Beginners Courses

Heart Of Yoga

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Introduction 

For those of you who would like to deepen your practice and explore the path of Yoga more fully we have put together this Intensive Course consisting of 10 full weekends.

Yoga enables us to know and understand ourselves on all levels of human consciousness - to discover our fullest potential in all aspects of our being, physical, psychological and spiritual.

To achieve this requires effort. Patanjali tells us that success comes when practice is maintained "for a long time, without interruption and with enthusiasm and sincerity" (Sutra I. 14)

Ashtanga Yoga is a challenging practice which requres determination and committment.

Patience, focus and dedication will inevitably bring rewards. Establishing a practice is the first step on the path. This course will help you to understand your practice and to go more deeply into the heart of your yoga. It will give you the opportunity to integrate the practice into your daily life; to know yourself fully; to think and act with clarity and awareness; to enjoy life in every way.

Number of students 

The number of students participating on the course will be restricted to 14. This is to ensure maximum attention to the needs of each student by the Tutors.

Course content 

  • Asana
    A. Yoga Chikitsa - Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series:
    I. Dristi II. Vinyasa III. Alignment IV. Adjustments
    B. Additional Techniques:
    I. Hip-openers II. Opening the Back etc.
  • Pranayama
    I. Anatomy II. Bandhas III. Samavrtti IV. Ujjayi V. Kumbhaka VI. Pranayama Techniques.
  • Meditation
    I. The Four Internal Limbs
    II. The Mind
    III. The Nature of Thought
    IV. The Senses, Prakriti and the Gunas
    V. Objects of concentration
    VI. Meditation Practice
  • Philosophy
    A. The aims of Yoga. The Yoga Sutra Of Patanjali:
    I. Sanskrit Chanting II. Translation, reflection and discussion
    III. Course work.
    B. Yoga practice in daily life:
    I. The Bhagavad Gita: reflection, discussion
  • Yoga Anatomy
    A. Gross Anatomy & Physiology, Principles of Support and movement:
    I. Skeletal system - Axial and Appendicular
    II. Articulations
    III. Muscle system
    IV. Repiratory System
    V. Other systems.
    B. Subtle Anatomy - Nadis and Chakras:
    I. Location
    II. Bija mantras
    III. Psychological aspects
    IV. Grounding, clearing and energising chakras.
  • Yoga Nidra
    A systematic method inducing complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Sankalpa.
  • Lifestyle & Nutrition
    I. Diet II. Kriyas III. Additional practices IV. Practising Yoga and living a normal life!
  • Course Work
    A. Journal
    I. Daily Practice record
    II. Diet
    III. Self- observation; Physical, Mental, emotional efffects
    IV. Relaxation and Meditation experiences.
  • Reading List
    A. Required Texts:
    I. Yoga Mala - Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
    II. Ashtanga Yoga - Lino Miele
    III. Light on Life - BKS Iyengar
    IV. The Heart of Yoga - TKV Desikachar
    V. The Bhagavad Gita - Eknath Easwaran (Arkana)
    B. Recommended Texts:
    I. Moola Bandha - Swami Buddananda
    II. Principles of Anantomy and Physiology - Tortora & Grabowski
    III. Hatha Yoga Pradipika - Swatmarama
    IV. The Upanishads - Eknath Easwaran

Dates and Format of Course Weekends  

Dates for 2011:

The dates for the 2011 course are as follows:

Jan. 22/23            Aug. 27/28
Feb. 19/20            Sep. 24/25
Mar. 19/20            Oct. 15/16
Apr. 16/17            Nov. 12/13
May 21/22            Dec. 2/3

Saturday (6.5 Hours):

  • 09.00 -10.30: Asana Techniques
  • 10.30 -12.30: Asana Practice (guided)
  • Lunch!
  • 13.30 - 15.00: Philosophy
  • 15.00 - 16.15: Meditation and Pranayama
  • 16.15 - 16.30: Closing.

Sunday (4.5 Hours):

  • 08.00 - 10.00: Pranayama & Mysore Practice
  • Breakfast!
  • 11.30 - 12.15: Chanting
  • 12.15 - 13.25: Lifestyle, Nutrition, Yoga History, DVD
  • 13.25 - 14.00: Yoga Nidra

Course fees 

The Course fee for 2011 is now €1950, payable in two installments. The deposit of €1000 must be paid as soon as you receive an offer of a place and the balance of €950 by November 1st, 2010. Please see the important conditions below.

Special Rate Annual Card Package 

Heart of Yoga students can avail of a huge  reduction on the price of an Annual Card, paying just €2650 for the Course and unlimited access to classes for the year. The offer is subject to availability of space and is valid from now until 23 December 2010. For full details click here .

Conditions of Participation in the Course 

  1. Deposits are non-transferable (either to another person or another course) and non-refundable, except in the case of cancellation by organisers.
  2. The first €1000 installment of the Course Fee must be paid on receipt of the offer of a place. This amount secures the participants place on the course and is non-refundable. The balance of €950 must be paid by 1st November 2010. If one is availing of the package of Heart of Yoga plus Annual Card, the payment of the additional balance of €700 must be made by 23rd December 2010.
  3. Participation on this course alone does not qualify one to teach Ashtanga Yoga.
  4. The Asana practice on this course is principally the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga, but this may vary from practitioner to practitioner..
  5. Accepting a place on the Course is a committment (i) to try to develop a daily practice; (ii) to stop at a particular asana in the Series, if asked to do so by the Tutors; (iii) to try to attend all of the hours of the Course.

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