Next Session : Sunday January 24th thru Saturday February 20th 2010. Registration opens Monday October 26th. You can pick up an application at the front desk or email Monica
Lineage
My teachers, Bikram Choudhury and Emmy Cleaves, are from the Ghosh lineage of physical-culture Hatha Yoga. The sequence is grounded in a series codified between the 5th and 10th century AD, by the Nath sect. Followers of the Nath believed that "the main objective of Hatha Yoga is to create an absolute balance of the interacting activities and processes of the physical body, mind and energy. When this balance is created, the impulses generated give a call of awakening to the central force which is responsible for the evolution of human conciousness. If Hatha Yoga is not used for this purpose, its true objective is lost". (Swami Muktibodhananda Saraswati, Commentary, 1985 translation, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Yogi Swatmarama).
Bikram, an accomplished student of Sri Bishnu Charan Ghosh, is the founder of the Yoga College of India and author of the popular "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class". He was trained at Ghosh's College of Physical Education (est. 1924) in Calcutta, India. In the late 1960's he was sent to Japan to establish a school and teach their method of Yoga. In the mid-1970's, he established a school in San Francisco, then settled in Los Angeles near the headquarters of Yoganandaji, his teacher's brother.
Bishnu Ghosh, Bikram's teacher, was trained at the Ranchi School for Boys founded in 1917 by his older brother, Paramahansa Yogananda, who later founded the Self-Realization Fellowship and authored "The Autobiography of a Yogi". Bishnu became a physical culturalist and worked with Swami Sivananda Saraswati to develop a system of Hatha Yoga asanas for health and fitness, based on the original classic 84 postures. He established Ghosh's College of Physical Education in 1923, in Calcutta, where his granddaughter Muktamala Ghosh, is now the director.
Paramahansa Yogananda founded the first "yogoda" (Hatha-Raja Yoga) school in Ranchi, Bihar, India, in 1917. Today, there are many schools of yogoda throughout India that provide training in physical, moral, mental, and spiritual ideals for youth. Yogananda was a pioneer, sent to America in 1920 by his teacher, to introduce Kriya Yoga. His book, "The Autobiography of a Yogi", continues to inspire millions of people around the world.
Sri Swami Yuketeswar, Yogananda's teacher, established several ashrams in India to teach Kriya Yoga, and authored "The Holy Science". He was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, the first non-sadhu to learn Kriya Yoga.
Lahiri Mahasaya was initiated into Kriya Yoga (Raja-Yoga) by Babaji Nagaraj in 1861. Babaji was a "sanyasing" or "sadhu", but Lahiri lived the normal life of a householder and worked for the Indian government. He inspired hundreds of people to practice Kriya Yoga during his lifetime by demonstrating that it was possible to keep self-realization without giving up city life.
The Teachings originate from Yogi Matsyendranath, regarded as the first human teacher of Hatha Yoga. Matsyendranath's chief disciple, Gorakhnath, was guru to Yogi Swatmarama, who compiled the wisdom and techniques of Hatha Yoga in the Hatha Yoga Pradipikas.
Unlike Buddhist and Jain scriptures, and Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika does not impose yamas and niyamas (self-control, rules of conduct and observances). Yogi Swatmarama considered them to be more religious than spiritual. He was also aware that trying to follow yamas and niyamas created more mental stress than piece of mind. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika advocates discipline and purification of the body through Hatha Yoga, which will develop self-discipline and self-control and, ultimately, induce natural spiritual development.
The following Curriculum outline is based upon my 3000 plus hours teaching this lineage of yoga and countless hours practicing and exploring the various methods of using the 84 original postures.
Curriculum Outline
This is a brief summary. A detailed curriculum outline will be provided during orientation.
- Asana Practice
- By practicing two 90 minute classes a day, you will begin to understand the full depth and potential of how hatha yoga can change the physical body. You will build strength, endurance and an ever changing appreciation for the full potential of your Self once you begin learning to use your mind and body together. This experience is where you will begin your leap off into teaching. It will define the process of yoga for YOU.
