SUP Yoga Teacher Training Certification (YTT)
The PSUPA Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) course and certification will prepare you to teach as a stand up paddle professional.
You'll learn how to start a SUP yoga business, insurance, waivers, marketing and SEO, permits with city ports and parks, purchasing equipment and setting up events and retreats.
Course Duration: Typically 3-4 days.
Minimum Age of Participants: 18 years old.
Teacher-to-Student Ratio: 1:6, 2:10 or 3:15.
Goals
Learn how to teach an SUP yoga class, learn water safety and leadership. Learn how to run your own SUP yoga business.
See curriculum below for more details.
Certification Requirements
Certification Valid for 4 Years: PSUPA certified instructors are required to take a one-day refresher course in their certification every four years to keep their certification valid.
Keeping Certifications Active: Active Annual PSUPA Membership and Current hands-on First Aid / CPR certification is required to keep certification active.
Pre-Requisites
- Successful completion of Flat Water 1. Disregard if your YTT course includes FW1 certification.
- Hold current PSUPA membership.
- Hold current First Aid/CPR certification through a hands-on course.
- 200 hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher or in-training. If in-training, you will sign a contract stating that you can't offer classes until your yoga teacher training is complete.
- Two yoga industry professional references.
- Sign liability form, provided by your Instructor Trainer.
Note: Instructorss have the right not to pass students who do not adequately demonstrate the skills and have a poor overall evaluation. If a student who does not pass wants to continue to work toward certification,
If you are not an experienced paddler or don’t yet meet the requirements for this certification, please consider taking some basic and advanced SUP classes from our Instructor Trainers or Certified Instructors before pursuing this certification.
Curriculum
Day One: SUP Skills and SUP Yoga Basics
- Instructor Trainer leads a SUP yoga class
- Paddling practice, hone paddling technique
- Increase your speed and efficiency
- Learn to quickly and efficiently teach the basics of SUP to your SUP yoga students
- Modifying yoga poses to suit the SUP practice
- Introduce typical class structure
- Homework: Write a class to teach the next day
Day Two: Waterways and Yoga Modifications
- Basics of tidal shifts and other saltwater considerations
- Discuss typical conditions and dynamics of lakes and pools
- Anchoring and tethering techniques
- Each student will practice teaching classmates (including setting anchor)
Day Three: Business of SUP Yoga
- Instructor Trainer leads a SUP yoga class
- Rescues and towing
- Buying fleet vs. partnering with a SUP rental shop
- Establishing contracts with city, ports, parks and recreation, school districts, etc.
- Insurance
- Sample waiver
- Marketing and Social Media Presence
- Events and Retreats
- Test and certification
Requirements for Course Completion and Certification
Certification is awarded upon completing the course. This includes passing all tests and achieving a satisfactory evaluation of your teaching skills, leadership skills and attention to safety.
Cost for Certification
| PSUPA Membership (annual membership) | $ 85.00 |
| On-Water Session (Price is set by local Instructor Trainer. Typically a 1 day session) | Set by Instructor Trainer |
| On-Line Test | $14.25 |
| Miscellaneous- Any associated travel or equipment rental costs for completing On-Water Session | Varies |
Certification is valid for 4 years (with active membership)
The entire course must be completed within 6 months from starting, (unless a preapproved extension is granted), so it is strongly advised for candidates to solidify their plans for the on-water portion prior to beginning.