28 Day 200-Hour Yoga TTC, Hatha & Vinyasa at Varkala Beach with 4 Organic Ayurvedic Massage

Shiva Rishi Yoga at Varkala Cliff takes your health seriously

• Staff and teachers are vaccinated
• Hand sanitizer provided
• Group size limited to 10
• Ayurveda immune-boosting tea provided daily
• Eco-friendly mats and belts provided for the duration of the course, not shared
• Rooms are private unless you come with a partner/friend
• Rooms cleaned weekly and sheets and towels changed

Cleaning

• Uses cleaning chemicals that are effective against coronavirus.
• Linens, towels and laundry washed in line with local authority guidelines.
• Guest accommodation is disinfected between stays.
• The accommodation partner we work with follows the guidelines of local authorities.
• Equipment for activities is disinfected before and/or after use.

Physical distancing

• Cashless payment available.
• Physical distancing is maintained.
• Instructors maintain a distance from the client at all times possible.
• Activities take place outside where possible.

Safety features

• Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by the local government.
• Hand sanitizer available in guest rooms and key areas.
• Process in place to check the health of guests.
• First aid kit available.
• A room is available to isolate suspected or infected COVID-19 patients.
• Protective masks are available for all staff.
• Protective masks available for clients.

Facilities

• Air-conditioned rooms
• Garden
• Kitchen
• Special menu request
• Terrace
• Yoga shala
• Free Wi-Fi

During this yoga retreat, you will stay in a very comfortable twin bedroom with a private bathroom, balcony, and kitchen facility surrounded by a beautiful garden with a large terrace. Ganesha Palace Hotel is ideally located only two minutes from the beach and Varkala cliff, restaurants, and shops. Special requests like air conditioning can be accommodated on request for a small extra charge.

Shiva Rishi Yoga at Varkala Cliff provides a traditional style of yoga, comprehensive and genuine knowledge of practical yoga psychology and philosophy, mantra chantings, Bhakti yoga, bhajans, and daily teachings (yoga philosophy, anatomy classes, focus on alignment and adjustment to avoid injuries, pranayama classes, yoga workshop for yogic management of common diseases, asanas sequencing).

With an education in techniques, teaching methodology, anatomy, yoga philosophy, and practical teaching experience, you will ultimately feel safe and adequately prepared to instruct a general adult population.

After all, yoga is more than physical exercise or stress release. These benefits all come as side effects of regular practice, yet the ultimate aim of yoga is to transcend the limited and egoistic self and connect with the unlimited eternal. Beyond education, Shiva Rishi Yoga at Varkala Cliff will provide a proper spiritual environment for your journey.

Several years of experience flowed into the shaping of a characterful, recreative accommodation atmosphere, and a well-elaborated yogi diet to ideally assist your practices. Furthermore, Shiva Rishi Yoga at Varkala Cliff invites you to occasional spiritual trips into the gorgeous landscapes of Kerala in that you are attuned to nature by walks, mantras, music, and bhajan singing.

In order to be a good teacher, it is important to establish or deepen your self-practice. To do so, you will practice in the morning and evening together in a group setting supervised and instructed by lead trainers.

In the morning, you will practice Vinyasa Kriya flow yoga. It entails the practice of varying flow sequences uniting asanas with breathing and mantras followed by relaxation, pranayama, and kriyas. In this way, you will get a practical impression of different Vinyasa sequences.

At the beginning of the teacher training course, you will start with basic flow exercises that are gradually improved over time. You can experience its physical and energetic effects as also observe how different categories of asanas (bends, twists, and inversions that are investigated in theory classes) harmonize in a set.

Towards the evening, when the sun sinks behind the palm trees in the sea and the climate cools down a little, you will practice classical Hatha yoga. In an atmosphere charged with peace and devotion, you will practice recreational Shanti asanas in the tradition of Swami Sivananda and his disciple Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who framed ancient yoga teachings in a modern language that incorporates both traditional and scientific understandings.

By harmonizing all levels of human life and experience through practical means of asanas, pranayama, kriyas, bandhas, and mudras, you start balancing the sun and moon energies (ha-tha), purify nadis and chakras, and you ultimately practice to gain mastery of prana in order to control the mind.

Curriculum
According to the standards set by Yoga Alliance the training divides into 5 blocks:

Techniques, training, and practice
Herein you will receive training in asanas, Pranayama, kriyas, mantras, and meditation in a practical and analytical way. Following a scientific approach, you will discuss physical and energetic health benefits. Subsequently, you will learn to recognize practice mistakes and apply adequate alignments. Find some examples for this block outlined in the following:

Standing postures
Standing asanas stretch and strengthen the back, shoulders, and leg muscles. This is especially important to face stiffness and back pain difficulties increasingly arising in modern times through long hours of sitting.

