The Richmond Integral Yoga® Teacher Training Program has been offered since 1999. The certification course meets the high standards and hours required by the Yoga Alliance, the National Registry of Yoga Teachers and Integral Yoga® International. Students receive direct instruction from the main leader: Vimala Nora Pozzi, E-RYT500, C-IAYT, PRYT, YCaT, and a qualified team of certified integral yoga teachers who support the program as mentors and presenters of various topics contained in the syllabus.
Vimala Nora Pozzi, through the IYCoR, the first Yoga Center to offer a yoga teacher training program in Richmond, has trained more than 150 yoga teachers since 1999. Our last Teacher Training ended in March 2019, after Covid started and forced us to close the center. We have not resumed yet our annual Teacher Training Program, but we are in the process of re-designing the curriculum to offer an hybrid program to include on-site as well as online classes as part of the training.
Eventually, this training, which focuses on developing a yogic lifestyle and establishing a strong daily spiritual practice, while geared towards teaching/mentoring others into the path of yoga, is essentially an opportunity for self-growth and self-inquiry. This journey fosters personal transformation of one’s life where the Goal of Integral Yoga® may be fulfilled: “An easeful Body, a peaceful Mind, a useful Life”, a universal formula for Happiness.
This 6-month long Teacher Training has been offered since 1999 on a yearly basis. The program included a 4 day-3 night Yoga Immersion Retreat at Yogaville, that offered direct teachings from most senior IY teachers residing in Yogaville, focusing on the various aspects of yoga, including a yogic lifestyle plus interfaith celebrations, and daily hatha and meditation practice.
Several Informational meetings are offered before the training starts to explain the nature of this program and meet the main teacher and staff, as well as graduates of the program who share their personal experience, In addition the teaching Manual and textbooks are available for review.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, send us an email to inquiry about the upcoming meetings or to set up a personal meeting to address your questions.
DISCLAIMER: The yoga therapy components of my instruction and/or practice are based on my Certification by International Association of Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and PRYT, not derived from my status as an RYT® with Yoga Alliance Registry.
Upcoming Trainings
Methodology
Vimala, an experienced senior yoga educator and trainer, created and developed this unique training in 1999. Her goal, at the time, was to meet the demands for a non-residential training in Richmond for her long time advanced students and to have more Integral Yoga Teachers available to supply the growing demand for classes at the Integral Yoga Center of Richmond.
The quality of a yoga teacher, according to Vimala’s experience, resides in his/her ability “to know oneself”, the essential teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda. She also believes that the most important aspect of being a yoga teacher is presence and authenticity, commitment to one’s personal yoga & spiritual practice, as well as to the students and the desire to serve. This can be only implemented with skills to communicate and convey the information in a manner that the students will understand, no matter their particular way of learning.
Vimala’s experience and expertise in the adaptation of yoga to meet the needs of different populations (cancer & heart disease, seniors, kids, teens, pregnancy, PTSD and other mental health issues, prisons and youth at risk, as well as hospitals and corporations) has made this program very comprehensive and unique, although not an easy one. She keeps studying and training in yoga therapy and other modalities to make yoga accessible to everybody, and continues to incorporate them into her training, making it an organic always changing and improving very practical educational and transformative system.
Methodology
Vimala, an experienced senior yoga educator and trainer, created and developed this unique training in 1999. Her goal, at the time, was to meet the demands for a non-residential training in Richmond for her long time advanced students and to have more Integral Yoga Teachers available to supply the growing demand for classes at the Integral Yoga Center of Richmond.
The quality of a yoga teacher, according to Vimala’s experience, resides in his/her ability “to know oneself”, the essential teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda. She also believes that the most important aspect of being a yoga teacher is presence and authenticity, commitment to one’s personal yoga & spiritual practice, as well as to the students and the desire to serve. This can be only implemented with skills to communicate and convey the information in a manner that the students will understand, no matter their particular way of learning. This, was also learned from her teacher, who used to teach “Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate” and “Truth is One, Paths are Many”.
