Spirit of Programme
A unique Hatha Yoga Teacher Training programme in Ibiza (Spain), Morocco and Thailand.
Broadly speaking Still Flowing Yoga Teacher Training is an integrated approach, offering students an accessible, direct, modern interpretation of Patanjali’s Classical Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga interwoven with the Buddha’s Teaching on Mindfulness, firmly orientating students towards a state of embodied awareness within daily modern life, where these practices are ultimately employed as tools for personal liberation.
Still Flowing Yoga Asana Style – What is it?
We teach the essence of Vinyasa Yoga – foundation, bandhas-core, ujjayi breath, and breath synchronised movement as our form in asana, and within this form we cultivate and integrate the Buddhist Insight Meditation practices of concentration, enquiry and loving kindness. This basic template will allow for many different asana to be explored during the programme and guide students to understand how to sequence asana in an intelligent manner (Vinyasa Krama).
By cultivating these 3 guiding principles of Buddhist Insight Meditation within Vinyasa Yoga we open the door to explore other forms of Yoga. To broaden and deepen our understanding of form and embodiment, we will explore aspects of Iyengar, Scaravelli and Yin Yoga on the training.
The approach on the training emphasises 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)
NB. Our approach is non – performance based, and as yoga teacher trainers we aim to facilitate a programme where students cultivate a deep understanding of simplicity and foundational asana rather than an immediately gratifying experience of “advanced” asana which can result, particularly over time, not only in physical injury but also in dysregulation of the nervous system.
To this end our method is deconstructive, unconventional and non dogmatic. We strip Vinyasa bare, in order to understand how it is constructed, revealing the underlying intelligence behind it.
We will not be learning prescriptive routines and flows in the style of yoga parrots/clones, it is up to the student to be dilligent and enquiring to benefit most from this programme.
To know it, you have to unknow it.
Mindful Vinyasa Flow Yoga : Integrating Minfulness into Vinyasa
You will experience and be led through different tones, speeds and intensity of flows (dynamic, gentle, deep and mindful) encouraging a broader understanding of vinyasa flow yoga and opening up the form in accessibility to all levels and ages by learning how to adapt and modify the flow both in tone and sequence.
In some instances the flow will be at slow motion speed in order that students may cultivate deep enquiry into the foundation, core and breath, be ready to hone your stamina and concentration here as you learn to support yourself internally!
During most of the programme, 45 mins daily will be allocated in the morning to developing a self practice, fomenting what is being learnt into your own practice.
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
- Enquiring into and understanding the intelligence and reasoning behind a class structure and a particular sequence and delivering an intelligent sequence.
- How to use themes, language, voice, creativity and timing
Asana Technique & Applied Yoga Anatomy & Physiology
Asana technique and principles of emodiment and alignment are explored within the context of the ground/foundation, the core/internal dynamic and the breath/diaphragm.
We will study the mechanics of brokendown asana, in all the foundational classical yoga 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 towards realizing 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.
Complementary Asana Forms : Scaravelli & Yin Yoga
We employ these forms as templates for enquiry.
These practices will encourage a deeper exploration into the body, giving students the time they need to enquire.
These forms provide a slower, more considered meditative approach to asana and as such can provide yoga students with a bridge that leads them to a state of embodied meditative awareness and may encourage and support a more formal meditation practice.
These forms lend themselves to an exploration of felt sensation arising in the body, and into experiencing our anatomy from the inside out (Somatics). We are encouraged here to explore our edges and cultivate sensitivity towards ourselves.
These forms can be used to skillfully release deeply held patterns of tension and constriction, and sometimes even work to release the residual energy of trauma that 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
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”.Musings on Integrated Practice by Caitlin Prince,
Still Flowing Graduate March 2010, Occupational Therapist and Yoga Teacher (prince_caitlin@hotmail.com):“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”.
