| Program of Study |
Anyone and everyone can benefit from this Yoga immersion and Teacher Training. You do not need prior Yoga experience, only a sincere desire to learn. We encourage and welcome beginner students to take this training and immerse themselves into a practice that will last a life time. Even if you have no desire to become a Yoga teacher, you will gain the tools and techniques to live a healthier and happier life.
Vastu Yoga offers a traditional and classical style of Yoga Teacher Training modeled after the Sivananda Training as taught by Swami Vishu-devananda and emphasizes safe, effective, and inspiring teaching methods which prepare you to be a confident and competent instructor. We offer excellent training in teaching skills, planning a class, communication skills, creating confidence, and posture corrections. The program also offers instruction and experience in how to live the yogic lifestyle — enhancing personal health and centeredness through yoga.
You will be immersed into the yogic lifestyle of proper eating, proper exercise, proper breathing, proper thinking and meditation and proper relaxation. You do not have to be seeking certification to register for this training. Those seeking certification will be eligible to register with Yoga Alliance upon completion of all course work and hours.
You will learn aspects of teaching asana, pranayama, and assisting safely and effectively. You will have a deeper understanding of the yoga teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Pantanjali Sutras and how to incorporate them into your daily living and teaching.
Curriculum
Ultimately, this course is about letting go. Letting go of the barriers that keep us from our true Self. Preconceptions, judgments and expectations are all stumbling blocks on our path towards experiencing Yoga. You will be challenged, physically, mentally and spiritually to do and to be your very best Self.
Lifestyle
“Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind stuff.” Everything that you will practise during this training will be toward that end, to quiet the mind. You will get out of this course, exactly what you put into it. The following lifestyle recommendations are to help you control and quiet the mind.
Students are requested to live a quiet, monastic-type li fe style during their training.
Vegetarian Diet
Practising Ahimsa students should abstain from meat, fish, eggs ,and all animal products. Onions, garlic, caffeine should be avoided as these are Rajasic in nature and stimulating to the mind. Also students should abstain from alcohol, tobacco, non-prescription (recreational) drugs.
In order to create an experience of a Quiet, Non-Stimulating Environment, students should abstain from radio, television, movies, music other than quiet, spiritual music (our definition of spiritual is not limited to yogic chanting. Any religious, devotional, or peaceful instrumental music applies). Avoid loud places and loud company.
Asanas
- How to teach the twelve basic postures and the sun salutation
- Setting up of a proper environment for class
- General pointers on teaching a class
- The Basic Sivananda class
- Beginners’ Course
- Advanced Postures
- Relaxation
- Abdominal Breathing
- Full yogic breath
- Anuloma Viloma
- Kapalabhati
- The three bandhas: Jalandhara, Mula Bandha, Uddiyana
Meditation
- Guide to meditation
- What is meditation
- Why meditate
- Theory
- Mantras
- Mantra initiation (if desired)
- Raja Yoga
- Bhakti Yoga
- Karma Yoga
- Jnana Yoga
- The Aim of Yoga
- Man’s Three Bodies
- The Astral Body
- The Nature or the Mind
- The Evolution of the Universe
- The eight systems of the body
- Yoga and physical culture
- Diet and nutrition
- The law of action and reaction
- The law of compensation
- The law of retribution
- Destiny and self-effort
- Text and the commentary of Swami Satchidananda
Title of Yoga Teacher
At the end of the course and on completion of the examination, the participants receive a diploma from Vastu School of Yoga. The title given is of ‘Yogi Siromani’, which means or signifies jewel of the crown of Yoga. Certification will qualify teachers to register with Yoga Alliance at the RYT200 level.
There are no pre-requisites for this course behond a sincere desire and openness to learn Yoga. This training is a challenging immersion, demanding discipline and perseverance. A basic knowledge of yoga postures and philosophy is helpful but not essential.
It is recommended that students read The Food Revolution: by John Robbins and begin to memorize the Basic Yoga Class .
The Food Revolution, by John Robbins
The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga
Yoga Mind and Body, and The Companion to Yoga
The Living Gita with commentary by Swami Satchidananda