Faculty Syllabus

Required Materials:
yoga mat
Optional: blocks, strap, water bottle

Grades:

Grades will be based on attendance and participation (75% of grade) and a brief paper on your 5 Favorite Yoga Postures/Asanas (25% of grade.) The assigned paper may be submitted on Blackboard by the due date or a hard copy when class meets in person. One absence and one make-up are allowed. Any absence past one or a makeup past one is a deduction of 5 points for each absence.

                                                                        A = 90 – 100%

                                                                        B = 80 – 89%

                                                                        C = 70 – 79%

                                                                        D = 60 –69%

                                                                        F = 0 – 59%

Continuing Education (CE): If you are a CE student and not taking this course for college credit, your requirements are to attend class on a weekly basis to earn a SATISFACTORY or UNSATISFACTORY in CE credits.

If you are not sure whether you registered for College Credit or Continuing Education (CE), check your registration form, counselor, or contact your professor at: dkess@austincc.edu.

Ethical Use of AI:

• Understand the limitations:

AI should be used as a tool to assist learning, not as a replacement for critical thinking and personal effort. Students should verify information provided by AI with reliable sources. 

• Be transparent:

Disclose when and how AI tools are used in assignments, especially in writing or research. 

• Avoid plagiarism:

AI should not be used to generate complete essays or assignments without proper attribution and understanding of the content. 

• Check for biases:

AI models can sometimes perpetuate existing societal biases. Students should be aware of this and critically evaluate the information generated by AI. 

• Focus on learning:

Use AI to identify areas where improvement is needed and actively work on those areas through personal effort and engagement with the material. 

• Reflect on learning:

After using AI tools, students should reflect on what they have learned and how the AI contributed to their understanding. 

• Follow course policies:

Always adhere to the specific AI usage policies set by instructors and the institution. 

Here is a link to a guide to using Chat GPT ethically as a student: https://custom-writing.org/blog/ai-for-students-tips-using-chatgpt-ethically

Suggested Texts (not required to purchase, but excellent resources):
“The Harvard Medical School Guide to Yoga 8 Weeks to Strength, Awareness, & Flexibility,” Marylynn Wei, MD. JD., and James Groves, MD., DeCapo Press Lifelong Books, 2017. ISBN: 9780738219363
and/or
“Yoga Journal’s Yoga Basics,” Mara Carrico, Henry Holt & Company, 1997.
ISBN: 9780805045710

Curriculum:
Learning new and familiar yoga postures (asanas) throughout the semester by gradually increasing the level of difficulty depending on abilities of students. New asanas will be introduced each week along with review of familiar postures. Breathing techniques, relaxation exercises and meditation are included in the curriculum.

Course Objectives:
1. Students work within their own comfort level and pace.
2. Demonstrate various asanas (postures) using Hatha yoga & the Iyengar method.
3. Demonstrate breathing techniques.
4. Students will illustrate knowledge of progressive development for improving strength, flexibility and the sense of well-being.
5. Reflect and describe the use of relaxation techniques.