Learn how to teach Yoga classes – an intensive 4-weeks International Yoga Teachers‘ Training at Yoga Vidya Ashram in Germany, Europes biggest and leading Yoga teacher’s institute – with more than 20 years of experience in training Yoga teachers and advanced yoga teachers training. More than 12,000 graduated content Yoga students successfully completed our training. Our experienced Yoga Trainers will provide you with solid teaching know-how and the necessary background – an unforgettable experience!
Live and practice yoga as you learn to teach it. This intensive training gives you hands-on experience to the classical yoga way of life which has been adapted to suit western culture.
Yoga Vidya offers this 4 week intensive International Yoga Teachers‘ Training Course in Bad Meinberg, in the beautiful, pastoral region of northern Germany. Located about an hour south of Hannover, Bad Meinberg is a historic spa-town with clean air, freshwater, and miles of rejuvenating hiking trails. The perfect environment for your spiritual journey to evolve. Please join us for this deeply life-changing eve.
Course Content
1. Introduction
Philosophy and Aim of Yoga
History of Yoga
Paths of Yoga: the Main Schools of Yoga
Masters of Yoga
2. Hatha Yoga – an overview
As a path to general good health and well-being
Stress-management
Therapy and healing
As a means of developing mental capacity
As a physical approach to psychotherapy
As spiritual exercise
- Preparatory exercises
Sensitivity and physical awareness
Mental exercises
Warm-up exercises
Eye exercises
Sun Salutations
- Relaxation
Classical relaxation, Yoga-Nidra
Relaxation techniques for daily life
Progressive Muscle Relaxation according to Jacobson
Modern stress-research and stress-management
- Asanas (Yoga Postures)
Rishikesh sequence with its 12 basic postures
Asanas for relaxation
Yoga for the back and spine
Yoga in comparison to other forms of physical training
Yoga and sports training
Asanas and physiological research
Asanas for general fitness
Introduction to demanding sequences
Asanas for the flow of life-energy: prolonged of asanas, combined with chakra concentration, special breathing techniques, mantras, bandhas, mudras Asanas for personal growth and development
- Pranayama (Breathing Techniques)
Breathing techniques for daily life
Breath control
Easy pranayama for relaxation and recharging
Samanu: psychic cleansing
Advanced pranayama according to Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Kriyas (Yoga Cleansing Exercises)
Shat kriyas (6 purification techniques) according to the classical text “Hatha Yoga Pradipika”: Tratak (eye cleansing), Neti (nasal cleansing), Kapalabhati (lung cleansing), Dhauti (throat and stomach cleansing), Nauli (small intestine cleansing), Basti (colon cleansing). Shank Prakshalama (total intestine cleansing)
- Physiology and Health
Understanding the physical body in relation to yoga exercises
Muscle and bone structure
Respiratory system
Digestive system
Nervous systems and hormones
Physiological effects of yoga
Physiology of movement
Sport medicine theory and research
- Health
What is health? Reasons for disease
Healthy, holistic living
Yogic remedies for the treatment of minor illnesses such as colds, hayfever, headache, allergies and constipation
Yoga as therapy: remaining healthy well into old age
Healing through mental training
- Ayurveda
Health and disease
The three Doshas
Correct living according to your body type
Ayurvedic food
- Nutrition
Natural nutrition; reasons for a vegetarian diet
The mental and energetic effects of food
Nutrition and advanced Hatha Yoga
Fasting. slimming and staying slim
Special nutrition and diets
3. Tantra and Kundalini Yoga: energy training
- Theory: Shiva-Shakti Philosophy
The astral body: Prana, Nadis, Chakras, Kundalini
Astral World, spirits, and life after death.
Help for the deceased.
Opening of chakras
- Parapsychological phenomena: clairvoyance, channeling, mindreading, psychokinetic, extrasensory perception.
Kundalini awakening: methods, experiences, dangers and security measures
Techniques of Kundalini Yoga: Mantra, Laya, Yantra, Nada, Hatha Yoga.
White, red and black Tantra.
Sexuality and relationships.
4. Raja Yoga: mental training and meditation
- The human psyche: subconsciousness, consciousness, super-consciousness.
- Raja Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- Yamas and Niyamas
- The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga
- Thought-power and positive thinking
- Thoughts as creators of your destiny
- Development of memory, willpower, concentration, creativity, and intuition.
- Dealing with feelings and emotions.
- Affirmation and visualization.
- Charisma and personal charm.
- How to overcome negative habits.
- Levels of consciousness and expanded consciousness.
- Raja Yoga and modern neuroscience.
- Indian and Western psychology in comparison.
- Meditation
Techniques of concentration
Awareness in daily life
Techniques of meditation: Mantra-Meditation, Tratak, Chakra-Meditation, Energy-Meditation,
Awareness-Meditation, Expansion-Meditation,
Abstract Meditation, creative visualization.
Levels of meditation.
Overcoming obstacles in meditation
Experiences with meditation
Meditation and scientific research
5. Karma Yoga: Yoga of Action
- Karma, the law of cause and effect
- Dharma: right conduct
Reincarnation: death, life after death, - Ethics in daily life.
