TEACHER TRAINING
'The mind will understand Truth through The intellect. Truth is not a religion - it cannot be taught. You must first discover Truth in your own Self. And then let it expand in Om. Sacrifice memory to the higher mind. Quiet your consciousness And let Truth alone remain. Merge Truth in the sky of the heart. Be one with the sky of consciousness! See the universe with equal vision And dissolve the sense of "you" and "I". Recognize Truth with this same-sightedness. There is nothing other than Truth! This is the state of Satchitananda. Truth is the beginning and Truth is the end. Truth is inside and Truth is outside. Truth is One"
Bhagawan Nityananda, Ganeshpuri INTRODUCTION Yoga or union is one's natural state when the obstacles of one's mind are removed. One then lives in harmony with oneself and others, connected continually to one's own inner divinity, seeing and relating to that same inner divinity in others. Teaching is the continuum of this natural state when the harmony within oneself begins to flow over to others. This happens automatically when one has studied oneself on all levels and allowed the limitations of the mind to depart, the heart to open and the consciousness or awareness to expand. Sensitivity, clarity and appropriateness remain. Teaching, then, is not something that is done, it is a state of being and the art and result of not doing and therefore selfless service i.e. Karma Yoga. The trainees will partake in a process of "darkness to light" or lack of understanding and expression of their full potential and life to the full illumination and manifestation of the same. The degree to which this takes place is relative to their earnestness and commitment. Initially the participants will develop the skills and qualities to teach and communicate yoga asanas, practices and techniques to others. This will include all the main styles of yoga. As the process deepens, the sensitivity, intuitiveness and compassion of a healer will evolve. The ultimate unfoldment relative to the individual's application is Satchitananda - Truth, Consciousness, Bliss - or freedom. This is one's essential nature - Svarupa.
SATSANG - In the company of the truth. The basis and most essential ingredient in yoga and yet the most underestimated and understated. Officially once a week, however, ongoing throughout the course.
ASANA To have a broad experience of various asana practices allows the teacher to have the scope to teach intuitively to a wide range of the community and address each student's needs appropriately. The body needs to be soft, strong and open for the energy or Shakti to flow and the consciousness to expand. The Ashtanga Vinyasa practices offer an ideal environment for this to take place. First and second series will be employed as a basic practice. Adjusting, demonstrating, teaching and communication skills and the practice itself form the tapestry of each morning's expression. This will take place four mornings a week. The Iyengar system will be used as a component emphasizing concise alignment to balance the body and hence the subtler energy systems. The use of props and supports will be taught to enable deeper releases of energy and perceptions. Aspects of Shivananda Yoga will be used on a daily base to open the body/energy channels for pranayama and meditation.
ANATOMY A comprehensive understanding and experience of the functioning of the physical body.
STRUCTURAL YOGA KINESIOLOGY An in-depth study of the energy dynamics relative to a diverse range of postures.
PRANAYAMA The quality and duration of one's life is directly related to one's breath. To develop an intimate relationship with one's breath allows one to create and orchestrate one's life accordingly. A step-by-step connection and regulation of the prana shakti or energy within one's breath. An understanding of how one continually looses one's energy through avidya or ignorance and the rectification of the same. Thus leading to Prana Vidya - knowledge of this energy on a practical and experiential level.
KRIYA YOGA A practical unfoldment of the Kriyas of the Satyananda yoga tradition.
YOGIC PHYSIOLOGY
FOUR MAIN STYLES OF YOGA
The four main systems of Yoga will be explored and experienced, each allowing the student to access distinct aspects of them self directly:
*All the above will incorporate a practical component.
VOICE TRAININGThe understanding , experience and transformative power of chanting. The voice and the heart are directly related. By utilizing sounds the heart is opened and the Goddess of subtle speech, Sarasvati, descends. The science of sound vibration and resonance is extremely subtle and inherently powerful. The essence of Mantra Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Siddha Yoga and Nada Yoga.
SWADHYAYA- Scriptural chant - Study of oneself and the scriptures A total yogic path in itself. Once a week for a couple of hours.
YOGIC PHILOSOPHYA garland of philosophies will also be employed as a mode of Self-enquiry and exploration:
YOGIC PSYCHOLOGY Exploring the mind or psychic instrument through its range of expressions - conscious, subconscious and unconscious - and the ego or asmita's role in continually creating a separate entity and limiting one accordingly. Exploring the different states of consciousness - waking state, dream state and deep sleep state - relative to these modes. The state of transcendence or witnessing - Turiya.
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING PRACTICEAs one's ability and confidence unfolds one will lead, teach, communicate and adjust in class situations - all styles of yoga. Assisting in class situations will be an ongoing component of the course.
TEACHING METHODOLOGYTo be able to communicate one has to first communicate with one's own mind and "Know oneself". Once one knows one's own mind one knows everyone else's mind. Mind is one.
PRE-NATAL AND ANTE-NATAL YOGACovering the whole range of experiences and expressions, both physiological and psychological that take place relative to human birth.
FIRST AIDThe First Aid component will be tailored to yoga teaching situations. The ability to allow the student to be confident without being over-confident and therefore avoiding any situation before it arises. Situations, remedies, appropriate and safe action.
VIPASSANABuddhist meditation technique of seeing things as they are. The retreats are silent and ten days in duration. Taking place at the Goenka Vipassana Centre, Woori Yallock. Two are required, one in first year and one in third year.
FIVE DAY INTENSIVE RETREATSTwo in first year and three for the next two years. Set in naturally idyllic locations utilizing different elemental environments to sensitize and focus the energy - shakti and amplify the consciousness. These are times of intense absorption of the yogic teachings. Everything provided.
YOGA AND DAILY LIFEYoga and daily life , up to a certain point, are experienced as two separate things. This is due to one's ego or one's limited understanding of themselves and an immature perception. The separateness is self-imposed. A module of integration and expansion into daily life.
There are many yoga practitioners, there are many yoga teachers, but there are very few Yogi's. The Viveka-cudamani or crest-jewel of discrimination -a Vedantic text- lists three pre-requisites for total expansion: 1. A human birth 2. An extreme desire for liberation 3. The contact of one who has a unified understanding or knowledge of the Self
"He is a spiritual teacher who teaches a way of life, not merely how to earn a livelihood." B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga The Siva Samhita - a yogic text - divides pupils into four classes: 1. Feeble 2. Average 3. Superior 4. The Supreme One - It's up to you. Enjoy the course. Regards,
Yogi Sri Robert
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