200 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course
About the course:
When designing this course there were a few factors that we considered crucial to the success of such a program. after completion we want everyone involved to understand very clearly what yoga is how it works and how to communicate that experience in a led class format. So the goal of these courses is to help everyone to first practice yoga with the confidence that on their own they can calm their mind, relax their body and experience pure consciousness. Then to be able to teach in a way that shares that personal connection. Therefore enough time and guidance for personal progress to happen has been woven into the schedule.
To make this process easy lets make it fun and interesting. We begin teaching just one pose to one other person, gradually we teach more poses to more people. By the middle of the course teaching a 1.5 hour class to whole group and by the end of the course having the confidence and imagination to create our own sequences and classes.
What makes this course a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in learning to teach yoga are the media resources which capture the course content. The two sequenced practices are each explained in a workbook with full colour pictures and again in a full practice DVD. These resources will assist the students to achieve a satisfying self practice at home for years to come after the course is over. The Pranayama and Meditation classes are recorded on CD to also allow for a lasting experience to aid in self practice.
This course is very special because the various components create a synthesis which is rare in TTC taught interntionally these days. In part one the asana practice will be explained and verified alongside the anatomy section. Similarly in part two the practice of asana, pranayama and especially meditation will be examined and explained in parallel with the study of yoga philosophy. For part three we will look at individual aspects of asana practice like hip openers, inversions or backbends and begin to create mini sequences. Having opened up the possibility of creativity in asana to individual interpretation to help understand how to express that we will look at the art of teaching in the Theory Section.
Course Requirements:
- One year of regular asana practice
- Completed application form
- Pay deposit prior to course and full payment by start date
- Personal yoga-mat, strap and suitable clothing
- A copy of the two required reading texts for homework assignments
What You may take from this course:
Learn to teach a 2 hour beginners class
Learn to teach a 2 hour intermediate level class
Learn how to design and modify yoga classes to suit any situation
Learn how to practice Asana, Pranayama and Meditation from an experienced practitioner
Develop and Sustain your own self practice
Study what Yoga is and how it works from a two thousand year old philosophical text
Learn human anatomy applied to yoga practice in a therapeutic sense
Material Resources:
Complete practice workbook for two asana sequencesresources
Practice DVD for asana sections
Guided practices for pranayama and meditation
Written notes for theory sections
Patanjalis Yoga Sutras
Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: David Coulther
Next Available Courses:
1. 200 Hr Yoga Alliance Accredited Teachers Training Course
June 02, 2013- June 28, 2013 : Conducted at the Mystic School in Mysore India. Last day for early bird May 01, 2013.
2. 200 Hr Yoga Alliance Accredited Teachers Training Course
November 24, 2013- December 22, 2013 : Conducted at the Mystic School in Mysore India. Last day for early bird Nov 1, 2013.
3. 200 Hr Yoga Alliance Accredited Teachers Training Course
February 02, 2014- February 28, 2014 : Conducted at the Mystic School in Mysore India. Last day for early bird Jan 1, 2014.
Certification With Yoga Alliance
Schedule And Content
Schedule:
26 Days Of Practice:
06:00-8:00 Asana
8:00 – 9:00 Pranayama and Meditation
11:00-12:00 Pantanjali Yoga Sutra’s
12.15 -1.15 Anatomy & Kinesiology
15:00-17:00 Teaching Practical
Course Structure:
The course will run one month. with one day holiday every week. During the interval between classes there will be time for meals and homework.
Course Structure:
The course will run over three separate 2 week intensives. During the interval between courses there will be homework including teaching practice, self practice of the guided asana, pranayama and meditation sequences, reading and written assignments.
Practical Curriculum
ASANA:
Exploring the progression from guided practice to self practice: In the first two of these sections a precise sequenced practice will be learned. The aim of these sessions is to move the student into deep self practice. To build the confidence and knowledge to allow this to happen Noah’s skill as a senior level teacher is put to use. We will begin with a fully led class and progress to complete self practice. Beginning with an open mind we will learn the practice one breath and one movement at a time. Building day by day we will lengthen the sequence. Gradually the students will be guided into full self practice.
