Om YOGA. vinyasa TEACHER TRAINING LED BY SOMACHI

Om YOGA vinyasa TEACHER TRAINING LED BY SOMACHI 2018

PREREQUISITES 200 HOUR z At least one year of practice in the Vinyasa style of yoga This can be done by: z Workshops, classes and immersions z Being versed in Patanjali s 8 Limbs of Yoga z Strong interest in arts, philosophy and therapeutics Om Yoga s Teacher Training led by SomaChi is a 200 and 300 hour registered course. In March 2018 we will introduce our new Vinyasa Teacher Training. You will learn the unique qualities of invisible lines, evolving adjustments, embodied techniques and more. The course can count as hours toward 500 hour training certification. PREREQUISITES 300 HOUR z At least one and a half years of practice in the Vinyasa style of yoga This can be done by: z Workshops, classes and immersions z Being versed in Patanjali s 8 Limbs of Yoga z Strong interest in arts, philosophy and therapeutics To ensure we have dedicated enthusiastic students who are willing to reach high standards of learning we have training prerequisites listed.

OVERVIEW The 200 and 300 hour Vinyasa Teacher Training at Om Yoga led by SomaChi is a course designed to give you solid foundations as yogic practitioners to become a registered yoga teacher. At Om Yoga, we will prepare you with the skills to work teaching yoga in studios, health clubs, or running your own classes/studio. Our previous graduates are doing all of the above. We are a school that believes in producing quality teachers, so we cap our intake into each teacher training at 12 people, hence your growth as an individual can be closely observed. We also maintain that this growth takes time both to progress and advance in your own practice, but also to integrate all of the philosophy, anatomy and given feedback. Therefore our course is not a short course. We want you to feel equipped and ready to teach on completion, to have had opportunities, and to have been assessed on many occasions so you are aware of your strengths and areas for improvement as a teacher. On completion of the course you will receive a 200 or 300 hour training certificate from a Registered Yoga School and will be able to enlist as an internationally recognised Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. Dates for training will commence in March and a training schedule available on our website. Information sessions are on January 19th and February 3rd, where we begin with a yoga class and continue with course details, video and Q&A.

WHAT STYLE OF YOGA WILL YOU TRAIN IN? At Om Yoga we teach two styles of yoga Vinyasa and SomaChi. Vinyasa is the style that you will complete your 200 or 300 hour teaching qualifications. Vinyasa yoga, otherwise known as Flow or Power Flow yoga, is one of the most accessible, employable and popular styles of yoga today. It draws from the traditions and styles such as Ashtanga, but is different in that no two classes are sequenced in the same way the same series is not repeated every class. The practice is a fluid movement-intensive practice. There is a focus on smooth transitions from pose to pose with the breath, and classes often include music to energise the practice. SomaChi is a style unique to our teacher training. Soma is body, Chi is energy, together SomaChi is the union of body and energy a creative fusion style of Vinyasa yoga. The style s yogic moves flow like no other, and the transitions which weave in and out through the postures are styled by the influences of dance, martial arts and the principles of yin and yang. SomaChi teaches you how you can use the energetic system through the postures to produce internal heat and build strength, coordination and flexibility. While you will primarily train in Vinyasa, you will also have foundational training in SomaChi technique. In order to have a truly comprehensive understanding of the depth and lineage of the SomaChi style we also offer a further training course. This is an option, if you are passionate about SomaChi, on completion of your 200 or 300 hour training.

200 & 300 HOUR MODULES z Yogic techniques: asana, adjustments, and how to sequence/theme and present classes* z Functional anatomy and physiology* z Yogic philosophy 8 Limbs* z Energetic systems z Pranayama z Meditation Shamata Vipashyana (Vipassana) z SomaChi transforming through waves and cycles z Sanskrit language z Yogic history the Vedas, Buddhism, Patanjali s Yoga Sutras and modern day yoga z The business of Yoga * Indicates major modules of the training