In this section, you will learn common standing postures, how to explain their benefits, discover and correct common misalignments, understand similarities and exceptions to other asana categories, and experience balancing effects of standing asanas for the root chakra. You will further discuss how to provide effective verbal cues to direct practitioners coming in and out of the poses, how to verbally adjust them, and how to breathe properly.

Bending postures
Bending asanas loosen the back by separating vertebras and improving 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 teacher training course 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, beware of common misalignments and risk factors, how to direct practitioners coming in and out, how to breathe in these positions, and understand similarities and exceptions to other asana categories.

Pranayama
Pranayama regulates prana flow in nadis of pranamaya Kosha. Through practice, observation, and discussion, you will learn the most common breathing techniques, how to explain benefits, and how to direct practitioners through these exercises. You will also practice pranayama on occasional spiritual trips and breathe fresh air in the mountains or on the rocks at the shore.

Learning objectives: get an overview and practice experience of multiple techniques about the four aspects of breathing (breathing in, out, holding the breath in, and holding the breath out), how to incorporate pranayama in an asanas class, which breathing exercises are appropriate for different ability levels, age groups, and practitioners with special needs (pregnancy, menstruation, etc.).

Mudras Relevant To Pranayama
These are some of the most common hand mudras in pranayama practice

• Nasikagra mudras (nose tip position)
• Jnana mudra (psychic gesture of knowledge)
• Chin mudras (psychic gesture of consciousness)
• Chinmaya mudra (gesture of manifest consciousness)
• Aadi mudra (primal or first attitude)

Mantra Yoga Sadhana

According to Samkhya, one of 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 balances the agitations of manomaya Kosha. Once a week, there is Yajna yoga time in the evening with a puja with meditation, mantras, breathing techniques, and offerings.

Meditation

1. What meditation is, and why it’s practiced
2. Variety of meditation techniques and tools
3. Quieting the mind to develop deeper levels of awareness
4. Connecting with nature and the world you live in
5. Connecting with the true Self

Teaching methodology
In this section, classes will address how to use verbal and physical hands-on adjustments, how to give clear and coherent instructions, how to sequence classes, how poses interact, and how to integrate breathing exercises.

• The Art of Teaching curriculum includes:
• How to address a group of students
• How to use your own body as a teaching tool
• How to use your voice, volume, tempo, and pacing
• How to correct postures
• Choosing the right words
• Energy, passion, confidence, humor
• Using your own presence and Self-awareness as a transformative teaching tool
• The Business of Yoga
• Teacher guidelines and etiquette
• Appropriate conduct inside and outside the yoga room
• How to apply for a teaching position
• Teacher expectations
• Student interaction
• Roleplaying
• Feedback
• Anatomy and physiology

Herein, you will broaden your understanding of 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, you will go deeper into the realms of energy anatomy of chakras, Kundalini, Gunas, Tattwas, Koshas, Nadis, and Vayus.

Yoga Posture and Alignment

1) How do your bones determine the range of motion in all the yoga postures.
2) How and why everyone does yoga postures differently and what they can do about it.
3) How joint compression and muscle tension or resistance plays role in all the yoga asana.
4) Learn muscular and skeleton restrictions for proper alignment.
5) How to improve yoga posture for individuals
Yoga Posture and Alignment (details)

1) Introduction and concept

• Applied yoga anatomy
• Connective tissue and muscle role in movements
• Bones and joints function in movements
• Kinetic chain movements and their role in movements

2) Joint stability and mobility drills

• Wrist and elbows testing and assessments
• Injury prevention and corrective alignment for wrist and elbows in arm balancing and loading postures
• Palm stability and its importance in balance postures
• Wrist joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
• Elbow joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
• All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to crow pose, [peacock pose, pendant pose, high plank, reverse plank, upward-facing dog, downward-facing dog, and much more

3) Shoulder and scapula testing and assessments

Injury prevention and corrective alignment for shoulders and scapula in arm balancing and loading postures
Shoulder joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
Scapula blades anatomy, health, function, and purpose
All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to Chaturanga, wheel pose, king pigeon, intense side stretch pose, cow facing pose, eagle pose, puppy pose, and much more

4) Cervical spine testing and assessments

Cervical spine anatomy, health, function, and purpose
Injury prevention and corrective alignment for neck joint in inversions and neck flexion or extension postures
All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to plow pose, shoulder stand, ear pressure pose, fish pose, bridge pose, headstand, and much more

