Shamanic Yoga is a the ancient practice of Yoga placed in an opening of shamanic sacred space inviting and invoking transformation and the deepening of the heart of our spiritual practice. Nature and landscape are woven into the dialogue invoking the students and the natural world to co create their relationship to one another and thus to power and unity. Breathing techniques, asana, mantra, song and energy work are all used along with journeys and visualizations to invite a conversation with the unknown throughout classes. Shamanic yoga is concerned with connection, fluidity and proper framework as guiding principles of the work. To participate fully in one’s life is the promise of shamanic yoga. The vision of Shamanic Yoga is to take the power of both yoga and shamanistic practices together to create a strong venue for transformation. Tools for connection,self change & growth are offered in this practice. Shamanic yogis and yoginis are activists, artists, change agents and warriors! Sages, elders and infants welcome! Embrace the unknown and turn fear to love, experience trust. Dialogue with the divine in your yoga class.
Deepen the Heart of your Yoga Shamanic Yoga UNITE IN YOGA!
This 300-hour Canadian Yoga Alliance Certified training is truly the first of it’s kind. Learn how to teach Shamanic Yoga, complete a Medicine Wheel, and develop a Mesa (the Shaman’s Altar, a personal power bundle and a medicine bag of healing stones). Follow your spirit of adventure, like a child, full of trust, out of the darkness of the forest into the rainbow of the light, we go step by step, drawn by our sense of wonder into the unknown…… You will transform your practice, receive tools for connection to nature and spirit, right your relationship to self, transmute your fears and limitations into love, learn how to truly be with yourself and deepen the heart of your yoga. Ultimately Yoga Teachers are space holders, we can not hold space for our students unless we have walked through the fire of personal transformation.
The Medicine Wheel teaches the ancient ways of the Q’ero Medicine People of Peru, South America. The Medicine Wheel is a process that Shamans have passed on orally since the beginning of time. Informing and enriching, the Medicine Wheel guides participants on their personal healing journeys, re-connects them with nature. Experience a ceremonial fire, journey to meet power animals, learn Incan healing techniques and shamanic breathing. Receive ancient Rites of Passage. Develop a Mesa, a personal power bundle and a medicine bag of healing stones. Work extensively with nature, and invite a dialogue with her.
By the end of this Shamanic Yoga Medicine Wheel Yoga Teacher Training, YOU WILL:
Be a certified teacher of Shamanic Yoga Complete a traditional Medicine Wheel
Be a full Mesa carrier, a mesa is a personal altar, a power bundle of healing stones
Program Overview
Answer the calling to live out your destiny in this lifetime!
- THE HEALERS JOURNEY to the South
- THE WARRIORS JOURNEY to the West
- THE TEACHER’S JOURNEY to the North
- THE VISIONARIES JOURNEY to the East
- DAILY SCHEDULE
Shamanic Yoga Integration I : Serpent
Commences on the Spring Equinox March 18 – March 22, 2016 (Spring Equinox)
Commence the journey in the South, home of the archetype Serpent, where participants learn to shed the past, and begin to detach from our wounds and personal stories. Learn to release heavy energy accumulated in our bodies. Receive Rites of Passage, which will assist us in building our Mesas and lead to our Healer’s Rites.
!In Shamanic Yoga Integration ~ we will cover such topics as:
• Medicine Wheel Teachings of the South, the Healers Journey:
Alignment for Sun Salutations and other standing poses Practice Teaching
Clear the past with energy healing; Learn how to use energy to heal; Use creative outlets such as story writing; Cleansing the spirit by shedding the past.
- Daily 2.5-hour practices of asanas, pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation and other traditional yoga and Shamanistic practices to transform your practice and illuminate teaching principles
- Introduction to the Yoga Sutras
- Introduction to Shamanic Yoga Methodology
- Introduction to Meditation, Pranayama Breathing, and ShamansBreath
- Anatomy of Asana Labs to explore each student’s asana
Shamanic Yoga Integration II : Jaguar
May 6 – May 10 (New Moon)
!In the West, learn about the Jaguar, who teaches us about life, death and rebirth. Face fears and family shadows, and step across the bridge to learn to walk as warriors, without enemies. Receive Rites as guardians and keepers of the earth.
!In Shamanic Yoga Integration II we will cover such topics as:
• Medicine Wheel Teachings of the West, the Warriors Journey:
Practice Teaching
Connect with your ancestors; Honour your lineage; Learn the art of perceptual shifting; Work with and remove your shadows; Art modalities in nature to heal oneself.