Vimala’s experience and expertise in the adaptation of yoga to meet the needs of different populations (cancer & heart disease, seniors, kids, teens, pregnancy, PTSD and other mental health issues, prisons and youth at risk, as well as hospitals and corporations) has made this program very comprehensive and unique, although not an easy one. She keeps studying and training in yoga therapy and other modalities to make yoga accessible to everybody, and continues to incorporate them into her training, making it an organic always changing and improving very practical educational and transformative system.
Requirements
Prerequisites
Students should have a regular Hatha Yoga and Meditation practice. Additionally, students should attend at least one 6-8 week Integral Yoga® Class prior to the beginning of the training or have attended an Integral Yoga class in the past. Students may attend an Orientation Meeting or request an appointment for a personal interview to obtain additional information and clarification of program requirements.
Graduation Requirements
Mandatory attendance is required for everything that is listed on the tuition page. Students must take monthly quizzes, mid-term and final written exams and a Qualification Exam on teaching an Integral yoga class to beginner students. Students must also attend a four day-three night (Thursday-Sunday) overnight retreat as well as a full Saturday at the end of the course for graduation at Yogaville. (These requirements may change in post-covid future programs)
Additional Requirements
- Participate in a mentoring program
- Supervised weekly practice with a partner
- Research project
- Classes
- Karma Yoga project
- Daily yoga practice & Journal
- Weekly homework assignments
Curriculum
Course Curriculum Certification
Program provides in-depth instruction in teaching all the branches of Yoga:
- Hatha Yoga – postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), relaxation, and cleansing practices (kriyas)
- Raja Yoga – the path of concentration and meditation, based on ethical perfection and control of the mind through the Sutras of Pantanjli
- Karma Yoga – the path of action and selfless service
- Bhakti Yoga – the path of love and dedication
- Jnana Yoga – the path of wisdom through self-observation and awareness
- Japa Yoga – chanting and the repetition of sound vibration
Training includes
- Hands-on instruction of asanas – benefits, variations, contraindications, and sanskrit names
- Personal coaching and guidance from a mentor who is a Certified Integral Yoga® Teacher
- Workshops and lectures
- Instruction methodology
- Physiology and anatomy
- Diet, nutrition and yogic lifestyle
- Chanting, meditation & pranayama techniques
- Yoga Off the Mat – how to integrate yoga in our life
- One-on-one relationship with main teacher to assess progress and understanding.
Specialty Workshops
There will be workshops on teaching specialty classes such as:
- Prenatal, Children and Teens
- Arthritis, Cancer, Cardiac, Chronic Illnesses
- Seniors and other special needs (injuries, surgeries, etc)
- Corporate, Educations & Hospital settings, Stress Management
- Yoga Therapy (physical & mental health) – Practical Principles
- Public speaking / Communication Skills
- Setting up and Marketing yoga classes
- Introduction to Ayurveda
- Yoga for Recovery
- How to bring Spirituality to every day life.
- Interfaith, Yoga Ceremonies.
Tuition
(Offered during past years. It may change in future trainings.)
Tuition and other charges
Please contact Vimala Nora Pozzi at vimala@yogahelps.com to request an Applicaton Form and information about Tuition, Text Books and Informational group or individual Meetings anymore information.
Included with tuition (and more):
* Once a week classroom instruction
* Once a week mentoring with a partner and a mentor at a location of choice
* Once a week Yoga Class
* Once a month Friday evening Satsang (kirtan) & Lecture
* Once a month Saturday morning workshop
* Four-day & three-nights yoga immersion Retreat in Yogaville
* Graduation Day & Ceremony at Yogaville or in-house (at the yoga center) (family & friends invited)
* Comprehensive IY Training Manual (used worldwide in all our centers)
* Personalized attention supporting spiritual development, emotional needs and inner growth journey
Instructors
Nora Vimala Pozzi, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, PRYT, YcaT, has been the Director of Integral Yoga® Center of Richmond since 1992 and director of the Richmond Integral Yoga® Teacher Training Program in 1999. Vimala created the Richmond TT curriculum (based on Yogaville’s, but adapted and reframed to fit a non-residential program), in order to meet the needs of prospective teachers who could not take a month off for a residential program (such as the ones offered by Yogaville) due to work or family constraints.
Her understanding of the Yoga Philosophy (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali), which she considers the foundation of this program, is perhaps the most comprehensive and demanding aspect of the program, since those enrolled in it, are required to apply the ten ethical principles of yoga, the Yamas and Niyamas, and other relevant sutras, such as Practice and Non-attachment, to their daily lives, journal daily, share in class and learn from them. The Raja Yoga portion of this program is taught in-depth during the first 3 months of the program, and includes also the 6 branches of Yoga (the trademark of Integral Yoga) and Interfaith educations and practice.
Every year our Staff of Mentors rotates. It is a work love and dedication that so many of our graduates from previous Richmond TT ‘s have offered to the program sharing their experience, mentoring the new students. Infinite Gratefulness to all the mentors who have served over so many years, including, Jodi Ananda Urban, Anne Bhudevi Fletcher, Jonnie Devi Corbett, Kalyani Levitt, Linda Suguna Dunn, Shanna Praneshwari Latia, Kavita Kathy Sullivan, Belinda Anandi Todd, Martha Tyler, Jane Karuna Gordon, Jagadamba Jane Barr, Nitika Achalam, Nalini Debbie Fazenbaker, Cynthia Chinmayi Butler, Nitya Lydia Griffith, Siv Ariaka Ranko, Karla Dharmini Helbert, Natalie Padmasri Turley, Lakshya Laura Trow, Abhaya Darryl Norton, Lalita Joan Wilder, Padma Penny Sedgley, Supriya Butz, Dr Robert Goldschmidt and more. Ongoing support and advice from the very first training has been from Integral Yoga teacher Gigi Jyothi Robson.
In addition many other teachers and experts in specific fields, including senior teachers and experts who reside in Yogaville, have been part of this program offering workshops, retreats, and hands-on lectures to our course participants, including the ones offered at our long weekend Yoga Immersion Retreat in Yogaville: Swami Karunananda, Swami Sarvaananda, Swami Vidyananda, Mataji, Swami Dayananda, Swami Hamsananda, Swami Priyananda, Swami Jyotirmayananda, Swami Suddhananda, Swami Arivananda, Revs Paraman & Lakshmi Barsel, Rev Sumati Steinberg, Dr Amrita Sandra McLanahan, Prahaladan Mandelkorn, Lakshmi Sutter, Leticia Padmasri Marques, Satya Greenstone, Baghavan and Bhavani Metro, and so many others.
For more detailed information, see Nora Vimala Pozzi’s bio page.
DISCLAIMER: The yoga therapy components of my instruction and/or practice are based on my Certification by IAYT and PRYT, not derived from my status as an RYT® with Yoga Alliance Registry.
Testimonials
My teacher training at the Integral Yoga Center of Richmond taught by Vimala, was one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life. The ultimate goal may have been to complete the 200 hours required to become a certified yoga instructor, but the course allowed for and encouraged a level of self-inquiry that has changed my outlook on life and transformed me into a happier, healthier, person.
I would highly recommend Vimala Pozzi’s Integral Yoga Center of Richmond’s Teacher Training and wish to sing nothing but praises for it. The classes were scheduled in such a way that were very easy to adapt to my busy life. I feel the program instilled in me a solid foundation of physical practice to bring to many types of studios, and a stronger spiritual practice than I ever thought possible. It is a thorough and cohesive teacher training with endless resources from my teachers, mentors and the integral yoga community
I had been practicing yoga for approximately 2 years with Vimala as my teacher when a medical diagnosis of breast cancer entered my life. Vimala’s “Yoga for Self Inquiry” class was incredibly helpful in carrying me through finding out the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
I enrolled in the 2005-06 Integral Yoga Teacher Training program hoping to pass along the yoga teachings that helped me. I loved the simple but powerful and meditative approach of Integral Yoga classes. The training took the aspects of yoga that had been touched on in my previous yoga classes to a much deeper level. The combination of group support, self-study, study of yoga sutras, in-depth exploration of the asanas, breathing practices, and meditation involved all aspects of my intellect, body, creativity, and inner spirit.
