Acro warrior
TEACHER TRAINING
SUMMER 2020
JULY 27th - AUGUST 6th 2020
About the teacher training
This training is about empowering students and communities through the practice of partner acrobatics. This goes way beyond our skills as acrobats and what tricks we are able to accomplish. In our experience, this is about holding the space for practice that challenges us from many angles, that asks for continuous checking with partners and ourselves, and allows us to accomplish things we never thought we were capable of. In this training we explore the art of teaching and practicing partner acrobatics in a way that emphasizes safety, accessibility, inclusivity and empowerment. Trainees will experience a teaching methodology that integrates anatomy knowledge and solo movement practices to safely approach partner acrobatics, tools for effective communication within a partner practice, lecture and discussions around challenges inherent to our practice and communities, as well as tools and frameworks for structuring your offerings as a teacher and acrobat. We will also offer sessions where we apply our teaching and training methodology to diverse array of acro skills including L-Basing/acroyoga, washing machines, pops ( including Icarian Games), whips hand to hand and standing acrobatics. While we will help you refine your acro skills and personal practice our training is not about creating professional acrobats; it is so much more about educating and connecting with dedicated practitioners who are looking to share the practice of acrobatics in a way that is safe and empowering, while creating a global community we can all be proud to be a part of.
LOCATION
We are currently planning to offer these trainings in person at Warrior Bridge in NYC, but are ready to change that should it not be in the best interest of community health and safety. For that reason we are going to offer a remote learning option whether or not we are able to be in the same room this summer. We will be streaming our TT sessions live via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person; recorded sessions will also be available for those enrolled, though it strongly recommended that sessions are attended live whenever possible. For those enrolled in our remote program without an acro partner present for our acro skills sessions that will be okay, while those with a partner present may choose to practice skills during this time, these sessions will be more about understanding progressions and spotting techniques rather than practicing the skills themselves. Please review the notes below to understand the certification process for both in-person and remote attendees.
Daily Sample Schedule:
9am-10am Morning Practice
10-12:15pm Acro Theory & Framework
Midday Break
1:45-3pm Community Talks & Professional Development
3-4:15pm Acro Skills, Progressions & Coaching
4:15-5pm Therapeutics & Decompression
For in Person attendees there will be daily evening practice and mentorship offered.
Requirements for Certification:
Attendance to all lecture and discussion sections in person OR remotely (July 27 - Aug 6).
MINIMUM 50 **in-person** practice hours with program instructors. These hours may consist of:
Evening practice during the teacher training immersion (July 27 - Aug 6)
Accumulated instruction time from previous classes, workshops and immersions and private instruction with program instructors (no more than 38 hours counted prior to July 27)
Post-TT instruction time made up of classes, workshops, immersions and private instruction with program instructors.
Participants will be responsible for maintaining records of their instruction time to be presented prior to certification.
In-person attendees at the TT immersion (July 27 - Aug 6) who miss evening practice times will need to make up time prior to being certified.Remote attendees will need to complete 10 hours of private instruction (at $100 per hour) prior to certification (This time may be split with up to one other participant)
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IN-PERSON PARTICIPANTS QUALIFY FOR CERTIFICATION WHEN:
You have attended all 11 days at TT, and an additional 12 practice hours after program commencement, which can be completed during teacher training
You have accumulated 38 outside hours of practice with program instructors (pre- or post-TT).
REMOTE PARTICIPANTS QUALIFY FOR CERTIFICATION WHEN:
You have remotely attended all 11 days at TT, not inclusive of evening practice hours
You have accumulated 50 hours of in-person practice time with program instructors, which may include up to 38 hours prior to TT, and MUST include 10 hours of private instruction after TT.
PREREQUISITES:
Minimum 100 hours of acro instruction from qualified teachers in the form of group classes, workshops, or private classes,
Minimum 1 minute wall handstand
If you don’t quite meet these requirements but feel that you are otherwise capable of participating in training, please email acrowarriortraining@gmail.com.
QUESTIONS:
Email - acrowarriortraining@gmail.com
To apply for enrollment in our Acro Warrior training, please submit an application below.
TUITION
In Person Attendance $2000
Remote Attendance $1000
Private Mentorship to Complete Certification if Attended Remotely
*$1000
*10 hours at $100/hour, we will do our best to help you share private lesson time with another trainee if you desire)
This is a non-residential teacher training but if you are traveling from out of town and would like help finding cheap or free accommodations just let us know and we’ll do our best to connect you with a generous community member.
