Yoga As Medicine (YAM) Level 1

 Yoga As Medicine Level 1 provides an overview of the art, science and practice of yoga therapy. In this introductory 5-day, 30 hour seminar, Dr. Timothy outlines the scientific and philosophical background for each element of SNAPS (Structural, Nervous System and Breath, Ayurveda, Psychology and Spirituality). and show how these elements are used in the assessment and design of  personalized yoga practices. The integral part of this seminar is small group yoga therapy case work, and detailed case discussions, supervised by Timothy and his assistants. Here attendees employ SNAPS both in comprehensively evaluating patients and in tailoring therapeutic routines. Above is a photo taken during a YAM Seminar at TriYoga in London, England.

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YAM Weekend-Only Option

Some Yoga As Medicine Seminars include a weekend-only option. Though I encourage anyone who can to take the 5-day YAM training — which includes the group case work and my detailed review of cases — I realize not everyone can. The weekend option gives you an introduction to my philosophy of yoga therapy, my take on structure (what I call "holistic yoga anatomy"), two short and two longer practices, and an introduction to incorporating Ayurvedic principles into yoga therapy. Even a basic understanding of India's ancient medical system can deepen your personal yoga practice and, if you teach, help you better tailor practices for your students.

During the Sunday of the YAM workshops with the weekend option, I do a sample yoga therapy case on one of the workshop participants, in which I perform a detailed holistic assessment and begin to develop a personalized yoga practice for them. For those staying for the full five days, I bring that student back up on 4th day, when I teach them the practice I've developed for them, and as often the case in yoga therapy, see how I need to modify what I've come up with once I watch the student attempt the practice. A big problem with canned sequences based on the student's medical condition (found in yoga magazines and books as well as all scientific studies of therapeutic yoga), is that they omit this crucial feedback loop, in which you refine the practice — and sometimes find you need to scrap it entirely! Only when you tailor the practice to each individual can you be sure that your are giving them a yoga therapy practice that will truly serve them.

The Good Doctor

Yoga International  profiled my therapy work and the 5-day Yoga As Medicine seminars I teach around the world. The article includes a sidebar discussion on how I teach students to conduct comprehensive assessments of yoga therapy "patients" in order to plan treatment approaches, using the SNAPS protocol, described above.

Above and Below: Yoga As Medicine attendees evaluating their "patient" during group yoga therapy work at a recent 5-day Seminar, held at Yoga on the Hill in Kittery, Maine.

Dr. Timothy McCall's
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Teaching Schedule

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Download a PDF of the Complete 2018 Schedule

2018

Yoga As Medicine, Level 2: Yoga Therapy for the Nervous System
All That Matters
South Kingston, RI
May 5-9

Seeing and Understanding Bodies
Kripalu Center
Stockbridge, MA
May 20-25**

Keynote and Workshop 
The International Association of Yoga Therapists
SYTAR Conference
Reston, VA 
June 14-17

Seeing and Understanding Bodies
Omega Institute
Rhinebeck, NY
September 10-14**

Yoga As Medicine, Level 1
Kripalu Center 
Stockbridge, MA
October 7-12***

Yoga As Medicine, Level 1
National Yoga Academy
Virginia Beach, VA
November 10-14

Yoga As Medicine, Level 1
Breathe Together Yoga
Los Gatos, CA
October 27-31*

Reimagining Yoga Anatomy 
Namaste Yoga
Oakland, CA 
November 3-4

Yoga As Medicine, Level 1
The Yogi Underground
Falls Church, VA
December 8-12*

 
2019

Australia/New Zealand tour; YAM 2: Ayurveda, Yoga and Yoga Therapy
Details TBA
 

*Full 5-day or weekend-only option

**Special Guest Teacher: Anatomy Instructor and MFR Therapist, Ginny Jurken, PT, C-IAYT

*** Just before IAYT's SYR Conference, Kripalu October15-17

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For more information on Yoga As Medicine Seminars and Teacher Trainings or to sign up, please follow the hyperlinks above to the hosting studio or retreat center.

If you'd be interested in hosting
a Yoga As Medicine Seminar,
please contact us at YogaAsMedicine@gmail.com