The 200-Hour Foundational Yoga Teacher Training and 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training are centered around 12 touchpoints essential to the practice and sharing of yoga.

1

STUDYING YOGA HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

Studying yoga history and philosophy to gain a broad understanding of yoga’s evolution, view of reality, and dynamic dualism through the foundational texts of the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and contributions of historic yoga influencers (Abhinava Gupta, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Yogananda, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramana Maharshi, and Tirumalai Krishnamacharya).

2

EXPLORING THE PERENNIAL PRACTICES OF YOGA

Exploring the perennial practices of yoga as described not only in ashtanga yoga of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali but also in non-dual Shaivism, including the practices of:

​​​yamas-niyamas

observing collective ethics and personal integrities

​​​asana

experiencing and influencing gross energy

​​​pranayama

experiencing and influencing subtle energy

​​​pratyahara

withdrawing the senses inward

​​​dharana

concentrating on fundamental realities

​​​dhyana

meditating on everythingness and nothingness

​​samadhi

spontaneous merging of finite AND infinite

3

OBSERVING THE YAMAS AND NIYAMAS

Observing the yamas-niyamas in pairs to understand how harmony with the world interrelates to harmony within ourselves, with a focus on five yamas (collective ethics) and five niyamas (personal integrities):

​​​ahimsa

non-violence, non-harm, care, compassion

​​​satyA

truthfulness in perception and expression

​​​asteya

non-stealing, stewardship

​​​brahmacharya

appropriate use of sexual energy, refusing SENSUAL desire

​​​aparigraha

non-greed, non-possessiveness, without fixation, generosity

​​​saucha

cleanliness, wholesomeness

​​​samtosha

contentment, equanimity, gratitude

​​​tapas

self-discipline, resolve, aUSTERITY, “heat” causing change

​​​svadhyaya

self-study, observing essence nature

​​​ishvara pranidhana

surrender to divine mystery, trust in “what is”

4

PRACTICING AND SHARING ASANAS

Practicing and sharing asanas central to Tirumalai Krishnamacharya’s sharing of modern postural yoga and the Taoist yoga shared by Paulie Zink and Paul Grilley. Learning posture names, benefits, contraindications, energy lines, adaptions, pacing, sequencing, and cueing (verbal, visual, physical), with an emphasis on asana as a catalyst to open the body and initiate a process of awareness from gross to subtle, outer to inner.

5

PRACTICING AND SHARING PRANAYAMA

Practicing and sharing pranayama as subtle energy experiencing and influencing through breathing methods described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita (ujjayi, nadi shodhana, kapalabhati, bhastrika, bhramari, shitali), bandha engagements (jalandhara, uddiyana, mula and maha), mudra gestures (kechari, yoni), and awareness of subtlest energies (koshas, nadis, chakras and prana vayus).

6

PRACTICING PRATYAHARA

Practicing pratyahara through everyday mindfulness, self-reflective journaling, and observing silence to experience the withdrawal of the senses inward and away from habitual outward focus and toward a connection with presence. Experiencing the audacity to rest. 

7

PRACTICING DHARANA

Practicing dharana through concentration on and contemplation of fundamental realities, in order to more clearly recognize “what is” and develop tarka, discernment about what is best held close and what is best laid aside.

8

PRACTICING DHYANA

Practicing dhyana through meditations on every-thingness and no-thingness, including: (i) dhyana-maha (meditation in every-thingness where awareness feels into the interconnectedness of all and the unitive force of love); (ii) dhyana-abhava (meditation in no-thingness where awareness feels into the impermanence of all and the peaceful force of equanimity); and (iii) mantra (invoking sacred vibrational energy where awareness rests on the perpetual forces of nature).

9

CREATING CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY

Creating conscious community by intentionally practicing loving awareness; cultivating sensitivities and understandings about community inclusivity and access; engaging in non-violent communication; building supportive relationships through cooperative activities, collaborative teaching, mentor groups, and peer groups; and exploring how personal liberation is bound up in each other.  

10

CREATING YANTRAS

Creating yantras as an exploration of energy, self-expression, and community creativity, including yantras with iconic elements of sacred geometry and non-traditional yantras that are unique expressions of your creativity. 

11

STUDYING AYURVEDA

Studying ayurveda to enhance self-awareness and interpersonal understanding by recognizing the physical, mental, and emotional energy patterns of vata, pitta, and kapha doshas and learning how to balance constitutional well-being.

12

STUDYING ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND BIOMECHANICS 

​Studying anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to gain insight into the intersectional relationship among body structures, systems, and movements.