Peaceful Heart Preschool Apprenticeship Position

PURPOSE: 

This apprenticeship will offer skills in teaching yoga, mindfulness and meditation to preschool children (ages 3 - 5). In addition to these daily lessons, the environment and all of our daily patterns and interactions arise from the study of yoga:  As a yoga preschool, we teach strength and flexibility of mind and emotions (along with body) and compassion, love and respect for others.  Through the educators’ own practice of yoga and mindfulness, we model our own centered selves while we listen carefully and respond intuitively.  Appropriate for anybody who cares greatly for creating such an environment for children - preschool teachers, parents, and beyond.

SCHEDULE:  

August 31, 2023 through June 6, 2024, following the Missoula Public School calendar (mostly).  You can see our school calendar here to see our scheduled days off from school:  2023 PHP calendar.pdf  

DETAILS:  

The apprentice will join the preschool class each week to observe, learn and practice leading the group if/when they feel so inclined.  The apprentice would help with the children, preparation and general classroom needs, and would get to meet with the teacher and owner of Peaceful Heart or twice per month to check in on what you are learning and where you want to explore more in depth. There is the possibility (depending on Peaceful Heart’s need and success in the apprenticeship program) you may be recruited to the substitute teacher list, along with the possibility of more teaching needs as the school grows.  Availability and flexibility for this is a plus, but not necessary. 

In most cases, it will NOT work for you to bring your own child with you, but feel free to reach out if you think it would be a good fit.  A baby or older, homeschooled child, may be preferable to your own preschool age child.   

Learn more about Peaceful Heart LLC and the preschool at www.PeacefulHeartYogaMissoula.com.  Contact Jess Matthiae at jess2breathe@gmail.com or 239-YOGA with questions.

REQUIREMENTS:

Candidate must:

• Be reliable.  Time off can be arranged, but the kids and teachers will be counting on you to be there every week.

• Be very willing to learn and open to new methods.  

• Have a yoga/meditation/mindfulness practice or some similar practice of self-awareness in process or willing to begin

• Love young children and be able to greet them with an open mind and heart.

• Be open and enthusiastic about holding space for children in a respectful, non-punitive approach. 

No experience necessary.  This program is designed to teach through observation and involvement. 

The chosen candidates will need to agree to a background check and reference check.

TO APPLY:  

Fill out this online application:   Peaceful Heart Preschool Apprenticeship Application 2023-24 School Year

If you seem like a good fit, I will contact you to schedule an interview. 

Want to teach yoga and mindfulness to kids?  

Are you a teacher who needs a more holistic and effective classroom management tool for yourself and your students?  

Are you a yoga teacher who loves to work with kids?  

We are so excited to offer a training just for you! 

Get in touch with interest!  Nothing scheduled at this point.

30-Hour Foundation Course:

Teach yoga and mindfulness to children ages 3 through the teenage years! At the core of this training is a passion for yoga and a love for children. This comprehensive kids' teacher training program is experiential and fun, designed to provide adult yoga practitioners with the tools and knowledge needed to share the gifts of yoga and mindfulness with children.

Our Foundation Course will allow you to incorporate what you learn into your current work with children or find innovative and new ways to teach yoga and mindfulness in a multitude of settings. Our longevity with the yoga practice and expertise working with kids of all ages will create a dynamic learning environment that is supportive and collaborative. Participants will leave with a variety of sample lesson plans and practices as part of the overall training manual, a practicum experience, mentor hours, and the confidence to help teach these lifelong tools to kids. Our goal is that participants will leave feeling joyful, invigorated, and hopeful for a healthy future.  

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Adults with 1+ yrs. yoga practice who enjoy working with children, including yoga teachers, yoga students, educators, parents, physical education and health teachers, school or family counselors, child psychologists, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, camp counselors, recreation directors, pediatricians and others who regularly work with children.  You do NOT need to be a certified yoga teacher to apply for this class, however we ask that you have a "relationship" with yoga. 

THE TRAINERS:

• Amy Friedman has been an educator for over twenty years both internationally and stateside.  She has taught art, drama, experiential education, yoga, dance, and social and emotional learning. Her yoga journey began young with a yogini mom to pave the way. This path led her to explore yoga as a means for balance, self-study, and ultimately, a way of life. Amy currently works with kids and teachers to explore the seeds of yoga while working as a middle school counselor. Amy is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, certified as a 200-hour yoga teacher and a 95-hour children’s yoga teacher. She is a mindfulness facilitator for Be Here Now Sangha and co-leads the family mindfulness retreats through Open Way. She is a certified Positive Discipline Parent and Classroom Educator as well. Amy is passionate about helping both kids and adults learn to plant healthy seeds and water them daily.  You can learn more about Amy here: tiny.cc/amybewell
  
  

• Jess Matthiae is the owner of Peaceful Heart Yoga, which has been operating since 2013 and is currently expanding to offer trainings such as this, classes and workshops designed for mothers before and after childbirth, mindfulness for educators, yoga for parents practicing alongside their kids and yoga and mindfulness camps for children of all ages.  Jess is originally from Missoula, and returned home in 2011. She has been guiding children of all ages in many different settings since 2002. Jess is a 500hr certified Yoga Teacher and has completed several trainings including Yoga Kids and Street Yoga designed for kids. Jess is passionate about how we “hold space” for children.  She has been observing and studying this concept since childhood and now practices the yoga art of “witness” for herself as she continues to learn and grow. Learn more about Jess HERE.