YogAnga Retreat at Śri Santosh Puri Ashram

YogAnga Retreat at Sri Santosh Puri Ashram: Explore a yogic lifestyle, where yogis were born and raised… on the bank of the sacred Ganga River in the foothills of the Himalayas (between Haridwar and Rishikesh).

RYS 500 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Curriculum

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āyāsa vinyāsa YogAnga abhyāsa
Yoga Alliance RYS 500 hour Teacher Training in India curriculum:

As deep as you dive into yoga, as transformational your journey will be.

Aside from your time on the mat, through lectures, discussions and essay writing, you will not only discover the path of yoga. You will also discover its destination (the goal of yoga), who have been, are and may become your various guides (teachers and gurus) along the way.

Most importantly you will discover where you are on this path and how to proceed towards your goal.

Through understanding your own journey, you will be able to have a greater understanding of the various types of students you may encounter in your classes. And gain insights into how to adjust each session accordingly to individual students. Ultimately you will open and empty (purify) your self enough to receive all that your various guides (teachers and masters) may have to offer you.

Title: Practical / Physical Classes (Shatkarma, Asana, Pranayama, etc.)
Educational Category: Techniques, Training and Practice (TTP)
Contact Hours: 100
Contact Hours With Lead Trainer: 100
Total Hours: 400
Trainer: Ganga Puri

Description

Shatkarma (six cleansing kriyas): approximately 1 hour, 6 days a week, during the first month. To prepare for the remaining practice in our sapta sadhana (seven limbed yoga system) six cleansing kriyas, some which the participant can incorporate into their daily practice, others to be done on a seasonal basis, are done to purify the physical body. Starting the month with the half version of shankprakshalana ending with the full version, with days in between learning mūlashodhana (rectal cleaning, also called “Ganesh Kriya”); antar dhauti (internal cleansing: varisara, vatsara, vahnisara dhauti); danta dhauti including: danta mūl (teeth), jihva mūl (tongue), netra sodhan (eyes), karnarandra (ears) and kapalrandhra (palate); hrid dhauti (vaman/kunjal); neti (jal & sutra); nauli; kapalbhati: vatakarma kapalbhati (air cleansing), vyutkarma kapalbhati (sinus cleansing); shītkarma kapalbhati (mucus cleansing); and trātak.

Asana: approximately 2 hours, 6 days a week, guided classes during all three months. Done according to the moon cycle: starting with the day after the new moon, with eight asanas added every two days, until the series expands to reach 56 total asanas by the day before the full moon, then eliminating eight asanas every two days until the day before the following new moon, like the waxing / waning of the moon. Learning surya namaskar as well as 56 various asanas in three styles (each month a distinct style): Rājas (holding each asana for 3-5 breaths), Tamas (holding each āsana with inhale/exhale retention), Satva (holding each asana for much longer duration, working with the breath to go deeper into the pose). New Moon / Amavāsya and Full Moon / Purnima are days off. Sundays are teaching-practice days.

Mudra: topics covering various techniques interspersed within asana and prānayama sessions during all three months. Mudras are gestures or attitudes, which Yogis have experienced to be used as short cuts to connect one’s gross prānic flow with the universal or cosmic force. These higher practices can lead towards healing oneself as well as awakening the prānas, chakras and kundalini. 

Pratyahara: topics covering various techniques interspersed within āsana and prānayama sessions during all three months.

Pranayam: approximately 1 hour, 6 days a week, guided classes during all three months covering the following practices – abdominal breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, thoracic breathing, full yogic breathing, nadi shodhana, anulom vilom, bhastrika, surya bheda, sitkari, sitali, ujjayi, and brahmari.

Sukshma Vyayām (Subtle Pranic Exercises): approximately 1 hour, 6 days a week, during the second month. Combining prānayama with isolated movements focusing on specific joints and / or energy centers.

Dhyana (Meditation): two separate approximately 1/2 hour sessions for self practice (one in the morning, one in the evening, each by the dhuni before aarti followed by vedic chanting), 7 days a week, during all three months. Aside from which in conjunction with other class sessions such as asana, prānayama, sukshma vyayām and yantra painting, where focus on the breath can lead one to a meditative state, we will also cover various concentration/meditation techniques such as yoga nidra, mantra japa, and laughing meditation.

