teacher training
David’s goal is to help you achieve a Yoga practice that awakens the healing energies within and enlivens the connection between mind and Spirit.
David’s 10 day immersion/teaching intensive is for anyone who wants to experience the radiance of daily practice in a distraction-free, focused setting to delve deeper into the heart of Yoga. Taking a step out of your normal daily schedule you will be immersed in the art, philosophy, lifestyle, methodology, and devotional qualities of Yoga.
This course is designed for dedicated Ashtanga Vinyasa students, those who want to teach and those who may already be teaching. A strong emphasis will be placed on an "experiential" understanding of vinyasa (breath, bandha's and prana) and the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga, the therapeutic principles of the Ashtanga style, and a contempory approach to teaching people of all levels and all abilities. You will deepen your understanding of "how yoga works" from the teachings of the main yogic texts, yoga mythology, and inspirational poetry in order to develop an accessible context for asana practice.
Upcoming Teacher Trainings/ Immersions
• November 12-22, The Bandha Room, Olympia, WA
• February 11-21 2010, Yoga Squred, Philadelphi, PA - to be rescheduled
• June 17-27 2010, Yoga Shala, Spokane, WA
• May 2010, (exact dates TBA) The Bandha Room, Olympia, WA
Specific topics include:
Details
Pre-immersion preparation (beginning one month prior). This includes developing your regular asana practice so you are prepared for ten days of daily mysore practice with David. Developing qualities of studentship before the immersion will improve the quality of our time with David, so he will be handing out study goals with reading and journaling assignments. If you have the opportunity to study with David prior to the training this would be preferable. David will also be handing out guidelines to help you explore current dietary habits with the intention of preparing your body for the immersion by viewing food as elements of yin and yang energy, feeling gratitude, and using food to bring balance and well-being to one's life.
During the immersion studies...
Your daily asana practice: You will have daily morning mysore practice. Mysore practice is in the tradition of Ashtanga Yoga, your practice will consist of following the sequences of the primary series and the intermediate series within the context of your personal needs. Davids emphasizes bhakti (devotion) and listening within to find your practice. You start from where you are and progress in the postures in the sequences of Ashtanga by understanding the meditation inducing breathing system that is the heart of this vinyasa method. You hone in on each asana within the vinyasa sequence utilizing alignment principles dynamically with serpentine flow and breath. In his teaching, David focuses on working with the cycle of the breath and intelligently employing ujjayii pranayama, uddhiyana and mula bandha's to harness Prana, the powerful life force carried on the breath. Authentic practice requires risking and opening to where breath leads you. Such openness is a sort of Yogic gambling that wins you an emotional and physical power reflected in your loving, fierce and receptive stance towards everyone and everything you experience. During these morning sessions, David will help you go seriously and enthusiastically into your practice. This aspect of the training will be the welcome support and rooted basis for all your exploration of the topics and studies of the course.
Shruti parampara: Shruti parampara which means one hears and then memorizes and keeps it in their heart and transmits those verbally the same content to the next generation for further retention and dissemination. This is they style in which we will have daily study of the shastras (teachings of yoga) along with commentary and discussion, reading and journaling assignments.
Macrobiotic philosophy: David will continue with the pre-immersion focus on balanced eating by introducing elements of macrobiotic - style diet in support of your yoga practice. As part of the immersion you will also have the opportunity to participate in a catered macrobiotic diet. A macrobiotic approach to wellness focuses on bringing balance to a person's physical and emotional condition by utilizing foods that are balanced energetically and nutritionally.
Other topics of study through lecture, workshopping, and small groups
will include:
• study of alignment as a way of finding our unique center
• principles of adjusting
• introduction to pranayama
• daily chanting and study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Ashtanga
mantras
• introduction to Samkya and Classical Yoga Philosophy, the Upanishads
and the Ramayana
• energetic and subtle anatomy
• Sanskrit foundation
• introduction to Bhakti Yoga through japa mantra and kirtan
How will I get the second half of the training? The second part of the training will be offerred in Spokane in 2011, but will also be offered at other yoga centers. Please see David's website for a schedule of his trainings.
If I don't want to be a teacher should I do the whole thing? In special cases David is willing to work with individuals who are not seeking the full 200 hr certification, and who are interested in attending the immersion on a part time basis.
What are the hours? Most mornings will be from 6am to 9am and then afternoons will go from 10am to 3pm. The first day usually starts at 1pm - and we will be finished around noon on the last day.
Is there a list of books that I need to buy in order to be ready for the homework? Yes, a list of required books will be posted soon.
Are scholarships available? There are a small amount of need based scholarships available which you can inquire about when you register.