55 Day 500-Hour Advanced Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training at Agonda, Goa, India

Overview

Om Yoga Shala believes that the philosophical understanding and practice of yoga go together. Yoga is not merely a physical practice and you will understand the true aim and purpose of yoga practice during this course. They lay great stress on realizing the self in light of the practice and philosophical understanding.

• Highly experienced yoga teachers
• An excellent practice to go deeper into your practice and develop flexibility and strength along with deeper levels of awareness
• Their primary focus is on the development of awareness on and off the mat
• A unique practice to set you apart as a teacher in your area. There are very few Ashtanga teachers compared to other styles
• Advance practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa
• Purification, regeneration, and emotional balance
• 55 days in the heart of tranquil South Goa
• Daily sessions of yoga, and pranayama, bringing mind and body back to balance
• Strong emphasis on a proper understanding
• Self-discovery through traditional yoga practices
• Teaching traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa practices to set you apart from the crowd
• Daily yoga practice with Indian teachers, who have been trained by masters of yoga and seek to bring the light of yoga to your life

Training highlights

• Learn Primary and Intermediate series of Ashtanga yoga
• The residential course is inclusive of satvik vegetarian food and comfortable accommodation
• Different accommodation packages to suit your pocket
• Their Ashtanga yoga teacher training fees are most reasonable
• Learn from one of the best Ashtanga masters, who has vast experience in teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga
• Located on a hillside in the middle of nature and fruit trees has a healing quality to it

The course covers not only primary and Intermediate series but other Vinyasa sequences and preparatory practices including micro exercises to handle raw beginners classes as a teacher.

Your 500-hour Ashtanga yoga teacher training course is a traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa course. Designed to suit the Western yogi or yogini, this course will be your opportunity to learn the primary and Intermediate series as taught by Sri Krishnamacharya and Sri Pattabhi Jois (Mysore style).

You will also learn hands-on adjustments and correct body alignment for the asanas covered in the primary series. You will learn more than what is taught in Mysore. They do not believe in following any path blindly but encourage self-awareness and self-exploration in practice.

Along with learning the physical side of yoga practice, you will also learn the philosophy behind the practice like concepts of Tristhana and Yoga Sutras. You will also deeply study the connection between asana, pranayama practice, and the overall philosophy of yoga. At Om Yoga Shala, philosophy and practice go together.

For them, Ashtanga Vinyasa practice is a meditation by itself, where you learn to live life in 'here and now. The course is designed in such a way that you will not only learn the postures of yoga but also learn how to practice yoga mindfully and safely with full awareness of body, mind, and breath.

The course curriculum is designed to recognize the international requirements, Om Yoga Shala aspires to give you authentic knowledge so you can spread the light of yoga around the world. This is an internationally recognized qualification and will help you get insurance and a job to teach anywhere in the world.

Is this course for you?

This course is for anyone who has a commitment to their practice. If you are a qualified teacher with regular practice or a fresher willing to learn and teach, then, they will help you deepen your practice and facilitate your growth. They are always committed to your personal and spiritual development.

What will you learn?

The first step of learning is to unlearn. They like to start from a position of 'not knowing, and then dive into the practice with a fresh mind and practice what resonates with you and your body-mind complex. Ashtanga Vinyasa is a fixed practice but during this training. You will learn many other techniques that will help you improve your physical and spiritual abilities.

These techniques are specially designed by them to help in identifying and removing obstacles to your practice. You will learn the art of connecting one posture to another. The practice of moving from one posture to another with breathing is called Vinyasa.

This knowledge will enable you to formulate your sequences in a safe and systematic manner. Pranayama and meditation are an integral part of this course. Every morning, you will learn the correct techniques for breathing. You will also be introduced to the safe practices of pranayama to teach your students. You will also learn the Sanskrit mantra chanting.

The most important part of being a yoga teacher is to have a full understanding of the philosophy and aims of yoga, which starts with understanding the meaning of yoga in its true sense. The next important part is adequate knowledge of the anatomy and physiological systems of the body. With a proper understanding of these aspects of yoga, you will have a blissful personal practice as well as teaching practice. You will get sufficient teaching practice during the course.