- Daily 2.5-hour practices to transform your practice and illuminate teaching principles
- Application of the Shamanic Yoga Teaching Methodology
- Introduction to the History of Yoga
- Anatomy of Asana Labs to explore each student’s asana andalignment in complex poses such as twists, arm balancesand inversions
- continued exploration of the Yoga Sutras
- Introduction to Hands On Assists and other advanced teachingskills
- Introduction to Energetic Anatomy
Shamanic Yoga Integration III : Hummingbird
June 17 – June 21 (Summer Solstice + Full Moon)
In the North, meet the archetype Hummingbird and learn to taste knowledge directly, to manifest the impossible, and to receive ancestral knowledge. Come to know your lineage of light carriers and
step into the lineage of the Q’ero elders. Receive Rites as keepers of the mountains.
In Shamanic Yoga Integration III we will cover such topics as:
Medicine Wheel Teachings of the North, the Teacher’s Journey: Use a variety of ways to get into perceptual states; Individual fire ceremony; Commit to Spirit; Solitude and Silence to find your True Self; Poetry writing; Continue into your powerful healing journey.
Daily 2.5-hour practices to transform your practice and illuminate teaching principles
Application of the Shamanic Yoga Teaching Methodology Sequencing and class theming
How to address special needs like injuries and pregnancy Asana labs to explore the alignment of complex backbends, seated poses, and supine poses
Shamanic Yoga Integration IV : Eagle
August 17 – to August 21 (Full Moon)
In the final gathering we explore the East and the archetype of the Eagle, who demonstrates how to experience vision, destiny and the possibilities of becoming. Develop a vision of peace. Receive the Rites of the star beings.
In Shamanic Yoga Integration IV we will cover such topics as:
• Medicine Wheel Teachings of the East, the Visionaries Journey:
Learn from the Eagle Archetype, seeing with the eyes of the compassionate heart; Understanding and Integration of the Medicine Wheel and next steps.
- Daily 2.5-hour practices to transform your practice and illuminate teaching principles
- Application of the Shamanic Yoga Teaching Methodology
- Advanced teaching skills
- Ethics of a yoga teacher
The business of yoga and what’s next
Practice Teaching and feedback to hone your skills
Final Evaluation
Day 1: 6pm -9pm
Day 2: 8:30am – end of ceremony (approx 10pm) lunch and dinner breaks
Day 3: 8:30am- end of ceremony (approx. 10pm) lunch and dinner breaks
Day 4: 8:30am- end of ceremony
Day 5: 8:30am- 12pm close
Shamanic Yoga Institute (CYA-RYS 300 Member)
Course Outline
Shamanic Yoga Teacher Training Curriculum and Learning Outcomes
Techniques, Training and Practice: 100 hours (90 hrs contact, 20 hrs non contact)
90 Hours of Contact with Primary Shamanic Yoga Instructors Includes Guided Practice and Analytical Training in how to teach and practice the techniques of:
Shamanic Breathing
Ritual – Opening & Closing Sacred Space, Space Holding
Spiritual Connection through nature and nature based dialoguing
Song- Invocation through Sacred Sound- Chanting and Mantra
Meditation & Prayer /Presence & Awareness- sitting, walking, lying down and standing, finding one s Centre and Still Point, dialoguing with the Divine through disclosure, gratitude and metta. A strong emphasis will be put on the practice of meditation and prayer, thus presence and awareness.
Journeying: participants will practice journeying with rattles and drums to unseen worlds retrieving power animals and soul pieces for the earth and each other.
Asana
Asana:The Five Categories of Asana: The trainee will practice and learn the key poses in each category of asana (standing poses, forward bends, backbends, twists, and inversions) and will begin to develop a relationship to both the form and the function of these different categories.
Alignment of Asana: Trainees will achieve comprehension of the alignment maps for each of the five categories of asanas through observation and experience of how the poses in each category share a common foundation, and how to build upon this foundation.
Building and Using a Mesa :
mesa= Medicine Bundle, a Shaman s Alter, map of personal transformation using stones that have undergone an energetic process of reclaiming personal power by the individual and weaving the land into their energy body)
Ceremony and Energetic Rites & Transmissions- fire ceremonies, songs, bands of power, ayni karpis (archetypical animals) , healers rites, seers rites, earth keepers ceremony, keeper of the mountains ceremony, star keepers ceremony, solo fire- committment to Spirit Vision Quest.
