Training Intensive Details

an education in yoga

one month residential program
preceded by up to 5 months of assignments in your home place
200+ hour program
Yoga Alliance accredited

we are now accepting applications for :


February 1 - March 3, 2009

at the newly built Yoga Thailand, Ko Samui, Thailand opening December 2008. This is the first training at the new center.

Details:

Where:             Yoga Thailand, Koh Samui, Thailand

Ko Samui is a tropical island located in the Gulf of Thailand.  It is a beautiful and natural place possessing both tropical lush jungles and white sand beaches, surrounded by sapphire blue sea.  It is situated in a high energy zone which has a direct positive effect on the yoga and meditation.  Transformation definitely happens.   It is an ideal environment to focus, practice and grow.

Our training takes place at Yoga Thailand, a special facility developed by Paul and Jutima of Centered Yoga, for the teachings since 2003. It is dedicated purely to the practice and teaching of yoga with an opportunity to live it further. In December 2008, Yoga Thailand will relocate to a newly built retreat center on the south of the island.

 For full details of the new Yoga Thailand

When:             February 1 - March 3, 2009 as the residential intensive

The key part of the training is a one month residential intensive. Prior to that is approximately 5 months of pre-course assignments which aim to elevate your practice and understanding of yoga.   These assignments are emailed every two weeks and will require you t odo certain readings, practices and reports.
(If you are selected after the five month period has begun, due to a late opening, catch up time will be possible.)

A common point of controversy is how long should a "training" be. In truth it is ongoing through one's whole life. Throughout life there will be times of focused and dedicated study to help take one's practice and teaching to a much higher level. This is the purpose of this course. To provide the sincere student with a platform and the tools to understand and go further in practice. We do not claim to "produce" teachers but rather to help bring out that hidden potential and start you on your journey. We have found this 6-month period to work very well at this level. Some courses are short and not enough help for a student. Others drag on over a few years and can almost hold the student back. After this 6-month period we encourage you to grow further in what is appropriate to you. We always recommend to our students to spend a few months in Mysore, India with Sri. K.Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath.

Level:               A thorough foundation training program - an education in yoga

A comprehensive, in-depth training.  It covers the vital aspects of yoga, trains you thoroughly and goes deep in to your practice and subsequently your ability to begin to pass on the message to others. A lot of thought and experience has been put into it to make it challenging yet appropriate for this level. In essence, therefore, it is an all-round education in yoga, to expand your horizons and develop your inner abilities and strength. It is the foundation course, a necessity to move forward in any aspect of yoga practice and teaching.

Qualification:     Yoga Alliance internationally accredited.

The program is over 300 hours and qualifies for U.S. and international recognition at Yoga Alliance's  200 hour level for those who successfully complete the training.  Ultimately training is beyond borders and pieces of paper.  The continued dissemination of yoga will come from your own inner growth and deeper understanding. This is the focus.

It is not an ashtanga certification or authorization as that can only be handed out after spending much study and practice time in Mysore with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Rangaswamy, typically rising to a level of the advanced series.

For whom:        those with a true and sincere calling and a committed practice.

The primary factor is the honest call from within.  For it to be true and sincere it needs to be based on a certain level of practice - so many times per week and over so many years.  Your interest level will reveal itself in the desire to read more about it, to study and practice more, and the absorption of your thoughts in the subject.   The application process is detailed and reveals a lot about you.  As such, acceptance is judged on a case-by-case basis.  If the call is strong then proceed.

Approach:        one month residential intensive plus 5-months precourse work.

A residential intensive provides an untold opportunity to really be in the practice, develop it as part of you, and evolve ready to commence on the teaching path. We have the gift of yoga today because it has been passed on from teacher to student for thousands of years. Very often it was done in the residential environment, known as the Gurukula system.  The student would spend time with the teacher, studying, then often go off themselves to practice, returning to grow further.  Things are a little different today and six months cannot compare to years with one's master.  However, this is your primary starting point.  It is assumed you have had a few years of practice up until now and that your study will continue deeper after the course.  In essence, it prepares you for the path of teaching, allows you to go much deeper, and establishes a practice that will lead to further growth on the path. The advantage of this environment is a minimum of distraction, which is necessary to allow transformation.  Ideally this level of concentration and focus will continue so you are less distracted upon returning to your home base. Prior to our one plus month together growth is built gradually thorugh a series of pre-course assignments that you can do and follow in your home base. This helps your focus, understanding and, above all, practice.

Style:               Classical systems of ashtanga, pranayama and philosophy

The core of the asana program is based upon the classical ashtanga vinyasa system.  In addition we will also work on the classic 12-point sunsalute, understand the flow (vinyasa), alignment, breathing, variations and the inner work (bandhas, focus and concentration).  Pranayama as laid down in the scriptures and taught by the masters.  And philosophy as detailed in the classic texts.  Many other elements accompany these three primary focuses.  See the course content section.

Please note, ashtanga is a classical system. It is the approach that is behind all these "open" and "power" forms. We focus on the classical for optimum training, considering it best for your development. This course is not an ashtanga certification as that can only be given out by Sri Pattabhi Jois, having spent a few years with him and his grandson, Sharath, in Mysore, India, typically advancing to the level of the Advanced Series. We recognize that this traditional high standard is beyond the reach of many and aim to ground, educate and enlighten the student and teacher at the level they are at, elevating them to a level appropriate for passing on the message to others. As such it is a full yogic education and an opportunity to deepen and explore in the path of yoga and contribute to real yogic insight.

Size:                 up to 36 students

Uniqueness:      the beneficial and unique elements that make this course stand-out

• immersion in a focused learning environment, living the practice
• small, dedicated group of students
• mentoring by close guided attention on your practice, teaching method
  and personal progress
• living and studying in a completely clean and natural setting
• away from the distractions of home gives you perspective, a fresh mind,
  focus and an ease in letting go
• direct teaching experience of students, privates and groups
• classical training of pranayama, found rarely among western teachers
• the development of an advanced and dedicated yoga practice,
  molding the teacher in you
• approx 100 hours additional training beyond the basic requirements
  of the Yoga Alliance
• additional elements including ayurveda and diet
• precise training in asana and the ashtanga system
• 5 months of pre-course assignments to prepare and guide you

Led by: Paul Dallaghan, Neil Barker and guest teachers