonas now directs Shantaya Yoga School and conducts Anusara Yoga Immersions and Yoga Teacher Training programs in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Jonas also specializes in therapeutic bodywork rooted in the Thai tradition and has been teaching a Thai Yoga Certification Program in the USA for over 10 years. Approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), he has taught thousands of people how to give transformational Thai Yoga Bodywork treatments.
Combining a background in physiotherapy with over 25 years yoga and bodywork experience, Jonas teaches at venues worldwide. He is known to transmit the essence of ancient healing arts through clarity, mindfulness and joy. www.shantaya.org
Dean Hudson, LICSW is a psychotherapist, professional-level Kripalu Yoga teacher and Kripalu YogaDance™ instructor, and leader of the Dances of Universal Peace. He is on staff at Kripalu Center and serves on the 200- and 500-hour yoga teacher training staff of Pranakriya Yoga, headed by Yoganand Michael Carroll. Dean has a particular interest in the transformative and transcendent powers of an integrated practice of asana, pranayama, and meditation. He brings a deeply meditative and spiritual style of teaching to all his work and leads programs nationwide. He is the creator of the CDs Meditation and the Transformation of Consciousness and The Healing Power of Relaxation. www.pathwaystowholeness.com
We look forward to meeting you!
Wilmington Yoga Center Wilmington, North Carolina 910-350-0234
Kristin Cooper Gulak, 500 E-RYT
Heather Till, 500 E-RYT
Elizabeth Evans, RYT, CPT, PMA
Hilary Garivaltis, Dean of Curriculum for the Kripalu School of Ayurveda
Jonas Westring, PT, E-RYT 500
Dean Hudson, LICSW 