Therapeutic Yoga: approximately 1 ½ hours, 6 days a week, guided classes during the third month, where students will learn a variety of asana series to practice or teach according their or their students particular health conditions (such as lower back pain, asthma, arthritis, diabeties, heart problems, menstruation and digestion issues etc.) Building upon the knowledge gained about the body in the Anatomy, Physiology and Auyrveda classes, in this section the participant will gain a greater understanding of which practices that keeps the body healthy, in conjunction with how various asanas affect the different physiological systems in the body.

Title: Anatomy, Physiology and Ayurveda
Educational Category: Anatomy & Physiology (AP)
Contact Hours: 30
Contact Hours With Lead Trainer: 30  
Total Hours: 30
Trainers: Brahmananda Giri & Alaknanda Puri

Description 
Total approximately 90 hours – 1-2 hours, 6 days a week

Yoga-AnatomyAnatomy, Physiology and Ayurveda will be covered during the first and second months, as well as referred to continuously during the Alignment and Observation sessions throughout the course and Therapeutic Yoga sessions in the third month.

During the first month we will cover the basics of Anatomy & Physiology and move on to Ayurveda in the second month, application of this understanding to be used towards keeping the physical body both safe and healthy through yoga. How various asanas affect the specific systems of the body will be covered in more detail in the Therapeutic Yoga Course in the third month.

Learning Objectives 

  • Skeletal system: Bones and joints. Types of joints, their range of movement and Spine: anatomy, safety.
  • Muscular system: Anatomy of muscles and tendons. Principle of work of agonist and antagonist muscles. Avoiding and dealing with common problems of muscles and tendons in yoga (muscle strains, tears, ruptured tendons, carpal tunnel syndrome).
  • Cardiovascular system: including issues with High and low blood pressure.
  • Nervous system: Somatic and autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomous nervous systems.
  • Respiratory system: Design of the respiratory system, muscles of respiration. Neuromuscular regulation or breathing and impact of breathing on nervous system. Physiology of respiration. Hypoventilation and hyperventilation. Analysis of types of breathing: thoracic (constricted and empowered), paradoxical, abdominal breathing, diaphragmatic, full yogic breath. Analysis of different yogic breathing exercises (kapalabhati, bhastrika, ujayyi), with their impact on cellular gas exchange and nervous system.
  • Endocrine system.
  • Digestive system: and how this is often the root cause of problems in other systems in the body.

Ayurveda: Understanding of ayurvedic concepts will help us deepen the practice of yoga and compose diet and lifestyle that will suit our individual requirements. Each Participant will undergo an individual Ayurvedic Consultation with Dr. Alaknanda Puri, in which she will help you understand your own body’s constitution, current dominant dosha and how to manage your own balance and health through various prescribed herbs and treatments accordingly. This course section will also include practical sessions such as medicinal preparations, application of treatments, as well as ayurvedic cooking.

  • Basic Science of Ayurveda: elements, dhatus, doshas, and tastes.
  • Dynamic equilibrium of the doshas: vatta, pitta, kapha qualities as well as body types.
  • Diet: appropriate and inappropriate food / drink combinations and habits such as vegetarianism, non veg, vegan and fasting.
  • Daily routines & seasonal routines.
  • Marmas: pressure points at various energetic centers
Brahmananda Giri - YogAnga Retreat Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Staff - Yoga Anatomy, Alignment, Asana - yoganga.org - Sri Santosh Puri Ashram Yoga-and-Anatomy-At-YogAnga

Title: Observation and Alignment
Educational Category: Teaching Methodology (TM)
Contact Hours: 30
Contact Hours With Lead Trainer: 30  
Total Hours: 30
Trainers: Brahmananda Giri, Ganga Puri & guest teachers

Description 

Daily throughout the first month we will break down the creation, retention and dissolution of each of the 56 asanas in our YogAnga series, starting with Surya Namaskar (not as a mere warm up exercise but as an expression of gratitude and devotion). Keeping in mind our five principles that make up a steady and comfortable pose: Breath, Sight, Contact, Alignment, and Vision, we will develop the basic skills to read people’s bodies, see the processes that a student performs in an asana (weight distribution, engagement of muscles, points of stability, working with energy lines). Iyenger Alignment methods with props are also taught.

