Our holistic yoga teacher training course is unlike any other. From self-awareness and the guidance of asanas and meditation to the ancient Indian scriptures, this is profound knowledge that can be applied to virtually every aspect of life. Read on to find out what you can look forward to during your yoga teacher training at Yoga Vidya.
Introduction – The Philosophy and Purpose of Yoga
In the introduction, you will learn all about the philosophy of yoga and the aims of holistic yoga. You will gain an insight into the history of the concept of humanity. You will also learn about the various paths and masters within the tradition.
- The Philosophy and Aims of Yoga
- Yoga’s View of Humanity
- The History of Yoga
- The Paths, Main Traditions and Masters of Yoga
Hatha Yoga – Yoga focusing on physical practice
Hatha Yoga is the most widely practised form of yoga in the West. In this section, you will learn all about the many different applications of yogic postures (asanas), as well as relaxation techniques, breathing exercises (pranayama) and cleansing exercises (kriyas).
The physical health aspects are complemented by scientific and medical principles, as well as basic knowledge of nutrition and Ayurveda.
- Hatha Yoga as a means of preventing illness
- Hatha Yoga as a means of promoting general well-being
- Hatha Yoga as a means of managing stress
- Hatha Yoga as a form of therapy and healing
- Hatha Yoga as a means of developing parapsychological abilities
- Hatha Yoga as body-oriented psychotherapy
- Hatha Yoga as a spiritual discipline
- Sensibilitätstraining und Entwicklung des Körperempfindens
- Bewusstseinsübungen
- Aufwärmübungen
- Augenübungen
- Sonnengebet
- Classic deep relaxation
- Simple Yoga Nidra relaxation techniques
- Schultz’s autogenic training
- Jacobson’s relaxation training
- Modern stress research, stress management
- Yoga Vidya series comprising 12 basic postures
- Getting to know and experiencing various methods
- with different objectives for performing the asanas
- Asanas for relaxation
- Yoga for the back
- Comparison with other physical exercise systems: yoga, sport and physical fitness
- Asanas and physiological research
- Asanas for physical fitness, including learning very challenging variations
- Holding poses for extended periods with a focus on chakras, specific breathing techniques, mantras, bandhas and mudras
- Asanas for awakening life energies
- Asanas for personal development
- Yoga bodywork
- Breathing techniques for everyday life
- Breathing exercises
- Simple pranayamas for relaxation and re-energising
- Samanu: Purification of the elements
- Advanced pranayamas according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika: 8 kumbhakas, bandhas, mudras
- Shatkriyas according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Tratak (eye cleansing), Neti (nasal cleansing), Kapalabhati (lung cleansing), Dhauti (throat and stomach cleansing), Nauli (small intestine cleansing), Basti (rectal cleansing)
- Shank Prakshalana (cleansing of the entire digestive tract)
- Understanding the human body, particularly in relation to yoga exercises
- Musculoskeletal system
- Respiratory system, digestive system
- Nervous and endocrine systems
- Physiological effects of yoga exercises
- Exercise science
- What is health? Causes of illness
- A healthy lifestyle: living holistically
- Effective yogic home remedies for overcoming common ailments such as: colds, hay fever, headaches, allergies, digestive problems
- Yoga as therapy. Staying healthy into old age
- Healing through mental training
- Neuroendocrinology, psychoimmunology
- Mechanisms of action of the nervous system
- Highly prevalent chronic conditions, including chronic pain syndromes
- Physiological, neurobiological and psychological explanatory models (fascia, motor coordination, respiratory coordination, sensory learning)
- Neurobiology of meditation
- Concept of mind-body medicine and the relaxation response
- Biopsychosocial model, including salutogenesis
- Health promotion strategies
- Areas of action in health promotion
- The human diet
- Reasons for a vegetarian diet
- The 3 gunas: the mental and energetic effects of food
- Nutrition for advanced Hatha Yoga
- Fasting: losing weight and keeping it off
- Special diets
- Health and Illness
- A lifestyle tailored to your constitution according to the 3 doshas
- Ayurvedic nutrition
Tantra and Kundalini Yoga – Yoga of Energy
In this section, you will learn, amongst other things, about the body’s energy system and yogic techniques for influencing it, as well as parapsychological phenomena and methods for increasing and channelling energy.
