Yoga Training Course “Beyond Asana”

A progressive training in yoga to enable participants to develop their own personal practice (sadhana) in a systematic and guided way.

Course co-ordinator and tutor      Johnny Glover
Contributing tutor                        Michael McCann

The practices will be based mainly on those developed and taught at the Bihar School of Yoga. The following is intended to give a general idea of the proposed course; it will be modified according to the needs and aspirations of the participants.

1. Aims 

  • The course will provide comprehensive training in many aspects of yoga.
  • It will give students an experiential understanding of traditional yoga techniques, and their practical applications.
  • It will motivate and inspire participants to undergo a transformation in their understanding and perception of themselves, others and life in general. (This course necessitates an openness to change on a personal level).

2. Objectives – by the end of the course students will;

  • Have expanded and developed their own yoga practice, having experienced a variety of techniques and practices.
  • Have the ability to practice safely according to their personal need.

3. Potential participants

  • Students of yoga and other disciplines who wish to develop their own knowledge and skills of yoga, and who wish to go deeper into their understanding of themselves and others.
  • Teachers of yoga who are interested in teachings based on those taught and practiced in the Bihar School of Yoga tradition.

4. Qualifications for acceptance on the course

  • Complete beginners are welcome on the first weekends, and may therefore progress to the later weekends.
  • For the later weekends either attendance at the earlier weekends or atleast 6 months of yoga practice
  • Correspondence with the course co-ordinator and tutor to ascertain suitability.

5. Course requirements and Costs

  • Development of a regular yoga practice at home.
  • Attendance at regular weekend courses
  • Course fees and cost of accommodation can be viewed at  www.samyeling.org

6. Duration

 The course will be delivered from March 2009 to October 2009. It will consist of eight residential weekends at Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre;

13- 15 March
17-19 April
15-17 May
12-14 June
10-12 July
14-16 August
11-13 September
9-11 October

Each weekend will begin with supper at 6.00pm on Friday and finish with
lunch on Sunday which is served between 12.30 and 1.30 pm. For example;

Course Schedule

Friday pm    
6.00 – 7.00 pm         Supper
7.00 – 8.30 pm         Course time

Saturday
6.00 – 7.00 am         Course time
7.00- 8.00 am           Breakfast
8.00-9.00 am            Meditation in Shrine Room (optional)
9.15- 10.15 am         Karma Yoga
10.30 -12.30 pm       Course time
12.30 -1.30 pm         Lunch
3.30 -5.30 pm           Course time
6.00- 7.00 pm           Supper
7.00-8.30 pm            Course time

Sunday
6.00 – 7.00 am         Course time
7.00- 8.00 am           Breakfast
8.00-9.00 am            Meditation in Shrine Room (optional)
9.15- 10.15 am         Karma Yoga
10.30 -12.30 pm       Course time
12.30 -1.30 pm         Lunch

End of Weekend

7. Course Contents

For all parts of this section there will be study of the practice, its benefits and likely effects (physical, mental and emotional), precautions and limitations.

Asanas (Postures)

  • Pawanmuktasanas series 1, 2 and 3
  • Meditative Sitting Asanas
  • Standing and Side bending Asanas
  • Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutations)
  • Backward bending
  • Forward bending
  • Spinal twists
  • Inverted Asanas
  • Balancing Asanas

Pranayama (breathing practices)

The course will progress through a variety of techniques and practices from breath awareness and sectional breathing to the full yogic breath and classical pranayamas such as;

  • Nadi Shodana
  • Ujjayi
  • Kapalabhati
  • Bhastrika
  • Bhramari

Bandhas / Mudra

  • The four classical bandhas (psycho/physiological locks) Jalandhara, Mool, Uddiyana and Maha.
  • Methods of combining  bandhas and pranayama.
  • Selected classical mudras

Shat karmas (the cleansing practices of Hatha yoga)

Jali Neti, Agnisar kriya and Tratak

Yoga Nidra

Yogic sleep – a deep relaxation –to improve depth and quality of sleep, as a tool for personal development and as a preparation for meditation

Meditational techniques

To include kaya sthairyam ( body stillness) , antar mouna (inner silence), japa and  ajapa japa (mantra repetition) , chidakasha dharana ( observation of the mind screen)

Mantra

Theory , discussion and practice of the following mantras OM, Shanti Path, Gayatri Mantra, Brahmarpanam, Mrityunjana and Surya Namaskara Mantras.

Subtle anatomy

This will include an introduction to and discussion of the chakras (energy centres) and the koshas ( sheaths of subtle bodies of being)

Different paths of yoga

Introduction to gyana, karma , hatha , bhakti, mantra and raja yoga.

Karma yoga – yoga in action

An integral part of the course is the practice of karma yoga. Participants will be expected to give up to 2 hours each weekend offering selfless service to support the running of Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre. This may simply be washing up after meals, household duties or work in the garden or grounds.

Suggested reading list.

  • Asana, Pranayama, Mudra Bandha
  • Yoga Nidra
  • Sure Ways to Self-Realisation
  • Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Above four Published by Bihar School of Yoga

  • Karma Yoga pamphlet   - Mandala Yoga Ashram
  • Upanishads
  • Bhagavad Gita
  • Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras

Further queries and application please contact;

Johnny Glover
84 Eastwood Avenue
Stranraer
Wigtownshire
DG9 8DT

01776 704994   e-mail johnny@jgyoga.co.uk
Web  www.jgyoga.co.uk