YOGIC TECHNIQUES This module is one of the most dominant components of the course as it relates directly to the teaching and adjustment of the physical postures. Asana In asana you will approach over 100 postures in your manuals from an anatomical and energetic/therapeutic point of view. You will be taught how to break down the asana clearly and provide both modifications and progressions for postures so that you can teach them to beginners and advanced practitioners alike. Adjustments From a somatic point of view touch is the direct language of the body. In this module you will learn how to communicate through your hands with your students and how to adjust each posture. You will develop this skill by practising on your peers in the course, and you will also be part of the beginners course program at the studio in which you will be guided to adjust students for a series of eight classes. Sequencing At Om Yoga this is our speciality. You will learn how to develop and sequence classes towards peak poses, and in such a way that students leave classes with a feeling of wellness rather than depletion. You will explore potential themes that enhance the aliveness and shape of a class and you will develop a rhythm that will be truly unique in your yoga class. Presentation Attention to how you present your classes is what transforms a good teacher into a fantastic teacher. Here you will learn key techniques on how to deliver a class effectively, accessibly and interestingly so that you engage and connect with your students. We will work with you on voice, group dynamics, observation skills and how you interact with your class. FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY In this module you will learn the systems of the body with an emphasis on the skeletal and muscular structures. You will receive an in-depth manual that will take you through a fun and thorough explanation of how we relate anatomical movement and function into the yogic environment. This module will include accessible breakdowns of the physiological systems by a professional teacher in the field, group demonstrations to understand anatomy in a practical way, and assignments to ensure that students understand the use of joints and muscles in yoga postures. YOGIC PHILOSOPHY This module will mainly concentrate on Patanjali and the 8 Limbs as it is key to the foundations of teaching yoga. We will explore each limb of yoga, learning how they are relevant to our yogic practice and our life. We specifically work with the Yamas and Nyamas and pay special attention to Ahimsa non-violence.

ENERGETIC SYSTEMS In this module the below kinds of energetic systems will be introduced, and we will explore how they relate to the physical (yoga postures), mind (psychological) and spiritual (interdependent nature). Chakras Knowledge of chakras originated in India, and Hindu/Buddhist traditions have kept this awareness alive over the centuries. Chakras are energy generators, each associated with a specific function. Nadis Energy pathways throughout the body were detailed thousands of years ago as part of traditional Indian medicine. Nadis transport prana, the energy equivalent of qi (chi). These channels emanate from the chakras and gradually become thinner the further they extend outward. Meridians Correlated to nadis, meridians are an integral part of the traditional Chinese medicine system. They are pathways in the body, which energy flows along. A vast network of invisible paths that connect to each other and to every atom, cell, tendon, bone, organ, skin. Everything in your body is connected, so nothing is truly separate. Pranayama Like chi is life force through the body, pranayama is the intelligence of our breath. You will learn different techniques that calm the Central Nervous System (CNS) to ease stress, and you will understand how the breath can balance moods, create heat and energy, and engage in other self regulation methods to increase health. Meditation Shamata Vipashyana is mindful meditation, or rather the meditation of observation of mind. Using Pema Chodron s book Start Where You Are as a primary text, you will be guided into the practice of observing thoughts, emotions, and sensations, ultimately working towards more stillness and spaciousness of the mind. SomaChi Soma means the alive body and chi is energy. We will look at how we can be in touch with this energy and how to express it in asana. The module will introduce you to the foundations of SomaChi Yoga. You will learn about energy, spaciousness and how to begin to consciously move through deep seated attitudes or holding patterns; shifting from dis-ease to ease. YOGIC HISTORY In this module you will be taken on a journey through time to explore and learn this vast and incredible history, and of the deities which have inspired the practice of yoga for thousands of years. Using slideshows and storytelling you will receive an overview of both the Hindu and Buddhist paths which are the landscapes the yogi s practice rests upon. THE BUSINESS OF YOGA Before you enter any industry or workforce it is important to understand how it functions, how it pays, different avenues you can find work or niche markets, and even things to consider if you want to start your own business. In this module you will learn how to prepare yourself for what s next.

