cYs Professional Studies – 121 Practitioner Training Programme Outline
cYs Professional Practitioner Programmes offer an authentic training in the
Art of Practice, Study and Teaching in the approach of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar.
Learning the Viniyoga of Yoga for 121 Students
– 150 hour Practitioner Training Programme
For students who have completed the 250 hours modular prerequisites, a 150 contact hour Practitioner Programme in the art of applying Yoga 121 is offered. The focus here is on professional expertise adding one to one Teaching and Therapeutic skills to their personal relationship with Yoga in the fields of Practice, Theory, Psychology and Philosophy.
Together they facilitate an in-depth transmission between the teacher and the student in terms of adding professional practitioner skills in the Art of the Application of Yoga one to one for Individuals to the Core Level Personal Studies Modules, all within an exclusive learning environment.
“Teach what is inside you,
not as it applies to you yourself,
but as it applies to the other.”
– T Krishnamacharya
Based in the Cotswolds, the Practitioner Training Programme is solely concerned with training a student in the Art of teaching Yoga Practice and Study to individual students.
This means that the student will have already completed the prerequisite training in the relevant areas of Yoga practice and study through the Art of Personal Studies Programme and therefore only needs to add individual teaching skills to this study.
The combined Programme is presented with the aim of reflecting the fundamentals of Śrī T Krishnamacharya’s teaching, namely, transmission occurs through the direct experience of the teacher with the student’s personal practice and study Sādhana.
What are the unique skills for Practitioners trained in this approach to adapting Yoga according to the person?
The uniqueness of the concepts described by Desikachar as Viniyoga of Yoga is in the ability of those trained as Practitioners, within a Professional Teacher Training Programme that includes an extensive one to one lesson process for their own development, to personally customise Yoga practice according to the individual and their situation.
The specialist Practitioner training in short term and long term personalising of our Yoga Practice and Study is in the many skills around respecting our unique differences in age, gender, mental aptitude, physical health, social lifestyle, occupation and interests, together with abilities in the ongoing mapping of the student’s developmental potentials according to their current situation and needs.
The Application of Yoga 121 – Practitioner Programme Prerequisites
Prior completion of a minimum of 250 contact hours through the Art of Personal Studies Modules within two primary areas of Yoga Practice Techniques & Theory Study and Associated Yoga & Lifestyle Texts Study.
The Application of Yoga 121 – Practitioner Programme Framework
The Practitioner Programme reflects the Yoga teachings of TKV Desikachar and his teacher T Krishnamacharya as taught to Paul Harvey over 25 years through appreciating the Viniyoga of Yoga as a:
Learning or Healthcare practice for individuals
Holistic Yoga Teaching received from T Krishnamacharya through TKV Desikachar
Philosophy through the teachings from Texts and Teachers
Psychology comparable to Western models
Complementary Support in sustaining health or recovery from illness
The Application of Yoga 121 – Practitioner Programme Topics
The Art of Professional Studies Modules explore the teaching of Yoga in the fields of Practice, Theory, Psychology and Philosophy to Individuals. It focuses on the areas that add professional expertise for those wishing to add Yoga Teaching and Therapeutic Healthcare skills to their personal relationship with Yoga.