 

Learning Objectives 

  • Classes will be arranged in a circle with one mat in the center for participants to take turns demonstrating each asana, while other participants will circle the demonstrator’s body analyzing from behind, from the side and from the front to see any postural imbalances, observe points of contact, engagement of muscles and weight distribution.
  • What you will need to analyze includes quality of grounding, stability, engagement of muscles, application of principle of extension, position of spine, integration of effort and ease (mental ease, ability to relax one set of muscles while engaging deep body muscles that support joints), quality of breath, going into and out of asana.
  • Besides these observations, you will learn to give verbal cues and /or physical adjustments to the practitioner, as well as use of modifications, variations or props.
  • Sequencing and planning classes: alternatives to our Moon Cycle series – how to choose which asanas, in which order considering counter poses, to build a series to fit in a specific time slot, as well as how to change the series according to season or time of day.
Brahmananda Giri - YogAnga Retreat Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Staff - Yoga Anatomy, Alignment, Asana - yoganga.org - Sri Santosh Puri Ashram, 200 hour yoga alliance hatha yoga teacher training in india

Title: Teaching Practice
Educational Category: Practicum
Contact Hours: 10
Contact Hours With Lead Trainer: 10  
Total Hours: 10
Trainers: Brahmananda Giri, Ganga Puri & Steffi

Description

We will begin by teaching asanas in pairs, polishing your instruction, observation and adjustment skills, then each student will teach a set of asanas to a small group, and then for a larger class.

We will analyze the most important elements of teaching yoga, from postural diagnosis of new students to sequencing of classes and specialized teaching according to individual health conditions. This block will also include a set of practical lessons and self-practice classes to refine the skill of teaching yoga. 

Learning Objectives

  • You will learn to expand your attention to all participants of your group and perform several processes of instruction, observation and adjustment simultaneously.
  • Develop your voice and begin to infuse your classes with the philosophy you are learning and beginning to adopt into your own live. Learn to be a guide to your students beyond the physical realm, finding metaphors for life lessons to be learned in the embodiments of each asana’s form (ie. what we can learn from the tree, from the turtle, the warrior, etc.)
  • Sundays during the first month: Working with partner you will take turns (one session in the morning and one in the afternoon) teaching each other the series as you have learned thus far, each week adding asanas and length of the class accordingly. After each session it is important to give each other and receive opening constructive feedback to help you grow as a teacher.
  • Sundays during the second months: According to the particular style of that month, you will guide small groups of our regular guests (those not in the teacher training program) through our YogAnga sequence in an extra optional morning or afternoon class setting, consolidating all previously acquired knowledge and skills.
  • Sundays during the second months: According to the particular style of that month, you will guide larger groups of our regular guests (those not in the teacher training program) as well as your fellow teacher trainees, through our YogAnga sequence in an extra optional morning or afternoon class setting, consolidating all previously acquired knowledge and skills. Each class session will be followed by time for constructive feedback by those who took your class, in order to help you continue to grow as a teacher.
  • Conducting a full class to a group: According to the particular style of that month, you will guide our regular guests (those not in the teacher training program) through our YogAnga sequence in a normal morning class setting, consolidating all previously acquired knowledge and skills. Each class session will be followed by time for constructive feedback by those who took your class, in order to help you continue to grow as a teacher.

Title: History and Philosophy of Hatha Yoga
Educational Category: Yoga Philosophy/LifeStyle Ethics (YPLE)
Contact Hours: 30
Contact Hours With Lead Trainer: 0    
Total Hours: 30
Trainers: Ganga Puri, Mandakini Puri and Alaknanda Puri

Description 

Through out the entire three months, the following theoretical lecture sessions will cover the philosophical history of yoga and it’s development through the analysis of some of the most important scriptures. Shruti (listening to the original sanskrit), specific translation of the most important words in the texts, commentary in order to make each concept relatable in our daily lives, as well as opportunities for Q&A, will provide students a greater understanding of main goals of yoga and how to maintain a lifestyle (as prescribed by the ancient Rishis) in order to achieve such goals. Connecting our yoga practice to its roots as well as giving it a philosophical context will make our practice more meaningful and provide us better depth of understanding with which to evaluate our progress on the path. 

 Learning Objectives:

