Piedmont Yoga offered in-depth yoga training programs in one form or another from 1996 through June 2005. Graduates of these programs are now teaching not only throughout the Bay Area but in other parts of the US as well. You don't have to look far though to find our graduates: at least a dozen of our PYS teachers went through one of the training programs. We've had several requests from students to revive the program. The longer programs each ran for 18 months and over 700 hours of class time, meeting twice a week from 7:00 to 11:00 am. Needless to say, the length of the program and timing of its classes made it difficult or impossible for many people with day jobs/and or family responsibilities to participate. So we've streamlined the program, cutting it back to 200 hours spread out over 10 months, from September 2008 through June 2009, and scheduled our classes to meet on Thursday evenings and one Saturday a month.

Our program is designed to give you a solid foundation in teaching techniques and modalities. But it isn't necessary that teaching be your ultimate goal. You might simply feel the need for a fuller understanding of yoga theory and practice, history and philosophy, and how it all relates to and enriches your life. You'll discover, as all teachers eventually do, that working with other people is one of the greatest learning experiences. But since this is an advanced training program, we can only accept students who:

• Have at least 2 years experience with yoga practice.
• Have a reasonably consistent home practice, with at least four one-hour practice sessions each week, and attending public classes.
• Can comfortably hold inverted positions such as head stand and shoulder stand (with or without the support of a wall) for at least 3 minutes.

The program content is based on and fulfills the 200-hour certification requirements for the Yoga Alliance. We'll have 101 hours of teaching techniques, 21 hours of anatomy, 21 hours of Yoga history and philosophy, 27 of what's called teaching methodology, and 30 hours of practicum. Here's the link to the Yoga Alliance website, where all of this is explained in more detail.

Admission Application & Deadline:

Follow the instructions below and mail completed forms to: Piedmont Yoga Studio, ATTN: Advanced Training Manager, PO Box 11458, Oakland, CA 94611

1. Apply Online or Print the Application
2. Fill out the Faculty Approval Form

Tuition Information (3 Plans):

1. Single Payment - Program cost: $2700. A deposit of $500 is due by August 1, 2008, which will hold your space, and the remaining balance of $2200 due by August 15, 2008.
2. Two Installments - Program cost: $2800. A deposit of $400 is due by August 1, 2008, which will hold your space, and two payments of $1200 each are due on September 1, 2008 and January 5, 2009.
3. Six Monthly Payments - Program cost: $2900. A deposit of $500 is due August 1, 2008, which will hold your space, and six monthly payments of $400 are due on the first of each month beginning September 1, 2008 and ending February 1, 2009.

Length of Program & Class Meetings:

• The program totals 200 hours spread out over 10 months, from September 2008 through June 2009.
• Classes will meet every Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, beginning September 4, 2008, and ending June 26, 2009 (excluding November 27, December 25, 2007, January 1 and April 14, 2009.)
• The monthly Saturday intensive will meet from 1:30 to 8:00 pm with a half-hour break. Currently the scheduled Saturdays are: (September 6, October 25, November 15, December 13, January 10, February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 13)
• Note: The Thursday classes are open only to registered students. The first half of each Saturday intensives is usually open to the public.
• 101 hours - of teaching technique, including practical instruction in asana, pranayama, and
• 27 hours - of teaching methodology, including instruction in physical observation and adjustment, verbal
• 21 hours - of yoga history and philosophy
• 21 hours - of anatomy for yoga teachers
• 30 hours - of practicum, which can be earned in one of two ways. If you intend to teach yoga, you can earn hours either by assisting or being observed as you teach by a faculty member or a teacher approved by the faculty. If teaching isn't your goal, then you can earn hours by attending faculty approved workshops at PYS.

Tuition Policies:

Installment tuition payments must be paid on time. A late penalty fee of $15 is attached to any payments that are Please voluntarily add the penalty fee to the check or money order if you know that your payment is late.

Cancellation of Student Agreement (before September 12, 2008) - PYS will refund 100 percent of the amount paid by the student less a $100 registration fee if we receive a written Notice of Cancellation before midnight of September 12 (the fifth business day after the first class). The refund for a Notice of Cancellation will be made within 30 days of the date of cancellation.

Withdrawal or Dismissal (between September 12, 2008, and February 28, 2009) - If you withdraw or are dismissed from the program after September 12, 2008, but on or before February 28, 2009 (when approximately 60% of the program is completed), you're entitled to a refund for the tuition you've already paid less a registration fee of $100, and less a prorated dollar amount for the all classes held (whether you attended or not) up to the last class you attended. To determine the amount of this refund:

1. Calculate the total number of class hours from the last class you attended to the last class of the training (on June 26, 2009).
2. Multiply this number by 16, the average hourly fee for class attendance (based on $2700 divided by 170 hours, the Practicum hours aren't factored in), then subtract the $100 registration fee from this number.
3. Subtract this number from $2700 or from the total amount of fees you've already paid.

Refunds for withdrawals or dismissals will be made within 30 business days after written Notice of Withdrawal is received, or within 30 business days after the effective date of dismissal from the program. If you withdraw or are dismissed from the program after February 28, you're obligated to pay full tuition for the program.Mail your Notification of Withdrawal and Request for Refund to our Post Office box, don't give these papers to a faculty member or leave them at the studio.

Grievance Procedure:

In the event that you have a problem with a teacher or another member of the program, we urge you to speak to written complaint to the Program Manager who will investigate and respond in writing within 10 days of receiving the complaint. When you submit your written complaint, you'll receive a copy of the school's Grievance Procedure. Any grievance won't deprive you of your rights as a program participant.

If you have any complaints, questions, or problems which you can't work out with the school, write or call the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE): BPPVE1027, Tenth Street Fourth Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814-3517. Telephone: (916) 445-3427

Dismissal Policy:

Piedmont Yoga reserves the right to request that a student leave the program for the  following reasons: Poor class attendance or repeated un-excused lateness, chronically disruptive or disrespectful behavior. The training faculty will warn you at least twice, both verbally and in writing, before  recommending dismissal.

Non-discrimination Policy: The Piedmont Yoga Studio offers students of any race, gender, color and national or ethnic origin all the rights, policies, admission policies, or school-administered programs.