5) Thoracic and lumbar testing and assessments

Thoracic spine anatomy, health, function, and purpose
Lumbar spine anatomy, health, function, and purpose in backbends
Injury prevention and corrective alignment for the thoracic and lumbar spine in backbends or extensions postures
All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to locust pose, cobra pose, crocodile pose, bow pose, bridge pose, wheel pose, camel pose, upward-facing dog, low lunge backward bend, pigeon pose, backbend standing, and much more

6) Sacroiliac joint, lumbar, and Pelvis testing and assessments

S. I. joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
Lumbar anatomy, health, function, and purpose in flexion or forward bends
Pelvic anatomy, health, function, and purpose
Injury prevention and corrective alignment for S.I. joint, lumbar, and Pelvic in forwarding bends
All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to Marichi asana, twisting postures, revolved side angle, revolved triangle, revolved half-moon, supine spinal twists, standing twists, Paschimottanasana, Janusirsasana, Pawanmuktasana, Hanuman asana, wide-angle forwards fold, Uttanasana, and much more

7) Hip joint testing and assessments for all movements (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal and external rotation)

Hip joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
Injury prevention and corrective alignment for the hip joint in all yoga postures
All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to deer pose, Baddhakonasana, single-leg sitting balance pose, frog pose, Goddess pose, triangle pose, warrior one pose, warrior two pose, warrior three pose, side angle pose, and much more

8) Knees and feet

• Knee joint, ankle, and foot testing and assessments
• Knee joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
• Ankle joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
• Foot joint anatomy, health, function, and purpose
• Injury prevention and corrective alignment for the knee joint, ankle, and foot
• All related yoga postures to experience with muscle control including but not limited to Padmasana, Vajrasana, Veerasana, Tadasana, Trikonasana, Utkatasana, Veerbhadrasana one and two, high lunge, Supta Vajrasana, Malasana, tree pose, eagle pose, single-leg toe hold pose, and much more

Yoga philosophy/lifestyle ethics
This teacher training places an emphasis on discovering the vast heritage of yoga philosophy. By introducing the Samkhya system of evolution and discussing traditional texts (such as the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali), you 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 help you recognize how important a firm foundation in these first limbs is as a prerequisite to progress on this path of liberation and how you, as prospective yoga teachers, can assist other beings with that.

Your teachers 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
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.

Practicum
In this section, you will be slowly prepared to lead a yoga class yourself. In the beginning, you will teach sun salutation and simple sequences to each other. In the progress of your training, you will then start to observe and correct and finally practice teaching as the lead instructor or observe others teaching.

Spiritual day trips
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.

Sample daily schedule

06:15 – 06:30 Kriyas and cleansing (self-practice)
06:30 – 07:00 Group meditation session
07:00 – 09:00 Pranayama and yoga asana practice
09:00 – 11:30 Breakfast and break
11:30 – 13:00 Theory class
13:15 – 14:30 Lunch and break
14:30 – 16:00 Theory class or Pranayama or self-study time
16:30 – 18:00 Yoga asanas
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
19:30 Occasional evening program

Shiva Rishi Yoga at Varkala Cliff likes to make occasional spiritual trips during the free days to explore the many diverse landscapes of Kerala like the backwaters, hills, and hidden beaches.

Yes, we do practice meditation and Pranayama every day, it is also an important part of our teachings.

This teacher training will take place in Varkala, India. Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of the Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interest like a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu temple, and the Ashramam – Sivagiri Mutt, a little distance from the beach.

The Papanasam Beach (also called Varkala Beach), which is ten kilometers away from Varkala, is renowned for the natural spring. It is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name ‘Papanasam Beach’.

A two-thousand-year-old shrine, the Janardhanaswamy Temple, is a short distance away from the beach. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great Hindu reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (1856 – 1928) is also close by.

The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days – December 30 to January 1. Sree Narayana Guru propagated the ideology: “one caste, one religion, and one god”, in a society torn by the taboos of the caste system. Varkala offers excellent accommodation facilities for tourists and is fastly becoming a popular health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centers.

Distances

• Kollam, 37 kilometers
• Papanasham/Varkala Beach, 10 kilometers
• Thiruvananthapuram city, 51 kilometers
• Varkala Cliff – 2 minutes

We offer a single private room, with a private bathroom and balcony.
We provide towels and sheets, and room cleaning as you wish.
We change the bed sheets every 5 days and towels every second day or as you wish