“Who is running the program?”
I run the training with a wonderful team of experienced Xen Strength Yoga with Weights teachers, happy customer service reps, and tech superheroes.
“Do we have personal time with you to ask questions?”
This training is an individual study program, so it’s not a one on one training with me, but I am always available by email to answer questions you might have. Of course, a great option would be to hook up with a fellow teacher studying the program and work through the material together.
If you feel you still need individual instruction, then you can contact me about a booking private Skype session, or in-person private if you’re in the tri-state area.
“What exactly do we need for the training course?”
You’ll be provided with all the materials needed to learn how to teach a level one Xen Strength Yoga with Weights class, however, you’ll need Internet access to consume the information.
You’ll need a yoga mat, and a set of light weights, depending on your current status of strength. Just starting out? You’ll want to start with 2lb, work your way up to 3, then challenge yourself with 5 after a couple of weeks.
“Where will I be able to teach once I’m certified?”
Once you’re a Xen Strength Yoga with Weights certified teacher, you’ll be able to teach anywhere you’d like, provided the facility has a set of weights, or your students don’t mind bringing their own- for example- at a community center or church.
I've personally taught it at yoga studios, a spinning studio, a few high-end health clubs, in other people’s homes, and in my own home. The possibilities are endless: school gyms, rec centers, dance studios, or in the park. If there’s floor space, you can teach it there.
“When does the course start? Is there anything scheduled that I’ll need to be available for?”
The beauty of this online training is that it was designed for people who need to work their education around the life they already live. For that reason, you can signup anytime you wish, and create a schedule for yourself. We recommend doing it within three months so that the information is fresh and you have time to not only grasp it but implement it in planning and teaching your “certification” class.
All of the content will be available online, or downloadable to your computer, and viewable on your iPad or smartphone. Imagine you’re on vacation, and you feel like reading up on alignment while sipping a Pina Colada- no problem!
“Why would my students want to take it?”
I could sit here all day and wax poetic on why you and your students will love Xen Strength Yoga with Weights, but I’ll focus on just a few reasons.
In The Science of Yoga, William Broad explains, “yoga equally or surpassed exercise in such things as improving balance, reducing fatigue, decreasing stress, improving sleep, reducing pain, lowering and more generally raising the quality of life. It did all of the above except benefit physical fitness."
It’s amazing all the benefits yoga provides, but I don’t agree with the author 100% on the physical aspect. Yoga alone served my body well for many years; at a time I was also running after my two young boys. But I also have personally experienced how after practicing yoga for 15 years, my body just needed more. I’ve also heard this from many other teachers and practitioners. Once I added two days of yoga using weights to my schedule, my body changed again- I was stronger, leaner, and able to hold my traditional yoga poses longer.
To shape up and get fit, building muscle tissue is essential. As women age, hormone and activity levels drop; and because of this, it’s typical to lose about half a pound of muscle a year once they enter peri-menopause. When menopause hits, that can turn into a full pound.
Know what that means? If muscle tissue burns about 15 times as many calories as fat, even when you're not exercising, if you lose that muscle and your metabolism slows down, you could be packing on pounds without eating one more calorie of food.
The good news is that strength training can increase muscle and prevent bone loss in one shot. Studies have shown that “a woman who trains all her major muscle groups twice a week can expect to replace 5 to 10 years' worth of metabolism-revving muscle in just a few months.”
You can see why one should absolutely include strength training into their workouts each week, but there’s also a reason why you should combine it with yoga.
“What if I don’t want to give up teaching traditional yoga?
You don’t have to! I still teach the same vinyasa class that I’ve been teaching for years, where I chant and give a dharma talk. Teaching XSYWW doesn’t mean I’ve lost my love, or knowledge, of traditional yoga. I’ve broadened my yoga tool-box to be more accessible to students who never thought traditional yoga was for them. And in turn that’s opened doors for me to teach in many places other than just yoga studios. Life’s an adventure, right?
“How much time will it take to get certified?”