Establishing the correct approach: The guided classes will lay the foundation for the yoga to begin. During these classes the basics components of Sukhashanti style asana will be explored. How to place the body, where to take the drishti and which internal adjustments to make. How to flow with the breath and when to experience the stillness of the pose. The Sukhashanti sequences allow the practitioner to have complete confidence in themselves. Take advantage of Noah�s 20 years of experience, he can identify difficulties before they arise, remove unseen obstacles and clarify any doubts regarding the details of this practice.
Progressing to Self Practice: What makes this course special is the transitional shift that takes place as we begin to practice independently. Noah has devised a program which requires self practice of small sections gradually culminating in full self practice. The beauty of this formula is that it requires students to grasp the practice before then repeating it on their own.
In the beginning we must come to relate to gravity and the earth, not merely standing on the ground but relating to it. For the beginners placements of hands and feet are essential elements and then understanding how we cooperate with gravity for balance. The essential concepts of what is required to complete forward bend, backbend, sidebend, twist and inversion are explored and will connect us to the advanced stages with primary principles of movement and posture. Linking the static postures we will become embedded in Vinyasa, the incorporation of measure, drishti, breathing and counterpose. Strength and stability are the qualities we will emphasise as we touch the fundament.
With our feet on the ground we can reach for the sky without falling over. Having a firm hold of the basics it is possible to extend the practice safely and begin to explore the limits. The cardinal directions are mapped out with asana which progress in sequences and allow for gradual realistic progression without setbacks. Asana like mountain climbing requires a planned and supported approach avoiding dangers and securing the ground covered. The way is steep and sometimes obscured but by focussing on forward movement the obstacles are overcome.
At the summit we can see where we have been and where we are going now is the time for celebration and expression of joy. The poses reflect the exhiliration and bliss of feeling at home in a special place. The peculiarity of existence is reflected in the many and various possibilities. Having used a map and formula to find our path we now see that there are other ways. Yet the end is just another beginning as here we see the introduction to advanced asana. Beyond this the individual must travel alone but now not merely equipped with a map we can learn to make our own maps.
Pranayama:
Often lauded as the special terrain of hatha yoga. By gradually lengthening the breath we can slow down the heart rate and eventually the brains metabolic rate evoking a profound state of relaxation. Pranayama gives us the tools to reprogram our bodies response to stress with a direct feedback system. This ancient art is inseparable from meditation and yet is much more approachable for lay practitioners.
Noah has practiced pranayama regularly for over 5 years and reduced his breath rate during practice to below 1 breath per minute. By combining the effects of pranayama with meditation the Sukhashanti method was born. This style of practice has made sense of what is often a neglected area of yoga practice.
Sukhashanti style pranayama uses a systematic method beginning with guided practice and then moving to self practice. In this manner every individual will be able to find their own level of depth. From an already established path to progress requires simply to place one step in front of another. Having covered the core concepts of the seated posture, the use of hand positions, the breathing techniques and the correct way to focus the mind in concert with the breath we will progress to pranayama proper with retention and gradually establish self practice.
Meditation:
The jewel in the crown. For this most important practice we will take the seated position developed in asana and bring about steadiness of the body. Then use the pranayama techniques to make the breath even and minimal and begin to calm and soothe the mind. From this base we will begin to learn Dharuna (concentration) using Sukhashanti Method of taking many points of focus for short periods. Lengthening the period of concentration and keeping the point of focus fixed brings us to Dhyana (absorbtion). Samadhi arises out of awareness which focuses in on itself, it is a natural consequence of practice.
Meditation can be difficult and is commonly misunderstood. Most yoga teachers either embellish or avoid this most vital and fundamental aspect of yoga. To clarify and lay the path we will study Patanjalis yoga sutra. Without philosophy yoga can be misguided and even dangerous. Without practice philosphy can be dry and theoretical. Through meditation liberation is possible in a way that asana and pranayama rarely achieve.
The process will begin with fully guided practice and gradually develop to self practice. The Sukhashanti approach uses shifting points of focus, gradually covering the layers of manifest consciousness. Eventually we identify consciousness iteself as the source.
Theoretical Curriculum:
Antomy And Physiology: 20 Hours
Understanding anatomy enables a way to see bodies vitally important to a yoga teacher. In our own practice we develop a keen intuitive understanding of our bodies, yet without the language to communicate this knowledge teaching can be frustrating. To teach yoga well verbal communication must be consistent with physical demonstration. The basic terms of anatomy describe the positioning and movement of the human form in three dimensional space. With clarity and consistency teachers will develop the self-confidence that comes from knowing rather than guessing.
The limitations of the body must be respected for progress in asana. To understand the basis of these physical limitations anatomy provides the answers. Bones, muscles and tissues have various inherent properties relevant to physical strength and flexibility. In fact the riddle of the many and varied asana can be comprehended by knowing which areas of the body are being targeted by the different poses. By studying the articulations of the body the different types of movements possible can be understood.
With his background as a chiropractor coupled with a bachelors degree in anatomy, physiology and neurology Noah is uniquely qualified to teach anatomy for yoga teachers.He presents this subject with a therapeutic view in mind drawing from years of practice and clinical experience. This workshop has distilled the essentials into an interesting and interactive package.
Philosophy: 20 Hours
To achieve a philosophical understanding of the system of yoga we will study one of its most important texts, Patanjalis Yoga Sutra. We will cover the first two of the four chapters in this two thousand year old Text. The first chapter or Samadhi Pada deals with the concepts that describe the structure of our own consciousness. Patanjali describes the nature of the mind and the soul and explains how Yoga works through the mind to “see the soul”. The second chapter or Sadhana Pada describes yoga practice. Here Patanjali defines the ashtanga system and goes on to discuss meditation practice in detail.
This text examines the nature of the our existence. It is a practical manual discussing Yoga in terms of the quality of the state of mind. To relate to the text it is necessary to have some experience with meditation practice. So this section of theory is scheduled together with the meditation practice to be used as an aid to achieving self practice of meditation.
The text will be studied by comparing different interpretations of the original sanskrit that are presented in the English Language. Reading texts will be provided and the philosophy will be discussed as a group in a tutorial format. This allows for discussion and discourse so necessary to absorb the content.
Ethics And The Art Of Teaching: 20 Hours
This program is designed very much to enable the student to gain the skill, knowledge and experience required to be an informed and confident teacher of hatha yoga. The landmark performance of this ability is to deliver a 1.5 hour asana class which is safe and effective. Ask any experienced teacher and they will tell you that teaching beginners is generally the most challenging task. Sukhashanti yoga uses a set sequence designed for its accessibility to the lay public and gives the teacher the language and clarity to express the teaching verbally. Together with clear and noncompetitive demonstration and the ability to read and adjust the students poses. The result is a well defined form which could be taught to your own mother or someone already with a background in human movement.
The energy which we require to perform the action of teaching is often even with the best of intensions misguided. For example it is a common mistake to presume that while demonstrating a pose for a class the more we push our own body the greater the understanding of the students will be. And so in a class teachers often strain and injure themselves trying too hard and overdoing poses in an attempt to inspire the students. Sadly this frustrates the teacher and provides no benefit to the students at all, they will not notice if you can force your shoulder blades down an extra centimeter.
And so the need for ethics in the teacher student relationship arises. Both to protect the student and the teacher. A little bit of wisdom goes along way. Having a clear idea of what we are trying to accomplish in a yoga class is the first step in adopting the right attitude to teaching. Without this road map our passions can carry us away to a place where we cant remember why we teach. Is it just because we love the control of the group energy? Do we do it because we need the money? Or is Teaching simply a natural expression of who and what we are shared compassionately with others in a non competitive environment.
Ethics is applied philosophy and here lies the link between practice and exposition. Its the knowledge of the meaning of yoga hand in hand with the experience of self-practice communicated to others. Then given the right tools we can be authentic teachers. The theory content for this the third section of the course will be the art of teaching yoga.
Price and how to Book:
To apply for a place on a scheduled course the first step is to submit a completed application form and await confirmation. If accepted then payment can be arranged to confirm your booking. Course numbers are limited and payment will ensure your position.
The full fee for courses in India is 60000 INR, an early bird price of 50000 INR will be available if booked well in advance before cut off date.
Online Application Form
All payments for trainings conducted in India should be made to the Mystic School.
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM: click here to open pdf