This is a Practitioner Training Programme in the Art of Professional application of Yoga teaching and therapeutic healthcare theory for working with individual students or clients in the fields of:
Āsana or General Postures
Mudrā or Special Postures
Prāṇāyāma or Seated Breathing
Dhyāna or Seated Meditation
Adhyayanam or Chanting for Learning or as a Meditational Practice
Yoga Psychology
Associated Yoga Texts
Āyurveda Lifestyle Skills
These Teaching Skills are enhanced by the Prerequisite Personal Textual and Oral Study involving:
Experiential application of Āsana, Mudrā, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyāna and Chanting through personal practice
Experiential application of the Yoga Sūtra through an in-depth exploration as a self-inquiry
Experiential application of the principles in the Haṭha Yoga texts emphasised by Krishnamacharya
Experiential study of the core constitutional, diagnostic and lifestyle principles in Āyurveda
Guidance with linking Indian texts emphasised by Krishnamacharya with Yoga study and practice
Guidance with linking Krishnamacharya’s own writings and compositions with Yoga study and practice
The Application of Yoga 121 – Practitioner Programme 150 hour Syllabus Topics & Content
The 150 hour Practitioner Programme obviously has a 250 hour prerequisite studies criteria. However if viewed as a separate syllabus the Practitioner Programme has a minimum of 150 contact hours in the fields of:
1. Professional Practice Planning and Observation Skills
Group projects to develop self planning, planning for others and observational skills
Building and working with personalised recovery, support or developmental practices
Learning practice techniques, observation skills and awareness processes to help refine short term and long term practices in the fields of Āsana, Mudrā, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyāna and Chanting
2. Yoga Practice Techniques and Practice Theory Study
– Teaching of Āsana Practice and Theory – General Postures
Teaching Āsana techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Āsana in practice
– Teaching of Mudrā Practice and Theory – Special Postures
Teaching Mudrā techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Mudrā in practice
– Teaching of Prāṇāyāma Theory and Practice – Seated Breathing
Teaching Prāṇāyāma techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Prāṇāyāma in practice
– Teaching of Dhyāna Practice and Theory – Seated Meditation
Teaching Dhyāna techniques for individuals within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Dhyāna in practice
– Teaching of Saṃskṛta and Nāda Theory and Practice – Yoga of Sound and Chanting
Application of voice work and techniques for sound with individual students or clients
Teaching Sound and Chant in Āsana and Mudrā Practices
Teaching Sound and Chant in Seated Prāṇāyāma and Dhyānam Practices
3. Professional Study and Teaching of Yoga to Individual Students or Clients
– Application of Yoga for Individual Students or Clients
The Teachings from T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar
Eastern and Western Teaching Methodology and the student teacher relationship
Advantages and disadvantages of individual tuition
Application of Yoga for individual situations within Śikṣaṇa, Rakṣaṇa and Cikitsā situations
Application and development of the Viniyoga of Yoga through refining our 121 curriculum and developmental skills for teaching through individual lessons
Application of Yoga Lessons through contributing examples of our Yoga 121 work for case studies
Individual Supervision for Student and Clients practices and processes
– Yoga Therapeutics or Cikitsā applied to Individual Students or Clients
The therapeutic elements of Yoga when working with problems or illness
Therapeutic application using Yoga Cikitsā healthcare skills
Exploring aspects of the individual within situations at the physiological level through to emotional problems at the Transpersonal level
Study of Āyurveda Diagnostic and Lifestyle Principles and their relationship with Yoga Cikitsā and Yoga Rakṣaṇa
Individual Supervision for Student and Clients practices and processes
The Application of Yoga 121 – Practitioner Programme 400 hour Syllabus Topics & Content
1. Personal and Professional Practice Planning and Observation Skills
Individual lessons for personal practice and personal questions
Individual lessons for professional student and client supervision
Group projects to develop self planning, planning for others and observational skills
Building and working with personalised recovery, support or developmental practices
Learning practice techniques, observation skills and awareness processes to help refine short term and long term practices in the fields of Āsana, Mudrā, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyāna and Chanting
2. Yoga Practice Techniques and Practice Theory Study
– Study and Teaching of Āsana Practice and Theory – General Postures
Exploring Āsana Practice according to Age
Exploring Āsana Practice according to Health
Exploring Āsana Practice according to Lifestyle
Exploring Āsana Practice according to Energetic Constitution
Exploring Āsana Practice according to Psychological Constitution
Definition, purpose and benefits of Āsana