Primary and Intermediate series asana practice

Your main focus will be on asanas covered in the primary and intermediate series. You will practice these on a daily basis along with sessions on correct alignments for these asanas as suited to your body. There will be dedicated sessions for alignment, Sanskrit counting, and teaching practice of the asanas of the primary series. Following is the list of asanas that you will learn depending on your individual capacities and master a few of them.

Ashtanga primary series asanas

• Surya Namaskar A
• Surya Namaskar B
• Padangushtasana
• Padhastasana
• Utthita Trikonasana A and B
• Utthita Parsvkonasana A and B
• Prasarita Padottanasana A - D
• Parsvottanasana
• Utthitahasta Padangusthasana
• Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana
• Utkat asana
• Virabhadrasana A and B
• Dandasana
• Paschimottanasana
• Purvottanasana
• Ardha Baddha Paschimottanasana
• Triangmukhaikapada Paschimottanasana
• Janu Sirsasana A - C
• Marichiasana A - D
• Navasana
• Bhujpeedasana
• Kurmasana
• Suptakurmasana
• Garbha Pindasana
• Kukkutasana
• Badhakonasana A and B
• Upvistha Konasana A and B
• Supta Konasana
• Supta Padanguthasana
• Ubhaya Padangusthasana
• Urdhavamukha Paschimottanasana
• Setubandhasana
• Urdhava Dhanurasana
• Sarvangasana
• Halasana
• Karna Pidasana
• Urdhava Padmasana
• Pindasana
• Matsyasana
• Uttana Padasana
• Sirsasana
• Baddha Padmasana
• Yoga Mudra
• Padmasana
• Uthplutih

Total Number of Asanas in Primary Series is 65. Please note: They cover the primary series asanas depending on the capability of the student.

Ashtanga intermediate series asanas

• Surya Namaskara A
• Surya Namaskara B
• Padangusth Asana
• Padahasta Asana
• Utthita Trikon Asana A and B
• Utthita Parsvakon Asana A and B
• Prasarita padottan Asana A – D
• Parsvottan Asana
• Pasasana
• Kronchasana
• Salabhasana A and B
• Bhekasana
• Dhanurasana
• Parsva Dhanurasana
• Ustrasana
• Laghu Vajrasana
• Kapotasana A and B
• Supta Vajrasana
• Bakasana A and B
• Bhardwajasana
• Ardha Matsyendrasana
• Ekapada Sirsasana A - C
• Dwipada Sirsasana A and B
• Yoga Nidrasana
• Titibhasana A - C
• Pincha Mayurasana
• Karandavasana
• Mayurasana
• Nakrasana
• Vatayanasana
• Parighasana
• Gomukhasana A - C
• Supta Urdhavapada Vajrasana A and B
• Muktahasta Sirsasana A – C
• Baddhahasta Sursasana A – D
• Urdhava Dhanurasana
• Drop back Urdhava Dhanurasana
• Paschimottan Asana
• Salamba Sarvangasana
• Halasana
• Karnapidasana
• Urdhava Padmasana
• Pindasana
• Matsyasana
• Uttana Padasana
• Sirshasana
• Baddha Padmasana
• Yoga Mudra
• Padmasana
• Uth Pluthi (Tolasana)

Pranayama practice

• Yogic breathing
• Kapalbhati
• Nadi Shodhan
• Sheetali
• Sheetkari
• Bhramari
• Moorcha
• Bahya Pranayama
• Agnisara Kriya

Yoga philosophy

• Yoga sutras; 4 chapters; detailed study; Translation and exposition
• Adwait Vedanta (non-dual Vedanta) Mandukya Upanishad
• Pancha Kosha
• Pancha Prana
• Pancha Mahabhutas
• Bandhas
• Chakras
• Nadis

Anatomy

• Anatomical directions, planes, and locations
• Skeletal system
• Fundamental bones
• Bones of shoulder and hip
• Axial and appendicular skeletons
• Shoulder girdle
• Pelvic girdle
• Vertebral column
• Spinal curves
• Joints
• Articular structure
• Joint reaction forces
• Ligaments
• Pelvis and hips ligaments
• Shoulder ligaments
• Vertebral ligaments
• Trunk ligaments
• Knee ligaments

