This course is a combination of our 200 and 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses.
Start your transformative experience by gaining an understanding of the ancient Vedic yoga traditions and teachings, so that you can develop and raise your own individual consciousness, and be ready to share this with others. This course gives you a solid foundation to reinforce your determination for following the yogic path in both practice and teaching.
Its’ true purpose is firstly to consolidate your own personal yoga practice in daily life, since you can only truly share yoga on the basis of your own experience. The course offers the traditional Vedic and Tantric approaches to the entire spectrum of yogic practices, rather than any specific asana-oriented school of yoga.
It is designed to immerse students in the physical, mental, and spiritual states of yoga, so that they emerge as students and teachers of both a physical practice, and personal wisdom. It goes beyond learning how to teach others to practice yogic techniques, by preparing students to live their yoga in every moment of every day. Instead of simply imparting information to students, it teaches you how to help transform their lives.
It draws on both the ancient theory of yoga, and modern knowledge of the body and mind.
6:30 am - 7:30 am Mantra chanting and meditation
7:30 am - 9:30 am Hatha yoga – asana, pranayama, samyak kriya, yoga nidra, meditation
9:30 am - 10:00 am Breakfast in silence
11:00 am - 12:30 pm Lecture/discussion 1: yoga philosophy, lifestyle, ethics, teaching methodologies
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Free time – study time, journaling and preparation of assignments
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Lecture/discussion 2: anatomy and physiology – medical and yogic, practicum
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Practice of hatha yoga and samyak kriya
6:45 pm - 7:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Kirtan / satsang /silent meditation
9:30 pm Sleep
Students of this course will be offered the following topics: Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle & Ethics
The philosophy and aim of yoga
The four paths of yoga: karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, raja yoga, and their synthesis
Developing an understanding of the different methods of raja yoga: ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, samyak kriya (a practice of both kundalini and tantric kriyas), mantra yoga
Bringing yoga off the yoga mat and into your day-to-day life
Lifestyle issues: the yogic diet; yogic management for health and wellness; developing an understanding of the practical use of Ayurveda in day-to-day life
Yoga as a path to developing the art of spontaneously flowing with the current of life
Ethics for yoga teachers
Daily evening satsang – ancient wisdom for modern times
A deeper understanding of selected passages from Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and their implications for the present times.
A deeper understanding of the Gheranda Samhita (the major alternative hatha yoga source document to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika). It includes study of shatkarma, asana, mudra, pratyahara, pranayama, dhyana and samadhi according to the personal experience of the sage Gheranda
Various sutras of the Bhagavad Gita which are connected specifically with pranayama, meditation and inner mastery of the Self
How Tantra is the fundamental base for all of our yogic practices
Ethics for yoga teachers
Daily evening satsang – discussions about issues such as: yoga as a holistic science, japa, nada, swara, and different yogic attitudes, tools and practices for day-to-day life
Anatomy & Physiology
Medical anatomy and physiology, expanding on the relevance and application of the different bodily systems to yoga, such as the digestive system, respiratory system, cardio-vascular system, muscular system and endocrine (hormonal) system
A deeper understanding of all the different layers of the yogic anatomy and how they are interrelated with each other, and all of the different practices, e.g. koshas, prana, nadis, chakras and tattwas
Benefits and contra-indications of specific yogic practices
Developing a deeper understanding of the practical use of Ayurveda for day-to-day life
Yogic techniques which help to bring equanimity between the mind, body and spirit
Teaching Methodology
Different methods for teaching asana, pranayama, bandha, mudra, samyak kriya, pratyahara and dharana according to the different nature and level of experience of the students
How to prepare a hatha yoga program and samyak kriya program
Principles of a Vedic yoga class
Developing your confidence and trust in delivering your commands
A systematic approach to connecting, inspiring and motivating students
Developing an authentic teaching-style which is in tune with your inner awareness
Carrying the right attitude as a teacher for transmitting your teachings
How to build an appropriate atmosphere to teach classes in different environments to varied groups
Adjusting and assisting with a deeper understanding, and the use of props
How to structure teaching for different levels of students using the different raja yoga techniques and methods which, although they differ in style, all have the same purpose of inner awareness and raising the consciousness
Learning the fundamental principles of developing Vedic yoga sequencing and its holistic approach to attaining stillness
Different ways of practicing samyak kriyas (a practice of both kundalini and tantric kriyas, in which you become aware of your life-force to awaken the inner consciousness) as a means to developing kundalini awareness, and how to integrate these practices with hatha yoga sequencing
Offering a greater variety of practices within each class by incorporating different methods so that students see their yoga as a holistic experience
Techniques, Training & Practice
Asana – foundation classical poses and their alignment, benefits, contra-indications and their sequencing to create a flow – both of the body and the mind
Developing an attitude which gives as much attention to internal alignment as to external alignment
Pranayama – conscious breathing, and systematic training of the breath and mind, and their inter-relatedness
Bandha – preparation and application of the three locks, and their deeper impact on the mind and body for overall health
Mudra – yogic gestures which help one’s inner alignment and grounding of the mind
Yoga nidra – a complete yogic method of relaxation to de-stress both the voluntary and involuntary muscles of the body through systematic training of the mind while completely resting the body
Shatkarma – six yogic cleansing methods to self-detoxify the body and the mind
Samyak kriya – a practice of both kundalini and tantric kriyas (foundation practices in which you become aware of your life-force in order to awaken the inner consciousness)
Understanding the role of samyak kriya practices in purifying the astral body, and balancing the five elements (tattwas)
Mantra – pure sound to shift the awareness to the present moment; its practices and teachings; and how it is connected to nada (sound) and laya (inner rhythm)
Daily practices of Sanskrit mantras and specifically the fundamental mantras which help to develop healing, creativity and inner consciousness
Practicing other advanced mantras which are powerful tools to raise the higher frequency of energy in the different organs and systems of the body for healing
Meditation – initiation to Vedic Dhyana; how it systematically builds a dhyana practice and can lead you to the experience of pure consciousness
Specific yogic practices as described in the Gheranda Samhita
A Conscious Walk – developing an attitude of SEEING (witnessing) the body, breath and mind, and experiencing that you are deeper than this, while taking a walk
Developing the use of sequences to streamline one’s own practice and teach a hatha yoga and samyak kriya class
Discussion topics to aid in the integration of one’s practice with yogic philosophy
Developing the art of integrating your yoga with your life so that your life becomes your sadhana
Practicum
Practice teaching for part of a class and eventually a full class
Teaching with greater understanding due to personal experience, and learning to be grounded and spontaneous during your classes
Developing the art of strengthening your ability to share which comes from accepting yourself where you are in this moment
Learning the art of being fearless while sharing your experiences
Observing, giving and receiving feedback
Journaling of personal experiences, and documenting their effects
Self-study
Self-study time is allocated each day.
Students are encouraged to read and absorb the information from the Teacher Training Manual and other texts as discussed during the classes.
Assignments are to be prepared during self-study time.
Regular self-study should be undertaken with a view to completing a written exam at the end of the course.
Learning to be fearless about the examination is part of your practice – appreciating that the exam is simply a process of acknowledging where your understanding is in this moment, and being genuine to yourself about this. It requires removal of the concepts of failing or passing.
Sharing with others your experiences of seva (karma yoga) during your stay.
After returning home, becoming conscious of developing an attitude of seva (selfless service) towards the people with whom you are living, so that you are practicing your yoga as part of your life.
Evidence of a total of 60 hours of personal practice after the completion of the course to be provided by each student to the Vedic Yoga Centre before final Certification will be awarded.
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Dinner:
