Atma Yoga Teacher training 2006: 1st degree

Atma Yoga is a system of mystical yoga based on the personalist standards described in the ancient Vedic puranas. Whether you feel a call to teach others and be an instrument of transformation or if you are simply looking for a deeper more spiritual experience of your yoga practice Atma Yoga teacher training is sure to take you to a new level of ability and self awareness. Atma Yoga uses a variety of yogic technologies and unadulterated yoga philosophy to accelerate you and your students journey of becoming a modern yogi. The teacher training is a powerful and intensive immersion into yoga practice, yoga philosophy and the science of presentation skills. The mechanics (physical aspects) of each technology are unique to Atma Yoga and come from an ancient repository. They are being introduced in this era for the first time. The philosophy, however, is strictly based on Vedic parampara (an unbroken lineage of Vedic knowledge.) The philosophy is expressed in the yoga classes and other events through mantras, music, stories and prasadam. A summary of the technologies we will study and explore: Yoga Techniques (what to teach) Classes & clinics Hatha yoga: Power yoga I Power yoga II Slo-deep-stretch Restorative yoga Kundalini yoga Personal sadhana -Pranayama, internal dialogue, japa, Travel sized yoga sets Confident and Charismatic teaching (how to teach) Presentation skills:level 1 - the science of charisma & confidence Vocal techniques Presence Sense memory Emotion and objective Yoga teacher auditions Anatomy and Physiology (when to teach) What we can and can't do as yoga teachers Paul Grilley David Couter power points The nervous system Nadis & chakras Evening lectures Part one: The hidden truth of yoga Part two: The business of yoga Required reading Searching for Vedic India Yoga anatomy (Couter) Human devolution Practice Sessions (preparing to teach) Memorizing & practicing Power yoga set, breathing sequence, instructions Taped auditions Systematic relaxation Sun meditation Practice teaching (in small groups) (Click here for a description of 2nd degree training curriculum)Coming soon... Goal of the Atma Yoga teacher's program: To create influential, charismatic yoga teachers who can encourage their students to use yogic practices in pursuit of their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual goals. (Those not interested in teaching can use this program to develop a better yoga practice, greater personal confidence and increased leadership skills.) Daily schedule Monday - Friday 7:30 Power yoga (1.5) 9:00 breakfast 10:15 clinic (2.0) 12:15 Break 1:00 lunch 2:30 Practicum (1.5) 4:30 Kundalini (TU/TH)/ slow deep(M/W/F) (1.5) 6:00 Snack and yogi tea 6:30 lecture (1 - 20) (1.0) 8:00 rest Total:( 7.5 hours) Saturdays will be special event days, Mantric tantric, pranic healing, redeathing, etc… Sundays will be practice days 28 days X 7.5 hours = 210 hours (Please note all schedules are subject to variability from location to location.) Prerequisites Read: Searching for Vedic India David Couter's Yoga Anatomy " Practice all the asanas in Power yoga I & II o Use must be familiar with and have memorized the names and order of the asanas in power yoga I and II o Order the instructional materials at the same time that you register Elements of the training Twice daily yoga There will be two yoga classes a day during the training. These will give you a clear conception of how the classes are taught. In addition after nearly five weeks of yoga you will be in the best health of your live. Clinics Every day you will have a clinic either on the various aspects of the yoga class such as asana and breathing, or on presentation skills. Presentation skills We place a great deal of attention on developing expert presentation skills. A confident, professional delivery of yoga instruction is as important as understanding the contact. Atma use a unique blend of yoga and presentation science to bring out the best in future teachers. Practicum time Every A portion of the afternoon is dedicatedto memorizing and practicing the many elements that go into making a confident yoga teacher. Lecture series This is a comprehensive overview of yoga, yoga philosophy, and its roots in the Vedas. It also covers yoga psychology. Yoga business and marketing seminars Every The business of yoga: marketing, design, getting jobs, putting together your own center are some of the subjects covered in this segment. Mantric Tantric Mantric Tantric is a full day event which gives yoga students an intensive immersion into japa (mantra repetition) by using only mantras of the highest degree of purity and non sectarianism (i.e.Vaisnava mantras) in a series of 60 and 30 minute partner meditations. The result is the most extraordinary experience of Vedic sound vibration a person can have in a single day. Duration: 8 hours Pranic Healing This is a very powerful pranayama based workshop. It creates a uniquely open and healing state within the students and generates a yogic type of therapeutic healing. It is followed with a delightful soul healing practice called "the psychological renewal of witnessing a miracle." Duration: about 3 hours. How to design workshops and retreats In the training you will explore and develop ideas for workshops based on the events and technologies offered in Atma Yoga. Working in small groups you will have the opportunity to create various seminar and workshop possibilities. Many of which you may come to implement in your own cities and centers. Soul Mate Yoga (2nd degree session) This event is based on the goal of giving married couples a highly sattivic way to share intimacy and affection. It is a rare yogic technology that can be used by couples as a way to create a deeper connection without having to rely on sexual contact. It combines partner asanas, pranayamas, and meditations. Duration 4 hours (for married couples or couples with a life long commitment) Training Teacher Trainers (3rd degree session) The teacher training is an important opportunity for aspirants (students of yoga) to deepen their personal sadhana and their