MODULE 8

LIVING YOGA

FEELING FULLY ALIVE

RECOGNIZING ALL LIFE AS YOGA - EXPERIENCING INTEGRATION

STUDY YOGA HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY

Consider the consequences of cultural appropriation and accountability. Explore how to honor yoga’s roots and magnitude with humility and respect. Compare the five yoga forms (Raja, Bhakti, Jhana, Karma, and Hatha) with yoga styles. Consider the qualities of a skillful yoga teacher as described in Krishnamacharya’s Yoga Rahasaya.

ENGAGE WITH A PERRENIAL YOGA PRACTICE

Understand samyama as the integration of dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Consider the degree to which the process of self-inquiry informs each aspect of your sadhana – feeling into  your underlying fears and desires and opening beyond those self-imposed limitations. Contemplate ways to support your sadhana (process of becoming).

OBSERVE YAMAS & NIYAMAS

Explore kshama (forgiveness) in the Hathayoga-Pradipika asextreme patience and compassion for our humanness and the humanness of others. Consider how kshama relates to the yamas-niyamas in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and why it was not specifically included as part of yama-niyama practice.

PRACTICE & SHARE ASANA

Learn and refine the asana sequences you created for avitalization, relaxation, and sensitization practice. Practice teaching all three asana sequences. Practice the art of giving and receiving conscious feedback. Take reflective notes on what went well and what to alter and build on.  Prepare and practice teaching one of the three asana sequences for your in-class practicum.

PRACTICE & SHARE PRANAYAMA

Choose a pranayama practice to develop and share. Facilitate that practice with a small group. Practice the art of giving and receiving conscious feedback. Take reflective notes on what went well and what to alter and build on.Incorporate that pranayama practice in your in-class practicum.                                                    

PRACTICE PRATYAHARA

Practice self-reflective journaling as a form of pratyahara. What does yoga mean to you? Why do you practice? Why do you teach?  What are qualities of a skillful yoga teacher? Is it more important to know what to teach or what not to teach? What might you avoid teaching?  Why? How do we honor yoga’s roots and magnitude?

PRACTICE DHARANA

Contemplate what it means to forgive. Practice forgiveness meditation, requesting forgiveness for harm we have caused ourselves and others due to our own pain, fear, and confusion, and offering forgiveness for harm caused by others due to their pain, fear, and confusion. Explore varanda mudra and abhaya mudra.                              

PRACTICE DHYANA

Chant the Avalokiteshvara Mantra (Compassion Chant) representing the innermost heart and the six paramitas. Explore the idea of a bodhisattva and bodhisattva vows. Consider which mantras resonate with you most. Create a mantra unique to you based on what you find most meaningful – your most important thing. Consider practicing your created mantra for 108 days.

CO-CREATE CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY

Create gratitude circle. Co-envision the world in which we want to live, for healing and wholeness of all beings. Consider our individual roles in creating it. Explore how community helps us remember who we are and what we aspire to be. Meet with mentor and peer groups. Complete yoga teacher training survey with conscious feedback.

CREATE YANTRA

Share the yantra you created. Consider how creating your yantra was an experience of becoming, an expression of what’s inside you. Compare this sharing with what you shared to co-create the initial community yantra. Imagine how you might incorporate yantra practice into your sadhana.

STUDY AYURVEDA

Consider the power of food on our bodies, minds, and hearts and what is means to eat consciously. Incorporate the principles of ayurveda into the preparation of nourishing food. Consider sharing your culinary creation and, or your food preparation experience with the group.

STUDY ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & BIOMECHANICS

Evaluate your personal experience, expertise, and ability in relation to functional anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, and consider how that shapes the scope of your teaching as it relates to medical issues that may arise. Consider the limits of your knowledge and how that impact your sharing of yoga.