It Was Summertime Fun At YBD!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Friday, June 26th may have been a cool rainy night but that didn’t stop several Yoga by Degrees Platinum Members from seeking out a fun hot night on the beach!  We celebrated our valued Platinum Members with an exclusive, free beach themed yoga party for Members and their guests at YBD Elmhurst.  There were festive decorations, food, drinks and goody bags. (Each one had a YBD T-shirt in it. ) Attendees took part in one or both of Heather’s two fun filled yoga classes, which challenged and motivated students to find their edges, accept them and have fun no matter what! If you missed this Platinum Member Appreciation event, no worries, there is sure to be a another one around the corner…so stay tuned and be sure to join our community by becoming a Platinum Member, if you haven’t yet, because you belong at YBD!

Implementing Yoga In Physical Education 3-Day Teacher Training

Implementing Yoga in Physical Education

Developed by Jennifer Thiede and Teresa Lake

Hosted by Yoga By Degrees Elmhurst

This program is designed to teach physical education teachers how to add a yoga program to their curriculum.  During this 20 hour workshop, you will learn how to confidently lead and teach a multi-level traditional yoga class modified to suit physical education curriculum, needs, environment, and standards.  Yoga classes offered in Physical Education can give students the tools they need to build confidence and self esteem, relieve stress and anxiety, and practice the 5 health related fitness components throughout their lives.

The training includes:

• How to teach and give modifications of basic postures
• Partner and group poses
• Breathing exercises
• Lesson planning tools
• Understanding the benefits of yoga
• Learning different styles of yoga
• Alignment strategies
• Examples of yoga as a course/unit curriculum in a high school physical education program

Who should attend?

• Physical Education and Health Education Teachers
• Yoga instructors wishing to offer a yoga program for teens
• School counselors and social workers
• School teachers wanting to incorporate yoga in their classes

Where?

Yoga By Degrees

1042 S. York St.

Elmhurst, IL 60126

When?

• Wednesday 11/14 5:30-9:30
• Saturday 11/17 8-6
• Monday 11/19 5:30-9:30
• 2 home practice hours

Pricing:

$450 Individual

$400 for a group of two or more

Contact Information:

Jennifer@yogabydegrees.net

Details to Know:

Space is limited! Payment can be in the forms of cash, check, or pay with credit card at Yoga By Degrees or over the phone 630-690-9642. Once this is received, your spot will be held and you will receive confirmation.

Did you know… Many of our attendees have been able to get financial support from their districts!

Upon completion of the 20 hour workshop, you will receive a certificate of participation.  CPDUs may be available through your employer or credentialing organization.  As each credentialing organization has their own requirements, you should confirm with them that your training hours will apply toward your degree or continuing education requirements.  Application for accreditation from these organizations is your responsibility.  

To Enroll:

1. Email completed questions from registration form (see below) to: Jennifer@yogabydegrees.net
2. Send payment, if paying by check, to: Yoga by Degrees, Attn: Jennifer Thiede – 1042 S. York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126
3. Please be sure to write: “Implementing Yoga For Physical Education”, the session start date and student(s) name(s) in the memo section of the check.

If you prefer to pay with a credit card or cash, please specify that when you email your registration and Jennifer will call you to make payment arrangements.

Pricing information is located at the bottom of this page.  Space is limited! The last day to register is one week prior to the start date of the session you are attending. (two weeks prior to get the early bird discount!) and no refunds will be given one week or less prior to the start date of your session.  Once your registration and payment is received, your spot will be held and you will receive email confirmation.

Questions? Contact Jennifer@yogabydegrees.net  or call (847)722-3429

Registration Form: Implementing Yoga In Physical Education – A 3- Day Training

Name: _________________________________________________

Training date attending:___________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

City: ______________________State: ______Zip:___________

School/Organization/Grade you teach: ______________________/_________________________

Phone: _________-_________-___________________

E-Mail:____________________________________________

Please √ if Yoga Experience: Yes: ___________ No: ____________

Please √ your gender: Female: __________ Male: ______________

Interested in teaching as a full or part time career or looking to deepen your overall knowledge about yoga? Click Here to learn about YBD’s 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification Program.

