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Applying the yoga practices in daily life – 12 months and longer
Elements differing from/in addition to the 6-month programme are highlighted in italics.
Practice
Daily group practice supervised by experienced teachers
- Asanas: daily practice of basic postures and variations
- Pranayama: increasing the vital capacity through breathing exercises
- Kriyas: purification of the respiratory and digestive systems
- Meditation: gaining control over the mind for inner peace
- Kirtan: chanting of mantras
- Participation in special courses on asanas, pranayama, meditation, philosophy etc.
- Practice of Japa (mental repetition of a mantra) twice daily
- Introduction to the puja – practice of Bhakti Yoga ceremonies
Nutrition, health and hygiene
- Helping in the kitchen and learning to prepare simple vegetarian dishes
- Healthy diet of freshly prepared vegetarian dishes which suit the individual constitution
- Regular fasting for physical purification and mental growth
- Practice of yogic hygiene concerning living space, clothing and personal hygiene
Serving the yoga students (Karma Yoga)
- Preparing the rooms and the resources for the yoga classes; preparing the reception area
- Cleaning and maintaining the yoga centre
- Working at the reception and answering basic questions on the centre's activities
- Basic administrative work
- Taking on responsibility for a specific field in the centre under supervision, e.g. maintenance works, reception, correspondence, basic accounting
Guided study of yoga literature
- Swami Sivananda’s ‘Bliss Divine’ (a well-known anthology of his essays covering all aspects of yoga)
- Study of a yoga text (‘Bhagavad Gita’, ‘Raja Yoga Sutras’ or another scripture)
Life in a spiritual community
- Practice of yoga and meditation in a group, helping out in the yoga centre and sharing relaxing moments with people who have the same spiritual goals
For Sivananda Yoga teachers
Detailed teaching instruction
- Assisting experienced teachers
- Regularly teaching yoga classes
- Assisting in beginners courses
- Instruction for teaching beginners courses
- Participation in further training seminars for yoga teachers held in the centre
4-week retreat
- In a Sivananda Ashram in Europe
- Participation in the Teachers’ Training Course
- For yoga teachers: participation in the Advanced Teachers’ Training Course at the end of the 12-month programme; tuition and travel expenses paid
- Deepening of one’s own practice
- Service to the ashram
Requirements
- Own health insurance
- 1-week probationary period
- Room and board are provided by the centre
- Please enquire about training fees
- Transfer within Europe to different Sivananda Yoga Centres during the 12-month programme is possible
Contact: voluntary(at)sivananda.net
