Ashtanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois or by R Sharath has been evolving based on Guru-Shishya Parampara.
It is always practising under the guidance of the Guru and then the repetition of what’s been learned with the teacher until the next visit to the teacher.
The most unique part is the teaching of the Guru to every single student isn’t the same. Based on his/her capabilities the Guru teachers individually.
This is one of the most possible ways of bringing the age-old Gurukula system of learning that prevailed in ancient India.
Now though the tradition of Ashtanga Yoga doesn’t allow any mass-teaching such as teacher training, there have been schools of Yoga teaching Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training courses.
Why do we teach teacher training in Ashtanga Yoga particularly?
Ashtanga Yoga: Why do we Teach Teacher Training?
At Samyak Yoga Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training, we try to put forth the system of Ashtanga Yoga as it is.
The students explore the primary series, the structure of it, the intelligence of sequencing behind it etc. It is a foundation to understand the Ashtanga primary series.
It is also necessary for any serious Yoga practitioner to start working on the Yogasutras of Patanjali.
During the teacher training, we study seriously the philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga as written/codified by Patanjali. This widens the perspective of the student towards the Yoga system.
Mysore style of Practice
Most often, students of Ashtanga Yoga find it hard to remember the sequencing of the primary series in the beginning.
The Mysore style classes can be harder and confusing for those who aren’t used to it.
During the training at Samyak Yoga, students build slowly the Mysore style and get used to the environment of Mysore style and deepen their practice.
Tristhana Practice of Ashtanga Yoga
As Sri Pattabhi Jois mentions, the Tristhana Practice i.e. Asanas, Breathing, and Drishti are the inevitable components of the Ashtanga practice.
Coordinating them with ease on the mat is a challenge and with the proper guidance of a teacher, the practice can be rhythmic and progressive.
It benefits the student to explore the deeper dimensions of Ashtanga Yoga.
Sanskrit names and Counting
Ashtanga Practice isn’t just about the practice of the series.
Your practice of Ashtanga can get deeper when you know the meaning of the Asanas, the philosophy behind and the Sanskrit names of the Asanas.
You should also make an effort to count the Vinyasas in Sanskrit. The sounds, energy, and frequency of these words bring an atmosphere that makes your practice holistic and sacred.
Vinyasa Krama and Ashtanga Yoga
One of the difficult aspects of Ashtanga Yoga is its Vinyasa Krama. It is though very significant aspect rarely understood very clearly by practitioners.
How many Vinyasas in particular asana practice, the logic behind it; why another set of asanas do follow a different intuitive Vinyasa Krama are discussed during the training.
This is definitely very handy for students who want to deepen their practice in Ashtanga Yoga.
Busting the myths of Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga is surrounded by many myths.
Often understood as an injurious, very strict practice wherein you can’t change the sequence, a flow practice well for fit people etc. It is very important to come out of the dogma surrounded and explore the practice and philosophy without the cults attached.
Our Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training is a process in building the practice and philosophy of Ashtanga Yoga.
It is a foundation to the basics, the significant aspects of Ashtanga Yoga so that the students should be able to deepen their traditional Ashtanga Yoga with ease and seriousness.