10 hrs non contact- Outside Time
Expressive Arts modalities: sandpaintings, poetry, narrative drama, soul dolls, masks, medicine shields, song- PLAY, PLAY and more PLAY
Practicum: 10hrs contact/10hrs non contact
Learning Outcomes :
Practice teaching as the lead instructor (does not include assisting, observing or giving feedback)*
Receiving and giving feedback
Observing others teaching
Assisting students while someone else is teaching
Daily practice of asanas, pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation and other traditional yoga and Shamanistic practices.
Teaching Methodology: 30 hours (20 hours contact/10 non contact) The Teaching Methodology category covers a broad overview and analysis of teaching methods, rather than how to practice or teach specific techniques.
Communication skills; use of Language and Voice; active vs. passive language and the effective use of each; positive and conscious communication, and habitual speech and communication patterns.
Time management and classroom organization.
How to address the specific needs of individuals and demographics.
Principles of demonstration, observation, assisting and refining alignment.
Teaching styles and the student learning process; Identifying your dominant style, and learning how to teach based on others learning styles.
Qualities of a teacher.
Self Care practices.
Energetic Cueing and Adjustments
Holding Space energetically
Teaching Surrender and Letting Go
Energy Work: Practice of Soul Retrieval, Yanachakwe( the transference of power), Bija Chanting
Business aspects of teaching yoga (including marketing and legal)
Non Contact (10hrs): includes running a fire ceremony or being a fire keeper, observing a public shamanic yoga class with written report, holding a community service event, presentation through the arts of how to hold truth and strengthen one s will power, assisting in a shamanic yoga class.
Anatomy and Physiology: 30 hours (20 hrs contact/ 10hrs non contact) Learning Outcomes :
human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.) !
energetic anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.).
Includes both the study of anatomy and physiology along with its application to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns, etc.).
10hrs Non Contact: Students will exchange energetic heart treatments and practice opening and closing sacred space through art and ritual and report back through modality of their choice in final presentation. Report emphasis will be of reflective nature on how yoga is therapeutic and restorative and can be used as a tool for collective transformation.
Yoga Philosophy, Karma Yoga, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers: 50 hours (35hrs contact/15 hrs non contact)
Learning Outcomes :
The study of yoga philosophies and traditional texts, such as but not limited to: The Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika & Bhagavad Gita
Honoring our Ancestors and the lineage of both Yoga and
Mountain Shamanism
Mapping our Landscape
Principle of Peace
Oral transmission of ancient teachings
Yoga lifestyle, such as the precept of non-violence (ahimsa), and the concepts of dharma and karma
Ethics for yoga teachers, such as those involving teacher student relationships and community
Understanding the value of teaching yoga as a service, land stewardship and being of service to others (seva)
Destiny Retrieval
Soul s Purpose
*Bringing Gifts to the Feast*- each student will be asked to make a final presentation at our last direction Potlach. The requirements are to present the integration of their shamanic yoga journey and what that has shown them about who they are and what they have come in the world to share.
Non Contact: A minimum of 5 karma yoga classes taught by each student is required to graduate.
A written report on participation in a Kirtan, Ashram, Temple, Shamanic Ceremony or act of service.
Graduation Requirements for Certificate of Yoga Siromani: Teacher of Shamanic Yoga:
*All four directions/immersions are attended
*Active participation in circle discussions
*Ability to give and receive feedback
*Ability to open and close sacred space in ceremony
*All ceremonies and transmissions participated in
*Built full mesa
*Ability to articulate lineage of yoga and mountain shamanism *Completion of four expressive arts objectives: My life as a River, Soul Doll, Mask & Medicine Shield
*Completion of four homework fire ceremonies
*Completion of teaching 5 karma yoga classes
*Observation and written reflection on 3 public Shamanic Yoga classes
*Completion of all non contact hours homework
*Final presentation
Grading is pass or fail based on completion of course requirements and quality of participation
As far as accommodation goes, yes you would want to stay in Squamish. The mornings are early and the evenings can go long with fire ceremonies and such. There are a lot of hotels near by: The Howe Sound Inn, August Jack, Sandman. Once we have our group together we will also connect folks via email for options to arrange transport and accommodation together. We will be happy to help you with this. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need more info.
