26 Day 200-Hour TTC Vinyasa, Hatha Yoga Designing Transformative Yoga Classes in Kerala, India

Certifications

Students who complete the training are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®).

Overview

At Shiva Rishi, they strive for a warm, welcoming, comfortable, inclusive, relaxing space and community. When you arrive, you feel like you are coming home. The month with them is a transformational pivot point in your life for delving into the yogic lifestyle and practice. They are here to provide a supportive and nurturing community for your personal growth and flourishing. Through yoga you change yourselves and through a new perception on life, you change the world. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti~

Shiva Rishi Yoga sense the natural desire to deepen your practice and to share the practice with others, because they know it will make their lives better. They teach because they’re on the path of a conscious life that serves the world, making the world a better place. They teach to learn—about themselves, about one another—and to walk the path they are

Yoga teacher training programs concentrate on learning and integrating the five essential elements of teaching yoga, preparing new teachers to teach with confidence and competence, and experienced teachers to deepen, refine, and expand their repertoire of skills and knowledge.

The purpose as yoga teachers is to guide and inspire students in their personal practice, ultimately to a place where the student can continue to practice through his or her life, including from young to old across the season of one's life, guided by the best yoga teachers and community.

Refine teaching of asana, pranayama and meditation

Extensive exploration of how to teach each of over 100 postures for diverse ranges of ability and multiple conditions, focusing on the integration of informed verbal cues, visual demonstrations, and tactile cues; seven pranayama techniques and when, how, and to whom it is appropriate to teach them; a variety of meditation practices that support varied conditions and intentions in contemplative experience. Practice teaching is part of the daily training program.

Creative sequencing

General class design plus in-depth exploration of how to design classes for different styles of yoga, levels of students, student conditions, energetic or postural focus, themes, and seasons, also for workshops and retreats.

Practical yoga anatomy and physiology

A comprehensive introduction to human anatomy and physiology as they relate to yoga. Understanding the basics of joints, movement, and stability in postural practice. The energetics and basic organ systems of human beings. Application to yoga therapy.

“Kriya Enables constant soul awareness in every breath, every thought every movement. Happiness, peace, bliss, and Joy will be the constant companions of the one who practices Kriya yoga with asana, pranayama, and mantra.”

This yoga teacher training in Varkala, Trivandrum, Kerala, with classical Hatha yoga and Vinyasa Kriya Flow yoga incorporates ancient techniques of classical Hatha yoga, combined with Vinyasa Flow in a unique and authentic way, developed over years by Shiva. Vinyasa Kriya yoga means a gentle flow of asanas, breathing (pranayama), and traditional mantras (bija mantra) in combination. Vinyasa Kriya yoga balances the physical, astral, and causal body. 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. Certified by Yoga Alliance, successful completion of this yoga teacher training qualifies you to teach yoga worldwide.

Shiva Rishi follows a system that advocates for Svadyaya (self-study) so that at the end of the training the student has Adhikara (qualification of the learning) to carry on the yoga journey as a teacher and continued self-practitioner.

Yoga is the process of self-discovery, and through this, the school encourages the students to employ the tools of the various paths of Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and Raja yoga. Taking roots in ancient knowledge and making a bridge to modern life, this yoga teacher training will guide you through the practical, philosophical, and mythological aspects of yoga.

In a serene and ambient rooftop studio surrounded by a tropical garden, you will deepen your self-practice and experience the true principles of yoga. Years of practice and experience have worked their way into the shaping of the Shiva Rishi yoga program. The school takes care in addressing your needs through a beautifully serene atmosphere for your stay as well as practice; open-hearted and knowledgeable teachers; and a thoughtful, sattvic yogi diet to ideally assist your practices.

Shiva Rishi also invites you to join spiritual trips into the gorgeous landscapes of Kerala in that they attune to nature by walks, mantras, music, and bhajan singing.

Ultimately, 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 will provide a proper spiritual environment for your journey.

Curriculum

According to the standards set by Yoga Alliance the training divides into five blocks.

I: Techniques

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 to focus on alignment. Find some syllabus examples for this block outlined in the following:

Standing asanas

Standing asanas stretch and strengthen 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, and experience their balancing effects on 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 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 through demonstration, conversation and the use of the teacher training course guidebook on how to teach, practice and adjust bending postures. The learning objects herein are to explain bending postures, 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.

By following along with the instructor in this course you can expect:

• Better range of motion
• Strong feet/balance and grounding (in life)
• More endurance in standing
• Improvement in the arches
• More agility (in both mind and body)
• Improved sense of well being

Pranayama

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 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 breath the fresh air in the mountains or on the rocks by the seashore. 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:

• 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 is Yajna yoga in the evening time with a puja with meditation, mantras, breathing techniques, and offerings.

Meditation

• What meditation is, and why it’s practiced
• Variety of meditation techniques and tools
• Quieting the mind to develop deeper levels of awareness
• Connecting with nature and the world you live in
• Connecting with the true self

II: 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:

• Teaching clinics
• 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
• Role playing
• Feedback

III: 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 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

IV: Yoga philosophy, lifestyle ethics, and Ayurveda

This teacher training places an emphasis on studying 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 make 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.

