The Urban Zen Foundation (founded by Donna Karan, www.urbanzen.org) creates, connects, and collaborates to raise awareness and inspire change in the areas of well-being, preserving cultures, and empowering children.
The Well-Being Initiative of the Urban Zen Foundation is committed to changing the current healthcare paradigm to include integrative therapies and promote patient advocacy. Our vision is a healthcare system where the patient is treated, not just the disease… a system where eastern healing techniques, yoga therapy, aromatherapy, and nutrition are used in combination with western medicine in a holistic approach to patient care.
As part of the Well-Being Initiative, the Urban Zen Foundation has launched two new programs in 2009:
The Urban Zen Yoga Teacher Training Program is an in-depth 200-hour yoga teacher training program that can be completed on its own or taken as a suggested pre-requisite for the Urban Zen Integrative Therapist program. This program begins March 13, 2009, in New York City, and will run through September 2009, one weekend a month, with a break in July.
The Urban Zen Integrative Therapist (UZIT) Program is a 500-hour advanced program focused on integrating multiple therapies into patient care. The current year-long program started in NYC in January 2009 and the next training will start in January 2010. In addition, in 2010, the UZIT program will expand to multiple regional locations, including California, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, etc….
URBAN ZEN YOGA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM, 200-Hr RYT
The 6-month Urban Zen Teacher Training Program is designed to set a foundation of inquiry that will serve as a basis for a lifetime of yoga practice and teaching. This foundation is crucial, as it will set the student on a directed course of study into the mysterious unfolding and expression of yoga as a moment-by-moment, lifelong practice. The goal is to connect the student with their individual yoga practice, rather than to impose a dogmatic system.
The program curriculum includes focus on personal practice in asana, pranayama, and meditation; teaching methodologies, sequencing, and effective manual adjustments; anatomy and physiology; yoga history and philosophy; basic Sanskrit and chanting; student teaching and evaluation; and plenty of discussion and interaction. Faculty includes Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Rosen, Richard Freeman, Susan Orem (Lippy), Jamie Naughright, and Manorama.
The program is geared toward students with a minimum of 2 years dedicated yoga practice. The program is registered with Yoga Alliance. Successful completion of the program will qualify the graduate to register with Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) level.
The program will run from March to September 2009 (one weekend a month for six months with a break in July) in NYC. Tuition is $5,000.
URBAN ZEN INTEGRATIVE THERAPIST PROGRAM, 500-Hr RYT
The 12-month Urban Zen Integrative Therapist (UZIT) Program is a groundbreaking, advanced program that includes training in yoga therapy, aromatherapy, reiki, nutrition, and contemplative end-of-life care. The program will provide broad knowledge and expertise to practitioners, preparing them to use these integrative therapies in a variety of healthcare settings, including private practice.
The training will focus on addressing the key patient symptoms of PANIC – Pain, Anxiety, Nausea, Insomnia, and Constipation – and fatigue through the following modalities:
Yoga therapy, including in-bed yoga postures and movements, restorative poses, breath awareness, and meditation
Reiki and other healing touch modalities
Use of aromatherapy to help reduce symptoms and promote healing
Current theories and practices on holistic nutrition care
Training with the Buddhist community on contemplative end-of-life care and the art of being present with patients during illness and life transition
Program faculty includes Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Freeman, Richard Rosen, Jamie Naughright, Young Living Oils experts, Roshi Joan Halifax, and others.
The comprehensive curriculum includes clinical rotations in hospital and health and wellness settings, such as Beth Israel Medical Center and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Students will be required to fulfill community service hours through participation in Urban Zen Foundation events and other community-sponsored events. The program also includes training/certification in First Aid and CPR (for those who are not currently certified).
The program is open to established yoga practitioners and to health care professionals. Yoga practitioners must have a minimum of 5 years of yoga experience. Health care professionals include nurses, physical therapists, massage therapists, doctors, and other allied health care professionals. Most of all, applicants must have a deep desire to serve those in need. Applications are required for this competitive admission process.
The program is registered with Yoga Alliance. Graduates will qualify for registration with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level (500-RYT).
The program will run from January to December 2009 in NYC. Tuition is $7,500.
In January 2010, the UZIT program will expand to multiple regional locations. These sites will include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Florida, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington DC, and Idaho, with more locations to follow.
For more information visit www.urbanzen.org
