The Purna Yoga Certificate Level
The College of Purna Yoga Certificate Program Information Packet (PDF) The Purna Yoga Certificate LevelEmbody the Knowledge
At the Purna Yoga Certificate Level you learn to truly embody Purna Yoga, becoming a holder of its flame. Studying directly with world-renowned yoga masters and Purna Yoga founders Aadil Palkhivala and Mirra, you receive the gift of working with two teachers fervently dedicated to your progress and growth towards your Soul. The Certificate Level is our most rigorous program, holding you to the highest standards of excellence in your personal practice, your yoga teaching and your life. This program delves deeply into Purna Yoga meditation, asana and pranayama, teaching methodology, therapeutics, applied philosophy, business, ethics, nutrition, and energetics. To fulfill the program’s intention and embody Purna Yoga, you must learn to live and teach from your inner wisdom—therefore, the greatest attention is placed on the development of your personal integrity, professionalism, and inner connection with light and truth. The program consists of four intensives (three 8-day courses at Yoga Centers and one 11-day retreat in Hawaii), as well as written homework, meditation, asana and pranayama practice, and apprenticing with Aadil. You start at any time and move through the required elements at your own pace, completing the program in 12-19 months. Graduates of this program become Certified Purna Yoga Instructors, and teach in yoga worldwide. They are eligible to teach Purna Yoga as a part of a travel business, and are eligible to teach their own Purna Yoga Teacher Training courses.
DatesThis course in non-sequential; you may start any time. You must complete one Hawaii retreat and three Yoga Centers retreats within 12-19 months. Begin with one of the following courses:
Required ElementsIn 12-19 months you must complete the following:
The Certificate Program Planning Worksheet helps you plan when you will complete your required elements.
Cost$ 5,200 plus the cost of the Hawaii Retreat Tuition does not include lodging, food, books and materials, or travel expenses, nor the Hawaii Retreat, which is paid directly to the Hawaii Retreat registrar. The cost of this retreat does include most meals. Please see the Certificate Program Planning Worksheet for further information on the Payment Schedule. Payment Schedule: If you will begin the program with a retreat at Yoga Centers: Three months before your first course begins, you apply to the course by sending in the following:
One month before each course begins, you pay your tuition payment:
If you will begin the program with the Purna Yoga Retreat in Hawaii: At least Three months before your first course begins, you apply to the course by sending in the following:
NOTICE: The Hawaii Retreat fills fast! We try to reserve a certain number of spaces for Certificate Program students, but this is difficult to do without an accurate count of the number who will be attending the retreat each year. It is recommended that you submit your registration (and $100 deposit) to the Hawaii course IMMEDIATELY upon having made the decision to start your Certificate Program with that course. If this will be your first course in the Certificate Program, DO NOT wait for your college application to be processed before you register. One month before each course begins, you pay your tuition payment:
PrerequisitesApplicants must be Registered Yoga Teachers at the 500-hour Level with Yoga Alliance (be an “RYT-500”) and must demonstrate a deep understanding of the Purna Yoga approach to practicing and teaching yoga. If your 500-hour level certification is not in Purna Yoga, you must document all your previous training in Purna Yoga. Your Application will be reviewed on an individual basis by Aadil Palkhivala and Mirra. A personal phone interview may also be requested.
How to ApplyPlease download the Application and complete it in full. You may also call us at Yoga Centers and we will gladly mail an Application to you. Mail your completed application, along with your $100 registration fee to:
Applications are due three months before the start of your first course. Within four weeks of receiving your Application we will contact you to confirm your enrollment or to schedule an interview. The Purna Yoga Certificate Level Application
Book ListHere are the required textbooks for the 200-hour course. Please refer to website for prices and ordering information: Fire of Love, For Students of Life, for Teachers of Yoga , by Aadil Palkhivala Teaching Purna Yoga: The Certificate Manual, by Aadil Palkhivala (provided to students by Yoga Centers) Trail Guide to the Body, 3rd Edition, by Andrew Biel Trail Guide to the Body, Student Handbook (tentative) Plus four-five more titles to be determined
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start? After having applied and been accepted, you will first need to determine your schedule. Use the Planning Worksheet to determine your course schedule. Decide with which course you will start the program. You may start in Jan, April, July or September. You will then have 12-19 months to complete the required elements. Twelve months is the shortest duration to complete the program, and in 19 months, you will have seven opportunities to take the four intensive courses. Why is there no set start date and end date for this program? The Purna Yoga Certificate Program in an individual pursuit. The course is designed for students to move through the elements at a pace that relates to their life and abilities. While you will benefit greatly from working with your classmates, this program is not meant to be a group process. It is your unique process of coming to hold the force and light that is Purna Yoga. Your teachers, Mirra and Aadil, are geniuses at working with the energy of the entire class and delivering to each student exactly what they need in that session.
What if I cannot complete the required elements in 19 months? If you are not able to complete the program in the maximum time allowed, there are options to support you in continuing towards certification. You may retake elements that were completed outside of the 19 month limit, or you may be granted an extension. In this event, an individual completion plan will be created.
What certificate will I receive? With your successful completion of all required elements, you will be awarded the Certificate to Teach Purna Yoga, Levels 1-3, certified with over 2,000 hours of training, personal practice and apprenticeships. You will become a Certified Purna Yoga Instructor. Certificates will be valid for an initial three-year period, and are renewed by completing 45 hours of Purna Yoga teacher training within the first three years of certification. Thereafter, certificates are renewed every two years by completing 45 hours of Purna Yoga teacher training.
When will I receive my certificate? Once you have completed all of the required elements, you submit your request to receive Purna Yoga Certification. Your request will be reviewed by Mirra and Aadil and they will award your certificate to. Completion of the required elements is no guarantee of certification. Since this course is about embodying the knowledge, we cannot guarantee that each student will reach the point of holding enough of the light at the same point in their training. We do feel confident, however, that most students will progress through the required elements and complete them being awarded certification. In event a student has completed the elements, but is not awarded certification, an individual plan will be put in place, and the student may choose to continue to progress towards certification. Who will be my instructor? You will work directly with Mirra and Aadil, the founders of Purna Yoga, directors of the College of Purna Yoga and the owners of Yoga Centers. On occasion, Mirra and Aadil may bring in a guest teacher to supplement the information that will be provided. How many people will be in class? We require a minimum of 7 students and accept a maximum of 30 students.
How much homework will I have? You will have ongoing yoga and meditation practice, four books to read and respond to, anatomy study, philosophy study, therapeutics study, and any other homework that Mirra and Aadil deem necessary. Expect to spend 2 hours a day on your yoga practice and homework.
How much should I expect to pay for books and materials? Your books should cost around $200. You can order them from the Yoga Centers Online Store, or find them at other book resellers.
I am coming from out-of-town. Where can I stay? We will provide you with a list of local recommended accommodations, ranging from rooms in houses, to hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as transportation options. Many students find that they prefer to set up carpools and shared lodgings with their classmates while they are here. We regret that, due to privacy concerns, we are not able to share directory information with students until the course has begun.
After I graduate, where will I be able to teach? Upon completion, you will be among the most highly-trained yoga teachers in the world. You will be able to teach Purna Yoga at a variety of yoga venues, such as studios, gyms, park departments, and schools, as well as in private and therapeutic settings. You will also be eligible to pursue teaching Purna Yoga worldwide, as a part of our referral program, teaching a 3-day workshop, a 5-day workshop, or a 6-day teacher training. You will also be eligible to teach the 200-hour Teacher Training program as part of our Affiliate School Program.
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