- Posture Mechanics (lecture)
- Prior to the first time you "teach" a pose in front of your fellow trainees, we will go over each posture in great detail. This will in-corporate the anatomical details you are learning simultaneously as well as how to spot specific anatomical issues within individuals. We will go over all modifications for each posture and how to know when to back off from assisting students. Finally, the lecture will cover why postures are where they are in the sequence and all the possible variations that Monica feels are effective. The lecture will use verbal, visual and physical methods to help you learn as much as possible about each posture.
- Teaching Methodology and Practicum
- This is where you will learn how to Teach, not just instruct! Based on your own personal experience with the asanas and by observing and helping your fellow trainees, you will create an approach to teaching that works using your strengths. Each student will be required to write a set of draft instructions for each pose and "teach" it in front of instructors and fellow trainees. We will work on body language, voice projection, timing and how to handle scenarios that arise while in class, such as when and when not to make physical corrections. We will also cover the professional aspects of teaching yoga and the student/teacher relationship.
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Just what it sounds like with a large emphasis on the practical application to yoga. We will really get in to the scientific function of each posture and why it does what it does. There will be plenty of discussion regarding specific organs, systems and health issues. You will be fully prepared to help folks who have injuries, health problems and limitations.
- Yoga Philosophy/Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers
- will include a history of hatha yoga, how it came to bein the West, how to apply yoga in today's lifestyle and all the various forms and styles that yoga can assume.
Sample Schedule
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Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat/Sun - About Raleigh and Open Door Yoga
- Raleigh is a growing city with a great climate that attracts many newcomers every year. Although an historically conservative town, the surge in transplants from all over and the fairly stable economics have inspired some lovely changes in the feel of Raleigh. Within the last three years, four new yoga studios have opened in the downtown area, the music scene and local art scene seem to get bigger every year. There are three farmers markets dedicated to local farmers and two are required to be grown chemically free.
- Open Door Yoga is situated just outside of the official downtown boundaries. We have the best of both worlds: convenience and walk-ability plus a little room to breathe. Our studio is beautiful, bamboo floors in the lobby, windows in the practice room and great spaces to shower and change. We even have a small yard out front to let yourself release a little steam after class.
- Accommodation Possibilities:
- The Velvet Cloak Inn:
This is a Raleigh Institution and recently renovated and updated. They have converted all of thier rooms into condos that are privately owned by individual parties. Single and double occupancy are available. All rooms come with microwave/refrigerator/freezer and all the other usual amenities. There may be some rooms available that have mini kitchens. Discounts for all are available if more than ten folks choose to stay there. It is half a mile from the studio and a beautiful walk through one of Raleigh's best neighborhoods.
- Rent a room:
There may be rooms available with students who practice at Open Door. Please email us ASAP if you are interested in going this route. Location, price and privacy will vary!
- Non-refundable Registration Fee:
- to be sent with application · $250
- fee will be refunded only if not accepted into training
- Early Registration:
- Until 4:00 pm December 31st, 2009 · $3050
- Late Registration:
- From December 19th thru January 16th· $3250
| Time | Mon | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.00am | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | No class |
| 8.00am | Sitting Practice | Sitting Practice | Sitting Practice | Sitting Practice | Sitting Practice | No class |
| 8.30am | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | No class |
| 9.30am | Practicum | Practicum | Practicum | Practicum | Practicum | No class |
| 11.30am | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | No class |
| 12.00pm | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | Lecture | No class |
| 2.30pm | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | Hot Yoga 90 | No class |
| 4.00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | No class |
| 5.30pm | Lecture/Practicum | Lecture/Practicum | Lecture/Practicum | Lecture/Practicum | Lecture/Practicum | No class |
You will be required to practice once over the weekend. The class must be at Open Door and hot. Due to the fullness of all weekend classes, we will require the training group to split themselves up amongst the weekend classes and commit to the class that they are assigned to attend.
Places to Stay
Course Costs
Course costs include unlimited classes at Open Door Yoga, free towel use for each class, all lectures and instructions, and a course manual.
A reading list and recommended materials will be included in the registration packet once you are accepted in to the training.
