Modules

Asanas – Yoga Postures

Two types of asana classes will be conducted:

• One daily asana practice class which will provide you with the opportunity to practice your asanas and will help you to develop a strong personal practice of asanas, and
• One daily teaching practice class devoted to understanding how to teach the asanas – we will break down the asanas and understand alignment, most common errors, and how to help students self-correct.

The daily in-depth practice with individual corrections comprises:

• Effective warm-ups and how to incorporate them into the class -  various categories of warm-ups
• Sun salutation and its variations
• 66 basic yoga postures
• 100 asana variations, from beginners level to advanced
• Postural alignment
• Guided deep relaxation and yoga nidra
• Release of blocked energy and deep healing
• How to develop flexibility and strength
• Helpful instructions for alignment in the asanas and how to self-correct as well as adjust students

Pranayama and Breathing Exercises

• Expands breathing capacity
• Relaxes the nervous system
• Balances the two hemispheres of the brain
• Purifies the nadis (subtle energy channels)
• Stores energy in the chakras
• Calms the mind
• Ujjayi, Surya Bheda, Sitali, Sitkari, Bhramari
• The 10 Vayus (Pranas) and Pranayama

Kriyas, Bandhas and Mudras

• Neti, Nauli, Kapalabhati and tongue cleaning : classical yogic purification techniques for the nose, lungs, abdomen and tongue which will be demonstrated and practiced
• Bandhas: Jalandhara, Uddayana and Mula Bandha
• Bandhatraya Yoga: Mahamudra, Mahabandha and Mahavedha
• Mudras
• General Health rules
• Yogic secrets for a long life
• Lymphatic drainage massage

Yoga Anatomy, Physiology and Bio-Psychology

• Introduction to the major body systems
• The effects of yoga on: the cardiovascular system, respiration, digestion, skeletal and muscular systems, endocrine system
• The science of asanas: their physical and mental benefits
• Yoga and physical culture
• Yogic Diet, Nutrition and the Principles of Ayurveda
• Human Anatomy and Yoga Physiology are important aspects of yoga study, but another relatively unexplored aspect of yoga is Bio-Psychology. Bio-Psychology is the study of glands and hormones and their profound effects on all physical and mental (psychic) functions like growth, digestion, energy levels, emotions, etc.
• Subtle Anatomy: Koshas, Vayus, Nadiis, Prana, Chakras

The History of Yoga

• Various Definitions of Yoga
• A brief history of Tantra
• From Shiva to Krsna
• Patanjali
• The Nath lineage
• Astavkra Muni
• The Kriya Yoga Lineage (Lahiri Mahasaya, Paramahansa Yogananda, etc.)
• Ramakrsna and Vivekananda
• Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and his students
• B.K.S.Iyengar
• Pattabhi Jois
• T.K.V. Desikachar
• Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

Karma and Reincarnation

• The law of action and reaction
• Karma and Samskara (Samskara means reactive momenta to past actions and is not to be confused with the term Samsara, which means the wheel of birth and rebirth)
• Life, death, rebirth and liberation
• Destiny, Prapatti Vada and self-effort

Teaching practice

What qualities should a yoga teacher have? This module will focus on the qualities of a good yoga teacher with an emphasis on teaching methodology, e.g. how to communicate with students, how to demonstrate, observe the student in the class to avoid injury during practice of asana. We will also discuss the personal and professional ethics of a yoga teacher.

Besides you will receive sample templates for a Hatha, a Vinyasa and a Rajadhiraja class. You will also be given a fully designed beginner's course which you can apply in real life as soon as you have completed the course.

• How to teach the basic postures, breathing exercises and elementary meditation to beginners and intermediate students
• Setting up of a proper environment for class
• Mindful Sequencing
• Use of voice and presentation skills
• General pointers on teaching a class
• The Basic Rajadhiraja class
• The Dynamic Vinyasa class
• Beginners' Course
• Advanced Postures
• Yoga for Children
• Yoga for Older Citizens
• Yoga for Pregnancy
• Relaxation
• Detailed correction workshops
• In the second half of the training course, participants will teach each other under the guidance of an experienced instructor

Yoga nutrition

• Vegetarianism for ethical, spiritual and health reasons
• How diet affects the mind
• Proper balance of the main nutrients
• Ayurvedic principles of nutrition
• Healing effects of fasting

Meditation

• Guide to meditation
• What is meditation
• Why meditate
• Experiences in meditation
• Mantras as powerful sound energy healing and purifying the chakras, nadis and body cells
• The science of mantra
• The 3 qualities a mantra must possess
• Mantra initiation (if desired)

Rajadhiraja Yoga

• Ashtanga - the 8 limbs of yoga
• Ethics and moral principles
• Hatha Yoga
• Koshas – the five layers of the mind
• Kaoshikii and Tandava: dynamic yogic dances for women and men
• Concentration and meditation
• The six lessons of Sahaja Yoga
• 16 points of yogic life

Kundalini Yoga

• Understanding Kundalini Shakti
• Macrocosm and Microcosm
• The Tantric theory of creation
• Nirguna and Saguna Brahma
• Shiva and Shakti
• The 7 Chakras
• The awakening and raising of Kundalini Shakti

And much MORE!