Introducing the components that make up an Āsana practice
Why and how we use Sequence Building in planning Āsana practices
Why and how we use Counterposes and Transitions in planning Āsana practices
Why and how we use the Breath in planning Āsana practices
How we use Energetic and Psychological characteristics of Āsana in planning practices
Why and how we use Movement or Staying in planning Āsana practices
Why and how we use Variation and Modification in planning Āsana practices
In-depth exploration of Primary Āsana Form, Function and Application
Personalising Āsana techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Teaching Āsana techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Āsana in practice
– Study and Teaching of Mudrā Practice and Theory – Special Postures
Exploring Mudrā Practice according to Age
Exploring Mudrā Practice according to Health
Exploring Mudrā Practice according to Lifestyle
Exploring Mudrā Practice according to Energetic Constitution
Exploring Mudrā Practice according to Psychological Constitution
Exploring the components that make up an Mudrā practice
Definition, purpose and benefits of Mudrā
Introducing the Energetic and Psychological characteristics of Mudrā
Introducing how Mudrā are arranged sequentially in building a practice
Introducing how counterposes are used within Mudrā practice
Introducing how we breathe in Mudrā practice
Introducing how we use movement or stay as tools in Mudrā practice
Introducing how we modify or vary Mudrā within our practice
Why and how of using Primary Mudrāwithin a Yoga practice
Personalising Mudrā techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Teaching Mudrā techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Mudrā in practice
– Study and Teaching of Prāṇāyāma Theory and Practice – Seated Breathing
Exploring Prāṇāyāma Practice according to Age
Exploring Prāṇāyāma Practice according to Health
Exploring Prāṇāyāma Practice according to Lifestyle
Exploring Prāṇāyāma Practice according to Energetic Constitution
Exploring Prāṇāyāma Practice according to Psychological Constitution
Exploring the components that make up an Prāṇāyāma practice
Definition, purpose and benefits of Prāṇāyāma
Detailed study of the theory of Prāṇa and Nādī
Introducing the Energetic and Psychological characteristics of Prāṇāyāma
Introducing how Prāṇāyāma are arranged sequentially in building a practice
Introducing how counterposes are used within Prāṇāyāma practice
Introducing how we breathe in Prāṇāyāma practice
Introducing how we use movement or stay as tools in Prāṇāyāma practice
Introducing how we modify or vary Prāṇāyāma within our practice
Why and how of using Primary Prāṇāyāma within a Yoga practice
Why and how of using Intermediate Prāṇāyāma within a Yoga practice
Additional techniques within Prāṇāyāma practice
Personalising Prāṇāyāma techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Teaching Prāṇāyāma techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Prāṇāyāma in practice
– Study and Teaching of Dhyāna Practice and Theory – Seated Meditation
Exploring Dhyāna Practice according to Age
Exploring Dhyāna Practice according to Health
Exploring Dhyāna Practice according to Lifestyle
Exploring Dhyāna Practice according to Energetic Constitution
Exploring Dhyāna Practice according to Psychological Constitution
Exploring the components that make up an Dhyāna practice
Definition, purpose and benefits of Dhyāna
Introducing the Energetic and Psychological characteristics of Dhyāna
Introducing how Dhyāna is arranged in building a practice
Introducing how counterposes are used within Dhyāna practice
Introducing how we use the breath in Dhyāna practice
Introducing how we use movement and stay as tools for Dhyāna practice
Introducing how we modify or vary Dhyāna within our practice
Basic techniques of Dhāraṇā and Bhāvana applied through Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma
Āsana within a Meditational framework
Mudrā within a Meditational framework
Prāṇāyāma within a Meditational framework
Application of Dhāraṇā and Bhāvana as meditational techniques
Application of Dhāraṇā and Bhāvana within recovery, support or developmental situations
Personalising Dhyāna techniques within recovery, support or developmental situations
Teaching Dhyāna techniques for individuals within recovery, support or developmental situations
Apprenticeship into the art and theory of observation of Dhyāna in practice
– Study and Teaching of Saṃskṛta and Nāda Theory and Practice – Yoga of Sound and Chanting
Understanding the important Saṃskṛta terms in Āsana, Mudrā, Prāṇāyāma, Dhyāna and Chanting
Application of voice work and techniques for sound in personal practice
Application of voice work and techniques for sound with individual students or clients
Indexing Sound and Chant Material
Origins and context for Chanting
Guidelines for Sound and Chant
Saṃskṛta alphabet and pronunciation of the Sound and Chant
Saṃskṛta grammar and Saṃskṛta Sound and Chant rules
Personalising Sound and Chant in Āsana and Mudrā Practices
Teaching Sound and Chant in Āsana and Mudrā Practices
Personalising Sound and Chant in Seated Prāṇāyāma and Dhyānam Practices
Teaching Sound and Chant in Seated Prāṇāyāma and Dhyānam Practices
