CSU, Chico
Department Of Kinesiology
KINE 169 B– Intermediate Yoga
Fall 2014 – Tuesday & Thursday 9-10:50 AM
Instructor:
Office:
Office Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Cathrine (Catrina) Himberg, Ph.D.
Yolo 253
530-898-5239
chimberg@csuchico.edu (best way to contact me)
Last day to add or drop without special permission: September 5th
Course Description:
In this course students explore ancient systems of Yoga practice in light of modern interpretations. The course
presents an evolutionary approach to yoga asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing), philosophy, and
meditation. The emphasis is on application and theory through practice, discovery, reflection and discussion.
Required Text (in AS bookstore):
White, Ganga (and Sting) (2007) Yoga Beyond Belief.
If you have already read this book in my sections of KINE 169 or 169B, you may choose from the “optional” list below, or
present an alternative book for approval:
Broad, William (2011). The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards.
White, David G. (2014) The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: A Biography
Mark Singleton (2019) Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice
Kabat-Zinn, Jon (1994) Wherever you go, There you are. Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
Krishnamurti, J. (1989) Think on These Things.
Other Requirements:
 Yoga mat
 Towel
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Course Objectives:
Each course objective is listed beside one of the 6 Kinesiology departmental student-learning outcomes and refers to what
students should know and/or be able to do by the end of the semester.
STUDENT LEARNING
OUTCOME
DESCRIPTION
KINE 169 COURSE OBJECTIVES
METHOD OF
ASSESSMENT
By successfully completing this course students will be
able to…
Content Knowledge
Students will demonstrate
knowledge and disciplinary
concepts related to the field of
Kinesiology.

… demonstrate safe techniques for basic and
intermediate yoga postures.


… demonstrate proper etiquette in a yoga class
setting.
… describe the elements of a safe and fulfilling yoga
practice.


Safe
technique
evaluation/
check-off.
Daily READY
rubric
Journal

… describe the benefits experienced by regular
participation in mediation, pranayama and yoga asana
practice on all ten body-mind systems.

Journal

… apply effective use of cues and feedback while
working with peers to improve skill performance.
… write about which performance cues help them
learn skills.
… express their thoughts about yoga philosophy,
meditation and history as they read about these
topics in the required book.
… express their growing knowledge of yoga and
personal needs for enhanced learning.


Daily READY
rubric.
Journal

Journal

In-class
discussions
… reflect on their journey of learning as they acquire
yoga asana skills.
… reflect on their personal fitness development and
progress.
…reflect on mental/spiritual development as a result
of a deepened study of yoga philosophy.

Journal

Journal and
Daily READY
rubric
… demonstrate a commitment to disciplined practice
for enhanced skill acquisition, mental and fitness
development.
… express how they value feedback from a variety of
people.
… collaborate with peers to enhance learning.

Daily READY
rubric

… demonstrate self-analysis of their own skill and
mental/spiritual development to enhance their
potential for continued, lifelong learning.
… articulate the physical and mental health benefits
of yoga.
… express how physical activity and complex skill
learning can foster brain functioning and academic
learning.

Daily READY
rubric
Daily READY
rubric
Journal

Journal

Journal

Communication
Students will apply knowledge
of effective verbal, nonverbal,
and media communication
techniques to enhance learning
and engagement in physical
activity.



Reflection and critical
thinking
Students will demonstrate
reflection and critical thinking
in order to refine professional
practice.



Programming and
assessment
Students will demonstrate
evidence-based knowledge and
skills (and best practices) for
assessing client/student needs
and for designing,
implementing and evaluating
programs.
Professionalism and
ethics
Students will demonstrate
professional behaviors,
including commitment to
excellence, valuing diversity
and collaboration, service to
others, and techniques for
lifelong learning.
This standard is not applicable in this course.




Value physical activity
and fitness
Students will articulate a
philosophy that physical
activity programs are important
to health and well being of
individuals, and that physical
activity can foster selfexpression, development, and
learning.