LIANNE METCALF Lianne has over 25 years experience teaching and practising yoga. She developed a teacher training course in 2004, the first SomaChi Yoga Teacher Training. By 2007 her school was accredited with the international body of Yoga Alliance. For the past three years her training has included 70 hours intensives in India. Her unique style encompasses the influences of physical theatre, where she received sponsorship to study Grotowski and experiential theatre in Europe, and the influences derived from her travels in the east, including Nepal, to study Buddhism. Her classes are described by her students as refreshing and experiential, and the Melbourne Age characterised her style as fun classes that swoop into trikonasana (triangle pose) in dance like rolls from the waist, and cycles of sun salutations. Lianne s Vinyasa has been influenced by Taoism, Tai Chi, Vajrayana Buddhism and over the years the yoga world of Cyndy Lee, Shiva Rae and Wade Imre Morrisette. She has an advanced diploma in Zapchen Somatics (Buddhist and Western body psychotherapy), where her principle teachers are Tony Richardson and Julie Henderson. For the past 15 years she has been studying Buddhism with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Lianne also enjoys and studies within the Shambhala tradition of contemplative meditative practices, and is currently entering her sixth year as a student of Dharma Gar, where she has committed to two hours of meditation practice a day for 10 years. Lianne now teaches internationally including India and China. In 2018 she will be launching teacher training in China and pilgrim retreats to India with her husband Peter Watts who has extensive experience teaching Eastern philosophy. Here in Australia she organises in-depth traineeships for new teachers and is excited for her new venture in 200 Vinyasa training and 300 hour (100) SomaChi with Om Yoga Australia. Over the years Lianne has taught many styles of yoga, improvisational and somatic movement. She has given yoga and somatic instruction at Chunky Moves, Melba Conservatorium of Music, and was a teacher trainer for Somatic Pilates at The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. She is highly experienced in sequencing classes that directly communicate to her students through sensory applications. Other ventures have included Yoga and Pilates Workshops in outback Australia. In 2011 she taught sensory applications of functional anatomy to medical students of Melbourne University. Many of her past students are teaching today around Melbourne in SomaChi and Vinyasa, and some have ventured into their own studios. Her passion and motivation for yoga stems from traditional Eastern and Western contemporary influences. With utmost respect to her own teachers, Lianne continues to go beneath the structure of asana, asking the question of how you find spontaneity and energy to express these ancient postures, and experience great joy.

VLAD MIZIKOV Vlad s yoga journey began during his first Savasana, after attending an Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga class in India. He experienced the effects of an integrated practice that fulfilled him on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level. Since then, yoga has been a fundamental element of Vlad s life and over the years he has been blessed with the generous guidance of truly gifted teachers in India, Australia and Thailand. He has completed Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher training programs held by Vijay Kumar (Mysore) and David Swenson, as well as in the Prana Vashya method by Vinay Kumar (Mysore). Vlad began teaching because he wanted to share something that made a profound difference in his life. The more time he spent practising, the more he realised what happened on the mat was a metaphor for his life and how he conducted himself in the world. The practice provided space for the art of gentle observation, where he began to take notice of conditioned responses, holding patterns, and well-trodden paths that consign us automaticity. Vlad holds a Bachelor of Health Science degree specialising in Musculoskeletal Therapy. He practises in Melbourne as a Clinical Myotherapist treating a vast range of neuro-muscular conditions. His key interests include: the nature of pain, biomechanics, and questions surrounding functional movement. When in India, Vlad works closely with an esteemed holistic clinic in Mysore treating the local population as well as teaching therapeutic yoga asana focusing on rehabilitation, structural alignment and bringing the benefits of practice to life off the mat. Having been influenced by so many people actively working to help improve the quality of life of the communities around them, Vlad is inspired to contribute to this work and to continue to learn and inspire others. The last four years have seen Vlad teaching together with Lianne Metcalf at SomaChi, where he brings a wealth of knowledge in relation to asana practice, functional anatomy and biomechanics, as well as yogic philosophy.

