Breaking Barriers Yoga
Scholarship Program
Breaking Barriers Yoga Inc. provides yoga, meditation and mindfulness training to the underserved in our Broome County and surrounding areas. We believe the physical, mental and emotional benefits of yoga should be available to all, regardless of financial circumstances, gender, age, background and challenges. As a non-profit, we raise funds and receive donations that enable us to provide yoga in both a studio setting and as outreach yoga and mindfulness training to public schools, veterans, etc. in and around Broome County, NY.
Our scholarships are about finding the bright sparks within our communities that have an existing and/or have a strong intent on humanitarian work. Yoga practitioners who have a deeply ingrained calling for service and those who are passionate about helping others. If you have a regular yoga practice, keen on using yoga in relation to community support and believe that you have the maturity to be a pillar of support read on.
For the right candidate/s, we are here to nurture you; so you as a leader, can nurture your community through yoga!
Apply Today!
Available Scholarship
Scholarship applications are currently open for the following Teacher Training programs:
200 RYT – September 2021
WHO CAN APPLY
This is a scholarship based on good merit. It is open to individuals that have a regular yoga practice, ready to take the next step into teaching yoga and have a strong inclination towards social work.
The intention of this scholarship is to put forth passionate and experienced yoga practitioner/s into a role of teaching and leadership. It is not open to practitioners & yoga teachers who have previously completed one or more teacher training courses.
Candidates must display:
- (a) existing work experience in humanitarian / social service work or
- (b) have a strong intention to contribute within these fields
- (c) a willingness to fulfill pro-bono teaching commitments after completion of the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training
- (d) a willingness to fulfill all Post-Training commitments.
FULL TRAINING COURSE SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship includes:
- Course admission for the full teacher training course.
- 200 hour yoga teaching certificate upon successful completion of the course.
Additional Expenses Not Covered
- This scholarship grant does not cover accommodations, meals or daily expenses.
- This scholarship does not cover teacher training required reading materials.
Application / Pre-Training
Applicants are to submit his or her application truthfully.
A Partnership with Breaking Barriers Yoga 501c3 will be discussed with and in consent with the Applicant’s Post Training Teaching Commitments at their agreed upon partner institution.
During Training
Full course attendance is a requirement for the teacher training certification. Candidates need to ensure their full availability for the duration of the yoga teacher training.
Successful candidate attending the course is subject to the same certification requirements and commitments of his / her fellow participants in the yoga teacher training program.
End of training: A one-on-one sit down with the candidate will be scheduled to discuss and create an action plan for the Post Training Commitments. Breaking Barriers Yoga will provide guidelines and measures on how to work with specific groups as well as discussing suitable yoga sequences based on the targeted population.
Post Training Commitments
- teach a minimum of 200 hours of free yoga classes at a chosen Breaking Barriers Yoga outreach location(s). Classes are to be taught at regular intervals and with a pre-determined timeframe. This is approximately a 3-6 month commitment (depending if classes are lead bi-weekly or weekly).
- keep a record and journal entry of each yoga session taught including the development of your yoga sequences as you go along.
- submit a 1000 written word reflection paper at the completion of your “Give Back” cycle.
Post Training Support
Breaking Barriers Yoga will provide continual support for the candidate. Mentoring is available and will be discussed individually.
Partner Institutions
Breaking Barriers Yoga will work with a suitable Outreach Partner Institution that are non-profit organizations, institutions or charities with individuals under their care that do not have access to an existing yoga, mindfulness or wellness program and who would benefit from this addition. Some examples of Partner Institutions are (but not limited to):
- Inner City Elementary Schools
- Juvenile centers
- Children’s home / orphanage
- senior homes
- half-way houses
- Girls or Boys homes
- Special needs
- Prisons/Jails
- At Risk Youth
In selecting an Outreach Partner Institution, the candidate should consider the following:
- is there a demographic or age group you are interested in working with?
- is the Outreach Partner Institution in your local community?
- do you have easy travel access to and from the Institution?
- are you comfortable working with selected Partner Institution?
A written consent and agreement must be made between Breaking Barriers Yoga and the Outreach Partner Institution in that the candidate will provide the outlined number of free classes and submitted as part of the scholarship application.
Corporate Sponsorship / Nomination
If you are a Corporate / Social Enterprise / Charity / Individual that would like to sponsor a successful candidate’s expenses (such as accommodations and reading materials) or are a Partner Institute that would like to nominate a particular candidate in exchange for teaching commitments please contact us here.
Application Process
Interested candidates are to fill out the application form on this page. This includes the following document submissions:
- written agreement with the Outreach Partner Institution
- two references of existing humanitarian work and/or character references
- qualifications in related fields (if any) – i.e. social worker, psychologist, therapist, teacher, coach, counselor etc.
Candidates will be contacted to either provide additional information or to arrange for a zoom call.
The successful candidate(s) will receive a confirmation email on their scholarship award and will be formally enrolled into the training program. Scholarships are awarded at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the yoga teacher training to allow for sufficient time to make your necessary arrangements and travel plans.
Benefits
Aside from the obvious benefits of getting a scholarship, the post-training teaching commitment allows the candidate to start teaching yoga soon after the completion of their yoga teacher training program. This is sometimes not the case and much gets forgotten after a course. The successful candidate will:
- give back to the community – karma yoga
- have access to feedback and mentorship
- develop familiarity and ease teaching yoga
- get to test out and modify their yoga sequences in relation to a particular group over an extended period – An observation and refinement process highly beneficial in learning to become a good yoga teacher
- get a written feedback from the Outreach Partner Institution
- gain valuable teaching experience that will aid in continued growth as a community leader
Need help or want more information? Speak to us directly at 607-595-0659 or email us at INFO@YOGABODYSHOP.COM
I understand that if I am chosen to receive a scholarship, that upon completion of the program, I agree to volunteer 200 hours of my time to teach yoga for Breaking Barriers Yoga (outreach) to support their mission.
Scholarship Application
Breaking Barriers Yoga
765 Harry L. Drive
Johnson City, NY 13790
Breaking Barriers Yoga ©2019