understanding of Vedic philosophy. Because the course is taught with a complete overview of Vedic systems the students develop a very universal and more logical perspective Vedic philosophy as whole. This culminates with an understanding of the universalistic Vedic conclusion of acinyta-bedhabedha (unity in diversity.)This program that has resulted in creation of new yoga communities all over the world. It is fully hoped that some of the students will go on to become trainers of teachers themselves. Guest Speakers The development of a yoga center or yoga program at your center or in your community creates the possibility of bringing guest speakers to expand on the ideas and notions of vedic culture that are addressed only experientially in the yoga activities. We explore this idea and how and what types of guest speakers to attract to your center. Small group meetings (2nd degree session) During the teacher training we will explore and study this fascinating system for creating networks and support groups. Understanding and implementing the psychology of small groups may be one of the most underestimated and powerful opportunities for building spiritual communities. Mantra Music CDs Atma Yoga places great emphasis on the atmosphere and consciousness that is created by the music played during all of our programs. We also encourage all students of yoga to play mantras in their homes and cars. Finally one of the most effective ways for a student in the yoga program to take home what they experience in the class is by practicing the meditation that they learn in class at home. This is facilitated by making the recorded mantras available for them to purchase. Home practice CD's We are currently developing Cds, VCDs, and DVD for home use and as additional training tools. These will be valuable resources that can be sold in your centers or used to maintain your own yoga practice. We are also creating a series of DVDs that will be used as part of the new teacher Training correspondence curriculum (for those who are unable to come to a full teacher training.) These are just some of the technologies and activities that we have developed in the short time that this Atma Yoga program has existed. New technologies are constantly being developed and you can expect an increasing amount of support in both tools and our knowledge base as the Atma Yoga preaching program expands all over the world. Annual retreats Atma Yoga has planned annual retreats in the Americas, Asia and Europe. These 7 to 10 day events are a marvelous way to immerse your yoga students into Atma Yoga and spiritual activism. What to expect during the training program Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster Yoga practice by its nature affects the emotional body. Atma Yoga is designed to create shifts in the consciousness of the student. To accomplish this Atma Yoga uses powerful technologies that promote internal transformation. All the technologies we use are safe and transcendentally focused. Nonetheless as they have the ability to shake loose and dislodge obstacles and anarthas (scars of the heart), it can feel very dramatic. I will make every effort to be supportive and it is crucial that everyone understand that each of you has a role in creating a safe, loving environment. Everybody's experience of the program may change from day to day. Some aspects of the program may cause indifference, ecstatic bliss, or sheer frustration. Be prepared to go through everything and to support others as they go through there experiences. Above all, come determined to have fun and learn an empowering way to share spiritual consciousness with the world Become a powerful teacher. The teacher training will challenge you to push through any obstacles you have to working with the public. Participating in a yoga intensive has the benefit of bringing many personal issues to the forefront. This gives you the opportunity to move through obstacles as well as dovetailing hidden or under used propensities. If your confidence is high and you follow the necessary steps to insure participant safety you will be able to provide the public with a powerful yoga experience. More importantly these people will be attracted to you and they will come to trust you. You are providing them with a meaningful and often healing experience. Over time they will look to you for advice on how to live their lives. Yoga teachers can become very instrumental figures in people's lives. This is all the more reason why Yoga teachers should be attentive to their practice and be able to teach from a solid spiritual foundation. Text books Required reading (begin reading them in this order right away) " Searching for Vedic India - Devamrita Swami " Human Devolution -Michael Cremo " Leadership for Higher Consciousness - BT Swami Yoga anatomy by David Couter Supplies list (bring these things with you) Yoga mat Yoga strap Meditation pillow Warm shawl or wool blanket Eye pillow (optional) Notebook (laptop if you have one) Small mirror (about 25 cm high) and a stand for it Closing note The whole aim of the Atma Yoga program is to press forward the respiritualization of the world. Do not underestimate the potential impact you can have on the world. WE are like the links of chain alone we accomplish very little but working together we can bind the misery that haunts this world. Your servant with love, Atmananda Das Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 23, 2005 atma@yogamandir.com New Zealand dates: December 26 - February 7 -2006 For information, rates, and reservations for Atma Yoga Teacher Training in Auckland New Zealand please contact: Guru Vani Prabhvi - guruvani.dd@gmail.com Belgian dates: February 12 - March 26 - 2006 For information, rates, and reservations for Atma Yoga Teacher Training at Radhadesh in the Ardennes of Belgium please contact: Rasa Parayana Prabhu - Radhadesh.Guesthouse@pamho.net Los Angeles dates: April 14 - May 20 - 2006 For information, rates, and reservations for Atma Yoga Teacher Training in Los Angeles California please contact: Atmananda Dasa - atma@yogamandir.com Tuition for LA teacher training $1,500 US