Written by a shoulder and elbow specialist surgeon, an Olympic level physiotherapist, and our course leader, this segment provides the highest calibre of yoga education available. There are different ways of knowing and working with the body. The orientation of our functional anatomy module will be to look specifically at movement functions in relation to teaching and practicing yoga. We will bring about a sensitivity to our breath and movement, and uncover how yoga can help us to manage the stresses of day to day life.

There will be an emphasis on sharpening perceptual skills to better assess students needs in the yoga class environment. We will learn the essential basis of anatomy and physiology required for formulating movement sequences and scripting instruction. We will also apply this to our personal practice, so that the knowledge permeates into our own functional movement exploration and discovery.

The physical practice component of our training operates on two levels simultaneously. From our first day together, you will be developing your personal practice, whilst also acquiring the knowledge, and teaching skills to guide your future students.

We will workshop postures in the following categories:

• Back openers (forward folds)

• Front openers (back bends)

• Twists (also grouped with hip focused postures)

• Standing balances

• Inversions

Within our designated posture study hours you will learn:

• Sun Salutations A and B for self practice, and for sequencing and teaching a flow

• In-depth breakdowns of standing postures with extensive modification options

• How to practice and teach with advanced awareness of spinal functions

• How to use yoga to promote knee and hip joint health, both on and off the mat

• How to observe movement patterns and adapt to your students needs

• How to practice and teach inversions, supported by shoulder, core and leg strengthening work

• Ways to incorporate restorative principals, as well as strength and stability work into your asana practice

• How groups of postures relate to each other, and how to effectively sequence them

Yoga is fundamentally the study of time, humanness, and realms of the unknown. We will learn to understand the application of mindfulness, drawn from the vast wisdoms of the Yoga tradition.

We will primarily incorporate insights that form:

• The Vedas

• The Bhagavad Gita

• The Hatha Yoga Pradapika

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

• The New Age Movement and Conceptual Transculturation

• Psychology and Neurochemistry

We will provide a thorough, consistent, and in-depth teaching methodology that takes into account students learning styles and preferences. We will dive deeply into:

• Verbal cueing: Finding accuracy, learning how to observe and respond to students, sequencing instructions to ensure that they are seamless, digestible and effective, finding a skilful balance of talking and silence.

• Physical demonstrations: Understanding the visual memory centres, considerations for visual clarity, navigating the practice space.

• Manual assists: A supportive approach that derives from first understanding why, when, and how a student might benefit from manual assists. In particular, focusing on enhancing technique, stability, ease, and comfort.

• The class environment: Setting the practice space, finding an essential, personal pre-class ritual; readying mind and body for nurturing others, hosting your students with kindness and care, helping to nurture a safe, supportive, and inclusive community.

Creating a meaningful and authentic class sequence begins with the question ‘what is it that I want to share teaching Yoga and why?’

In this module we outline practical and applicable techniques that allow us to convey the deeper layers of what we want to teach. This two day focused training will provide you with everything you need to craft a yoga practice in a simple, clear and logical way. Sequencing tools will be an invaluable resource for self practice, and will lay the foundations for a lifetime of creative exploration. You will receive:

• A reliable template from which to develop your own classes

• 5 key sequencing methods

• Tools for sequencing for each posture category

• Tools for sequencing for philosophical/energetic/spiritual themes