Douglas Thompson, Owner of Yoga Space
My journey as a yoga teacher began back in 1995, after I had taken my very first yoga class. It spoke to me like nothing had ever done before. I knew right then and there, I wanted to share the joy of yoga with as many people as I could.
I completed my teacher's training in 1996, at The Himalayan Institute in Honesdale Pennsylvania. The 7 fields of study that we needed to be proficient in were:
- Asana (the yoga poses),
- Pranayama (breathing techniques),
- Teaching techniques,
- Anatomy,
- Philosophy,
- Diet and Nutrition, and
- Meditation.
All-in-all, it took a year to go through. Once all the classes were complete, the journaling had been submitted, and all the written tests had been passed, the last requirement was to stand alone, before the board (two or three teachers, including one that you had studied under.) They would ask you questions about any of the 7 fields, ask you to demonstrate a pose that they chose, and ask you to teach a pose to them, also of their choosing. It was a scary event, but I passed.
Forward to the present year. Almost 20 years have gone by, and each time I take a class, I still feel the joy I felt when I took my very first one. I still want to share the joy of yoga with as many people as I can.
I have shared yoga with cancer patients, people with other challenges such as Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Cerebral Palsy. I have shared yoga with prenatal moms, moms with infants, senior citizens, beginners, and seasoned yogis.
And now I would like to share yoga with you. Please come join me in one of my classes. I would love to have you.
Education and Certification
| 1991 | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration California Coast University
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| 1994 | Masters of Business Administration California Coast University
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| 1997 | Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher Himalayan Institute, Honesdale, PA
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| 1999 | Stress Management Theory and Practice Integral Yoga, Yogaville, VA
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| 2003 | Basic Certified Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner Lotus Palm School, Montreal Canada
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| 2009 | Intermediate Certification in Thai Yoga Massage Lotus Palm School, Montreal Canada
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| 2011 | Intermediate Thai Massage Certification Thai Institute of Healing Arts, Arlington, VA
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| 2012 | Peak Pilates Basic Mat Certification Peak Pilates, Washington DC
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Registered Experienced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) through the Yoga
Alliance at the 200-hour level. (www.yogaalliance.org)
Associations (Past and Present):
International Association of Yoga Therapists
Himalayan Institute Teacher’s Association
Mid Atlantic Yoga Association
Board member for 5 years
Secretary 1998 – 2000
President 2001 – 2003
Press:
http://hyattsvillelife.com/my-two-cents-yoga-space-ten-years-of-business-in-hyattsville/
