Yoga II class to train students for certification as yoga teachers

Samo may provide a Yoga II class that will give students the opportunity to become certified yoga teachers next year.Yoga II teacher Jason Battung is a member of the Yoga Alliance, a nonprofit organization that represents yoga teachers throughout the nation and certifies yoga students as yoga teachers after 180 hours of personal instruction.“We have 180 days of school, so we have enough contact hours to qualify,” Battung said. “Fifty minutes of instruction and a 10 minute break equals one hour of yoga instruction per Yoga Alliance. This requires perfect attendance, engagement and punctuality, so in order to reach this level, yoga students will need to be dedicated.”Students may attend extra sessions to make-up for any absences or compensate for any lost time during special schedules like California State Testing (CST), Battung said.Sedona Culp (’15), is excited at the prospect of becoming a yoga professional.“Becoming certified would mean being dedicated,” Culp said. “If you’re determined you can become a professional yogi. I know that I have that determination.”Jazmin Martinez (’15) said that she is looking forward to the thought of receiving a certification.“It’s always nice to have that option and to know that it’s there,” Martinez said. “If everything does work out it’s pretty cool to say that I have a certification. If it doesn’t pan out I’ll be glad that I tried.”According to Battung, the class will require students to take Yoga I or demonstrate past experience with yoga,  will involve more difficult poses and teach Sanskrit.“I hope to see a student that is dedicated, who is willing to be uncomfortable and test their limits a little bit,” Battung said. “These students have to be interested in all facets of life, how these facets connect to themselves and in turn how that connects to everyone around them.”But despite the class’ approval by the Board of Education, the class may not be available next year due to a sign-up shortage.“More than one student has told me that their adviser doesn’t know that [Yoga II] is approved,” Battung said. “I fear that the communication chain has been broken, and Yoga II for 2013-14 might be lost in the process.  If it has any chance, students need to talk to their advisers immediately.”hat yoga is for me. The harder that I work at it, the harder I work my mind and body so that I feel positive and rejuvenated. With the certification I'm trying to gain, I hope to share this feeling with others."mytarr@thesamohi.com