Teacher Training
This is an exciting opportunity to train as a yoga teacher. A two year, 230 hour certificate course, validated by the Independent Yoga Network and registered with the Yoga Register to ensure quality and integrity.
Please email or telephone/write to me if you are interested in this course.
Start date May 2008.
Key Study Areas
- Preparation/limbering – several limbering routines will be taught and one available in handout form.
- Asana (postures) – a wide range, including some sequences (Vinyasa) and modifications for the less/more able students.
- Mudra (seals) and Bandha (locks) – All major bandhas and a number of mudras.
- Pranayama (breathwork) – Several pranayamas including techniques of breathing into postures and breath and movement style exercises.
- Pratyahara/Dharana/Dyana (sense withdrawal, concentration and absorption): these are yoga’s other supporting column, as it were. They are usually loosely drawn together under the term “meditation”. The psychology, culture and techniques will be examined in detail.
- History and culture – Yoga did not develop in a vacuum. Its fascinating history and cultural background will be examined. This will include an objective, non-sectarian look at Hinduism, Vedanta, Buddhism, Taoism and Zen and their influence on Western thinking.
- Philosophy – The Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita and Principal Upanishads will be discussed and interpreted, with emphasis on Patanjali’s Eight Limbs as a theoretical model. The value of Yama/Niyama as an ethical code for teachers will be discussed in a non-doctrinaire manner.
- Western ideas and psychology – the work of the Western body workers, especially Reich and Alexander, will be examined in detail because of their relevance to contemporary practice and ideas.
- Kriya (cleansing practices) – Three widely practiced Kriya will be explained. Participation strictly optional!
- Laya yoga/pranic anatomy - Western and Eastern concepts of the life force such as nadis (energy channels), chakras (energy vortices) and orgone (universal life force) will be discussed in detail and the human energy system demonstrated experimentally.
- Anatomy/physiology – all the major human systems will be outlined, with more detailed emphasis on the musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Unitary functioning of the Bodymind will also be emphasised.
- Teaching practice – great emphasis will be placed on good teaching practice. You will spend a lot of time on the course teaching and being taught by your peers. This is the only way to gain the confidence, mental agility and creativity essential for good class teaching.
