Next to a qualitative education with responsible teaching and care for your individual learning process, this teacher training is distinct in that Shiva Rishi Yoga at Varkala Cliff likes to make occasional spiritual trips on free days and explore the many diverse landscapes of Kerala like the backwaters, hills, and hidden beaches. We welcome you with great respect and love.
View MoreAccording to the standards set by Yoga Alliance the training divides in 5 blocks:
Asanas stretch and strengthens back, shoulders and leg muscles. This is especially important to relieve stiffness and back pain difficulties, which increasingly arise in modern times through long hours of sitting. In this section you will learn common standing postures, how to explain their benefits, and experience their balancing effects on the root chakra. We will further discuss how to provide effective verbal cues to direct practitioners coming in and out of the poses, how to verbally adjust, and how to breathe properly.
Bending asanas loosen the back by separating vertebras and improve blood circulation around the spine. This brings vitalizing and overall health improving effects on all organs and the brain. You will receive analytical training by demonstration, conversation and the use of the TTC guidebook in how to teach, practice and adjust bending postures. The learning objects herein are to explain bending postures and their benefits; verbalize and demonstrate alignments; be aware of common misalignments and risk factors; learn how to direct practitioners coming in and out; and how to breath in these positions.
Pranayama is considered to be the foundation of yoga. It is perhaps the most essential aspect of yoga and life. Pranayama is the best precursor for calming and centering the mind for meditation. Pranayama regulates prana flow in the nadis of the pranamaya kosha. Through practice, observation, and discussion you will learn most common breathing techniques, how to explain benefits, and how to direct practitioners through these exercises. We will also practice pranayama on occasional spiritual trips and breath the fresh air in the mountains or on the rocks by the sea shore. Learning objectives are to get an overview and practice experience of multiple pranayama techniques and learn to use powerful breath workout and pranayama techniques to: detoxify your body, balance hormones, boost immunity and energy, calm the mind, awaken your full potential to discover the true nature of the self, and brings you deeper into the yoga practice. When the mind is focused on the breath, the nervous system gets calmed down, and there is less stress on the body and it experiences better digestion and elimination. Regular practice of pranayama trains the lungs and improves the capacity of the respiratory system immensely (especially important during these covid times).
These are some of the most common hand mudras in pranayama practice
According to Samkhya, one the schools of Hindu philosophy, the very first element that manifested itself in this plane was sound and that the element of sound itself originated from Lord Shiva’s Drum. Sanskrit mantras are energy-based sounds that have the power to vibrate and resonate throughout the entire body. Sound travels five times more efficiently through water than through air, and as the human body is comprised of more than 70% water, it is therefore an excellent conductor for both sound and vibration. The regular practice of mantras especially balance the agitations of manomaya kosha. Once a week we hold a Yajna yoga in the evening time with a puja with meditation, mantras, breathing techniques and offerings.
Herein you will broaden your understanding about the physical anatomy of the human body and combine important aspects of postures and anatomy with contemplative and internal facets of yoga. Next to physical anatomy, we will go deeper into the realms of energy anatomy of Chakras, Kunadlini, Gunas, Tattwas, Koshas, Nadis & the Vayus.
A yogic lifestyle is a journey to create unity on all levels. This means to live every day consciously, with a focused, calm mind, seeking inner perfection at all times. This teacher training places an emphasis on studying the vast heritage of yoga philosophy. By introducing the Samkhya system of evolution and discuss traditional texts (such as the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali) we will explore the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga in more detail and take a glimpse beyond the first limbs towards the ultimate goal of yoga. Next to getting inspiration from these sacred texts, it may make us recognize the importance of a firm foundation in these first limbs, as prerequisite to progress on this path of liberation -and how you, as prospective yoga teachers, can assist other beings along this journey. We are looking forward to inspiring conversations about the precept of non-violence (ahimsa), the concepts of dharma and karma, and finally the value of teaching yoga while being of service to others (seva).
Ayurveda is the science of living. Our practice depends on us being in balance. Through an understanding of Ayurveda, we learn about our bodily constitution, and what kinds of diets and lifestyles are most suitable to one’s character. Our Ayurvedic Doctor will teach you about the theoretical basics of Ayurveda, helping you to discover a diet fitting to your type of body and individual needs and intellectually understand the positive effects of the high qualitative sattvic yogi diet you are served throughout the TTC. If you like to relax from the training, you will be delighted to find the yoga studio surrounded by several skilled ayurvedic massage salons.
Reflection On The Process Of Becoming A Yoga Teacher
"Feeling sad? Sit in Lotus. Better yet, rise up into a backbend, forward bend, or headstand. While it's not as simple as that, one study found that a consistent yoga practice. The process of performing yoga practice is claimed to lead to a certain purification of the blood, which frees up the life force to flow along the spine. "Yoga is a simple, psycho-physiological method by which the human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers, by stopping things like stress and emotional pain — usually caused by bad memories, old programming, emotions, and/or overthinking.” Improving your Anahata chakra, for instance, controls the love energy in the body. On a physical level, the heart chakra responds to the heart, lungs, immune system, and muscles of the upper body. On a spiritual level, opening the heart chakra fills you with love, forgiveness, and compassion. If yoga can do one thing, it should make you happier and thus by default, healthier.
Feeling sad? Sit in Lotus. Better yet, rise up into a backbend, forward bend, or headstand. While it's not as simple as that, one study found that a consistent yoga practice. The process of performing yoga practice is claimed to lead to a certain purification of the blood, which frees up the life force to flow along the spine. "Yoga is a simple, psycho-physiological method by which the human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers, by stopping things like stress and emotional pain — usually caused by bad memories, old programming, emotions, and/or overthinking.” Improving your Anahata chakra, for instance, controls the love energy in the body. On a physical level, the heart chakra responds to the heart, lungs, immune system, and muscles of the upper body. On a spiritual level, opening the heart chakra fills you with love, forgiveness, and compassion. If yoga can do one thing, it should make you happier and thus by default, healthier.
Shiva's life is totally dedicated to yoga. He has been practicing yoga for more than 10 years and is sharing his yogic knowledge and techniques in Varkala. By placing practice within the context of Indian culture and philosophy his classes are an ever deepening experience of the true tradition of yoga.
Shalini attained her MSc degree in yoga and philosophy at the University of Chennai and is currently taking her doctoral degree while teaching philosophy classes at the school. In a compassionate and dialogic teaching style, she will guide your self-understanding towards a clear realization of the yoga sutras of Patanjali, of how yoga derived from the Vedic age and how scriptures can benefit your practice.
Dr. Anish BAMS is an Ayurvedic doctor and he will teach you anatomy classes. Here you will also discuss the benefits of asanas, how to address specific problems, or what to avoid during that time. Moreover, he will introduce you to the ancient healing science of Ayurveda, which ideally complements the yogic practices.
Hardik is an Expert coach for alignments. He has a unique ability to assess the mobility of students and helps them understand the range of motion. He teaches general stretches and point stretches for each body part; helps participants understand the difference between compression and tension; as well as gives alignment cues to participants to give them confidence while teaching.
Prutha has an expert knowledge of Patanjali Yoga Darshan, Sankya Darshan, other Indian philosophical systems, traditional texts like Hatha Yoga and the Bhagavad Gita. She has an in-depth understanding of pranayama and meditation techniques to lead the guided sessions, as well is a great orator for fruitful and engaging sessions. She is also a trained Bharat Natyam Dancer (22 years) under the guidance of Guru Shri M. Viswanath (Shri Raj Rajeshwari Bharathnatya Kala Mandir).