Vimala respects each person’s personal journey and approaches her teaching with kindness, compassion, and humor. The length of the training program (6 months) was beneficial for me because I needed that period of time to integrate what I was learning. The guest teachers and mentors in the program were wonderful. I loved getting to know my fellow students in the program and felt supported and encouraged throughout. I use teachings I learned from Vimala in every yoga class I teach.”
Thank you so much, Vimala, for your own study of yoga and for continuing to pass this knowledge on. Best wishes to all future students!
I can honestly say this has been one of the most unique experiences I have ever had. I have definitely received what I wanted from this certification, and that was to deepen my own practice and to be around like-minded people. But, in addition to this, I have received so much more. I don’t even know where to begin….. It has most certainly been a life-altering experience for me personally. I know that I am not the person that I was 6 months ago. I feel that I had a lot of questions about “my path” or destiny when I first started the class. One of the first things I learned is that, not only is that ok, but normal. And I’m on my path. I may not know exactly what that it is or where it may lead, but I am exactly where I am supposed to be and this class helped validate that. I also learned early on that just when you think you know the answer, you don’t. And that’s ok, too.
I feel this class has helped me become a more accepting person – not just of others, but also of myself. It has made me a more patient and tolerant person. It has given me the tools to step back and look at myself or a stressful situation as a “witness”. The sense of community and security that I received from everyone in the TT program was priceless. We all had obstacles during this process. Losing my best friend and dog Sadie and dealing with my Dad’s heart disease and also starting a new job were very hard obstacles for me to deal with and overcome. I am a strong person, but I don’t think I would’ve made it through if it wasn’t for everyone in the TT program. Time was also an obstacle I think we all felt. I really gave this class 100%, in spite of, working full time, daughter duties, being a homeowner, etc. I know that it is a huge acomplishment, although there were times I didn’t know if I would make it.
My meditation practice, although I still have a ways to go, definitely improved during this class. I feel more aware now than I have ever had. This helps me enjoy everything more. It helps me be a better, daughter, sister, friend, education representative. This class has helped me strive to be a more authentic person. Even when situations are stressful, even when people around me are negative or stressed. It has helped me identify what is really important in my life.
Even though this is the end of the class, I feel it is just the beginning for me in many ways. I am very grateful for each and every person who was part of the TT program.
The IY Teacher Training I attended 2004 – 2005 was an incredible life changing experience. Not only did I learn how to become a yoga instructor, I learned more about myself and the path I was walking on at that time.
Vimala Pozzi created a program that allowed for intense self inquiry, a rigorous teaching schedule that challenged my mind, body, and soul. After 10 years of successfully teaching children’s yoga, I fully feel the essence of that initial training is intact and inspiring me to this day to not only live yoga but to encourage others to aspire to as well.
From this 6-month experience I learned to let go of rigid boundaries for meditation and spiritual practice. I’ve come to embrace a daily practice that is rich and varied. The Teacher Training not only enriched my previous practice but also expanded it beyond meditation and scriptural study to include chanting, pranayama, and asanas. I feel that my practice allows me to be more present in the moment with those around me. I feel more measured and balanced when I communicate with loved ones, which are usually the same people with whom I lose my peace
I graduated from Vimala’s Integral Yoga Teacher Training in 2005. It was both one of the most challenging and one of the most enlightening six months of my life. I took the training because of health issues caused by stress. I didn’t know it at the time, but the