PETER WAT T S Peter is the Co-director of SomaChi, a meditation instructor, YA certified SomaChi yoga instructor and philosophy teacher for the SomaChi Teacher Training with over 25 years of experience. Peter began his study of yoga in 1991 with ISKCON, studying Sanskrit, Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Mantra and Bhakti Yoga. With this strong interest, he then began learning different styles of Hatha Yoga, including Classical Hatha, Iyengar and Vinyasa Flow. This further led to the study of Patanjali s 8 Limbs and the Yoga Sutras. It was around 1994 that Peter completed his first mindful retreat, a combination of Vipassana and Zen sitting and walking meditation, that a strong interest in Buddhism emerged. After completing one of Goenka s 10 day Vipassana meditation retreats, he then developed a daily practice of sitting meditation and began learning the foundations of Buddhist philosophy, including the 4 Noble Truths and the 8 Fold Path Satipatthana. In 1998, he travelled to India to dedicate six months to personal study and practice in Buddhism, completing three of Goenka s 10 day Vipassanas, a one week personal retreat in Bodhgaya, and a one week personal retreat in Dharamsala. On returning to Australia he continued with a daily practice and study of sitting meditation and has completed more than 20 Vipassanas in both the Theravadin tradition and the Shamatha/ Vipashyana Mahayana tradition. It was at this time that he was introduced to the teachings of Dzongsar Kheyntse Rinpoche by his wife Lianne. Inspired by Rinpoche s book, How not to be a Buddhist the four seals of Buddhism, he began studying with Rinpoche s group Siddhartha s Intent. Completing the studies of texts including The Middle Way, Departing from the Four Attachments, and the Mahayana Ornament Sutra with Rinpoche. Peter also continued to study and practice Yoga and Tai Chi, completing the 200 hour SomaChi certificate in 2010, and undertaking further study in Patanjali s 8 Limbs. He also began teaching Meditation at the SomaChi studio and Meditation and Yoga philosophy on the SomaChi certificate training in 2009. Peter has also completed the Shambhala warrior series of Meditation with the Melbourne Shambala group and is six years into the Dharma Gar program, a 10 year study in Buddhism involving two hours of sitting meditation and Buddhist practices a day and Buddhist text study. He also continues a personal study with Rinpoche on both the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.

SELECTION PROCESS AND ENROLMENT If you are interested in the teacher training course, we will invite you into the studio to try a class/classes. You will need to attend a class with either our Principal, Sienna Formosa, or our lead training teacher, Vlad Mizikov. At the end of class we will conduct a brief interview with you. The reason for this is that it is both important for you to know if you like Vinyasa yoga and meditation, as well as important for us to see that you are committed to your practice. This dedication to the practice is what will not only make you a fine contender for the course, but also enable you to become the best teacher you can be. Bookings are essential. To attend a class and interview please email us contact@omyogaaustralia.com.au. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS In order to complete your training, Yoga Alliance requires an attendance rate of 95% of the course, which means during the entire training you can only miss a total of 10 hours of training. Please look at this year s schedule and plan in advance if enrolling. The training dates are structured so that full time business hours can still be worked during the course if needed. If you miss more than 10 hours then it is sometimes required to pay extra fees for makeup sessions with teachers. As mentioned, your dedication to the practice is important, and during your training you are required to attend a total of at least 108 classes primarily at Om Yoga studio (approximately 3 classes per week). Some yoga practice elsewhere is possible if you are having them signed for by a registered school/teacher, however your unlimited membership at our studio is included in your course fees so make the most of attending classes here to enhance your practice.

YOGA TEACHER TRAINING RETREAT DISCOVER THE SPIRIT OF INDIA 70 hours of the training is held in the beautiful Bir Colony, in the Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, north India. Bir lies roughly midway between Dharamsala and Mandi, 16km from Joginder Nagar and 19km from Baijnath. Situated at an altitude of around 1400m, Bir is home to a large Tibetan community and there are several beautiful monasteries in the vicinity. The neighbouring Indian villages are surrounded by terraced fields, tea plantations and rushing streams, with many pleasant footpaths to explore. On the edge of the Tibetan colony is the paragliding landing site, where paragliders land after taking off from Billing. The snowcapped Dhauladar range provides a dramatic backdrop to the valley. Running from Dalhousie in the northwest of Himachal Pradesh, and curving southeast to Mandi, the range separates the Kangra valley from Chamba to the north. More information about the teacher training retreat can be found on our website www.omyogaaustralia.com.au/yoga-teacher-training-course. Price excludes all airfares international and domestic for the October retreat.

2018 COURSE DATES Friday Saturday Sunday March 23rd 24th 25th April 27th 28th 29th May 25th 26th 27th June/July 29th 30th 1st July 27th 28th 29th August 24th 25th 26th September 28th 29th 30th October November November/ December December 300 TTC 9th 23rd India Immersion for 300 TTC 10th 24th 11th 25th 30th 1st 2nd 7th 14th 8th 15th 9th 16th

PAYMENT DETAILS Full cost of the course can be found on our website www.omyogaaustralia.com.au/ yoga-teacher-training-course. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a place in the course. Price excludes all airfares international and domestic for the October retreat. Discount for upfront early bird payment and dates for payment can also be found on the website. A payment plan option of 10 payments over 10 months is available on request.

OM YOGA AUSTRALIA 316 320 Toorak Road South Yarra www.omyogaaustralia.com.au (03) 8060 2178