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
Course Evaluation:
READY Rubric: Daily class-work evaluation
Safe technique evaluation (will be checked off throughout the semester)
Weekly Readings and Journal Entries
Total
60%
10%
30%
100%
Course assignment directions and criteria are included at the end of this syllabus.
Grading System
93-100 % = A
90-92 % = A87-89 % = B+
83-86 % = B
80-82 % = B77-79 % = C+
73-76 % = C
70-72 % = C67-69 % = D+
60-66 % = D
59 % and under = F
Attendance & Late Policy:


You are expected to come to each class meeting. Your absence affects everyone in class because it delays the
progression, -and besides that, we miss you when you’re gone… You have three “freebee” absences that you can
use for anything you’d like. Save them for when you need them. Your final/total READY Rubric score will be
calculated by dividing your total (sum) by all dates minus three. So it pays off to attend each class, you could end up
with more than 100% (60/60) for the READY rubric… If you have a university approved excuse you may be able to make
up two additional missed classes (“regular” sickness, even with a doctor’s note does NOT count).
In order to pass this course (with at least a D) you cannot miss more than three weeks of class meetings. Contact
the instructor as soon as possible if you know you will be missing more than three weeks’ worth of classes due to a
University approved excuse so that a plan for make-ups can be made should you qualify.
Other Student Expectations:




