26 Day 200-Hour Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin Yoga Teacher Training in Benissivà, Alicante

Facilities

Course overview

We aim to give you the best of both an Eastern and Western approach to Yoga Teacher Training, with a holistic focus on pranayama; asana; chanting and meditation and an exploration in to the philosophy that forms the solid foundation of these practices, so that you can grow, develop and gain confidence in your practice and bring yoga fully in to your life, on and off the mat.

Through supported teaching practice you will benefit from continuous opportunities to apply what you are learning and to realise your potential in sharing it with others.

Courses are offered to a maximum of 8 students to allow us to focus our attention to your development and to give you the space to grow and to nurture the family and loving environment that Yoga Sutra Shala respects and enjoys.

Our intention is to share with you the true spirit of yoga, with its depth of knowledge, wisdom and discipline. In addition to this we would like to explain Western developments in the path of yoga - such as the science behind yoga and the anatomy behind the asanas - in order to help you to develop your own yoga practice, to help you to develop yourself as the best practitioner and teacher that you can be: In balance, in harmony, in good health and in peace.

The course is intensive - and is ideal if you are wanting the spend the 4 weeks putting your heart and soul into learning. If you want a holiday then a retreat would be much more fun for you.

Certification

Upon satisfactory completion of the course, you will be awarded with certificate of completion which you can use to register with Yoga Alliance.

What you will learn

In terms of the physical side of yoga, you will learn about:

• Alignment and how to adjust correctly and sensitively
• Using different asanas for opening and strengthening different muscle groups
• How to sequence vinyasa flows as well as hatha yoga classes
• The fundamentals of yin yoga
• How to develop your own practice

In terms of meditation and philosophy we will cover:

• Metta (loving kindness)
• Being present
• Connection to the earth
• Being an observer of the thoughts and feelings
• Many other interesting topics.

General requirements

In order that you can enjoy and get the most out of your investment in this course, we recommend that you have:

• A good level of general fitness
• At least 1 to 2 years of regular yoga practice.
• Motivation to learn and determination to carry you through both the physical and the emotional challenges that will come up.
• An understanding that yoga is a lifelong journey and that doing the course is just the beginning of your learning as a yoga teacher.
• The desire to share knowledge with others and to teach with compassion and kindness.
• Absorbed as much as you can from the reading list (see below)

Recommended reading list

• The Science of Yoga (Ann Swanson)
• Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (BKS Iyengar)
• The Bhagavad Gita: Introduced and Translated (Eknath Easwaran)
• The Upanishads: Introduced and Translated (Eknath Easwaran)
• Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness (Sharon Salzberg)
• The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga: The Philosophy and Practice of Yin Yoga (Bernie Clark)
• The Art of Living (Thich Nhat Hanh)
• Our Appointment with Life: Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Further reading:

• The Power of Now (Eckhart Tolle)
• Stillness Speaks (Eckhart Tolle)

Sample daily schedule for Monday to Friday

• 07.30 : Pranayama
• 07.50 : Asanas
• 09.00 : Break
• 09.10: Meditation
• 09.30 : Breakfast and free-time
• 11.15 : Alignment & Adjustment
• 12.00 : Break
• 12.15 : Sequencing
• 13.15 : Break
• 13.30 : Philosophy/ Discussion / Chanting
• 14.15 : Lunch and free-time
• 16.00 : Teaching Practice – Pranayama (until 16.30)
• 16.35 : Teaching Practice – Asana (until 17.20)
• 17.25: Teaching Practice – Meditation (until 17.55)
• 18.00 : Workshop / sharing
• 19.30 : Dinner
• 20.30 : Chanting (until 21.00). Followed by Silence Time

Monday to Friday: we will observe silence from 21.00 to 10.00 each day.

Weekends

At the weekends we offer you optional, complimentary guided hikes/walks and workshops.

Saturdays: Saturday will be a free day to relax, with breakfast provided. There are some good local restaurants you can go out to for lunch and dinner. For those that would like to join, there will be optional guided walks in the mountains & valleys that surround the retreat.

Sundays: Workshops developing what you have been learning; creative skills and interests; yin yoga; and a chance to get together for informal discussions.

Weekend meal times will be:

• 09.30 Breakfast
• 14.00 Lunch (Sunday only)
• 19.30 Dinner (Sunday only)

If you have something that you regularly practice and you would particularly like to share as a workshop on a Sunday, please let us know.

Please feel free to bring musical instruments along with you – they are a great addition to the Kirtans.

Free private yoga classes

In addition to the scheduled classes, Yoga Sutra Shala also offers private yoga classes to any guests that want them. The private yoga classes will be offered for free by the assistant teachers.

You can ask for these classes if you want to:

• Go at a faster pace than the normal classes
• Go at a slower pace
• Work on an individual aspect or posture of yoga
• Work around an injury
• Anything else that you want to work on

Workshops

During this course, there will also be a lot of evening workshops conducted by teachers who will share what helped them teach when they first became teachers, for example teaching students to focus on the breath.

This yoga teacher training course will be held at the yoga and meditation retreat centre in Benissiva, a village in the province of Alicante, Valencia, Spain. The retreat centre is surrounded by beautiful mountains and peaceful countryside. It is only 30 minutes drive to one of Valencia's most beautiful and secluded beaches, Oliva.

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3 Daily delicious meals are included in the price, with the exception of Saturday lunches and dinners, when trainees can enjoy visiting the local restaurants offering vegetarian and vegan dishes, one of which serves food made from local, organic produce. These restaurants offer a range of meals, including vegetarian and vegan dishes, fresh salads and delicious cocas (a local speciality, like pizza).

All meals are plant-based and are freshly prepared with love by our fantastic chefs, using organic whole-foods and organic local produce. Spring water, organic coffee and a selection of organic teas, fruits and snacks are also included and available to you throughout your stay.

The following drinks are included:

• Water
• Coffee
• Tea
• Organic infusions

• 25 nights single occupancy en suite accommodation
• All course tuition and printed material
• Certificate to teach yoga, which can also be used to register with Yoga Alliance
• Free private yoga classes (upon request)
• Delicious organic, plant-based food & drinks
• Full use of the facilities: Yoga equipment, swimming pool (solar heated, so in winter it’s enjoyed by the brave!), library and extensive gardens.

• Flights
• Transfers
• Massage treatments
• Saturday lunches & dinners

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