Yoga teacher training 2024/2025 RYS 200

Tapas is one of the three branches of kriya yoga or yoga of action. It comes from the sanskrit root "crane", and translates as "to heat" or "to burn". Traditionally, it has been aimed at the strict and self-disciplinary exercise of ascetics on the road to self-realization. A softer interpretation is the effort, motivation and discipline that keeps us going through the energetic, bodily and mental process and transformation that yoga entails – removing, "burning away" impurities in the body, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

One of the most natural steps to being more present and attentive in our everyday life is to feel into the body – body awareness. Physical exercise awakens the body by gently increasing mobility and strength. Yoga asanas are grouped into categories of positions. These include: standing, forward bends, back bends, twists, arm balance and inversions.

We will cover all the essential positions and movements and break them down into sequences to understand how they are constructed and what it takes physically and knowledge-wise to practice asanas in each category.

We start with basic positions that are safe and easy to do, we give the body time to become empathetic and aware. Unconscious movements and posture patterns are made aware, and we begin to move and breathe in areas of our bodies that may have been blocked or closed for years. As we become more skilled in the basic principles of each category of positions, we naturally continue to more the more complex, helped by an increased body awareness.

We will learn:
– Movement principles and essential operations
– Adjustment principles that keep the body grounded and safe
– Teaching and how to observe and "see"
– Use aids and modifications and variations for students with specific needs and injuries
Assisting in classes

The use of voice and intelligent and clear language
– How to "take the room" and create trust and respect
– The art of integrating mindfulness, yoga philosophy and inspiring texts into a class

We teach how to build a class in its various components- sequencing. The emphasis is on teaching students the tools they need to explore and experience how yoga feels in their bodies and minds and help them discover and express their unique and personal expression in yoga.

Svadhyaya is the second part of kriya yoga. It translates as "self-study" or self-knowledge and refers to the study of the ancient texts that serve as a practical guide on the path of yoga. The texts we will study are Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. By reading these texts and discussing them in the group, we bring them to life and make them available as aids on our way to deepening our understanding of yoga.

Functional anatomy, physiology and biomechanics: All physical forms of yoga require strength, flexibility and balance. Understanding what is happening in the body is a necessary knowledge to keep students safe in their exercise. Knowledge of the structures of the body and movement principles is crucial in order to be able to teach correct alignment and to develop sequences and build up the classes. As teachers, we usually face a wide range of students, from beginners to experienced and variations in ages and abilities. This requires knowledge of how to help each individual student find the simplicity and stability of their practice. Our program includes a solid foundation for getting to know the body's large structures, as well as a functional understanding of how the body moves. Through anatomy labs, we study movement with our own body as well as the anatomical diversity of the group.

The subtle body: In addition to understanding our physical bodies, our training also provides an introduction to the so-called energy body. The old texts speak of an energy body that constantly interacts with strengthens the physical body. In this area we will go through the chakra system, nadis, koshas and even the fascia.

Pranayama: We go through how breathing affects us physically, mentally and how it can lead us deeper into meditation, the history of Pranayama and the classic Pranayama exercises according to The Kaivalyadhama lineage based on the classic Yoga texts mainly Yoga Sutras, Hatha Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita.