In Bracciano (Lazio) Italy – Yoga Teachers’ Training Course
From August 3 to September 1, 2019
Arrival date: August 3 2019
Inauguration date: Sunday, August 4 at 7 PM
Departure date: Sunday, September 1, 2019
Swami Vishnudevananda was the first yoga master in the West to develop a training programme for yoga teachers. In 1969, he taught the first Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ TrainingCourse (TTC) in Canada, continuing the training programmes offered by the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy of the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh, India. Since then, over 40,000 certified yoga teachers have completed the Teachers’ Training Course, with another 1,000 graduates each year.
The goal of this training programme is to produce qualified and inspiring yoga teachers who are able to draw on their own practice and personal discipline in imparting the yoga experience to others.
Swami Vishnudevananda retained India’s traditional Gurukula teaching system in which students and teachers live together in an ashram (centre for yoga and meditation). Through the direct contact with experienced teachers, the student’s day-to-day life during the course is transformed into a learning experience. Students advance both physically and mentally and enjoy a comprehensive yoga experience, which they can later transmit to their own students. In efforts to create the most favorable conditions possible, this training is offered as an intensive course in an ashram.
Certified by the worldwide Yoga Alliance for the 200 hours standard for Registered Yoga Schools (RYS).
CURRICULUM
The curriculum is based on the five points of yoga, which can be understood as the practical application of the traditional four paths of yoga.
The intensive daily schedule includes two meditation sessions, two yoga classes, two lectures, and one hour of service to the ashram community. One day a week is lecture-free.
ASANAS (YOGA POSTURES)
A daily teaching practice class is devoted to teaching you how to teach asanas and pranayama. A daily asana practice class gives you the opportunity to practice your own asanas and will help to build the good habit of practice. The daily in-depth practice with individual corrections comprises:
Sun salutation
12 basic yoga postures
100 asana variations, from intermediate level to advanced
Postural alignment
Deep relaxation with autosuggestion
Release of blocked energy
Training sessions for all age groups
BENEFITS OF ASANAS:
Control emotions
Improve power of concentration
Rid the body of excess fat
Enhance physical fitness
Relieve chronic ailments such as constipation, rheumatism, stomach complaints
Stimulate circulation
Stabilize thyroid functions
Keep muscles youthful and supple into old age
PRANAYAMA
Expands capacity of the lungs
Relaxes the nervous system
Balances the two hemispheres of the brain
Purifies the nadis (subtle energy channels)
Awakens the inner spiritual energy
Kapalabhati (lung cleansing exercise)
Anuloma Viloma (alternate nostril breathing)
Ujjayi, Surya Bheda, Bhastrika, Sitali, Sitkari, Bhramari
Samanu (mental cleansing of the nadis)
The three bandhas: Jalandhara, Moola, Uddiyana
KRIYAS
Tratak, Neti, Kapalabhati, Dhauti, Nauli and Basti: six classical purification exercises for the eyes, nose, air passages, esophagus and stomach, abdominal organs and large intestine. Explanation and demonstration of the exercises and their effects. Individual instruction
YOGA ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Introduction to the major body systems
The effects of asanas and pranayama on: the cardiovascular system, respiration, digestion, skeletal and muscular systems, endocrine system
The eight systems of the body
Yoga and physical culture
Diet and nutrition
KARMA AND REINCARNATION
The law of action and reaction
The law of compensation
The law of retribution
Destiny and self-effort
TEACHING PRACTICE
How to teach the 12 basic postures and breathing exercises to beginners and intermediate students
Setting up of a proper environment for class
General pointers on teaching a class
The Basic Sivananda class
Beginners’ Course
Advanced Postures
Yoga for Children
Yoga for Older Citizens
Yoga for Pregnancy
Relaxation
Detailed correction workshops
In the second half of the training course, participants will teach each other under the guidance of an experienced instructor
YOGA NUTRITION
Vegetarianism – for ethical, spiritual and health reasons
How diet affects the mind
Proper balance of the main nutrients
Ayurvedic principles of nutrition
Healing effects of fasting
MEDITATION
Guide to meditation
What is meditation
Why meditate
Physical and mental meditation
12-step daily practice
Effects of and experiences in meditation
Mantras – spiritual energy in sound
Mantra initiation (if desired)
HATHA YOGA
Ethical and moral principles
Body – prana (life energy) – mind
From control over the body to control over the mind and meditation
RAJA YOGA
Ashtanga – the 8 steps of yoga
Antahkarana – functions of the mind
Concentration and meditation
KUNDALINI YOGA
The Absolute and how it manifests itself in nature
Macrocosms & microcosms
The 7 Chakras
The awakening of cosmic energy
BHAKTI YOGA
Kirtan: chanting of classical Sanskrit mantras
Indian gods and their cosmic meaning
Arati and Pujas (traditional Indian rituals)
Chanting opens the heart and purifies the mind. With daily chanting, you develop a strong feeling of devotion and a very pure vibration. In devotional chanting correct pronunciation, devotional attitude and awareness of meaning are all-important.