Meet Shaun, Teacher of the Month

Shaun in Ardha Chandrasana, Half Moon Pose

This month we celebrate Shaun as our Teacher of the Month. Shaun has been loyal to Yoga by Degrees as a student first, then a teacher trainee, and now an amazing teacher. His gentle but strong energy will disarm your stress and ground you throughout class. Also try to guess where he is from by his accent… 🙂

He subs at every opportunity but check out his permanent classes on the schedule:

6am YBD2 95 on Mondays in Western Springs

6am YBD2 95 on Fridays in Downers Grove

4pm YBD2 105 on Saturdays in Wheaton

2pm YBD2 105 on Sundays in Wheaton

4pm YBD2 95 on Sundays in Wheaton

When and how did you come to yoga?

Some time in 2010, my wife encouraged me to join her at a Bikram class. She thought I would love the sweat.

She was right. But even though I attended Bikram classes and YBD sculpt (and only sculpt) for close to 4 years,

I didn’t know anything about yoga (there’s 8 limbs?) until I started my teacher training in 2014. Once I began

to understand yoga’s breadth and depth, I was in the tank.

Why did you start teaching yoga?

I would come to YBD sculpt classes with my daughters, and after one of our instructors announced upcoming

training, they suggested I consider it. Ultimately, I chose to proceed for three reasons: teaching fit similar

things I had done in my past that I enjoyed, I was curious to learn more about yoga and as a big fan of YBD, I

saw it as an opportunity to be more integrated into it’s community. In a weird twist of fate, I had planned to

do sculpt training, but it wasn’t available at the time, so I jumped into the 200 HR program. That experience

has been transformative for me. Shit happens for a reason.

What is your favorite pose?

The next one.

Who inspires your teaching?

While my hope is to be a helpful guide to all that come to their mats, I am particularly inspired to serve those

folks who are new to yoga.

Tips for beginners…

I would offer three tips:

Do your thing and don’t worry about anyone else.

If you’ve lived by the no pain, no gain mindset, let it go.

It’s always a good time for a child’s pose.

What’s your favorite quote?

“To make the most of every minute, to fully embrace every second of every day, we have to accept we

only have a limited number of minutes and seconds left.”

June Pose of the Month

Summer is finally here in full swing and it feels glorious!  How incredible to feel the warmth of the sun on our skin!  It is with gratitude and a full heart we welcome summer with Wheel Pose.

Lie on your back (supine) on the floor. Bend your knees and place the feet hip width apart, close to the hips. Bend your elbows and place your hands next to the head on the floor, palms open and wide, fingers pointing towards the shoulders.

• Press the shoulders down in the floor, feel how that opens and even lifts the chest somewhat, take the tailbone in. Press the inner feet down.
• On an inhalation lift the hips to the ceiling. Stay here for a breath or two
• Inhale and on an exhalation pull the feet in towards yourself, ground the shoulders actively down into the floor to ground your shoulder blades on the back and take the armpits in and press into your hands to lift your body up, onto the crown of the head or straight away up to the ceiling straightening your arms as much as possible.
• Once up there, inner thighs roll in, tailbone lengthens, upper arms rotate outwards, upper back curls ad you can let your head hang or lift your head a bit to look down to the floor.
• To come out, exhale and lower yourself down to the floor as you look up to the ceiling, chin to chest.
• Hold the pose anywhere fro 5-10 breaths and possibly repeat them
• Feel free to try a variation by lifting a leg or to open the shoulders a bit more go up against the wall and place blocks under you palms

• ---

  Benefits of this Pose

• • Strengthens your arms, wrists, upper back, spine and thighs
  • Opens the shoulders, chest/lungs, groins, front of the thighs
  • Increases your energy and counteracts depression
  • therapeutic for back pain, depression, low energy, asthma, osteoporosis, infertility
  • Open your heart to the possibilities