Home >> Yoga teacher training
Yoga teacher training
History of Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training
In 1969, Swami Vishnudevananda taught the inaugural Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Course (TTC) in Canada, making it the first yoga teaching school established in the West. Since then, over 25,000 graduates have received yoga teacher certification from this internationally recognised yoga school.
The Sivananda Yoga approach
Yoga teachers are not just trained in the asanas. While asanas are an integral part of classical Hatha Yoga, it is the combination of the asanas with ethical values, pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation that enables a comprehensive experience of Hatha Yoga.
The Sivananda approach to training yoga teachers believes that students should understand and experience the four main systems of yoga: Besides the focus on Hatha Yoga, the Sivananda yoga teacher training programme introduces students to the theory and practice of Raja Yoga (control over the mind), Karma Yoga (selfless activity), Jnana Yoga (yoga philosophy) and Bhakti Yoga (transformation of emotions into devotion).
Yoga teacher training graduates
Upon successful completion of the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Course, the yoga teacher receives a yoga certificate confirming that they have sufficient knowledge and practical experience to teach Hatha Yoga (asanas, pranayama and relaxation) to beginners and intermediate yoga students.
In addition to the four-week basic training course, Swami Vishnudevananda developed the Advanced Teachers’ Training Course (also 4 weeks) and an advanced practice course (2 weeks). Weekend and week-long further training programmes for yoga teachers are also available. The further training programmes and the Advanced Teachers’ Training Course are useful for acquiring further yoga teacher certification.
International yoga school
The Sivananda Yoga Teachers' Training Course is taught in countries all over the world, including the UK (London), France, Austria, Spain and Poland, as well as India and North and South America.
Teachers' Training Course – TTC
401 training units (45 minutes per unit)
Curriculum (excerpt):
- Practice, theory and philosophy of the four classical yoga paths
- Yoga training, anatomy and diet
- Teaching methods and practice in the basic yoga postures, breathing exercises and guided relaxation
Advanced Teachers' Training Course – ATTC
437 training units (45 minutes per unit)
Curriculum (excerpt):
- Advanced asanas and pranayama practice
- In-depth study of Raja Yoga and Vedanta
- Introduction to Sanskrit; anatomy of the nervous and endocrine systems
Sadhana Intensive Course
Two weeks of intensive practice based on ancient Hatha Yoga scripts:
- Asana and pranayama practice 2 to 3 times daily, increasing gradually
- Explanation and practice of Mudras, Bandhas and Mantras
- Study of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika as well as excerpts from ancient Bhakti and Vedantic writings
