There are two levels of certification:
- ATB Practitioner
- ATB Trainer
A Practitioner certification is given to those who have finished the Basic and Advanced workshops and who have complied with the requirements to become an ATB Practitioner. It certifies that you are qualified to lead ‘Awareness through the Body’ classes as well as to facilitate ATB exploratory workshops.
It is important to consider taking the workshops over a period of two or three years so as to have some assimilation time in between the workshops. Some participants also choose to attend the basic or advanced workshops more than once.
For a practitioner to become a Trainer additional experience in leading consistently high quality exploratory workshops and classes is required. The trainee must attend a theoretical ATB course after which she/he will have to organise a Basic Training workshop in which two trainers are present to assess his/her work.
Be aware that Awareness through the Body does not provide general pedagogical training and if you are not a teacher or a therapist, and want to work with children, you may need to get training in the appropriate field.
Awareness Through the Body Practitioner’s Certification
To become an ATB practitioner you need to have completed:
● ATB Basic Training (consisting of ATB 1, 2 and 3), and
● ATB Advanced Training (which consists of ATB 4 and ATB 5).
For the final certification the following is required:
● To log a minimum of 50 hours of session-practice to other people – session’s log table.
● To keep regularly working on yourself on your own and/or by attending practices that will enhance your awareness. You will need to log a minimum 50 hours of those – see self-practice log table.
● To get credit for a basic anatomy course. Knowledge of the skeleton, muscles, organs, and nervous system of the body is indispensable for ATB.
● To prepare 10 class plans.
● To write a 25 pages paper on ATB.
● To lead a one-day workshop in which two trainers participate (logistics to be arranged).
The above can be submitted to Joan and Aloka at your convenience, any time after you have started the ATB Advanced Training or once you have completed the whole training. Be aware that complying with the above does not guarantee certification; you may need to repeat or redo part of the requirements before obtaining the certification.
ATB Practitioner Certification will qualify you to implement ATB programs, and lead ATB workshops. This certification will not qualify you to train people to become ATB practitioners.
Be aware that Awareness through the Body does not provide general pedagogical training and if you are not a teacher or a therapist, and want to work with children, you may need to get training on this field.
To keep growing and integrating awareness, even after certification, you will need to commit yourself to a daily practice where you explore yourself and grow from the exploration. It might be helpful to you to enroll yourself in a physical discipline that fosters awareness, such as: Tai chi, Feldenkrais, Hatha yoga, doing it from the ATB principles.
So… practice, practice, practice, cultivate and integrate awareness in all aspects of your life as much as you can.