New York City also has an incredibly thorough mass transit system with plenty of affordable airbnb options a short distance away. We may help organize a group airbnb situation if there is enough interest.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Apply for BIPOC Diversity Scholarship here.
Apply for Financial Need Scholarship here.
MEET THE TEACHERS!
SEAN LANGHAUS
Program Director
Sean's teachings aim to show students that they are more capable than could have imagined.
An avid skateboard for over a decade, Sean began his deeper studies into movement, fitness and meditation in his college years when he was introduced yoga and martial arts.
In the years after graduating college Sean moved to NYC where he would study with many of the cities top yoga teachers and martial artists. Sean began teaching full time in 2013 where taught in many of the cities top studios and quickly became known for his skillful teaching methodolgy and specialties in AcroYoga, Rocket Yoga and hand balancing. 2014 Sean co-founded the original Warrior Bridge studio in Lower Manhattan, it was in this studio Sean began fusing years his of experience across Yoga, Martial Arts, Acrobatics as well as a host of other movement and healing arts into the unique style he teaches today. His classes range from restorative and therapeutic to athletic and acrobatic, they are designed according to a wisdom that different bodies need different tools to achieve different goals. In 2016 Sean founded and directed the Acro Warrior Training Program, NYC's first immersive training in AcroYoga and Partner Acrobatics.
EMILY LESINSKI
Anatomy, Movement Science, Injury Prevention & Management
From a young age, Emily was interested in body movement and an active lifestyle. She grew up dancing competitively from the age of 6 and practiced ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance, and rode horses hunter-jumper style as a teenager.
Emily began a regular Yoga practice while earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from New York University where she also completed her Bachelor's in Psychology. Upon graduating, she worked for several years as director of physical therapy at large NYC clinics, until May 2016 when she left that position to treat patients independently.
In her private practice Emily works with yoga teachers, movement professionals, high-level athletes and office workers alike, blending manual therapy, postural training and yogic awareness and alignment to offer patients greater movement range, freedom from pain, and reduced injury risk. In her teaching practice, Emily draws on her extensive training and day-to-day work with anatomy, kinesiology and movement science to create a safe practice for students and empower them with increased knowledge of their own bodies.
Mendel Romanenko
grew up in the Bronx and his passion for movement began with break dancing over 12 years ago. His curiosity led him to hip-hop, parkour, gymnastics, and yoga. In 2012, he had his first AcroYoga experience and has since been thoroughly hooked into the world of partner acrobatics and AcroYoga. In 2015 Mendel earned his first Acroyoga teachers certification and began teaching regular handstand and AcroYoga classes in NYC and around the world.
Being that Mendel is a dedicated acrobatic performer, his focus and method revolve around a sense of flow and full body integration. Constantly striving for emotional and mental self growth, his classes have a sense of purpose, community collaboration, and connection that is unique to Mendel's style. Keep an eye out for Mendel's partner acro and aerial silks performances at venues such as House of Yes, the Box, Slipper Room and more.
Laura Lebron
is a RYT 200hr yoga teacher and certified AcroYoga instructor. She loves being upside down and sharing her passion for inversions and movement with others.
Laura first stepped onto a mat in December of 2012, falling in love with yoga on the first class. She immediately felt the strength and healing power this practice has to offer and has spent all these years practicing, studying and teaching vinyasa yoga, restorative, pranayama, acroyoga and human connection. She’s always hungry to learn more and believes that yoga is a practice of transformation that goes beyond the physical body. Using yoga as a tool to listen to our minds, understand our emotions and heal our body and spirit.
Her practice and classes are focused in breathwork, alignment and ease, with a wholehearted mission of giving her students the space for self-exploration and discovery.
Bassam Kubba
"Drstadharmasukhavihari," means to live happily in the present moment. Bassam has lived in five different countries and has worn several professional hats: software engineer, professional climber, yoga teacher, and acrobatic performer. He has finally settled down in Manhattan as a Vinyasa Yoga, AcroYoga, Aerial Yoga, Climbing instructor, Bungee instructor and Thai bodywork teacher.
He started his yoga practice in 2009 while he was a professional climber in the Middle East. Like many, his practice started as a physical one, but in time it has become a spiritual path, a lifestyle, and a career.
Bassam’s classes focus on transitions & balance structure with improv, strength with flexibility, and breath with body. He is extremely passionate about sharing his knowledge. His mission is "Empower life change and inspiring connection through a joyful practice."
