SATYANANDA YOGA® Yogic Studies
Get more information and meet our students & staff at our next Open House August 15, 2-4 pm. Contact us or check our Facebook page for more details!
Deepen your practice of yoga. Improve your health. Transform your life. The Satyananda tradition's Yogic Studies courses provide a solid introduction to the various aspects of yoga. The courses go into a depth that simply isn't possible to achieve in a weekly yoga class. Through home practice and study, these courses bring the practices of yoga to life. Yogic Studies is open to people of all traditions and backgrounds. For those who plan to become instructors, Yogic Studies provides a firm foundation for one of the most comprehensive Teacher Training programs in the world.
The courses were initially developed through the Bihar Yoga Bharati, which became the world's first government-accredited university devoted to undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of yoga. Because these Yogic Studies modules present both theoretical and practical teachings on yoga in a structured, systematic way, the demand for them has spread throughout the world.
Yogic Studies Levels
Each level of Yogic Studies begins with a two-week immersion, with 12 hours (Level 1) or 12.5 hours (Level 2) of theoretical and practical yoga classes per day. Depending on your schedule, you may take the two weeks consecutively or each week separately at different times of the year. Our Calendar page lists the dates and costs of our upcoming courses.
Simple, nutritious breakfasts and lunches are provided as part of these intensives. The intensives are followed by a period of home study, during which you are supported by feedback from senior teachers.
Yogic Studies Level 1
Yogic Studies builds a basic understanding of the history and branches of yoga, meditation, yogic lifestyle, and shatkarmas (cleansing techniques). It explores essential SATYANANDA YOGA® postures and breathing practices and includes an overview of applied anatomy and physiology to help you learn to adjust your practices to your specific needs. Yogic Studies 1 also covers yogic physiology (chakras, nadis, prana) and yogic psychology (consciousness, the nature of the mind, and subtle experiences).
Yogic Studies Level 1 is a prerequisite for Teacher Training 1.
Yogic Studies Level 2
Yogic Studies 2 emphasizes mudras (gestures), bandhas (locks), Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, and the psychological effects of yoga. More advanced asana, pranayama, and meditations are also explored in depth. Yogic Studies 2 is a prerequisite for Teacher Training 2.
See the Yogic Studies Subjects section for more detail on what is taught at each level.
"The course was well-run, informative, and inspiring." -- 2008 Yogic Studies 2 student
Yogic Studies Equivalencies / Recognition of Prior Learning
The Yoga Academy of North America recognizes the courses offered by other Satyananda Yoga campuses. Please contact us for more details if you have taken the Certificate Course in India, or Yogic Studies in Australia, Europe, or Colombia, within the past three years.
We honor Swami Niranjanananda's recommendation that everyone, regardless of experience, start at the beginning when going through this extensive program. Yogic Studies courses rely heavily on practices and terminology unique to the Satyananda style, a living tradition which draws on a centuries-old lineage of teachers, yet is constantly adapting to meet the current needs of society. We also recognize that experience and other training programs provide valuable learning opportunities about yoga. We offer RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) to those who have undertaken other yoga training programs or have extensive experience in Satyananda Yoga. A candidate who successfully applies for RPL may be excused from attending some or all of the classroom portion of a module, may be eligible to forego home study and practice and go directly to the assessments for a particular course, or may be excused from a module altogether.
For more details on RPL, please contact the Yogic Studies Course Coordinator .
"I can't imagine going through this period in my life without yoga." -- 2008 Yogic Studies 1 student
Yogic Studies Subjects
Asana
includes practice and understanding of yogic postures, especially those unique to the Satyananda system, such as the Pawanmuktasana series. The difficulty of the asana increases throughout the immersions and home study periods; however, emphasis is given on how to adapt poses for each individual situation. Thus, physical prowess is not a requirement.
Pranayama
is also progressively developed through the modules. A variety of basic, expanding, balancing, tranquilizing, and vitalizing practices will be presented. Pranayama practices are a strong feature of both Satyananda Yoga and this course.
Shatkarmas
are the core cleansing practices of hatha yoga. The modules cover theory, practice, and integration of these techniques into daily life.
Satyananda Yoga Nidra™
is a guided awareness technique with profound physical and mental benefits as set forth in Swami Satyananda's landmark 1976 book and developed over the last 30 years by experienced Satyananda teachers. The 8 primary stages are systematically explored throughout Yogic Studies.
Meditation
covers several types of practices, recognizing that different techniques are suited to different personality types, including Kaya Sthairyam, japa, Antar Mouna, and ajapa japa.
Mudra and Bandha
explore the gestures and locks used to redirect and focus the vital energy.
Yogic History, Philosophy, and Culture
provides an understanding of how yoga's cultural origins and underlying philosophies affect its modern application. Includes expplorations of Tantra, Samkhya, Vedanta, the gurukul tradition, sannyasa (renunciation), and more. As Swami Niranjanananda, the current chancellor of the Bihar Yoga Bharati, explains, "Philosophy without practice is meaningless, but practice without philosophy is equally futile."
Yogic Physiology
examines the subtle dimensions and energy systems of the human organism from a yogic perspective. This unit includes nadis, prana, chakras, tattwas and gunas.
Yogic Psychology
covers the yogic view of consciousness, awareness, mind, perception and cognition, personality, intellect, and emotions. It provides practical tools for managing the mind and examines the therapeutic effects of yoga practices.
Anatomy and Physiology
provides a basic understanding of the major systems of the human body, with a special emphasis on applying this knowledge to increase the safety and efficacy of your own yoga practice.
Integration of Yogic Principles
provides a working knowledge of how to incorporate yoga more fully into daily life. This unit also gives insight into the workings of traditional yoga ashrams and modern yoga centers.
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