Flexibility is youth—-strong, long and lean muscles and bodies in alignment radiate youth.  It’s not to be found in a bottle, tube or powder…….practice yoga daily for a month and you will find yourself looking younger and feeling younger the following month.  Not only that, but without denying yourself one May night ice cream cone, your clothing will fit better.

All yoga classes at Yoga Matrika are now $10 each for the whole summer.  Want to test my flexibility is youth hypothesis?  Try unlimited yoga for 25-days for $40 and try to prove me wrong.  I’m not, but go ahead and try—it will make you feel better.

See you soon at Yoga Matrika!

Sharon Fennimore Rudyk, MA, E-RYT, R-PYT

Inquiries
Please send an e-mail to Sharon at: sharon@yogamatrika.com if you have any questions, wish to discuss the program or need information before you sign up. You can also call Sharon at 412-855-5692.

Tuition
This 6-month Yoga Studies program (September 10, 2012 through March 2013) is $1,200. Tuition is paid in monthly $100 payments for 12-months starting with the date of registration. Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable and payments must be made regardless of your actual participation in scheduled classes and workshops.

Register Here
This is an intimate program with a maximum of ten participants for each cohort. The program starts in September of each year, but you are encouraged to register and save your space as soon as you decide to make a commitment to the 6-month program of yoga studies. Register by signing a program contract HERE.

6-Month Yoga Studies Program Tuition Includes

Classes

Up to two-classes per week with Sharon Rudyk. Options include:
Tuesday night 5:45 to 7:00 pm
Saturday morning: 9:00 to 10:15 am

Workshops

One two-hour special topics class per month with Sharon Rudyk per month. Each month, Sharon will offer at least two options, one evening and one weekend for a special topics workshop. Topics include: yoga philosophy, energy, pranayama, different yoga traditions, asana alignment and practice techniques and more. All the juicy stuff you don’t have time to explore in drop-in classes! One per month is included in your tuition, but you can always sign-up for more and pay for them a la carte.

Curriculum for the Yoga Studies Program

In 6-months of Yoga Studies with Sharon, you can expect to learn:

• Learn Sanskrit names, alignment principles, cues and variations and modifications for 30-basic asanas
• Read and discuss Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
• Learn about the central channel, movement of prana and the chakra energy centers
• Explore the anatomy of breath and learn basic breath awareness, uijayi pranayama, kapalabhati, nine cleansing breaths and nadi shodhana
• Use energetic awareness and breath in asana practice
• Explore the relationship of the mind, skeletal system, organs and endocrine system in asana
• Learn about Chinese meridian energy theory and Yin Yoga practices
• Learn about therapeutic applications of yoga and yoga for seniors, yoga during pregnancy and to support common student complaints (hips, back, knees and shoulders)
• Learn about Mantras, Chanting and the use of Sanskrit in yoga
• Choose a kriya and mantra meditation to practice for 40-days
• Explore your own practice, limitations and strengths with personalized direction and support
• Learn common obstacles to home practice and examine different ways to overcome obstacles and make your yoga a part of every day
• Learn how to make adjustments and modify asana so you can continue your practice through your life

Tuition Details

The Yoga Studies program requires a contract of agreement for 12-payments of $100 that will be automatically charged to your credit card once per month. You are obligated to maintain these payments regardless of your actual class attendance or participation in workshops and training sessions. There are no refunds for any reason and this program tuition is not transferable.

Yoga Studies for Teacher Training

If you wish to complete this program as a teacher training program, then you must complete, in addition to the Yoga Studies course:

• 18-hours of anatomy training workshops with Mark Chandlee Taylor (Embodied Anatomy for Yoga Instructors I,II, III)
• a minimum of three additional workshops of your choice at Yoga Matrika
• take a total of 50 classes (25 must be with Sharon and 25 can be completed anywhere upon Sharon’s approval). The classes that are included in the Yoga Studies program count towards this total. Any other classes that you wish to take must be paid for separately.
• complete a teaching skills/practicum training weekend (will be scheduled for March 2013)
• complete an online course that includes significant writing assignments that require reading, observing and practice teaching (available in September 2012). This online course will cost $100.
• teach a minimum of one practice class that is open to the public and observed by Sharon
• a minimum of two private sessions with Sharon ($60 each)

We are a Registered Yoga School (RYS®) with Yoga Alliance and graduates of our 200-hour Teacher Training Program are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT®).

Readings Syllabus for Yoga Matrika’s Yoga Studies Course

A suggested reading list will be posted in July 2012 for the September 2012 cohort. Please note that if you are taking this Yoga Studies course for teacher training, you will be required to complete the readings and writing assignments as outlined in the online course.

Enjoy!

Online Course Tuition: $200
45-Minute Skype Session with Sharon Rudyk: $50
CEU Credit Certificate Fee (one time fee): $20

Total cost: $270

In this complete online teacher training course designed for yoga instructors who wish to obtain flexible training for this unique specialty in women’s reproductive health, you will work through six units at your own pace.  Your tuition payment of $200 gives you unlimited access to the online course for up to one year.

