Paul Jerard
Certified Master Yoga Teacher

My first taste of Yoga was over 40 years ago, at the age of 7, in a martial arts school setting. I have continued to study martial arts until this day and I have four teaching certificates in four different martial arts. Now I teach both Martial Arts and Yoga.

I began to seriously practice Yoga (under Laura Foster) over twenty years ago due to martial arts competition related injuries.

Laura was a skilled & knowledgeable teacher of Restorative Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Laya Yoga. After training with her for 3 years, she certified me as a teacher in 1987.

I became certified as a Master Teacher (Guru) on September 15, 1995, after teaching over 5,000 hours under her wing. Shortly afterward, Laura retired at age 90.

Since that time, I started organizing Yoga Teacher Training camps. As time went on, we began getting requests from everywhere in the U.S. and Canada for a comprehensive Yoga Teacher Training correspondence course. Much to my surprise, many of the requests came from teachers who were not certified. Many of them had been teaching for decades without documentation. There are Master Yoga teachers in India, without credentials.

The seeds of this course came from the need to encourage professional Yoga Teacher education, business skills, and credentials. Since that time this program has blossomed worldwide.

I have taught many students and many teachers. Many ashrams have opened their doors to me for Yoga knowledge and business / marketing techniques. Some of my competitors have sought me out, in order to stay in business. I will help anyone who has a need, as long as I have the time.

Why would I help my competitors develop strong customer bases and business skills? Speaking as a Yoga teacher and ashram owner, the real competition is television, fast food, and inactivity. The demand for our services is greater than any of us.

• In the U.S., inactivity is quietly creeping up on a heavier and aging population, at an alarming rate. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, only 30% of the U.S. adult population gets some kind of exercise.
  
  
• Nearly 40% of the U.S. adults never exercise. The need for caring Yoga teachers has never been greater. These adults end up on "exercise prescriptions," since the health care industry is inundated with cases of obesity.
  
  
• Lastly, you may already know from our home page or Ebrochure that our Yoga Teacher course syllabus is complete, but here's a list of what you won't get from me.
  
  
  1. Religious Overtones: I have no reason to try to convert you to my religion. Keep your identity intact and be who you are.
     
     
  2. Draconian Rules: There's no need for it. You don't have to be indoctrinated or change your lifestyle to be a Yoga teacher. As a Yoga teacher, you should be on a balanced diet and practice good health habits.
     
     
  3. Out-of-Sight Prices: This course is comprehensive and reasonable. Many have said - we are far too reasonable.
     
     
  4. Detachment: We answer all of our Email messages in 24 hours or less. Some Master Yoga Teachers convey a feeling of superiority, even when you have daily direct face-to-face contact. You have a guarantee from us that your questions will be answered.

Sincerely,

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has been studying Yoga since 1963. He has been a certified Yoga teacher since 1987 and has been training Yoga students and Yoga teachers ever since. Paul became a Master Yoga teacher in 1995 after teaching Yoga for 5,000 hours. Paul is a member of Yoga Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists. He is a published author of courses, articles, and e-books concerning Yoga. Paul is an authorized and internationally recognized trainer of Yoga teachers.