It will be different for everyone, depending on how they process information. How fast do you read and absorb instruction? We figure on average it should take you about 20 hours to go through all the materials and really digest the information so that you’re ready to plan and instruct your own class. In addition, you should practice the free videos and the sequences from the Xen Strength Yoga DVD.
As with anything, the more focused you are, and the more energy you put into practicing the sequences yourself, the easier it will be for you to rock your certification. And if you read all the materials and watch all the videos, you most certainly will.
“Will I be successful teaching Xen Strength Yoga with Weights?
You'll be as successful as you strive to be. We give you all the materials you need to be a superstar instructor- everything included is what helped me rock my business, but I was determined to do so. Success takes dedication, persistence, and focus- and each one of you is capable of achieving ANYTHING you set your mind to.
I created this program because I believe it will help you stand out and build a great reputation in your community, and beyond- but it’s not a magic formula or get-rich-quick scheme. If you don’t do the work, and just want to instantly be handed success, this program isn’t for you.
I’ve put an incredible amount of effort into designing this training so that it prepares you completely. I’m confident that if you’re already a great teacher, then this program will help catapult your success.
On the other hand, if your classes are empty because you’re cranky, don’t care about your student’s happiness, and check the clock every 5 minutes to see when you’ll be done teaching, then this probably isn’t a good fit for you. I’m looking to build an elite team of highly motivated, inspirational teachers to help grow their business.
(please read the disclaimer on the sales page discussing expectations)
“Is the entire training accessible from the beginning?”
Yes, I decided that I wanted people to get certified as soon as they’d like, or take their time to revisit the material at their own pace.
I do recommend finishing within 3 months so that the material is fresh and you’re prepared for the certification process.
Once you’re certified, you’ll have lifetime access to the training materials, updates, and certified teachers group.
“Can I receive continuing education credits for this training?”
Yes, because I’m an E-1000 RYT, any program I teach qualifies for CEU credits.
According to an email from the nice lady at Yoga Alliance, this is how it works:
Trainees who do online work, or read the manual can calculate their total number of hours and divide them by 5 to figure out the actual units of CEU that they can request.
Example:
5 hours of watching videos+ 15 hours of reading the manual = 20 non-contact hours divided by 5
= 4 non-contact hours that can be submitted to Yoga Alliance for continuing education. ( this contributes to your CEU credits needed for a 3 year period)
Trainees can log continuing education hours by logging in to their online account by following this link: https://secure.yogaalliance.org/iMISpublic/. They are required to submit 30 hours of training and 45 hours of teaching every three years.
If you're looking for ACE, NASM, etc credits then you'll need to contact that individual organization.
Please carefully consider the following when deciding to join us:
I’ve spent countless hours creating this program, culled from my practicing and teaching knowledge of the past 15 years. I’ve filmed videos, photographed all the poses, worked with experts on alignment instruction, and made sure that this manual contains all the information you’ll need to be a success.
HOWEVER, you need to do the work to succeed, and if you aren’t willing to do it, like to complain, and are basically a Debbie Downer, then PLEASE do not sign up for this program.
Okay, now that we’ve cleared that up, take your positive, kind, supportive, and ambitious self over to the checkout and sign up- we’re so excited to have you!
“Do you have a refund policy?”
Because I believe so strongly that adding this training to your arsenal will help you stand out in your area as an incredible yoga teacher, if you go through the training, get certified to teach Xen Strength Yoga, market yourself with my tips to promote yourself on social media and in your community and if you reach out to all of the studios and gyms in your area and can't get hired as a stand out teacher, then I'm happy to give you your money back- but you need to do all of the work and have proof that you've done it.
If after reading all the materials provided, checking out my website, and watching the videos, you still have questions, then please contact us at contact@xenstrength.com.
PS- legal stuff you NEED to read
DISCLAIMER: The advice or instructions given in this training are not a substitution for medical advice. If you have any health issue that prohibits you from being active, you must agree to speak to your doctor before joining this program. You are responsible to work within your physical limits and modify any pose that you need to be modified to make it work for your body.