- Ahimsa: non-violence
- Swadharma and Swarupa: the art of right decision making
- Detached service and spirituality
- Living in harmony
- How to deal with difficult persons
- Rhetoric training and communication training
- Enhancing your relationships
- The ascetic way
- Simple living – high thinking
- Ecological consciousness and social engagement
6. Bhakti Yoga: the devotional approach
- Feelings and emotions.
- The miracle of Love
- What is God?
- Experiences of the Divine
- Contacting the Divine
- God in your daily life.
- Prayer
- Hindu mythology
- Kirtan: chanting
- Rituals: Arati, Puja, Homa
- Possibility of Mantra Initiation
- Guru and disciple
- Christian, Jewish and Islamic schools of mysticism
7. Jnana Yoga: Yoga of Knowledge
Introduction to the classical scriptures of Hinduism, Vedas, Smritis, Itihasas, Puranas Important scriptures of the Yoga tradition: Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Bhakti Sutras physical, astral and causal bodies Levels of spiritual growth (7 Bhumikas) Cosmology and Creation. Time, space and causality Vedanta: Philosophy of the Absolute. Who am I? What is real? What is consciousness? What is happiness? Self as Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss. Modern Physics and Vedanta
8. Yoga teaching techniques
Basic principles of yoga teaching Personality and inner attitude of a yoga Teacher Rhetoric training, structure of a yoga class. Structure of courses and classes. Beginners, intermediate and advanced courses, workshops. Yoga for the back and spine. Correction of posture through yoga. Yoga for pregnancy. Yoga for children. Yoga for senior citizens. Benefits and restrictions of yoga therapy. Yoga-teaching as a profession and calling.
The following is the basic daily schedule:
| 6.00-08.30 a.m. | Morning Meditation, Chanting, Lecture. Early morning is a time of strong spiritual vibrations; this will aid your meditation and help it to grow deep and intense. |
| 8.45-11.00 a.m. | Asanas, Pranayama, Relaxation class |
| 11.00 a.m. | Breakfast/Lunch. |
| 12 noon | Karma Yoga* (selfless service for 45 minutes to one hour), leisure time |
| 2.00-3.45 p.m. | Lecture, Workshop |
| 4.00-6.10 p.m. | Asanas, Pranayama, Relaxation, teaching skills in small groups of students |
| 6.10 p.m. | Dinner, Leisure time |
| 8.00-10.00 p.m. | Evening Meditation, Chanting, Lecture |
* every student helps for 45 minutes with different work in the house. Karma Yoga, selfless service, is an important Yoga aspect for personal and spiritual growth
Exam: There will be written and practical exams at the completion of the Yoga Vidya Teacher Training Course.
Yoga Vidya Teachers Association
After you complete the Yoga Vidya 4 week teacher training course, you are eligible to join the Yoga Vidya Teacher’s Association (“Berufsverband der Yoga Vidya Lehrer”). It is one of Europe’s leading institutions in the education of yoga teachers. It offers an extensive range of continuing education, advanced training and courses in yoga and related topics to teachers from all traditions.
Registered member of the Yoga Alliance.
Completion of the Yoga Vidya 4 week intensive TTC certifies you at the Yoga Alliance 200 level following your application to the Yoga Alliance organization.
Certificate – Yoga Alliance
Upon completion of the 4-Week-Intensive TTC course and exam, you will be awarded a yoga teacher certificate by the Yoga Vidya Teachers Association (BYV). This certificate enjoys wide recognition and you are also eligible for the RYT 200 hour Yoga Alliance registration.
Meals
There are two organic nutritious lacto-vegetarian/vegan meals every day (brunch at 11.00 a.m. and dinner at 6.10 p.m.). The meals are served buffet-style and include both hot and cold dishes, and are prepared with love and care; all ingredients are strictly organic. If you have special requests, please notify us at least one week in advance.
Leisure
Fridays are reserved for your leisure, from 9.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. there will be no classes. You can use the time for walks, cycling tours, swimming, saunas, trips into the country and relaxation.
Requirements
Basic knowledge of asanas and the philosophy of yoga is helpful. You need not be an advanced student to attend the Yoga Vidya Teachers’ Training Course. However, the course is demanding and requires your discipline. Participation in all classes, lectures and seminars is mandatory. Meat, fish, eggs, tobacco, caffeine and alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden during the course. Additionally, we recommend you read “The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga” by Swami Vishnu-Devananda before entering the course.
Arrival and Departure
Your room will be ready at 3.00 p.m. on the day of your arrival. There is a yoga class at 4.00 p.m. and dinner at 5.30 p.m. The course will officially start at 7.00 p.m. Departure time on the final day is 1.00 p.m. Due to the intensity of training, it won´t be possible to arrive later or depart earlier, or to miss a day in between. There is a shuttle service from the train station in Horn-Bad Meinberg (If you plan to use this please notify us at least 3 days prior to arrival).
What you should bring
“The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga” by Swami Vishnu-Devananda, “Bhagavad Gita” with commentary by Swami Sivananda, towels, alarm clock, bed linens (which may be rented for a fee of 5 €), yellow shirt and one pair of white trousers for your teaching in the small group of students, comfortable indoor slippers plus personal items and toiletries. Optional: musical instruments for chanting and talent shows, all-weather clothing for country walks.