Spirit of Programme
A unique hatha yoga teacher training programme in Thailand and Ibiza synthesising the insights & practices of vinyasa flow yoga, yin yoga, and vipassana/insight/mindfulness meditation.
An in depth, organic exploration into the practices of yoga and meditation with emphasis on deepening self enquiry and self practice as the source for soulful, inspired teaching using a somatic approach (working within the realm of felt sensation and the body as experienced from within)
To cultivate mindfulness, metta and insight to underpin and support the classical teachings of Yoga, so as to be able gain a deeper understanding into the ever changing flow of conditioned phenomena that makes up human experience, that in turn allows for a deeper exploration into the subtler aspects of Yoga and the Self.
Through this fully integrated approach we offer students an accessible, direct, modern interpretation of Patanjali’s Classical Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga interwoven with the Buddha’s Teaching, firmly orientating students towards employing these practices as tools for personal liberation within the context of contemporary modern life.
Musings on Integrated Practice by Caitlin Prince, Still Flowing Graduate March 2010, Occupational Therapist and Yoga Teacher “My practice eases and gives way, spreading itself generously into the mundane and routine. I feel the pegs my fingers as I hang out the laundry, watching the wind shift through the mango tree. I am aware of the subtle warmth of satisfaction brewing in my belly, as I wipe, and clean and make my home. As I lay my head on husband’s chest, and the puppy bounds in, never one to be left out, and a lazy moment of affection morphs into an overflowing eruption of new family love”. (prince_caitlin@hotmai.com)
Testimonial from Simon Bekker, who graduated in April 2011 in Koh Phangan, and who is now teaching Yoga(simonbekker@hotmail.com)
“A really exceptional course. The range of teachers — each with their own perspective, areas of expertise and unique individuality — made for a very well-rounded teacher training. I found the Buddhist Insight aspects invaluable, providing a useful complimentary perspective on the Yoga philosophy, provoking insights into one’s own personality and motivations, as well as developing calm, patience and persistence with the meditations. The morning Asana class was inspiring, stimulating, challenging and fun; I really learnt a lot. Just the right amount of anatomy, and excellent insights into Yoga technique that I use daily when teaching. In general, a considered curriculum, that was broad enough to be comprehensive whilst still remaining manageable. The schedule, while intense, also provided enough free time to integrate, regroup and do self-study. Oh, and the setting was beautiful. I’d highly recommend the course to any aspiring yoga teachers who not only want a technically solid course, but also one with real spiritual depth”.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
We use Vinyasa Flow Yoga to encourage concentration and trigger the meditative mind by synchronising breath and movement. By doing this we encourage a moment by moment awareness in the physical body with close attention to the breath. As we flow from one pose to the next, sometimes knowing the flow, sometimes in an unexpected flow we naturally start to ride the breath as our guide, from here attention starts to be drawn inwards towards felt sensation and our inner landscape.
The Art of Teaching
50% of teaching methodology dedicated to actual teaching practice with real live yoga guinea pigs
- How to teach honestly using your own practice as your inspiration and guide for teaching
- How to demonstrate, assist and adjust
- How to structure a class and sequence a flow of vinyasa
- How to use themes, language, voice, creativity and timing
Asana Technique & Applied Yoga Anatomy & Physiology
Asana technique and principles of alignment are explored within the context of the foundation, the core and the breath. We will study the mechanics of brokendown asana, and how asana due to the shape of each individuals’ bones will be expressed differently in each body and from this understanding move students away from one size fits all technique and instead encourage students to realize how their own bodies work exploring their own range of motion so that they may help others do the same. By consequence, this will allow students to understand how to adapt and modify asana for different objectives, different needs, different bodies and different levels and how to use props appropriately to these effects.
An in depth exploration of the breath and the spine and their relationship to gravity will provide the context for the study of Yoga Anatomy on this course. Through both formal study and practical enquiry into these systems we willl focus particularly on the function of the diaphragm, the psoas and the skeleton.
We will use anatomical awareness as a powerful tool to keep our bodies safe and our minds grounded in reality, and as a way to hone our meditative awareness as it flows deep into our own body exploring and breaking down the concept of alignment through felt sensation and discovering our own anatomy from the inside out.
Yin Yoga
The practices of Yin Yoga will prepare us for the Insight Meditation practices, providing us with the bridge that crosses us over into the subtler aspects of Yoga, leading to meditative awareness. Yin yoga takes us into a deeper exploration of felt sensation arising in the body, and deeper into our anatomy experienced from the inside out. The Yin practice gives us time to explore our edge and cultivate sensitivity towards ourselves, along with the application of mindfulness and loving kindness we can very gradually and skillfully release deeply held patterns of tension and constriction and sometimes even release trauma whose energy is to be found bound in the nervous system.
Insight (Vipassana) Meditation
- Mindfulness Practice: Continuous enquiry into the breath, the physical body, the feelings and emotions, thinking and the cognitive mind, and consciouness itself, complemented by teachings on loving kindness (Metta) as the home base for the cultivation of all the Four Brahmaviharas
- A general introduction to basic Buddhadharma with an emphasis on the Buddha’s Teaching on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path to complement and inform Patanjali’s Classical Yoga Path
Complementary Subjects
(The specific mix of complementary subjects are taught depend upon the combination of teachers, for example: chanting/mudra/and hindu mythology is a speciality taught by Sabrina Rosenberg)
- The History and Origins of Yoga from Shamanism until the present day (compulsory)
- Chanting / Mudra / Hindu Mythology
- Basic Thai Yoga Massage for Adjustments or Adjustment Clinic (compulsory)
- Shamanic Meditations
- Esoteric Anatomy: Chakras and Subtle Energetic Systems