1. Orientation
2. Yoga for Optimum Fertility
3. Yoga During Pregnancy
4. Matrika Prenatal: The Art of Teaching Prenatal Yoga
5. Matrika Mom & Baby: The Art of Teaching Postnatal Yoga
6. Practicum and Professionalization

Through significant reading, writing and observation assignments you will engage in a deep way with the material.  Each section has an essay-based quiz and all quizzes and writing assignments must be submitted and reviewed before you receive a certificate of completion for the course.  You will also need to have a phone/SKYPE interview with the course facilitator, Sharon Fennimore Rudyk ($50) before you receive your final certificate.  Questions about the course can be sent, at any time, to Sharon directly via e-mail and will be answered within 48-hours.  Instructions on how to contact Sharon are included in the orientation section of the course.  You can always send Sharon an e-mail to: sharon@yogamatrika.com for a quick response.

This online course discusses anatomy, culture and yoga techniques, modifications and sequencing ideas for fertility, pregnancy and mom and baby classes. Upon completion of the online course and all graduation requirements, you will receive a certificate of completion and 30 Continuing Education credits valid for your professional registration with Yoga Alliance. The costs of this course is $200 and there are additional costs for SKYPE sessions ($50) and/or private sessions ($60 an hour) and professional mentoring and a one time certificate fee ($20) to cover administrative processing.

Pay Online Course Tuition HERE:
Please note that you can pay for the course at any time, but you will get an access code for registration on May 25, 2012. If you pay after May 25th, you will receive an access code within one week of payment. It is recommended that you send Sharon an e-mail: sharon@yogamatrika.com and/or call (412) 855-5692 after you make payment to confirm it has been received.

The course is completed at your own pace and there is no schedule or required times that you must be online. Therefore, you can start at any time and you will have one year from the date you receive your access code to access and complete the online course.

Who will benefit from this online training course?

• Yoga instructors who are in the process of completing their 200-hour teacher training and know that they want to specialize in women’s health
• Experienced yoga instructors that are looking to better serve their female students.  Over 80% of American yoga practitioners are female!
• Doulas, massage therapists and other alternative health providers who regularly support women through fertility, pregnancy and the postpartum period

This course assumes familiarity with the basic skills required to plan a yoga class and major philosophical, ethical and other principles of yoga that are covered in a 200-hour program.  If you do not have a personal practice or are not a yoga instructor, this course does not include enough introductory information to be of value to you.

Can I be an R-PYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher) after taking this online course?

No.  This online course is only one component of the Matrika Prenatal Course that provides 100-hours of instruction in this speciality and meets all of the requirements of Yoga Alliance (including significant contact hours!) to register as an R-PYT with Yoga Alliance.  If you are interested in this certification in this specialty, please send an e-mail to Sharon: sharon@yogamatrika.com.

There are five required training weekends in Pittsburgh that complement this online course and provide the full training required to register with Yoga Alliance as an R-PYT.  Please note that you MUST be a registered yoga teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance BEFORE you can register with this specialty.  Therefore, it is important that you are either on the path to completing a 200-hour teacher training program or have completed a 200-hour teacher training program that is registered with Yoga Alliance before considering this program for certification purposes.

The required training weekends are compatible with the training weekends required for Yoga Matrika’s 200-hour teacher training program, so you can do both at the same time.  If you would like to host a Matrika Prenatal Training at your studio, hospital or school,  please know that Sharon loves to travel!  Call Sharon to discuss a program offered at your location (412) 855-5692.

For 2012-2013, the scheduled training weekends in Pittsburgh are as follows:

1. Optimum Fertility Weekend: September 28-September 30 (Friday evening, Sat. & Sun.)
2. Prenatal Yoga Weekend: November 3-November 4 (Saturday & Sunday)
3. Mom & Baby Yoga Weekend: January 18-January 20 (Friday evening, Sat. & Sun.)
4. The Matrika: Energetic Anatomy of Fertility, Pregnancy and Motherhood: April 13-April 14 (Sat. & Sun.)
5. Teaching Practicum: June 1-June 2 (Sat. & Sun.)

 COMPLETED the ONLINE COURSE? 

Congratulations!  There is information on how to obtain your CEU credit certificate in the orientation section of the course, but if you no longer have access to the course or want a quick reference, here is how to get your certificate:

30 CEU credits: How to Obtain Your CEU credit Certificate

You can earn 30 CEU credits by taking this online course (the Practicum section is not required for CEU credits) and by scheduling a minimum of one individual Skype sessions with Sharon Rudyk. After you have finished the entire online course, please e-mail Sharon to arrange for your SKYPE session(s): sharon@yogamatrika.com. After the session, you should send a letter with the following information:

1. Your name, as you wish for it to appear on your certificate

2. The address you wish the certificate to be mailed to

3. The e-mail address you wish for your certificate PDF to be sent to 4. A brief statement regarding your professional use of the course material

Please include a $20 certificate fee. Checks should be made out to: YOGA MATRIKA. Your certificate will be mailed to you within 14-days of the receipt of your letter and payment. Send your letter and payment to:

Sharon Rudyk Principal, Yoga Matrika 1406 S. Negley Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Please note that ONLY certified instructors can claim that they are teaching Matrika Prenatal or Matrika Mom & Baby classes. If you have taken this course for professional development and CEU credits, it is certainly appropriate for you to indicate that you have completed this course and invested in further training in this specialty area. You will have a graduation certificate indicating that you completed the program. You will not be able to register with Yoga Alliance as an R-PYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher).

