Our training is an in depth immersion in traditional Ashtanga Yoga as it was taught by Pattabhi Jois in the intimacy of his small yoga shala in Mysore, before Ashtanga Yoga became a worldwide phenomenon.
As Ashtanga Yoga became more and more popular and yoga teaching had to adapt to the mass market, it was inevitable that important details were lost and the original teaching became diluted. Our aim is to return to the traditional method of Ashtanga Yoga as it was taught back in the day.
Understanding Yoga Philosophy
Yoga philosophy makes yoga practice meaningful and effective. We will dive deep into the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and touch on several other texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Upanishads as a way to support yoga practice.
Step by Step Exploration of the Postures of the Primary Series
An in Depth exploration of Vinyasa, Drishti, Alignment, Sanskrit Posture Names, Variations, Contra-Indications, Modifications, Comparisons to other Asana Systems, etc.. Training will include exploration of Bandhas, Breathing, Warm ups, Kriyas and more.
Learning to Adjust the Postures
The traditional way of learning Ashtanga is with hands-on adjustments. We will explore this methodology during our training as a way to understand how different bodies have different needs. The training will conclude with two three day in-depth adjustments training weekends.
Developing a Pranayama and Meditation Practice
Asana practice has become very popular today as a form of exercise, but the original purpose of asana was to create a stable comfortable posture for pranayama and meditation practice. The point of asana is to prepare you for the next steps on the path.
Putting it All Together
Integrating yoga into a lifestyle is called sadhana. Yoga supports our health and wellbeing, but is also more effective if we adjust our lifestyles. We will discuss yoga in relation to health, age, injury and the spiritual life. Another feature of sadhana is ritual - when practice becomes ritualistic, it gains depth and power.
Mysore Practice
Without practice there is no growth, evolution or benefit. In addition to the Tuesday workshop session, we will offer three further practice days for students. Students are also welcome to practice at home or at their home shala.
Who is this for?
This course is open to anyone who would like to make an in depth exploration of the traditional Ashtanga Yoga method. It can be useful for beginners, regular practitioners or teachers who may gain a 300 hrs Yoga Teaching Certificate.
Our intention is to offer students the opportunity to dive deep into authentic yoga practices, that will be evolved gradually over the program.
What will you gain from this course?
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New Teaching Skills
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Knowledge of the Fundamentals of Yoga Philosophy
Pranayama and Meditation Practice
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An independent Ashtanga practice
The Course Teachers
Guy Donahaye
Guy has been teaching Ashtanga Yoga for over 30 years. He has studied extensively in India at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, the KPJAYI and the Sadvidya Foundation in Mysore. He is one of a few students to receive advanced teaching certification from Pattabhi Jois and is author of the influential book Guruji: A Portrait of Sri K Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of his Students.
Having lived in New York for two and a half decades, where he was the director of the Ashtanga Yoga Shala teaching daily Mysore Style Ashtanga, he currently resides in Israel and continues to teach workshops internationally on asana, pranayama, meditation and yoga philosophy.
Amit Manber
Amit Manber has been walking the yogic path since 2006, learning from a variety of teachers both in Israel and internationally. His primary teacher, Shimon Ben-Avi, guided him for a decade, helping him cultivate a strong and stable personal practice.
Amit has also studied with renowned teachers like Andrey Sidersky and Simon Borg-Olivier.
Since 2010, Amit has been teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in group and private settings in the Emek Hefer area. He has led workshops and retreats in Israel and abroad, including in France and Spain, specialising in deepening the traditional Ashtanga practice.
Curriculum
We will meet once a week from 10AM-5PM
Daily program will vary a bit from week to week, but in general it will follow this schedule:
10:00 - 11:30 Mysore Practice
12:00 - 14:00 Asana Theory/practical
14:00 - 16:00 Philosophy/chanting
16:00 - 17:00 Pranayama and Meditation
ADJUSTMENTS TRAININGS and PRACTICUM
Adjustment training and Practicum will take place on the last two weekends of the training.
WEEKLY MYSORE PRACTICE
Mysore practice will continue throughout training. In addition to weekly training meetings, we will offer three additional days for practice at the studio.
ONLINE MEETINGS/DISCUSSION
Sadhana/Book/Film Club
HOME STUDY
Asana/Sutra workbook. Reading assignments.
The Training is broken down into Two Main Components and Several Sub-Components
Part One: Practice
(1) The foundation for everything else is MYSORE practice. Going to a yoga class once or twice a week is not practice: one should be able to practice independently and with regularity. (2) In order to enhance our understanding of the practical method, we will detail a complete breakdown of the Primary Series and based on the deepening of practice, we develop (3) a daily Pranayama and Meditation Practice for each student and expand practice into a Yoga Sadhana (integrated practice). (4) Deepening our understanding of yoga and how to practice in the best way, is then further supported by our studies of Yoga Theory and Yoga Philosophy.
