Each interdisciplinary class will focus on a specific skill and/or concept (i.e. a group of asana or special topic of Yoga practice and teaching) and bring together fundamental knowledge and skills from relevant subjects including asana and pranayama technique, teaching methodology, asana, philosophy, and ethics.  Each class will be conducted “workshop-style” with lots of hands-on practice.

Topics include:

·    in-depth asana technique - what an asana does, its benefits and how it works

·    correct alignment and safety

·    breathing – mechanics of breathing in asana and pranayama

·    basic pranayama techniques

·    vinyasa – connecting the breath with movement and why

·    modifying asana and using props for different abilities and body types

·    maximizing health effects

·    using the bandhas for support and energy

·    dealing with common injuries and special conditions

·    observing and teaching to the individual personality

·    effective communication skills

·    physical adjustments

·    teaching ethics, including teacher-student boundaries

·    developing sequences for different levels

·    Sanskrit terminology

The Energetic Body

A special module taught by Vincente Lin will be dedicated to the energetic body: learning how energy moves through the body, how internal and external energy influence us, and experiencing how asana works on an energetic level.

Asana and Pranayama Practice – 75 hours

The single most important requirement for a Yoga teacher is to maintain a daily Yoga practice, be it meditation, pranayama and/or asana (or another form of practice).  For this reason, each day will begin with a practice class.

In the context of this TTC, however, practices will be designed to enhance and assimilate concepts taught in the other classes.  Different styles and approaches to asana practice will also be experienced in this context.

Emil Wendel will be teaching and leading some pranayama and meditation classes.

Primary teachers will be on hand to guide and oversee the integration of these classes in the course and to lead discussion afterwards of methods and techniques used.

Yoga Philosophy – 24 hours

Emil Wendel will lead students on a captivating journey through the philosophy of Yoga, bringing to life many of the most fundamental questions of our existence that have engaged Yogis for thousands of years.  These questions of existence and the teachings that sprung from them remain highly relevant to us today as Yoga practitioners seeking to understand how Yoga can work and help us in our lives. 

Topics covered include:

·    Yoga, its meaning and purpose

·    Yoga in the context of modern neuroscience

·    history and origins of Yoga

·    Pre-Classical and Classical Yoga Philosophy and their important texts, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

·    Tantra and its practices

·    Hatha Yoga and its disciplines

·    Swara Yoga and brain hemispherity

·    what is karma and heredity

Anatomy and Physiology – 14 hours

Integrated Technique and Teaching Skills classes will be supported by Anatomy and Physiology classes to provide a more in-depth understanding of the systems of the body including the musculo-skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine and nervous systems.  All lessons will be taught in the context of Yoga practice – what you need to do to achieve beneficial results and how to avoid harmful consequences.

Practical Training – 18 hours

All students will have the opportunity to practice their teaching skills and receive guidance and feedback throughout the course.  With consistent practice and guidance from experienced teachers in a supportive environment, teacher trainees can develop and improve their confidence and ability to lead an asana class.