The heart of teaching Yoga
is found in practice

In this three year programme to become a Yoga teacher the first emphasis is on practice – developing a consistent, deep, personal Yoga practice.

When Yoga is practiced correctly and continuously over an extended period of time with devotion, its secrets reveal themselves, supporting and enriching us.

Yoga practice is a meeting of body and mind. In that meeting we encounter self.

When we have established that practice, it is a natural progression to want to share it with others. This programme is about achieving both of these goals in a practical and enduring way.

Orit Sen-Gupta has been my teacher for ten years. She said “For me, Yoga is Yoga, period.” But her way of practice and teaching is very particular, traditional and revolutionary at the same time, and eventually it received the name Vijnana Yoga – practicing from inside.
The international foundation is now a worldwide network of highly practiced and trained teachers. More information can be found at the website www.vijnanayoga.org.

Vijnana is one of the pancha maya koshas, the five layers of the person. It means understanding, discerning and it is only known from within. The others are anna maya (physical), prana maya (energetic), mano maya (mental) and ananda maya (joyful). In our practice we wish to access all the layers of the person – 5D.

Vijnana Yoga is in the lineage of Sri T. Krishnamacharya (teacher of K. Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar and T.K.V. Desikachar).

Our practice is in the form of:
* “Just sitting” meditation
* Pranayama, Kriyas and Vayus
* Asana
* Study of traditional Yoga texts

Our practice is guided by the Principles:
1. Relaxing the Body
2. Quieting the Mind
3. Intent
4. Rooting
5. Connecting
6. Breathing
7. Expanding – Elongating and Widening

“Through our practice of sitting, pranayama, asana and the study of texts, we aspire to refine and integrate the body, mind, heart and consciousness. The guiding principles of relaxing the body, quieting the mind, focusing through intent, rooting, connecting, expanding and an awareness of
breathing allow us to go deep within and from that place to see, to feel, to understand and to act skillfully.”– Orit

Practicing from Inside
Although we work with the classic asana postures, in Vijnana Yoga, the asanas are created from inside, from sensation, from awareness of body and mind and breath.
Working with the alignment of the bones, the wisdom of the skeleton, intention and direction guide us.
Adhering to the principles, each student finds the posture for herself, himself.

Programme

First Year
In the first year we learn the structure and basics of Vijnana Yoga and establish a consistent practice, working with the vayus and principles. We start to study anatomy on a visual and sensory level. The text is the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.

Second Year
We continue with the structure and basics of Vijnana Yoga, deepening personal practice. In this year we start to broaden our vision, communicating the practice and understanding the needs of other students. We commence didactics and practice teaching. The study of anatomy becomes more structural. The texts are from the Vedas, the Upanisads, Bhagavadgita, etc. giving a wide view and understanding of the origins and philosophy of Yoga.

Third Year
We complete the study of the practices as outlined in the Vijnana Yoga Intermediate Practice Manual including all the series and postures. Sitting and pranayama practices are deepened. The study of anatomy becomes more applied. We read from the Hatha Yoga texts. Students begin teaching and assisting.

Certification

Book reports, didactical papers and a final project are among the assignments for this programme. Upon successful completion of these three years of study, students qualify for evaluation that includes one other recognized teacher from Vijnana Yoga International.

Structure

The course is held on weekends, Saturday and Sunday, between September and June. It includes also weekly lessons and one summer retreat per year with Shirley (transportation and lodging costs not included).
In the second or third year it is also suggested that students attend one retreat with Orit (cost not included).

Minimum 10, maximum 15 students.

Requirements: Minimum one to two years Yoga practice. The desire to establish a long term personal relationship with Yoga in practice, in study of the yogic texts and in daily life.
For more information, to register, or to make an appointment to talk about teacher training, please contact Shirley at shirley@yogapractice.nl