Part Two: Teacher Training
The purpose of our training is to help students evolve in their practice (sadhana) so they are properly ready to teach. As we go deeper into theory and practice, and as we expand practice beyond asana to include all eight limbs of ashtanga yoga, we would expect to see a profound transformation in practice, over the period of training: out of this transformation evolves the teacher with deeper understanding, confidence and new skills.
(1) We start by observing and analysing how the practice works differently for different body types, physical conditions, such as ill health, injury etc.. (2) We start to assist each other physically in the postures, gradually helping each other to deepen practice and (3) evolving our understanding through study to mature as teachers.
Training Components in More Detail:
MYSORE PRACTICE
In the Mysore tradition, there is a focus on learning just a few postures at a time and gradually building up a practice over weeks and months. Each step in the series is a preparation for what comes later - there is an organic progression through the series, so that later postures depend on deepening flexibility or strength in earlier postures. Mysore practice is mostly non-verbal and is guided by hands-on assistance. Mysore practice is the foundation for everything else and continues throughout the training.
BREAKING DOWN the PRIMARY SERIES
There are 55 postures in the Primary Series, 479 vinyasas, 9 drishtis, 54 chaturangas, etc.… each detail is precisely recorded. This component is an in depth exploration of the precise Vinyasa, Drishti, Alignment, Sanskrit Posture Names, Variations, Contra-Indications, Modifications, Comparisons to other Asana Systems, etc.. Students will create their own asana workbook to record all important details. (completing this project is part of the final assessment)
LED CLASSES
Although the foundation of our training is based on the Mysore Style approach to teaching, Led Classes can be an integral part of learning the Ashtanga method. Led classes allow the teacher to reinforce foundational principles, such as drishti, bandha, alignment and vinyasa. This format emphasises synchronisation of breath and movement, maintaining a steady pace, and the cultivation of discipline and focus.
SUPPORTING PRACTICES
In this section we will explore understanding bandhas, breathing, vinyasa, kriyas, yogic diet and lifestyle, Yoga and Ayurveda, how to practice with injuries, during menstruation, pregnancy, old age, modifications and contraindications, warm ups etc..
PRANAYAMA, MEDITATION and INTEGRATION into SADHANA
Ashtanga Yoga is an eight step system. The physical practice is just one segment that needs to be understood and practiced in the context of the other seven parts. When postures are woven together with breath, meditation, diet, ritual and daily repetition, practice becomes what is called sadhana. We will develop a pranayama and meditation practice for each student and integrate practices into a sadhana.
YOGA THEORY and PHILOSOPHY
Yoga philosophy makes yoga practice meaningful and effective. Our main study will be a sutra by sutra breakdown of the first two chapters of the Yoga Sutra. We will look at the important commentaries, translate and chant the text and create a Sutra Workbook for each student. We shall also look at the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and Yoga Yajnavalkya Samhita.
HISTORY and BACKGROUND
Here we will explore the history of the Mysore yoga tradition, Krishnamacharya’s influence and an overview of Pattabhi Jois’ yoga system as it compares to Krishnamacharya’s teachings. We will also look at the ancient historical roots of yoga and the classical ashtanga yoga system as it appears throughout history.
SANSKRIT and CHANTING
We will translate and learn all the posture names, the Ashtanga Mantras and important verses from the Yoga Sutra.
ADJUSTMENTS TRAINING
The traditional way of learning Ashtanga is with hands-on adjustments. Physical assists are not forceful, but utilise breath and focus on the body’s natural range of motion. Adjustments release tension and have a healing, relaxing quality. We will explore this methodology during our training as a way to understand how different bodies have different needs. The training will conclude with two in-depth adjustments training weekends.
TEACHING SKILLS
In this section we develop analytical and teaching skills to work with different body types, age, health conditions, menstruation, pregnancy, injuries etc.. We will explore yoga techniques for improving balance, digestion, pain relief, relaxation etc., how to teach beginners, students in old age etc., and how to introduce pranayama and other practices. TEACHING YOGA The Mysore Ashtanga Business model - how does it work? Ethics for yoga teachers: student/teacher relationships. The guru model, insurance, continuing education etc.
READING ASSIGNMENTS and BOOK CLUB
Students will be given a variety of texts to study at home, which we then discuss together.
ASSESSMENT METHODS
Students will be provided with a bare bones asana workbook, with which we will detail instructions for every asana, every breath, drishti etc. of the Primary Series. As we work through one asana at a time, students will fill in information about the postures as we go along. Student’s knowledge about yoga theory and practice will be assessed through a final exam, and we will conclude with a practical assessment as trainees teach Mysore Style. It also is expected that students will continue daily Mysore Practice throughout the training.
SUGGESTED READING AND TEXTS COVERED IN THE BOOK CLUB
Yoga Mala – K. Pattabhi Jois Health Healing and Beyond - TKV Desikachar The Heart of Yoga - TKV Desikachar Light on Yoga - BKS Iyengar Yoga Sutra of Patanjali (Yoga Sutra will be taught during the course) Katha, Mandukya, Taittiriya Upanishads Hatha Yoga Pradipika - AG Mohan translation Bhagavad Gita
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