  • Introduction to Indian & Yoga Philosophy: A brief overview of various schools of philosophical thought that has shaped India’s culture into what it is today and well as a greater understanding of the roots of yoga in regards to Gurukulas and Guru Shishya Parampara (traditional schools and teacher student relationships), covering important scriptures such as Guru Gita, as well as understanding the differences between Sankya and Vedanta philosophies.
  • Hatha Tantra Philosophy: Understanding YogAnga Retreat’s seven limbed system in the context of Gheranda Samhita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
  • Raja Yoga Philosophy: covering in detail the first two chapters of Patanjali Yoga Sutras – Samadhi Pada (describing the goal of yoga) and Sadhana Pada (describing the method to reach the goal), then briefly touching upon the other two chapters, we will gain a greater understanding of Patanjali’s 8 limbed system of Astanga Yoga.
  • Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, & Jnana Yoga: Each verse in the wish-fulfilling book Bhagavad Gita, has the divinity to lead you towards liberation, if rightly understood through devotion, surrender, and unshakable faith. The knowledge of this song will free us from ignorance, the source of suffering. Through meditation of this book, its wisdom will be experienced, filling us with the bliss of devotion, wonder, and detachment; aspirants will have the unique chance to transfer the teachings of the Gita directly into practice in the favorable atmosphere of the ashram. Each day will be guided by one of the teachings of Lord Krishna and will be applied to the asana practice, meditation, and while experiencing the benefits of Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana Yoga.
  • Santosh Puri Ashram’s Lineage of Yogis: Listening to storytelling is traditionally a major way for the student to gleen insights into the yogic lifestyle. Learn about some of the tests and trials, indoctrination, training, discipline, and ultimate samadhi of a traditional yogi, from a myriad of stories interspersed throughout every class, whether practical or lecture settings, as well as just being in the daily presense of Ganga, Mandakini, Alaknanda and others who have known Baba Ji and Mata Ji and other great saints who have spent time at the Ashram.
  • Yoga Lifestyle vs. Yoga Business [Setting up a Successful Yoga Business]: Students will be taught and given lectures on how to run a successful yoga bussiness of their own, which will be of total of 5 hours taught in the last one and half week of the course.]
    • From the examples of YogAnga Retreat and it’s teachers’ various experiences on tour throughout the world, we will discuss the slow and gradual journey from leading a practice session with a group of friends, to teaching in yoga centers, to teaching in the festival circuits, to running your own retreat center.
    • We will also discuss the traditional guru seva and guru dakshina system; the actual goal of yoga being to help transform lives, not become rich and famous; contradictory concepts of “show vs. glow” – social media advertising needed to compensate for emptiness inside vs. the natural inner light that shines through a real teacher/guru, which will natural have a gravitational pull to lure students.
    • We hope to cultivate patience in each new teacher, with the understanding that timing is everything; how to grow the group of students at a slow and steady pace that has a life of its own. 

Title: The Journey from Wanderer (Yatri) to Student (Shishya) to Teacher (Acharya) to Master (Guru)
Educational Category: Teaching Methodology (TM)
Contact Hours: 10
Contact Hours With Lead Trainer: 10  
Total Hours: 10
Trainer: Ganga Puri

Description

Your three months with us, will emerge itself as a transformational journey, where each month through lectures, discussions and essay writing, you will discover not only the path of yoga, it’s destination (the goal of yoga), who have been, are and may become your various guides (teachers and gurus) along the way, but most importantly where you are on this path and how to proceed towards your goal. Through understanding your own journey you will be able to have a greater understanding of the various types of students you may encounter in your classes and how to adjust each session accordingly, as well as open and empty (purify) your self enough to receive all that your various guides (teachers and masters) may have to offer you.

Other topics in this section will also include:

  • Ethics and Integrity – Walking the Talk: Being honest with yourself and your students of where you are on the path; being in constant check of yourself as well as open to receiving constructive feedback; establishing your own self practice, perhaps separate from that which you teach (depending upon your students), but maintaining the discipline of which you are instilling in your students as well as maintaining a lifestyle that will inspire them. Maintaining respectful and appropriate student teacher relationships.
  • Creating and Holding Space for Self-Transformation, Healing and Spiritual Awakening: class room setup and orientation (keeping in mind climate, location, time of day, wastu, and the four directions); room atmosphere and decor (cleanliness, incense, flowers, accessibility of equipment – mats, props, blankets, etc.); class levels and prerequisites; classroom etiquette.
  • Developing Your Own Voice: understanding and making use of specific yogic vocabulary (both sanskrit and appropriate english equivalents) of asana names, various nadis, chakras as well as when discussing the breath, senses, sense and work organs, etc.; eb and flow of controlling appropriate volume according to class size and classroom space, as well as for expressing emphasis while giving instructions; creating a dialog with which to infuse a philosophy into your guided practice; using the voice to both inspire and motivate your students; mantras – correct pronunciation, when and how much to use them; and well as kirtan – opening up both the heart and throat chakras through devotional singing.
  • Various Styles of Teaching: practicing together – doing your own practice and welcoming potential students to practice along side you; leading the practice with both verbal description and physical demonstration, while making only verbal adjustments; leading the practice with only verbal description, while making physical adjustments.

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