Yoga Teacher Training Certification

ANANDA SEVA

YOGA TEACHER TRAINING

A Yoga Alliance Nationally Approved

200-Hour Program

Spring 2008 Training

February 1 - February 10 & April 18 - 27, 2008

Autumn 2008 Training

September 19 - 28 & October 24 - November 2, 2008

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WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

The Ananda Seva Yoga Teacher Training Certification Program is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the breadth and depth of Yogic philosophy and practices as well as an in-depth study of Asanas (yoga postures). It allows students to explore their own development of body, mind and spirit through exposure to the richness of the yogic tradition. The program is designed not only for exploration of the mind and body, but for increasing one’s intuition, compassion, love and sense of service. This program is registered at the 200-hour level with Yoga Alliance.

The Ananda Seva Yoga Teacher Training gives students an opportunity to experience the yogic lifestyle and its multiple benefits while teaching them about the yogic tradition, its history, theory and practical application. The course includes an in-depth study of Asanas or yogic postures, meditation practices, basic Ayurveda and other yogic health practices, Pranayama, anatomy, physiology, philosophy and ethics as well as teaching methodology. There will also be practice teaching and practicum time in the course and in between the two 10-day intensives.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Our certification program is open to people of all faiths and traditions. It is especially designed for those who want to experience a comprehensive overview of yogic teachings. For those who want to immerse themselves in the richness of the yogic lifestyle, either for beginners or to deepen an existing practice, this program offers an in-depth overview and opportunity to practice all aspects of yogic life. For those who are teaching or would like to teach, this program is designed to expand your knowledge of all aspects of yoga as well as to develop and enhance your teaching skills. And for those whose primary goal is more personal, the program offers an opportunity to deepend and enrich your own personal practice.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

The Ananda Seva Yoga Teacher Training Program is designed to give students:

• A comprehensive understanding of the different aspects of the practice of yoga
• An experience of yogic practices and lifestyle and their benefits
• Practical knowledge of yogic postures (Asanas) and how to teach them

THE TEACHINGS

The practices and teachings covered in this course are based in the ancient traditions of Ashtanga Yoga, as taught by Patanjali, and classical North Indian Tantra (a comprehensive set of spiritual practices and knowledge for realization of the Self). It is the foundation for Hatha Yoga practices and the Sahaj meditation system. The YTT course will cover the following areas of knowledge:

• An in-depth overview of traditional yoga postures (Asanas), and how to teach them to others
• Meditation practices, how to meditate successfully, visualization, how to teach basic meditation
• Yogic self massage, restorative yoga and deep relaxation practices
• History of yoga from ancient times and schools in the west
• Review of the six primary yogic traditions: Bhakti, Jnani, Karma, Ashtanga, Tantra Yoga, and Hatha Yoga
• Reincarnation, Yogic cosmology, understanding mystical & spiritual experience, Kundalini, Chakras, Prana,
• Nadiis, Vayus, subtle energy, Yama and Niyama: the ethical principles of yoga, and other yogic philosophy
• Basic Ayurvedic principles: doshas, mental-emotional, physical, diet and health tendencies
• Yogic health practices, methods of purification, cleansing, yogic diet practices and fasting
• Basic meditations and visualizations for yoga and meditation classes
• Pranayamas and their effects,
• Starting a successful business as a yoga instructor

ASANA PROGRAM

The style of yoga postures or Asanas done in our program is Classical or Hatha Yoga. Students are taught the correct identification and performance of the major classical Hatha Yoga postures. Then they are taught how to sequence a class and how to teach Asanas at three levels of development:

• At the beginning level, students are taught movement from one posture to another and stretches that enhance flexibility and flow.
• At the intermediate level, students learn to hold postures for specified lengths of time and master sequences and repetitions specifically designed to balance and integrate the glandular systems of the body.
• At the advanced level, students learn the integration of breath retention with Asanas.

Other Aspects Taught in the Asana Program

• Proper alignment and biomechanics
• Guiding and adjusting students properly in postures including use of props, straps and chairs
• Health benefits, indications and contraindications of particular postures
• Adapting yoga teachings for special populations.
• Self Massage and Deep Relaxation Techniques used with Asanas
• Guidelines for the practice of Asanas
• Asanas and Ayurveda
• Anatomy and physiology as related to Asanas
• Restorative Yoga

Teaching Skills

• Teaching methodology
• Designing a balanced class – principles of sequencing
• How to teach a class, spot, align
• Supervised student teaching and developing a personalized style
• Business of yoga – setting up classes in your community

DAILY SCHEDULE

6:30 – 7:30 Morning Meditation Class, Kiirtan and Chanting

7:30 – 8:30 Asana Class; Learning Postures

8:30 – 9:00 Breakfast

9:00 – 12:00 Philosophy/ Physiology/Health Class

12:00 - 1:30 Lunch & Free Time

1:30 - 5:30 Asana's and Asana Methodology Class

5:30 - 6:30 Evening Meditation Class

6:30 – on Dinner and Personal Time

LOCATION

Our Training Center at Ananda Kamalalaya is situated on a three-acre hilltop of beautiful California Oaks and meadows overlooking Mount Saint Helena and the Mayacamas Mountains between the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Located only twenty-five minutes from the majestic Sonoma coast, 30 minutes from Calistoga Hot Springs and minutes from central Santa Rosa, we have both the beauty and seclusion of nature and the convenience of a centralized location. There is a pool and hot tub available as well as decks with mountain views on which to meditate or do yoga. In the main house is a beautiful meditation hall in which we will conduct most of our programs. Wilderness walking trails and lakes in a state park are only minutes away by car

OUR INSPIRATION

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, a great spiritual master and renaissance thinker who not only gave profound teachings about spiritual life but also put forward innovative ideas relevant to the development of human society, is our continuing source of inspiration. He was born in a small village in Northern India in 1921 and taught and spiritually guided thousands until his physical departure in 1990. He embodied Divinity both in his person and his teachings.