Muscular system

• Origin and insertion
• Agonist, antagonist, and synergists
• Muscle shapes
• Monoarticular and Polyarticular muscles
• Types of muscle contractions
• Muscle structure and function
• Static and dynamic stretching
• Open and closed chain movements
• Abduction, adduction, rotation, flexion, extension

Key muscles of yoga

• Iliopsoas
• Gluteus Maximus
• Gluteus Medius
• Tensor Fascia Lata
• Pectineus
• Adductor Magnus
• Piriformis
• Quadratus Femoris
• Quadriceps
• Hamstrings
• Abdominals; Rectus Abdominis
• Transversus Abdominis
• Internal Oblique
• External Oblique
• Back Muscles; Erector Spinae
• Quadratus Lumborum
• Latissimus Dorsi
• Trapezius
• Pectoralis Major and Minor
• Rhomboids
• Serratus Anterior
• Deltoids
• Rotator Cuff; Infraspinatus
• Supraspinatus
• Subscapularis
• Shoulder Biomechanics and Impingement
• Biceps Branchii
• Brachialis
• Triceps Branchii
• Sternocleidomastoid
• Gastrocnemius

Other asana practices

• Applying anatomy and physiology principles to yoga
• Teaching practices and yoga business ethics
• Business aspects of yoga
• Ethics for yoga teachers
• Teaching a lead class and Mysore style class
• Receiving and giving feedback
• Observing others teaching
• Meditation, yoga Nidra
• Mantra chanting and prayer
• Written and oral tests

Why this course is for you?

From ancient times sages, swamis, seekers, priests saints, and sadhus have been coming to India to experience the divine promise, the nectar of spirituality, and a flavor of authentic spiritual practice from Indian masters. Many masters went to the west and took with them the knowledge of yoga to the whole world. But, how do you choose a yoga school that can live up to this divine promise in this new age of the world?

If you are looking for a traditional yet evolving yoga practice, this is the course for you. What do they mean by traditional but evolving? They take inspiration from the tradition but, without the dogmas and without putting your own minds in a box. A fixed tradition is a dead tradition.

They experiment and evolve, they like to see things as they really are without accepting anything and without conforming to anything. They like to see what resonates with us before accepting it.

If you are looking for a yoga course that is unrestricted and taught by some very enthusiastic and energetic Indian yoga teachers then this is the course for you. If you are interested in questioning your own conditioning, your false sense of reality, and your acquired ideas about who you are? This is the yoga school for you. Yoga is freedom. They invite you to come and discover your real self.

A typical day

The yoga training schedule begins at 7:00 a.m. with morning prayer followed by a pranayama and silence (Antar Mauna) session. Then you move on to the morning session for the traditional yoga postures and preparatory practices to address specific areas of focus before breakfast.

These preparatory practices have been specially designed by them to help students in the practice of the primary series of Ashtanga Vinyasa. After breakfast, there are two main sessions: philosophy and yoga anatomy followed by lunch at noon.

Then there will be some self-study and self-practice time before you begin the afternoon sessions of theory and evening sessions of Ashtanga Vinyasa practice.

There will be some inspirational cultural activities, such as Satsang (devotional songs), mantra chanting, and lectures on yoga-related subjects. The module-wise assignments will be a part of the training as that is conducive to gaining in-depth knowledge of the subjects and experience through your yoga practices. They encourage the students to go to sleep early at about 10:00 p.m. as that is conducive to the yoga training.

Sample daily schedule

• 07:00 - 09:00 Asana, pranayama, meditation session
• 09:00 - 11:00 Breakfast
• 11:00 - 13:00 Theory session
• 13:00 - 15:00 Lunch
• 15:00 - 16:00 Theory
• 16:00 - 18:00 Ashtanga Vinyasa asanas (practice ends)
• 19:00 - 20:00 Dinner

Please note that the daily schedule is subject to change.