Teacher Training Program


Instructor Gary Strauss, center, giving students support
during a CranioSacral Unwinding class.

The Teacher Training program offered through Polarity Healing Arts and Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, in Arizona, is the culmination of over 25 years of teaching and training teachers in the Energetic Healing Arts. This training has been handed down from teacher to teacher in the old way. It is similar to an apprenticeship.

Our intention in continuing to offer teacher training is to empower the individual participant and the community as a whole to become self-actualized according to soulular purpose of our visionary intent. Each individual is supported to find their true expression and to bring it into the world. While the training will explore traditional elements of teaching, it will also focus on the energy-based teaching model of transmission and multidimensional activation.

This incarnation of our Teacher Training program is representative of the collaboration of our entire schools, our network of schools, and all the teachers who participate in our trainings. The Teacher Training program is held by the community of all of our teachers. The program focuses on two levels: broadly, on what makes a successful teacher, and specifically, on what each individual in the program needs. We are intent on helping the individual to co-create the structure of their own training and to think that they are entering into graduate training in the energetic arts.

Teacher Training is an in-depth study and development of the skills required to hold space for a group of people in the same way that a practitioner holds space for an individual during a Polarity or Cranial session. It is a deep exploration into the anatomy and dynamics of the teaching environment. It is meant to empower the individual at the teaching level and requires a commitment on behalf of the participant that is commensurate with what it means to hold space for groups of people.

LEVELS OF TRAINING
The Teacher Training program is developmental and proceeds through various levels of personal commitment, class instruction, teaching experience, and personal process. The levels outlined and described below provide a framework around which individual participants can explore their own personalized pathways to manifesting their visions for teaching and holding space for groups. The three basic levels are: (1) Class Core, (2) Certified Polarity Educator [CPE] , and (3) M aster Teacher. At each level, students are mentored through the program.

1. CLASS CORE

The Class Core is the beginning level and is a generalized teacher training program. It is open to Polarity students with minimum competencies at the APP Certification level, to Craniosacral Unwinding (CSU) students with minimum competencies at the CSU Certification level, and to other students who are teaching in other disciplines.

The Class Core level consists of five modules totaling at least 140 hours of in-class instruction. Additional hours will be required outside of class for researching and preparing students’ individualized presentations. Each student will choose a mentor to guide you in your development. Teachers will be available to all participants for support and supervision throughout the duration of the program.

The modules are organized as follows:

Module 1 Includes introduction, orientation, and set-up for the entire program and opportunities to experience holding a teaching space in front of the room.
3 days
24 hours

Module 2 Covers curriculum development and construction ideas and issues. Participants will prepare and present 15-minute presentations on an assigned topic and then receive feedback.
3 days
24 hours

Module 3 Emphasizes classroom presentation, classroom dynamics, and presence. Participants will prepare and present 30-minute presentations on topics of their own choice and receive feedback when needed.
4-5 days
24-32 hours, depending on the number of participants

Module 4 Culminates as a ritual action for teaching presentations. Participants will prepare and present their own individualized 3-hour classes (not Polarity or Cranio-sacral Unwinding). Participants are responsible for developing their owncurriculum, preparing materials, enrolling and receiving students, being witnessed, and receiving feedback from peers and teachers.
5-10 days
40-80 hours, depending on the number of participants

Supervision Individualized support and guidance in a class setting for issues thatcome up for participants during the course of their teaching development.
5 evenings
4 hours each, total of 20 hours

Participants will also prepare and present an Introduction class (outside of the ClassCore modules) that includes formal witnessing and feedback.

PLEASE NOTE:
* At the Class Core level, Polarity and/or Craniosacral Unwinding classes taken for the first time are at full cost. Repeated classes are at half price [50% discount].

2. CERTIFIED POLARITY EDUCATOR (CPE)

The Certified Polarity Educator [CPE] level is designed to meet the educational standards of the American Polarity Therapy Association Standards for Education and Certified Polarity Educator. It is open to Polarity students with minimum competencies at the APP Certification level and to Craniosacral Unwinding (CSU) students with minimum competencies at the CSU Certification level. In addition to the Class Core, the student is required to study, assist, and do student teaching in the APP and/or beginning Craniosacral Unwinding programs.

The in-class instruction for this level consists of:
1. All of the modules comprising the Class Core level.
2. Additional modules for exploring the competencies and curriculum for teaching and marketing Polarity 1, Craniosacral Unwinding 1, and Polarity and Craniosacral Unwinding Introductions.
Minimum: 2 days, 16 hours

In addition to the minimum hours of in-class instruction, an extra 150+ hours are required for repeating and assisting in basic Polarity and/or Craniosacral Unwinding classes. The levels of assisting leading to teaching are outlined in a separate document. All students are mentored individually at this level by teachers who teach Polarity 1 and/or Craniosacral Unwinding 1 using the Polarity Healing Arts method.

Assisting in basic Polarity and/or Craniosacral Unwinding classes is included in the program. Students will negotiate their assisting roles with each instructor for each class, according to the instructor’s standards and needs.

PLEASE NOTE:
* At the CPE level, Polarity and/or Craniosacral Unwinding classes taken for the first time are at full cost. Repeated classes are at half price [50% discount].

3. MASTER TEACHER

The Master Teacher level is equivalent to graduate study in Polarity Therapy. In addition to the Class Core and CPE requirements, the M aster Teacher participant is required to study the material of the entire Polarity Program and is supported in learning how to manage an entire program, such as APP. This is a deep study of our methods and of the entire curriculum in the teaching of Polarity. It involves mentoring by all of our teachers and opens up the doors of study to our entire program. This level is open to Polarity students with minimum competencies at the RPP Certification level.

In addition to the minimum hours of in-class time for the Class Core and CPE levels, the prospective M aster Teacher spends at least 700 hours of in-class time, repeating and assisting in every class in the entire APP, Craniosacral Unwinding, and RPP programs. The levels of assisting leading to teaching are outlined in a separate document. Each student will also prepare a personalized thesis on the art and technique of Polarity Therapy Training.

At this level, opportunities for repeating classes are unlimited and are included in the program. Students will negotiate their assisting roles with each instructor for each class, according to the instructor’s standards and needs.

PLEASE NOTE:

* At the Master Teacher level, Polarity and/or Craniosacral Unwinding classes taken for the first time are at full cost. Repeated classes are at half price [50% discount].

** Master-level students may receive stipends for assisting and teaching in the programs offered by Polarity Healing Arts.

To register, please call our office at (310) 455-7873 and request an application packet.