Core Competencies for Certification

Rating Scale: 5 (all requirements met)
4 (4 of the 5 requirements met)
3 (3 of the 5 requirements met)
2 (2 of the 5 requirements met)
1 (1 of the 5 requirements met)

Certification requires an average score of 4.5 or above.
Scoring: if the sequence is followed add point, if not take away point

*Note this scale is for the teacher level. It is understood that any student being evaluated has proven that they have incorporated these skills for their own personal practice. Evaluator will look to see that prospective teacher give instructions to the student with the following criteria being met.

Core Teaching Competencies for Adjusting the seated Pose:

1.Person needs to be seated with either feet touching the floor or knees.
2.Person must have head neck and trunk aligned.
3.Hands need to be placed on the thighs without compromising shoulder position.
4.Knees are to be lower than hips in all positions.
5.Eyes closed and lips sealed.

Core competencies for teaching diaphragmatic breathing seated:

1.Adjust the seat as described in first competency
2.Hands placed around rib cage area
3.Person leans forward and inhales and feels ribcage expand
4.Person asked to exhale and feels ribcage contract
5.Person asked to sit erect with hands on thighs and asked to feel the rise and fall of the rib cage on an inhalation and exhalation

Core competencies for diaphragmatic breathing lying down.

1.Adjust the body in the supine position.
2.Hand placed on the abdomen
3.Person asked to inhale and feels abdomen expand
4.Person asked to exhale and feels abdomen contract
5.Person mentions that this is different from seated because seated engages the ribcage

Core competencies for relaxation lying down.

1.Adjust the body in the supine position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Bring person’s awareness to their breathing (abdominal area)
4.Bring person’s awareness from the crown of the head to the feet and feet to crown of head
5.Bring person to a seated upright position

Core competencies for seated relaxation.

1.Adjust the body in the seated position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Bring person’s awareness to their breathing (ribcage area)
4.Bring person’s awareness from the crown of the head to the feet and feet to crown of head
5.Bring person awareness outward

Core competencies for 1:1 breathing.

1.Adjust the body in the seated position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Establish diaphragmatic breathing (ribcage area)
4.Bring person’s awareness to the point between the two nostrils
5.Count the breaths with a ratio of 1 exhalation to 1 inhalation (ie. 3:3)

Core competencies for 2:1 breathing
1.Adjust the body in the seated position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Establish diaphragmatic breathing (ribcage area)
4.Bring person’s awareness to the point between the two nostrils
5.Count the breaths with a ratio of 2 exhalation to 1 inhalation (ie. 4:2)

Core competencies for alternate nostril breathing
1.Adjust the body in the seated position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Establish diaphragmatic breathing (ribcage area)
4.Bring person’s awareness to the point between the two nostrils
5.Count the breaths alternating nostrils with one of 3 variations with a ration of 1 exhalation to1inhalation

Core competencies for 31 point exercise
1.Adjust the body in the supine position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Bring person’s awareness to their breathing (abdominal area)
4.Bring person’s awareness through 31 points (established in clinic 3)
5.Bring person to a seated upright position

Core competencies for 61 point exercise (optional)
1.Adjust the body in the supine position.
2.Bring person’s awareness to their body
3.Bring person’s awareness to their breathing (abdominal area)
4.Bring person’s awareness through 61 points (established in clinic 3)
5.Bring person to a seated upright position