22 Day GAVY 200-Hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

About the training

GAVY founder, Michael Gannon, learned it during 10 years of visits to India, training with the living Guru, Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois. But, they take a giant step forward, making this system digestible for the Western mind. This GAVY 200 teacher apprenticeship foundation program has graduated over 500 teachers from 40 countries to teach yoga. The GAVY 200 foundation certification is currently offered in an intensive program format. There are 20 days straight with over eight hours per day.

At GAVY they know that time o­n the mat is what develops a foundation to effectively share the magic of yoga. And the Ashtanga Vinyasa system is the ideal tool to start developing this deep practical experience. GAVY demonstrates how this is the original Vinyasa system that the yoga world has used to derive so many now popular flowing styles of yoga.

If trainees miss a module in o­ne city, they may request an opportunity to make it up in another city at another time, and at an additional cost. All modules also contain in-depth training o­n personal practice, extensive clinics of hands o­n adjustment techniques, verbal guiding or teaching, partner work and teaching simulations, Svadyaya (study of the self), and proficiency exams (verbal, written, and practical). Philosophical aspects of yoga will be mixed into the context of each module as specific questions arise.

Activities

• Meditation
• Pranayama
• Asana
• Mantra
• Philosophy
• Teaching techniques
• Writing
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Reflection
• Feedback
• Coaching

Module 1: Ashtanga made simple

• Ashtanga made simple (lecture)
• It is all about the breath! (lecture)
• Open lecture or discussion of the eight limbs of yoga (lecture)
• Surya namaskara a and b
• Tristana: breath or Vinyasa, bandhas and dristi
• Class organization and observation
• Mysore puzzle
• The six fundamental standing asana
• Two standing forward bends
• Four jumps to the right
• Two balancing poses
• Finishing sequence 1: final seated sequence
• Creating your personal practice space
• History of yoga or Ashtanga (lecture)
• Approximations versus variations (lecture)
• Yogi veggie diets (lecture)
• Proficiency exam (verbal, written, and practical)

Module 2: connecting to the earth

• Two standing flowing poses
• Standing to fly techniques
• Seated asana sequence breakdown
• Two straight-legged seated forward bends
• Two bent knees seated forward bends
• Three janu shirsasanas forward bends
• Activating your core: jump thru, jump back
• Repetition is the mother of perfection
• Finishing sequence 2
• Teaching circles
• Inversions and agni
• Nauli kriya
• Proficiency exam (verbal, written, and practical)

Module 3: energy and core development

• Seated asana sequence breakdown part two (up to backbends)
• Two marichyasana seated forward bends
• Two marichyasana seated twists
• Navasana
• Keys to gateway poses
• Legs behind the head preparation
• Bujapidasana
• Kurmasanas
• Temezcal tapas ceremony
• Teacher assisting
• Asana demos experience
• Energetic anatomy: chakras and energy fields
• Pranayama lecture and practice
• Proficiency exam (verbal, written, and practical)

Module 4: breath, patience, and flexibility

• Garbha pindasana and kukutasana
• The konasana sisters
• The padangusthasana brothers
• Chakrasana techniques
• Magic of bandhas
• The correct vinyasa
• Mysore-style self-practice
• Yoga Nidra
• Giving good savasana
• Full finishing sequence #3
• Moving into meditation
• Teach what you master
• Proficiency exam (verbal, written, and practical)

Module 5: yoga anatomy (weekend)

• Joint classification and components
• Connective tissue forms and purpose
• Muscular, skeletal, and nervous system overview
• Exploring the leg
• The knee and lotus
• Pelvis and hip joint
• Psoas and spine
• Discs, their functions, and dysfunctions
• Integrating psoas into your practice
• Exploring the shoulder girdle, rotator cuff
• Movement of the clavicle, scapula, and humerus
• Diaphragm anatomy and function
• The psoas and breathing

GAVY home study course

All programs require or include the GAVY home study course. This is a six-week course consisting of:

• Study guide
• Awaken your life force and quiet your mind (Michael’s CD)
• Primary series poster
• Weekly audio files with Michael teaching the basic theory, philosophy, and meditations
• Eight limbs of yoga (Sanskrit and English)
• Sanskrit (asana names, mantras, numbers, etc.)
• Dristis, Bandhas, and Vinyasa
• Asana benefits
• Guided meditations
• Pranayama
• Energetic anatomy

Apprentices must be grounded in all material before coming to the program's first module. There are regular proficiency exams (verbal, written, and practical) o­n this material throughout the Apprenticeship. The home study course should start at least six weeks before the first module. Many students choose to start the home study course earlier, giving them more time to prepare and go deeper.

All modules also contain in-depth training o­n personal practice, extensive clinics of hands o­n adjustment techniques, verbal guiding or teaching, partner work, and teaching simulations, svadyaya (study of the self), and proficiency exams (verbal, written, and practical). Philosophical aspects of yoga will be mixed into the context of each module as specific questions arise.

Sample schedule

Monday - Sunday

• 07:00 - 08:30 Mysore practice
• 08:30 - 10:00 GAVY second series practice
• 10:00 Break
• 10:15 - 12:30 Discussion, practice, teaching techniques, or assisting
• 12:30 - 13:30 Brunch
• 14:00 - 15:30 Lecture, discussion, practice, teaching techniques, or assisting
• 15:30 - 17:30 Yoga anatomy

Wednesday

• 15:00 - 22:00 Tapas Temazcal sweat lodge ceremony