KARMA YOGA
Karma yoga is the practice of selfless service and helps to reduce selfishness and egoism and keeps you fit and healthy and gives immeasurable joy
You will be asked to do various tasks within the Ashram setting including gardening, cooking, cleaning, office work and any other work necessary for the smooth running of the community
The law of cause and effect
Samsara – the wheel of birth and death
Karma Yoga – selfless service: one hour daily in the ashram community
JNANA YOGA
Basic concepts of Vedanta philosophy
The 7 Bhoomikas or planes of consciousness
Space, time, causation
The 3 bodies
The 3 levels of the mind
Conquest of death
BHAGAVAD GITA
Considered one of the greatest spiritual texts of the world, the Bhagavad Gita contains subtle and profound teachings and has a universality, which embraces every aspect of human actions. It symbolizes the solution of the eternal struggle between the spiritual and the material in every human being
Study of both the text and Swami Sivananda’s commentary
DAILY SCHEDULE AND COURSE RULES
5:30 am: Wake up
6:00 am: Satsang (Meditation, chanting, lecture)
8:00 am: Asanas
10:00 am: Brunch
11:00 am: Karma Yoga (helping out with chores)
12:00 pm: Bhagavad Gita or Kirtan
2:00 pm: Main lecture in philosophy or anatomy
4:00 pm: Asanas and pranayama
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm: Satsang (Meditation, chanting, lecture)
10:00 pm: Lights out
SATSANG
Satsang means being in companionship with the truth and with the wise. The course satsang consists of half an hour silent meditation, half an hour chanting and a talk or reading on aspects of yoga philosophy. It will help you to develop a strong and steady meditation practice and show you the way to peace and happiness.
PREREQUISITES
A high degree of self-motivation is required for all aspects of the course. A basic knowledge of yoga postures and philosophy is helpful but not essential. A sincere desire to learn and openness to the teachings of yoga is required.
The practice and especially the teaching of yoga demand a high degree of self-discipline and purity. To ensure the success of the programme, participants are required to attend all spiritual activities, meditation sessions, lectures and asana classes.
Meat, fish, eggs, black tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, drugs and nudity are prohibited during the course as they are counterproductive to the yoga practice. Participants who do not comply with the ashram rules may be dismissed from the course. Unfortunately, it is not possible to cater to personal dietary preferences beyond the yogic-vegetarian meals.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
MATERIALS INCLUDED IN COURSE FEE
2 yoga pants, 2 t-shirts
TTC manual
MATERIALS NOT COVERED BY COURSE FEE
The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnudevananda, Three Rivers Press
Bhagavad Gita with a commentary by Swami Sivananda, the Divine Life Trust Society
Yoga mat, cushion, blanket, Kriya set
FURTHER RECOMMENDED READING FOR AT-HOME STUDY
Yoga – Your Home Practice Companion by Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Dorling Kindersley
Sivananda Beginner’s Guide to Yoga by Sivananda Yoga Centre, Gaia Books
Yoga Mind & Body by Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Dorling Kindersley
Meditation and Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
These can be purchased at any of our Centres or Ashrams.
ALSO BRING
Comfortable as well as warm clothing
Notebook, torch (flashlight)
Sandals or slippers for indoors, walking shoes
Towel, toiletries, Neti pot
THE VENUE
Borgo Paola located in Pisciarelli, a small village near Bracciano, 40 km from Rome and the beautiful forest of the Orsini-Odescalchi’s Castle borders it. An ideal location that is suitable Yoga and meditation practice. Behind a large, lush park, the place offers a beautiful swimming pool for the summer, a bioenergetic garden, as well as two large rooms for practice.
GETTING THERE
Students are responsible for making their own way to the Course.
Borgo Paola is about 40 km from Rome and about 45 km from Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci International Airport.
CAR: You can either take the Aurelia state motorway and turn off at the junction for Bracciano, or the Cassia state motorway and follow the signs for the lake, or even the Cassia Veientana that you take from the Grande Raccordo Anulare, direction Viterbo.
TRAIN: about a one-hour journey from Roma Ostiense or Roma Tiburtina station.
We recommend the use of a car as Borgo Paola is not along a main road. If necessary, we can arrange transport for pick-up and drop-off transfers.
Borgo Paola
Viale del Micciaro 11/b
Pisciarelli, Lazio, Italy
HOW TO REGISTER
Click here to download the application forms
Fill and sign the application forms and send then by email to rome@sivananda.org with a copy of the bank transfer of the deposit of 30% of the totalcost according to the accommodation that you chose. Balance is due four weeks before the beginning of the course.
FOR PAYMENTS
The payment of the deposit and balance is done by Bank transfer
Bank Transfer:
Account Name: Centro Yoga Sivananda Vedanta
IBAN: IT35Y0335901600100000144048
BIC: BCITITMX
Write: Teachers’ Training Course and full name of the participant.
VALUE
The course fees include the Course, food and board, the manual and the uniform.
All payments are done in Euro in cash:
The course registration fee is € 30 to be pay upon arrival in cash
Other (optional) payments include: laundry, boutique, kriyas kit: € 12.50.
Transportation is available from the train station to the venue, the cost is € 10 and its done upon previous request.
During the course we can accept only cash.
COURSE FEES
€ 2500 in tent
€ 2750 in dormitory
€ 2980 in triple room with bathroom inside the room
€ 3400 in double room with bathroom inside the room
Special prices for students and unemployed, please contact rome@sivananda.org
WHAT TO BRING
Books used during the course:
“The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga” by Swami Vishnudevananda “The New Book of Yoga/The Sivananda Companion to Yoga” or “Yoga Your Home Practice Companion” “The Bhagavad Gita” with commentary by Swami Sivananda. These books are available at our centres and Ashrams. Also: yoga mat, meditation cushion (available in our boutique), towel, writing-pad and pens, blanket, flashlight, warm and comfortable clothes, slippers and comfortable shoes for walking. Please note that the kriya material is not included in the course fee. At the initiation ceremony you will be given the Sivananda manual for Yoga Teachers, two pairs of yoga trousers and two t-shirts. Our boutique will be open daily for books, CDs, yoga clothing, mats, cushions and other items.
For accommodation in tent you must bring your own tent and tarp sleeping bag and blankets.
