About the Sunra Yoga Teacher Training Course.
The Course.
The Sunra YTTC has been running since 1992. Originally written by
Narayani and Barbara Gordon, both of whom spent many years with Swami
Vishnudevananda a disciple of Sivananda who brought yoga to the west,
and started the Sivananda organization
Narayani makes guest appearances on some of the courses, Barbara
organizes and runs
the whole thing. On her team she has highly qualified and experienced
people working with her. Barbara has taught over a quarter of a million
people yoga over the years and trained many of London's now leading
teachers.
Why this course?
There are a lot of courses around now, but the huge wealth of experience
that the tutors have and the smallness of the groups makes this course
a cut above the rest. The maximum no of students is 25 allowing you to
have a great deal of personal attention. Barbara is a trained
psychotherapist and there is some group work of this nature, this in
turn breaks down a lot of barriers between people early on in the course
and allows for a greater bonding in the group to take place. It also
enables people to have a much deeper understanding of themselves and of
why they want to teach. Practising so intensely for most people will be
extremely emotive, as yoga is very therapeutic, so again Barbara's
therapy skills come in very useful in helping people to deal with the
intense emotions they may well experience, A residential course means
you live the yoga way of life to the full, rather than dropping into
classes sporadically. You live, breathe, dream, think yoga 24/7.
Barbara's feeling is if you are going to be a good yoga teacher then
you need to live it, in it's totality if only for a brief time. This
way you know what is behind the practise of asanas. It is not, as too
many people in the west believe just physical exercise. There is a
whole philosophy and life style that goes with it. Experiencing this,
can only make you a better person and a better yoga teacher. We do the
training and the rest of our lives are a continuous on going study in
our personal development to become better people.
The course encompasses all aspects of yoga.
Philosophy.
How can you be a yoga teacher without basic knowledge of the philosophy
behind it, Not possible. There are daily lectures on some part of the
philosophy. The subject is huge and a life times work, but at least you
will have a basic understanding as to what it's about. The student can
then decide as to how much they want to learn and take it from there.
Bhakti yoga of devotion, there will be Kirtan Devotional singing every
morning and evening
Raja The royal path
Jnana The path of knowledge
Asanas The postures
Pranayama Breathing techniques
Meditation Daily morning and evening, with full explanation and tuition
Silence There is always at least one day of Silence on the course
Karma yoga Selfless acts
TEACHING PRACTISE
By the end of the course you will have taught two complete classes as
well as teaching from early on in the course. This will all be done
under supervision. Where possible we bring in strangers to make your
teaching practise more realistic.
Qualifications
If you have satisfied the examiners at the end of the course, you will receive a Sunra Teaching Diploma. The course is recognised by the British Yoga Teacher's Association, and insurance therefore is no problem.
You will also receive a Yoga Alliance 200 hour
certificate, this
certificate enables you to teach anywhere in the world and is fast
becoming the industry standard.
Testimonials from past students
Dear Barbara Nora and Monica
Thankyou for this life changing experience. I have enjoyed every minute
of it, from the 06.30meditation and chanting to the challenging hours of
self practise and teacher training.
I feel this course has really transformed me and given me a whole new
perspective on life.
I am now ready to face the world with a whole new set of "tools" Thank
you again
Assunta
Dear Barbara Nora and Monica
Thankyou for all your inspiring teachings- they will stay with me
forever.
The course not only gave me the grounding and knowledge to start
teaching yoga but also guided me on my spiritual journey. Thankyou
Kathryn
Dear Barbara Nora and Monica
Thankyou for the great learning and amazing experience. the course is an
amazing "process" of life and well organized.
thankyou for this beautiful inspiration, you are gorgeous souls. I will
continue going on my path, a journey well inspired. Valerie