• Please note that ONLINE REGISTRATION is required.

If classes do not meet minimum enrollment during the summer, they are likely to be cancelled.  Please make sure we know of your intention to attend class.  There is no penalty if you sign-up online and then do not make it to class.

• The summer schedule will change from week to week depending on instructor availability and enrollments.  Please make sure that you check the online schedule weekly for any changes.  Your instructors need vacation time too!

Summer Schedule 2012 June through August
Monday
6:00pm Matrika Flow w/Heather Open Level
7:30 pm Yoga Booty Ballet w/Aleta Open Level

Tuesday
5:45 pm Matrika Flow Plus w/Sharon Open Level
7:30 pm Yoga Dance w/Alexis Open Level

Wednesday
10:45 am Mom & Baby Yoga w/Rachel Gentle
6:00 pm Prenatal Yoga w/April Gentle
7:30 pm Matrika Flow w/Marilyn Open Level

Thursday
10:00 am Yoga I w/Heather Beginner/Open
5:30 pm Yoga for Balance w/Alexis Gentle/Open

Friday
10:00 am Prenatal Yoga w/April Gentle

Saturday
9:00 am Matrika Flow w/Marilyn Open Level
10:30 am Calm Flow w/Sharon Open Level

The set is just under $100, but if you really can’t make it to prenatal yoga classes and must practice at home, then this is really invaluable information that you can have and use through your whole pregnancy.  Most women who practice yoga regularly during pregnancy will tell you that they just don’t know how they would have gotten through without it.

My prenatal yoga classes in Pittsburgh are filled with mostly first time moms because, as most of us mammas with more than one child know, it’s almost impossible to be a working mom and find the time to take a yoga class.  Weekday evening?  Well, there’s a little one in our care who needs us for their sleepy-time routine to go “just right.”  Weekend morning?  That’s our only chance to rest and when our partners have the time to make a special breakfast treat or take little one to the park so we can have a long bath or read a few pages of a book.  Don’t miss out on yoga during your pregnancy just because you can’t make it to a class regularly!  Read more and buy here.

Perhaps you live in an area where you can’t find a high quality prenatal yoga class or maybe your work situation, religion or other social factors make it impossible for you to take a yoga class.  Maybe you can’t afford the high cost of yoga classes in your area or find transportation to the closest class.  Whatever your reason for needing a resource for home practice during pregnancy, we recommend giving this series a try.

If you are considering online resources for comfort during pregnancy, you may also want to check-out this pregnancy massage program.  It includes self-massage and also very easy to learn techniques for your partner to use to help you relax and feel more comfortable in your body.  The gentle touch and massage helps your partner stay connected with you and with your baby during pregnancy.  Enjoy!

We recommend this beginner meditation course.  There is a 60-day 100% money-back guarantee.

This is not a Yoga Matrika product, but we know that there are a lot of people in our community who can’t come and take a class, but really want to learn how to meditate or need some support for their daily home practice.

Please note that our teacher training program from 2011-2012 is complete and we are not offering community classes at this time. We are offering incredible deals on memberships ($30 monthly for 4-classes and $50 monthly for 8-classes). If paying for classes is your only obstacle, please call Sharon to discuss and make a personalized payment plan (412) 855-5692. We hope to offer Community Classes again in the spring of 2013 when the next cohort of trainees is ready to graduate!

Cost: $5 or a class from your existing package

Community yoga classes are karma classes taught by Matrika Teachers in Training. We accept cash payments in any amount, but suggest a minimum payment of $5. If you have an existing Yoga Matrika class package, your package will be charged for the class and you should not make an additional payment. All instructors are supervised by Sharon Rudyk. We appreciate constructive feedback and you should e-mail feedback to Sharon directly at: sharon@yogamatrika.com

Yoga is for everyone and these community classes give us the opportunity to offer very low cost yoga classes while also giving new instructors the opportunity to find their teaching voice and gain valuable experience.

Everyone is welcome! These all levels classes are great for both beginners and experienced students. Due to space limitations, we recommend that all students enroll in classes online. You do not need a class package to enroll in these community classes. Online enrollment can be accomplished straight from the class schedule.

Read more on how regular meditation can impact your genetic expression.

Read here on basic instructions for mindfulness meditation.

Research indicates that the benefits of mindful breathing, gentle physical movements and a variety of techniques including visualization and meditation are powerful tools for health and healing. From reversing heart disease to changing the expression of your genes, a regular meditation practice has a significant impact on your quality of life.