The yoga philosophy that underlies the FIFIYS program is best described as “contemporary spiritual eclecticism.” All yoga traditions are honored but no one tradition is followed. The thinking and writing of Vivekananda, Ramana Maharshi, and Krishnamurti strongly influence the program. Erich Schiffmann’s clear, practical distillation of philosophy and practice forms a departure point. Just as Krishnamarcharya adapted ancient yoga primarily to meet the needs of Indians of his time, so we think Westerners must adapt yoga to meet the needs of Westerners of the twenty-first century. The FIFIYS program is designed to support the ongoing process of transformation both of consciousness and yoga.

The educational philosophy that guides the training program is a humanistic one. We know that people of all ages learn best when they feel supported and respected. We know that people can learn anything that is presented to them in language they understand and at a difficulty level that does not threaten their self-confidence or self-esteem.

We believe that effective teachers are those who teach in ways that create an environment of acceptance and caring. We try to model such a way. We also want our teachers to feel empowered to plan their teaching in order to meet the needs of their students rather than follow a predetermined set of poses and breathing practices.

There are two certifications offered by FIFIYS, the Basic Yoga Teacher Program (250 hours) and the Professional Yoga Teacher Program (500 hours).