68
August 1 - August 14, 2015
Spirituality
The Center for Living Well offers certified yoga instructor class BY TRACY HOUSE
Beginning in September, The Center for Living Well will offer a 200-hour Christ-centered yoga teacher training program. The course, which consists of five modules, is designed for individuals who want to strengthen their yoga knowledge and practice, deepen their understanding of the Bible, teach Christ-centered yoga classes or lead a yoga ministry. The center’s co-executive director Dawn Rutledge said this is its sixth training program. “This one is special, because in April we became registered with the Yoga Alliance, as a registered yoga school. We’re pretty excited about it.” Trainees who successfully complete all five modules earn a 200-hour designation as a CCYL (Christ-Centered Yoga Leader). The training program enables graduates to register as an RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher 200 Hours) following training. “Once they complete the program with us, all the requirements are met” to become eligible for the certification, Rutledge said. She clarified, though, that trainees who want to teach Christcentered yoga classes receive a CCYL designation. Those who are not Christian and/or want to teach secular classes receive a CYT designation (Certified Yoga
Teacher). Both are eligible for the RYT200 with the Yoga Alliance. Distance learning is available and the center has more than 25 graduated instructors and trainers from the United States, Canada and Scotland. “We intentionally keep our groups small because we do ongoing mentoring with them,” Rutledge said. “We’ve kept the groups under eight people each time.” The five-module yoga training course runs September through February. The cost is $500 per module and the center does offer assistance. “We offer scholarships and payment plans for people,” Rutledge said. “I would say probably at least half of our people have gone through with some sort of assistance, because we are a nonprofit.” The Center for Living Well is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ministry providing yoga and whole-person wellness services, education, retreats and training. “We do whole-person wellness,” Rutledge said. “We’re focused on holistic wellness with Christ at the center. We provide a variety of services. We do individual work with private clients and teach classes and training.” Center for Living Well graduates will be leading the classes. Rutledge said many of the students who come in and go on to be instructors have been
www.SanTanSun.com
practicing for some time, but “we certainly have had graduates come through who are brand new to yoga or Christ-centered yoga. It’s not required that they have experience.” The training is a three-prong approach that includes yoga instruction, a Biblical studies component, and leadership and mentoring. For any yoga instructor certification, students must receive instruction in yoga philosophy; the Christ-centered designation focuses on studying Scriptures from the Bible. “We want them to feel confident in teaching a Biblical message when they graduate,” Rutledge said. Co-Executive Director Jennifer Miller is an ordained minister with a seminary degree who provides the tutelage for teaching the Bible. Students meet with Rutledge or Miller at least one hour a week Dawn Rutledge performs a Thai Yoga Massage on for individualized mentoring and Robin Norgren. Submitted photo guidance throughout the modules. The teachings are nondenominational Christian-centered on well-being and inner healing. and not based on a specific religion. The Center for Living Well is located “We’ve actually have had individuals at 1655 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 5. go through who wouldn’t necessarily call For more information, visit www. themselves Christians,” Rutledge said. centerforlivingwell.org, email info@ “Those individuals, we prepare them centerforlivingwell.org or call (480) 505to teach secular messages. They’re still 3825. teaching an inspirational message.” In addition to yoga training, the faithTracy House is a freelancer for SanTan based center offers group and individual Sun News. She can be reached at news@ services, workshops and classes focused santansun.com.
Spiritual Reflections Share your spiritual reflections The spiritual leaders of SanTan Sunarea churches, temples, mosques and other religious and spiritual gathering places are invited to contribute their Spiritual Reflections in essay format by sending their thoughts, enlightening insights and other writings of a spiritual nature to news@ santansun.com.
Be certain to put “Spiritual Reflections submission” in the subject line. Include your first and last name, title and facility name, address, phone number and website. Spiritual Reflections are printed on a space-available basis, and submission does not guarantee print. The opinions represented in this column are those of the author and not those of the SanTan Sun News.
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
Chandler United Methodist Church
Celebrating more than 100 Years in Chandler. Making and Deploying Disciples Who Put God First, Since 1913.
SUNDAY WORSHIP Traditional Worship .......................... 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL For Children ......................................... 8:40 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS .............................................................................. 9:45 a.m. 480-963-3360 • www.chandlermethodist.org • 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.
WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 12 Noon & 7 p.m. SUNDAY: WORSHIP 10 a.m. 19609 S. McQueen Rd. • Chandler, AZ 480-899-LIFE (5433) • 480-343-0022 www.gospel4life.org