Treat your classmates, your professor, teaching assistants and guests with respect and professional courtesy, even
outside of class. If you have "issues" you bring them to the appropriate person(s), and handle yourself in a professional
manner.
Read and follow the academic integrity information provided in this syllabus, and ask questions if you are unclear
about ANYTHING.
It is your responsibility to read this entire syllabus and the assignment criteria. If you choose to stay in the course it is
assumed that you are aware of, and understand how you are earning your grade in this course.
Adding and dropping is YOUR responsibility.
Services for Students With Disabilities:
Americans with Disabilities Act: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or chronic
illness, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an
appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Please also contact Accessibility Resource
Center (ARC) as they are the designated department responsible for approving and coordinating reasonable
accommodations and services for students with disabilities. ARC will help you understand your rights and responsibilities
under the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide you further assistance with requesting and arranging
accommodations. ARC is located in the Student Services Center 170, www.csuchico.edu/arc, phone 530-898-5959,
email arcdept@csuchico.edu.
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***** Academic Integrity*****
All work submitted in this course is expected to be that of the individual student. Any student involved in cheating or plagiarizing will be dismissed
from, and receive an “F” for the course. Students who cheat will also be reported to CSUC Office of Student Judicial Affairs.
Student Accountability
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and will not be tolerated. If you use the work of others, fraternity files, the Internet or other sources
you do so at your own peril. Your assignments in this course are INDIVIDUAL. Copying other students’ journals or papers IS CHEATING!
What is “Plagiarism”?
Definition: “In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not commonknowledge) material without acknowledging its source. This definition applies to texts published in print or on-line, to manuscripts, and to the work of other
student writers.” “Plagiarism” invites investigation and possible sanctions from the Office of Student Judicial Affairs.
All students are accountable to the California State University, Chico Policy on Academic Integrity, which can be viewed at
http://www.csuchico.edu/vpaa/integrity/index.html. I advise all students to become intimately familiar with the University guides on how to avoid
plagiarism (http://www.csuchico.edu/sjd/integrity/Avoiding%20Plagiarism.pdf and http://www.csuchico.edu/sjd/integrity/cheating.pdf) and how to
avoid unauthorized collaboration (http://www.csuchico.edu/sjd/integrity/Unauthorized%20Collaboration.pdf).
As detailed in these policies, depending on the act(s) of cheating or plagiarism students will meet with the sanctions encouraged by the University:
Disciplinary Probation, Suspension, Expulsion or Special Conditions. In addition, as noted in these policies, “a file of the student’s record remains in the
Office of Student Judicial Affairs and could jeopardize future opportunities such as employment or entrance into a graduate program.”
Students should also develop familiarity with the Student Code of Conduct, which can be viewed at http://www.csuchico.edu/sjd/policies/970.pdf, and
the Policy on Use of Computing and Communications Technology, which can be viewed at
http://www.csuchico.edu/computing/netpolicy.html and http://www.csuchico.edu/prs/EMs/EM97/em97_18.htm.
Course Assignment Directions
READY rubric (60% of grade):
The focus in this course is on working individually with your peers to learn the skills (asana and
pranayama) and explore meditation, yoga philosophy and concepts. Your hard work, professional
behavior, and solid effort in this course are rewarded. The daily READY rubric (posted on Blackboard
for reference) will be used to evaluate your daily work, and you will receive a hard copy for use in
class. I will go over the rubric the first week. If you have questions about anything, please ask after
class or see me during office hours. If you come to class and are “READY” (see the rubric) each day,
you will earn 5 points per day. You can earn more than 60 points (over 100%) if you are READY each
day and do NOT miss any classes. This is not only smart for your GPA, it will also help you learn the
poses so you can develop your own safe, effective and enjoyable yoga practice!
Safe technique evaluation (10% of grade)
Toward the end of the semester I will be checking off that you are able to perform each yoga pose using
safe technique. Cues for safe practice for every pose will be provided each class period, and I will give
you feedback to help you! If you attend class on a regular basis you will learn what you need to pass this
portion of the class without any problems. A simple rating of “safe”, or “not safe” will be used for each
pose for the check-off.
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Weekly Readings, Journal Entries and Peer Feedback (30 % of grade):
1. Read the book Yoga Beyond Belief by Ganga White at the rate of about one chapter per week (don’t forget the
great foreword by Sting!, nor the the introduction…). If you are reading another book from the list, please see me
for details on reading rates…)
2. Keep a handwritten weekly journal in a large “bluebook” (it’s sometimes green) (if you run out of space you may
staple two together). Feel free to decorate the front to express who you are and make it easier for me to
remember you! You should end up with at least 14 TOTAL entries for the semester. Write 1-2 pages per entry.
For your first week’s entry please answer the following questions so I can get to know you better:
 Who are you? Where are you from? What is your major? Career goal?
 What physical activities do you participate in on a regular basis? What are your hobbies?
 Please reiterate/summarize the main points from our first day in-class needs assessment:
o Why are you taking this class? Do you have any goals for this class? If so, what are they?
o What is your yoga experience? Meditation? Pranayama? If you took KINE 169 at CSU-Chico, who
was your teacher? Have you read any books about Yoga? If so, which?
o What do you believe YOGA is? Please write YOUR current definition, not anyone else’s!
o What are your fears in taking this class? What do you look forward to learning in this class?
 Is there anything you want me to know about you and/or the way you learn that may help me help you
accomplish your goals and my objectives for this class? Explain.
For the next 12 or more entries write about:
 Yoga classes this week, what were they like for you? How are you progressing?
 Thoughts and insights from reading Yoga Beyond Belief this week. Tie what you learn from the book to
what we are doing/talking about in class whenever applicable. You should read at least one chapter per
week, and write one entry each for the Foreword, Introduction, and for all 10 chapters.
For your last week’s entry:
 Tell me what you now believe YOGA is? Has your definition changed from the beginning of the semester? If
so, how? Why?
 Describe your overall experience from taking a yoga class this semester.
Your journal will be collected periodically for feedback from me (dates announced in class).
Your completed journal is due in class on the date announced, and will be returned to you during our final
meeting. The rubric below will be used to evaluate your journal entries.
Weekly Journal and Peer Feedback Rubric
Practically Perfect! (27-30 points)
You completed at least 14 entries and followed all the directions. It was obvious that you had read all the chapters in Yoga Beyond Belief (or other
approved book) because of your specific references and thoughtful reflections. You tied the readings beautifully to your own yoga practice.
Well Done! (24-26 points)
You completed 14 entries but did not follow all the directions. It seemed like you had read all the chapters in Yoga Beyond Belief (or other
approved book), but you had a hard time tying the readings to your own yoga practice, and/or you were repeating content from the book rather
than thoughtfully reflecting on the contents.
Your best effort? (21-23 points)
You completed less than 14 entries, and/or they seemed to be written in a hurry and without much thought or attention to the directions.
Really??? (0-20 points)
You chose to skip this assignment, or did such a half-hearted effort that you might as well have skipped it…
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