Shiva Rishi Yoga is 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. Your practice depends on you being in balance. Through an understanding of Ayurveda, you learn about your bodily constitution, and what kinds of diets and lifestyles are most suitable to one’s character.

The 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 teacher training course.

If you would like to relax from the training, you will be delighted to find the yoga studio surrounded by several skilled Ayurvedic massage salons.

V: Practicum

In this section, you will be slowly prepared to lead a yoga class yourself. In the beginning, you will start to 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.

Awaken your practice to this 28-day yoga challenge that will inspire you to step on your mat every day. The benefits of practicing yoga every day can be felt almost immediately.

At the end of the month, you’ll complete the challenge feeling stronger, more connected, and more empowered in your practice. You will gain an understanding of the specific teaching skills needed to make the learning experience for your students as easy as possible.

The training also gives lots of contact with (props) to aid in the skill-based mobility (for a range of motion), and Restorative (for calm and recovery) practices. Yoga props are extremely useful in helping to create sthira (steadiness) and sukha (comfort) in your yoga practice.

By no means limited to beginners, props help to accommodate anatomical differences, tight muscles/joints, and limited ranges of motion. If you’ve ever wondered how to efficiently use props in your home or studio practice, they provide an introduction to the accouterments that could bring your asana practice, the union of body, mind, soul, and spirit.

Continuing the journey of yoga: Reflection on the process of becoming a yoga teacher

Ancient roots of modern yoga

• The Vedas
• The Upanishads
• The Bhagavad Gita
• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Tantra
• Hatha yoga
• Toward Modern Hatha yoga

Subtle energy

The Five Sheaths Prana

• Nadis
• Bandhas Chakras
• Gunas
• Doshas
• Highlighting subtle energy in classes

Body structure and movement

• The feet
• The knees
• The pelvis
• The abdominal core
• The spine
• The shoulders, arms, and hands anatomy in teaching

Teaching asanas

• Surya Namaskara: The Sun Salutations Standing Asanas
• Core refinement
• Arm balances
• Backbends
• Seated and Supine Twists Forward Bends and Hip Openers Inversions
• Savasana

Teaching pranayama

• The discovery and development of pranayama
• The modern science of respiration teaching basic breath awareness refining the flow of breath
• Ujjayi pranayama
• Deepening the pranayama practice consciously cultivating energy

Sequencing and planning classes

• Principles of sequencing
• The basic arc structure of classes
• Sequencing within and across asana families planning specific classes
• Sequencing for the menstrual cycle
• The chakra model of sequencing
• Popular hatha yoga sequences
• Creating your classes

Yoga sequencing

Backbend posture

• Ardha Bhujangasana
• Sarpasana (snake posture)
• Bhujangasana (cobra)
• Dhanurasana (bow pose) by

Seated Forward Bending Postures

• Janusirsasana (head-to-knee)
• Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend)
• Marichyasana (sage Marichi) A&B

Seated Spinal Twist

• Ardha Matsyendrasana ( spinal twist)
• Meru Varasana (twisting mtn pose, gentle/simple spinal twist)

Arm Balance Posture

• Phalakasana (plank)
• Kakasana (crow) or Bakasana (crane)
• Bhujapidasana (shoulder pressing posture)
• Mayurasana (peacock)
• Koundinya Sage posture

Standing Forward Posture

• Adho mukha svanasana (downward dog)
• Eka Pada Adho mukha svanasana (one leg up)

Standing Splitting/Side Stretching

• Trikonasana (triangle)
• Utthita Parsvakonasana (extended side angle)
• Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (revolved side stretching angle)
• Parsvottanasana (pyramid)

Standing Balancing Posture

• Vrikshasana (tree pose)
• Tadasana (palm tree)
• Garudasana (eagle)

Inversion

• Sarvangasana (shoulder stand)
• Halasana (plow pose)
• Sirsasana (headstand)
• Vrischikasana (Scorpion)

• Reflection on the process of becoming a yoga teacher
• Discussion on what certification provides
• Code of ethics
• Yoga Alliance registration
• Group conversation about options for teaching and sharing
• Discussion about how to maintain appropriate skill and inspiration

You graduated! What does that mean?

• You are proficient in 200-hour level teaching skills as set forth by Yoga Alliance
• You are eligible to register with Yoga Alliance as a 200-hour level teacher
• You still have much to learn!
• You become great teachers by teaching. So go teach
• Practice greatly improves your skills
• Integrate and share what you’ve learned in your own voice
• Your practice is your best friend. The best teachers are the best practitioners.

Daily schedule

• 6:15 - 7:00 Pranayama
• 7:00 - 9:00 Asana
• 9:15 Breakfast and break
• 11:30 - 13:00 Theory / alignment
• 13:15 Lunch and break
• 14:30 - 16:00 Theory
• 16:30 - 18:00 Asana
• 18:30 Dinner and free time