Anandamurti gave a system of spiritual practices rooted in the ancient teachings of classical Tantra and Ashtanga yoga. He deeply believed in the application of yogic principles to daily life and sought to provide a value base for a unified, ecologically attuned humanity that views all life as interconnected and all beings as expressions of one essential consciousness.

FACULTY

Maetreyii Nolan, Ph.D., R.Y.T. (500)

Maetreyii has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 30 years and is the co-founder and president of Ananda Seva Mission as well as the co-director of this program. She has a doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice, a former director of the Spiritual Emerence Network and a founding board member of the Kundalini Research Network. She has done extensive teaching on Yogic philosophy and practices, drawing on a strong intuitive connection to her Guru, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, through which she receives teaching and shares them with others.

Avadhutiika Ananda Deviika’ Ma’ A’cha’rya, M.Sc., R.Y.T. (500)

Ananda Deviika’ Ma graduated from the University in Belgrade, in Yugoslavia , with a degree in Theoretical Physics, which inspired her to further her research in the domain of spirituality. She received her spiritual initiation in 1977 and decided to dedicate her life to serving others as an Acharya, or spiritual teacher. She became a Sannyasini, or yogic nun, in the Northern Indian Tantric tradition under the guidance of her Guru Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. She spent three years training in India and then came to the United States and Canada where she has taught many people the practices of Sahaj yoga. She is a co-founder and General Secretary of Ananda Seva Mission, a trainer of family Acharyas, and a co-director of the ASM Yoga Teacher Training.

Grace Murdock, R.Y.T. (500)

Grace Murdock, CYTT, ERYT is an Intuitive Healer, Performance Artist, and Certified Yoga Therapy Teacher. Her formal study of yoga and yoga therapy began in Ojai, California with Gabriella M.B. Hansen, formerly of the Deepok Chopra Center. Grace's yoga offerings are rooted in EQuilibrium Yoga, a synthesis of traditional Hatha, Integrative Yoga, and Yoga Therapy. In addition Grace holds a 15-year background in Body Work and Holistic Healing and has been exploring the body/spirit evolution through Dance, and Performance Art for over 23 years. Presently Grace is a student of Traditional Midwifery and continues her studies of Energy Medicine and Intuitive Healing through the Foundation of Spiritual Development in San Rafael, CA. Grace is available for Private and GroupYoga Instruction and can be reached at 707-889-3165.

COURSE OUTLINE

Meets Yoga Alliance National Certification Standards

I. TECHNIQUES CONTACT HOURS: 83

1. Asanas and Deep Relaxation
2. Meditation Practices and Techniques
3. Yogic Health & Purification Practices
4. Pranayama (Traditional Yogic Breathing Practices)
5. Chanting, Spiritual Songs, Bhajans, Kiirtan

II. TEACHING METHODOLOGY CONTACT HOURS: 41

1. Teaching Asanas and Adapting Them for Individual Needs
2. Guidelines for Safety in Asanas and Pranayama
3. Integrating Learning Styles in Teaching - Kinesthetic, Visual, Auditory
4. Ethics And Qualities of a Good Yoga Teacher
5. Providing Guidance as the Student Progresses
6. Managing Your Business as a Yoga Teacher

III. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY CONTACT HOURS: 19.5

1. Anatomy and Physiology of the Physical Body
2. Anatomy and Physiology of the Subtle Body:
3. Chakras, Nadiis, Prana and Kundalini
4. Ayurvedic Physiology

IV. YOGA PSYCHOLOGY CONTACT HOURS: 32

AND PHILOSOPHY

1. History of Yoga
2. Overview of the Techniques and Philosophies of the Six Major Yogas: Jnana, Tantra, Karma, Bhakti, Ashtanga and Hatha Yogas
3. Creation of the Universe according to Sankhya and Tantra
4. Nature of Mind and Self; Lokas and Koshas
5. Stages of Meditation
6. Stages of Samadhi and Advancement of Consciousness
7. Yama & Niyama, the Ethical Code of Yoga: Integrating Yogic Values into One’s Life
8. Yogic Lifestyles, Integrating Yogic Practices into Your Life
9. Reincarnation, Karma & Samskara

Texts: Ananda Sutram, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

V. PRACTICUM CONTACT HOURS: 5

1. Supervised Student Teaching
2. Home Study Assignment

TOTAL CONTACT HOURS: 180.5

HOME STUDY HOURS: 30.0

TOTAL COURSE HOURS: 210.5

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

At the end of the course, all participants who have attended the specified number of classes will receive a Certificate of Completion of the course. This course is registered with The Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level, so that graduates can become Nationally Registered Yoga Teachers.

TUITION AND FEES

The Ananda Seva 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program includes:

• Full tuition for two 10-day sessions
• All classes and instruction and yoga practice
• A comprehensive manual
• Guided home-study program between sessions
• One-year membership in the Ananda Seva Yoga Teacher Training Association and online Yoga Teacher Training Yahoo! Groups

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