Reciting the Yoga Sūtra and Yoga teachings
3. Personal Study of Associated Yoga and Lifestyle Texts
– Roots of Yoga – Introduction to Textual Study
Definition of Yoga according to root texts
Approaches to and evolution of Yoga
– Yoga Sūtra – Study of Yoga Psychology
An in-depth introduction to the background and all four Chapters of the Yoga Sūtra
Exploring some key concepts that underpin this Teaching on Yoga
How the four chapters are linked
What are the key words in each
Which chapters are most important
Why we need a view such as Patāñjali
Learning to look from the Yoga Sūtra at our relationship with others
Linking the Sūtra to the ebb and flow of daily life
Introduction to the value of reciting the Yoga Sūtra
Book 1verse by verse with the commentaries of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar
Book 2verse by verse with the commentaries of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar
– In-depth introduction to Haṭha Yoga texts
In-depth introduction to the Haṭha Yoga texts and teachings
Why we need a view such as Haṭha
Exploring some key themes that underpin the major Haṭha Yoga texts
Learning to look through Haṭha at our relationship with others
Linking the concepts of Haṭha to the ebb and flow of daily life
Practical learning skills from Haṭha Yoga to refine your personal Yoga Sādhana
Linking to the concepts of Haṭha to help develop and deepen your understanding of Yoga
Study of the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā by Svāmi Svātmārāma
Study of the Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā by Gheraṇḍa
– In-depth introduction to Gītā Scripture
In-depth introduction to the Bhagavad Gītā texts and teachings
Exploring some key concepts that underpin this Teaching
How the eighteen chapters are linked
What are the key concepts in each
Which chapters are most important
Why we need a view such as the Bhagavad Gītā
Learning to look from the Bhagavad Gītā at our relationship with others
Linking the Gītā to the ebb and flow of daily life
– In-depth introduction to Upaniṣat Mysticism
In-depth introduction to the Upaniṣat texts and teachings
Exploring some key concepts that underpin this Teaching
How the Upaniṣat are linked
What are the key concepts in each
Which Upaniṣat are most important
Why we need a view such as the Upaniṣat
Learning to look from the Upaniṣat at our relationship with others
Linking the Upaniṣat to the ebb and flow of daily life
– In-depth introduction to Sāṃkhya Philosophy
In-depth introduction to Sāṃkhya texts and teachings
Embracing the unique world view of Sāṃkhya
Understanding the principles that inspire and shape Sāṃkhya philosophy
Why we need a world view such as Sāṃkhya
Learning to look from Sāṃkhya at our relationship with the world
Guidance in emphasising a personal reflective study to support our inner life
Exploring the key concepts that underpin this Teaching
Appreciating the influence of Sāṃkhya on Yoga, Buddhism and Āyurveda
What are the key goals in its primary text the Sāṃkhya Kārikā
Overview of primary Sāṃkhya concepts around body, mind and awareness
Familiarisation with basic Sāṃkhya terms and reflective processes
Which concepts are most important for personal Yoga study and Practice
Deepening the reflective aspects of our personal Yoga study through Sāṃkhya
– In-depth introduction to Āyurveda Lifestyle
In-depth introduction to Āyurveda texts and teachings
Pañca Prāṇa – Understanding the flow of Movement
Agni – Understanding the Digestive Fire
Tridoṣa – Understanding the 3 principle Energetic Processes
Prakṛti Parīkṣa – Beginning and Intermediate Constitutional Diagnosis
Nādī Parīkṣa – Beginning Diagnosing through the Pulse
Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā and Laṅghana Kriyā – As Therapeutic Lifestyle Tools
Dravya Guṇa – Appreciating and Utilising the value of Herbs and Spices in diet
Ahāra – Appreciating and Utilising food as a medicine
Vihāra – Appreciating and Utilising Lifestyle as a tool for change
4. Professional Study and Teaching of Yoga to Individual Students or Clients
– Application of Yoga for Individual Students or Clients
The Teachings from T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar
Eastern and Western Teaching Methodology and the student teacher relationship
Advantages and disadvantages of individual tuition
Application of Yoga for individual situations
Application and development of the Viniyoga of Yoga through refining our 121 curriculum and developmental skills for teaching through individual lessons
Application of Yoga as Therapeutic Healthcare through contributing examples of our Yoga Healthcare work for case studies
Individual Supervision for Student and Clients practices and processes
– Yoga Therapeutics or Cikitsā applied to Individual Students or Clients
The therapeutic possibilities of Yoga when working with problems or illness
Therapeutic application using Yoga Cikitsā healthcare skills
Beginning and Intermediate aspects of working with individuals with illness at the physiological level through to emotional problems at the Transpersonal level
Beginning and Intermediate Study of Āyurveda Diagnostic and Lifestyle Principles and their relationship with Yoga Cikitsā and Yoga Rakṣaṇa
Individual Supervision for Student and Clients practices and processes