- Theory: Shiva-Shakti philosophy
- Energy bodies: prana, nadis, chakras, kundalini
- Astral realms, spirits and the afterlife, helping the deceased
- Opening the chakras
- Parapsychological phenomena, extrasensory perception
- The awakening of the kundalini: Methods, experiences, dangers and precautions
- The techniques of Kundalini Yoga: Mantra, Laya, Yantra, Nada, Hatha Yoga
- White, red and black Tantra
- Sexuality and partnership
Raja Yoga – Mental Training and Meditation
Raja Yoga is the study of the human mind. Here, you will learn to control your mind and, through the power of thought, achieve your goals, develop mental abilities and connect with your higher self. In addition to classical yoga texts on the subject, the course also explores Western psychology.
- Making full use of the human psyche: the subconscious, conscious and superconscious mind
- The power of thought and positive thinking. Mind control. Thoughts as the creators of destiny
- Personal development
- Self-awareness and self-actualisation
- Developing memory, willpower, concentration, creativity and intuition
- Dealing with feelings and emotions
- Connecting with the Higher Self: What do I really want?
- Affirmations and visualisation. Charisma and personal charisma
- How to overcome bad habits
- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- Expanding consciousness
- Raja Yoga and modern brain research
- A comparison of Indian and Western psychology
- Concentration techniques
- Mindfulness in daily life
- Meditation techniques: mantra meditation, tratak, chakra meditation, energy meditation, mindfulness meditation, expansion meditation, abstract meditation, creative visualisation
- Stages of meditation
- Overcoming obstacles in meditation
- Meditation in science and research
- Meditation experiences
Karma Yoga – Yoga of Action
Karma Yoga is a multifaceted discipline centred on the theme of right action. It combines the laws of karma with themes of ethics, the art of making the right decisions, and selfless service. This module also explores communication and relationships with other people and the environment.
- Karma: the law of cause and effect
- Dharma: right action
- Ethics in daily life
- Ahimsa: non-violence and non-harming
- Swadharma and Swarupa: The art of making the right decisions
- Selfless service and spirituality
- Getting on better with others
- Dealing with difficult people
- Speech training, communication training
- Improving relationships with others
- Making friends
- Family and partnership
- The path of renunciation
- Environmental awareness and social engagement
- Live simply – think nobly
Bhakti Yoga – Connecting with the Divine
Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion and teaches you how to deal with emotions in the right way. You will learn about the concept of God and Hindu mythology, including the various aspects of the divine and their significance. You will also learn about the significance of kirtan – the communal singing of mantras – as well as rituals and mantra recitation.
- Emotional Training: Feelings and Emotions
- The Miracle of Love
- What is God?
- Experiences of the Divine
- Establishing Contact with the Divine
- God in Daily Life, Prayer
- Hindu Mythology
- Kirtan: Mantra Chanting
- Rituals: Arati, Puja, Homa
- Opportunity for Mantra Initiation
- Guru and Disciple
Jnana Yoga – The Yoga of Knowledge
Jnana means knowledge. Here, we will teach you the fundamental teachings of karma and reincarnation in yoga. You will learn about the classical Indian scriptures and yoga, as well as various concepts relating to spirituality, perception and humanity.
- Karma: The law of cause and effect
- The doctrine of reincarnation: Death, the afterlife, rebirth
- Classical Hindu scriptures: Vedas, Smritis, Itihasas, Puranas
- Key yoga texts: Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Bhakti Sutras
- Physical body, astral body, causal body
- Stages of spiritual development (7 Bhumikas)
- Cosmology and creation. Time, space, causality
- Vedanta: Philosophy of the Absolute. Who am I? What is real? What is consciousness? What is happiness?
- The Self as Being, Knowledge and Bliss
- Modern physics and Vedanta
Yoga teaching methodology
This section is divided into the topics ‘Lesson Planning’, ‘Pedagogy and Psychology’ and ‘Teaching Students with Specific Conditions’. You will learn everything about teaching, structuring yoga classes and offering corrections, as well as how to interact with your students. During regular teaching demonstrations, you will receive feedback from an experienced instructor and your fellow participants.
- Basic principles of teaching
- The yoga teacher’s personality and inner attitude
- Structure of a yoga session
- Structure of yoga courses and cycles: beginners’ courses, intermediate courses, advanced courses, open classes
- Yoga for the back
- Postural correction through yoga
- Sensitive and effective forms of individual correction
- Aids in yoga
- Yoga for pregnant women, children and the elderly
- Possibilities and limitations of yoga therapy
- Fundamentals of teaching theory and methodology, motivational approaches, basic knowledge of psychology and education
- Teaching techniques in theory and practice
- Key aspects of the experience of stress in relation to teaching
- The Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change
- Key aspects of yoga instruction in the context of medical conditions
- Interactions and synergies with other techniques for relaxation, stress management and movement
- Physical conditions: rheumatism, osteoarthritis, cancer, bowel disorders
- Mental health conditions: chronic neurological disorders, depression