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Vancouver Island Yoga School

Deborah Carruthers
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We are excited to offer our Spring training in March 2023!

Offered in Two Modules, for both Advancing Student and Teacher-in-Training.

Geoff MacKenzie
Deborah Carruthers
Geoff MacKenzie
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We are pleased to announce that our next 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training program will be held at VIYS in Duncan, BC, Canada, with tentative dates from early November 2022 to early March 2023!

Our Teaching Model

At Vancouver Island Yoga School, we want to bring you a deeper and richer experience. We have adopted a hybrid teaching model to ensure our business remains sustainable and open to support you in the long term!

You’ll see more registered programs (courses, workshops, and class series) in addition to the schedule of public classes we have always offered. Registered programs give you more opportunities for personal transformation in a consistent group setting. Furthermore, this consistency means our teachers will be more aware of where you are in your practice and can offer you specific guidance.

You can read more about our hybrid model on the About VIYS page and check our schedule of registered programs and public classes for current offerings.

Current and Upcoming Programs

2023 Retreat to India

We are heading to India in the fall! Sept 18th – Oct 8th.  Spots are filling, sign up today! 

300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training

​Module One: “Going Deeper: An Advancing Practitioner’s program”.

Module One is a foundation course for consistent, experienced practitioners wishing to strengthen their relationship to posture, meditation and breath-work. Students will deepen their practice (Sadhana) for their own sakes and benefit, not to simply qualify as a new teacher.

Investment: $2400 +GST (includes a studio pass for the duration of the course, and textbooks.)

Module 2: “The Teaching Pathway”

This will include practice teaching with your peers and in community via practicum. This section of the 300-hour program gives students an authentic experience of traditionally taught, classical yoga. The course curriculum is based on the Ashtanga Vinyasa Method, Patanjali Yoga Sutras and up-to-date research from the field of Neuroscience. It will include an online anatomy course done outside of class time.

Investment:$1750 +gst includes studio pass, textbook, online anatomy course*. 

Practicums: Students will practice teaching and assisting fellow students early in the program, in a fun, supportive manner.

* Completion of Module one is a prerequisite for this module.  Students will also Observe, Shadow & Assist the Lead Teachers during select scheduled studio classes.

2023 Module one dates

  • March 31-87 April 2 
  • April 14,15, 16 
  • April 28, 29, 30 
  • May 12, 13, 14 
  • June 2, 3, 4 

2023 Module two dates

  •  June 9, 10, 11
  • June 16,17,18 
  • June 30- July 2 

Our Story

Vancouver Island Yoga School emerges from the landscape of Duncan’s 10-year-old Harmony Yoga and Wellness Center. VIYS is a natural evolution inspired by its founder’s desire to create a spiritual center for the study of Yoga and its sister science Ayurveda. In the last ten years, we have delivered yoga teacher training, workshops, intensives, and retreats to India. With VIYS, we redefine ourselves and create a new mission and purpose for the next ten years.

Our Mission

Our mission is to offer a deeper dive into the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda. Our vision is to share our collective knowledge with you and provide a spiritual sanctuary where you can meditate, join a wellness program, and practice yoga. Our purpose is to create and sustain a healthy community to promote personal and spiritual growth.

Many people have experienced increased anxiety and depression over the last two years through isolation and disengagement from society. Our programming will respond to heal the collective trauma we have experienced.

Our Lineage

In its truest sense, Yoga is Union with the Divine. The word Yoga has several meanings, such as “union,” “path,” or a type of concentration called Samadhi. Samadhi means absorption and, when directed toward spirituality, the mind stills and leads to insight into the nature of reality, unseen by a mind trapped in discursive thoughts.

About 2000 years ago, the great sage Patanjali collected the existing teachings on Yoga and systemized them into the Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras became a road map to higher consciousness. This map is at the base of our teachings. The ancient teachings are as relevant today as they were in ancient India.

Amidst struggle and suffering, human beings look to wisdom teachers, schools, and temples to find sanctuary and spiritual growth. At VIYS, our goal is to provide you the space to commit to strength, wellness, wholeness, and community.

Testimonials

Wonderful and welcoming space. All the staff and teachers I have encountered have been lovely. I came here as a yoga newbie and have been able to develop a practice which has added so much value to my life!
Gabrielle M.
Very welcoming, comfy space, friendly and knowledgable staff. I have always had a well-balanced class with every teacher here. I love the variety of teachers and yoga styles offered. I highly recommend this yoga studio and wellness centre for everyone.