Course syllabus:

 

• Introduction and foundation to Yoga's philosophy and practice.

Introduction to the characteristics of the Vedic society - perspectives about life; Vedic structure of society (varnas); values, beliefs, rituals; and rituals' place in people's lives then and today.

 

• What makes the Vedic society unique?

The Brahmin - the one who performs the ceremonies.

 

• What defined individuals in the Vedic society?

 

• Life's periods in ancient India

The time of sannyasa (leaving society) and what is the force that moved individuals in Vedic society out of that society.

 

• The relationship between the sannyasi and those who stayed within the Vedic society

The dialogue between the Yogi and the Brahmin; Brahmin as representing society; the dynamic between the landlord and the yogi.

 

• Dharma Karma Moksha

As structure of behavior in idea and in practice. In Vedic times and in Yogic times.

 

• The transition from the Vedas to the Upanishads

as a change in consciousness then and today.

 

• The yoga practice components:

Kriya Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Vignana Yoga.

 

• Prakriti

What is the meaning of our body as an expression of prakriti? Experience with attachment and experience without attachment and identification.

 

• We will explore the correlation between daily activities and the yoga practice.

 

• Kriya yoga

Kriya - actions for purification through the energy of the body; within the kriya we will find:

 - Meditation - what is meditation; what it's place in our day to day practice? as a tool for our development in life? We will learn and experience different types of meditation such as Kundalini, Bhavana, Dhayana

 - The Kriyas - the practice of the kriyas as a tool for purification of the physical and emotional body.

 - Mantra - what is it? and what is the proper use of Mantra?

 - Pranayama - prana is the energy of life; what is the pranayama practice and in reference to identification and freedom from identification?

 - Asana - as a tool for emotional renaissance:

We will learn and experience step by step the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa, the accuracy of each Asana according to your own body.

Using the asana as a tool to work with and to release emotional densities and observation of the mind - through intention, rhythm, observation, bandhas, dristi, and breath.

We will further explore the wisdom and logic that guides the practice as a series and the support that the series offers to the body's energetic structure and flow. (Intermediate series will be learned next year - 300h).

We will deepen our knowledge of counting in Sanskrit; learning about the bandhas as energetic areas;

 - Vinyasa flow how to "open" the series to a Vinyasa (Mala) that is arising from attentiveness and is unique to each teacher; the place of a teacher and a student.

Experience teaching the series in a small group.

 

• Karma Yoga

What is it? - Karma means Action - we will observe the individual as a being who is active and explore what is leading our own actions? Where is the focus of our actions?

 

• Bhakti Yoga

Yoga is a tradition of love Love is Bhakti and it is devotion, the tradition of yoga is teaching us how to have space inside of us for the world, how to love this creation and be devoted to our spirit.

 

• Raja Yoga 

the kingdom we are living from - Raja yoga is exploring the mind and consciousness; in the mind we have thoughts, feelings, imaginations, perspectives and dogmas; we will observe those that have served us or bothered us. The Yoga Sutra Of Patanjali and more literature is our guide for this observation.

 

• Vignana

The wisdom that guides us - The yogic philosophy through literature offers us different points of view on life; perspectives weaved into beautiful stories offer us clarity and exploration of our perspectives through the rich world of yoga literature.

 

• Anatomy 

Anatomy and physiology in relevance to the yoga practice.

 

• Ayurveda

  Introduction to Ayurveda and the tools Ayurveda has to offer for our wellbeing.

 

• Selected Reading Materials:

Yoga Philosophy, Introduction and chronology of involvement- soured  from a few  academic books.

The Yoga Sutra (first chapter and some of the second chapter; the second and third chapters will be taught in 300h next year)

Chosen chapters from the Mahabharatha and The Bhagavad Gita. 

Chosen chapters from the Ramayana.

Chosen Upanishads.

Yoga Vasistha.

Leading philosophers from the yoga tradition in encient times and today.

 

*specific books are listed on "Links" page and some background on the "About" page.

* students cannot miss more then a third of the classes.

 

Namaste

 

Meital BatOr