Holistic Yoga Teacher Training Foundations Intensive

Managing Back Pain through Holistic Yoga

Managing Back Pain through Holistic Yoga

Course Description:

Yogic Management of Back Pain is a course on learning a holistic approach of healing modality involving yoga practices and concepts. In this course, students will explore the practices of yoga, such as asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing practices), along with the concept of ashtanga yoga and philosophy of yoga through the teachings of Patanjali Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita. Healing is complete when the underlying cause of the disease is removed. This course attempts to bring to light, mind as the potential cause for psychosomatic and chronic diseases.

Yoga is a philosophy-based approach to viewing oneself and the rest of the world with a paradigm-shift to bring lasting happiness through two concepts — Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (letting go). The deep-rooted habitual thought patterns require persevering practice (abhyasa). This course attempts to build that perseverance through sustained practice techniques. Attachment to the worldly enjoyment and aversion to the inevitable pain and difficulties in life creates stress. This course attempts to build awareness of the subtle aspects of life that create such stress in the students. 

This program covers 5 main curricular points:

  • Learn yoga practices for the management of pain conditions.
  • Stress and its effects on pain conditions, primarily back pain.
  • Role of pranayama and meditation in bringing long-lasting relief from pain conditions.
  • Learn about the framework of an integrated approach to yoga for pain management.
  • Understand the basics of Ashtanga yoga and its application in wellness and chronic ailment.

Faculty:  Shri N.V. Raghuram,  Vinutha Kornaya , Ashwini Surpur, Anil Surpur

Area of Study: Yoga Studies

Program: Certificate Program in Hindu Studies / Community Education Program.

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: None

Start Date: 11 April 2021

End Date: 20 June 2021

Day: Sunday

Time: 07:00 pm EST -09:00 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Spring 2021

Managing Diabetes through Holistic Yoga

Managing Diabetes through Holistic Yoga

Course Description:

Yogic Management of Diabetes Mellitus is a course on holistic approach of yoga and concepts for a stress-free healthy lifestyle. In this course, students will explore the practices of yoga, such as asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing practices), along with the concept of ashtanga yoga and philosophy of yoga through the teachings of Patanjali Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita. This course helps learn the role of mind in psychosomatic and chronic diseases and teaches the students the methods to calm down the mind amidst stressors.

Yoga is a philosophy-based approach to viewing oneself and the rest of the world with a paradigm-shift to bring lasting happiness through two concepts — Abhyasa (practice) and Vairagya (letting go). The deep-rooted habitual thought patterns require persevering practice (abhyasa). This course attempts to build that perseverance through sustained practice techniques. Along with it, this course also explains the concept of satvic and balanced diet and its role in management of diabetes.

This program covers 5 main curricular points:

  • Learn yoga practices for management of Diabetes Mellitus.
  • Understand stress and its effects on metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
  • Role of pranayama and meditation in reducing blood glucose levels.
  • Learn the concept of satvic and balanced diet and lifestyle for management of diabetes.
  • Understand the framework of an integrated-approach to yoga based on Ashtanga yoga and pancha kosha model.

Faculty:  Vinutha Kornaya, Shobha,  Ishwarryah

Area of Study: Yoga Studies

Program:  Community Education Program.

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: None

Start Date: 11th January 2021

End Date: 28th March 2021

Day: Every Monday & Thursday

Time: 07:00 pm EST – 08:-30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Winter 2021

Teaching Yoga for Children

Teaching Yoga for Children

Course Content:

This course consists of a synthesis of Yoga and Vedanta, with an emphasis on holistic Ashtanga Yoga.  In this in-depth course, we will learn the practical techniques of asanas, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation and to bring these to children in a fun and yet serious way. Yoga can be made fun, but yoga as a practice also helps children to be serious at times without additional enforced discipline. We will learn how in-depth concepts of Ashtanga Yoga as described in Patanjali Yoga Sutras and the four streams of yoga as described in the Bhagavad Gita can start at a young age itself.

The eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga give a comprehensive and systematic approach to developing one’s mind. Apart from Ashtanga yoga as a practice of Raja Yoga, the other three disciplines that we include are Karma Yoga (the yoga of detached action), Bhakti Yoga, (the yoga of love, acceptance, and devotion), and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of contemplation and reflection). By combining all four streams of yoga — Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga — one is able to achieve a state of peace, creativity, and fulfillment in life.

We will learn about each stream of yoga and delve deeply into Raja yoga specifically, which focuses on disciplining the mind and body using yoga practices. This course contains hands-on learning of yoga practices, techniques, and teaching skills through lectures, discussions, yoga manuals, offline assignments, and daily self-practice.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn in-depth, the yoga practices of breath-synchronized movements, asana, pranayama, and meditation techniques.
  • Apply yoga practices and concepts to help children manage their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
  • Concepts of how to teach children, the skills of mindful eating, environmental awareness, and stress-free methods to handle their homework and studies
  • Some of the common special needs such as low-spectrum ADHD and Autism and how yoga can bring a sweeping change into the life of children with such needs.
  •  Shadow experienced yoga instructors in the online classes to understand the teaching dynamics.
  • Understand the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga — yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi.
  • Understand the yoga philosophy as described in the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and Patanjali Yoga Sutras and how they apply to one’s daily life.

Program of Study: Continuing Education,

Area of Study: Yoga Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: None (a background of teaching or guiding children in the age range 6-12 is preferred)

Faculty / Instructor: Ashwini S, Anil S, Smita Kinhika, Savita Joshi

Quarter Offered: Spring 2021

Start Date: 24th April 2021

End Date: 23rd May 2021

Day: Saturday & Sunday

Time: 10:00 am EST – 03:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Spring 2021