Scaravelli inspired Yoga Teacher Training Course

Led by Marc Woolford, with support from outstanding visiting teachers, including Pete Blackaby, Diane Long and Sophy Hoare.

250 hours, commencing April 2012, based in Brighton, with a parallel course running in Edinburgh.

14 weekends and one 7 day intensive, offering an opportunity to significantly deepen understanding and experience of yoga, whilst nurturing the ability to share this work with others.

Clear anatomical explanations of the conditions that lead to support and movement through release – revealing the nature of the original yoga techniques.

Practice sessions will form the heart of the course to develop direct experiential understanding of the principal asanas, pranayamas, meditations and relaxation techniques.



YTTC recognised by the IYN and the AIYP

The basic premise of 'Scaravelli Inspired' yoga, is that you let go of tension into the earth, and in that let-go there is a responsive wave of release that travels from the ground up through the entire body and spine away from the ground that continues to support you, elongating the spine and body in the process ... we grow taller, more centred and stronger as we release tension, whatever the posture.

This is perceived as radical, simply because it is not most people's experience. But if you have had the great fortune to experience this through your own practice, or with the guidance of a good teacher, the feeling is undeniable.

This is NOT re-inventing yoga ... it is the fundamental principle of ahimsa - non-conflict. If you practice with the intent to experiment with this basic principle, and work out what actually allows this to happen; if you are prepared to re-evaluate everything you know and do, until 'letting go' leads to this experience; in the process you will naturally rediscover everthing that was ever written about yoga from 4000 years ago, all techniques, all 'secret' practices, all descriptions of the experience of yoga from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika to Patanjale's sutras - it is all there waiting to reveal itself to you spontaneously, as you practice in earnest to remove conflict in your actions, with honesty, whole-heartedness and authentic self-inquiry (all described by the yogic codes of practice - Yamas and Niyamas).

And what is truly significant, is that because it is about undoing what has been imposed on the body by misunderstanding, injury, habit etc., it is entirely available to ANYONE that is interested in working this way – physical restriction is no pbstacle... in fact, as a point of focus, wishing to resolve a restriction can be a truly valuable - probably more valuable than the desire to achieve a posture.

Any pain or restriction in the body can be used as a way of discovering the body's relationships with itself, and perhaps even the mindset behind it. And there is empowerment in the fact that once you have become aware of a conflictive relationship, you can change it, because it is literally a relationship you have with yourself. And in the process you are working to eliminate the source of the limitation.

Having a postural issue or injury, however long-term, can serve to illustrate the effectiveness of working to find the whole body relationships that remove local conflict... for the very flexible, problems caused by hypermobility in certain areas can be resolved in precisely the same way - by changing the whole body's relationship to the the part that has become hypermobile.

Even in the absense of some basic imbalance to work with, the postures offer you the same challenges in every part of your body and self, so it is equally suitable for experienced yogis, dancers and athletes as it is for those with postural or health issues to resolve.

True yoga practice lays in the intention behind it, and the intention is evident in the quality of practice - it is beautiful to watch, not because it is impressive in its difficulty, but because it looks effortless ... the effort that is witnessed is expressive and authentic, so it is fascinating and beautiful.

The postures stop being something to achieve, and become a framework for the pleasurable act of working to remove conflict within yourself. As you remove more conflict, more postures become available for you to dance with. And you simply go deeper and closer to the source, the more you continue to work with the principle.

In my opinion, the mechanics of yoga practice is different from the pulleys and levers mechanics of traditional physical excercise. The idea that movement and support are meant to be fluid, and in harmony with breathing, is spoken of in most forms of yoga. But purely on a physical, structural mechanics level, the very act of holding yourself up in a posture with rigid tension for as long as possible, or even lifitng with the inhale and collapsing with the exhale, is very likely to preclude the possibility of experiencing what fluid support and harmonious breathing really means during the posture work ... possibly it is experienced afterwards, in relaxation.

But if we can shift perspective a little and look at the way the body works in terms of fluid mechanics, then the premise behind 'Scaravelli Inspired' yoga not only becomes entirely possible, but it gives us the clues as to go about reorganising the body's structures, and the fluid/breathing spaces between them in order to create the unique conditions that allow this revolution in yoga to happen naturally.

Hence the AquaViva school of yoga. Depending on health and other factors, we are between 60 and 85% fluid. To name a yoga school 'Living Water' or 'Water of Life' made total sense to me... Every cell, every bone, joint space and organ, every system in the body from the endochrine, digestive, lymphatic and cardiovascular to the nervous systems all work because of movements of fluid ... Even when I am talking about structural support, it has to include the fluid spaces between bones, the joints, the intervertebral discs, so even the structure can also respond as fluid support.. then through simple balance, strength comes in response to gravity ... it is strength without tension.

It is a well-known fact amongst anatomists and evolutionists that the body and structure is continuously changing as it regenerates, according to the way it is used. So although fluid mechanics doesn't describe everything involved, as a model of movement and support it is invaluable. It can be found in yoga practice, but when it finds its way into natural daily life, the body and human being begins to evolve a new way.

( 'Acquaviva' is also my Italian natural father's surname - which is why it came to me when I was thinking of appropriate names for the school)

The AquaViva School of Yoga Teacher Training Course, is of course for those that wish to teach, but it is also for dedicated practitioners and teachers that simply love yoga enough to want to develop understanding and experience beyond current limitations. My mission is to offer participants the information and direct experiential understanding of what the precise conditions are, that lead to this physical (and paradigmatic) liberation... I feel that the experience of this revolutionary approach to yoga can, and should, be made accessible to anyone that cares to come to a class. This approach is spreading, because it works, and it awakens an intuitive practice that begins to respond to what the body actually needs. I feel that the more practitioners and teachers that that are fully informed of the conditions that allow this awakening to happen, the better. When a teacher has experienced and truly understands what works, the teaching can be simple, and inspirational. So as well has having the privilege to join and assist people on their own personal journey, I would be honoured to be involved in helping spread this work as far and wide as possible ... This is one of my fondest wishes.

The Teachers:

Course Leader: Marc Woolford (all subjects)

Administration, Yoga for pregnancy (pre and post natal), Business ethics: Abigail Peck

Class structuring and monitoring assistant: Tuesday McNeil

Anatomy & Physiology: Manuel Ponce

Philosophy and Meditation: Javier Castro Allonso

Supporting Visiting Teachers: Pete Blackaby, Diane Long, Sophy Hoare

Venue:

the Garden Studio

7, Ship St Gardens,
Brighton BN1 1AJ
(passage between Ship St. and Middle St)

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Also running in Edinburgh
(Venue TBC depending on numbers)

Course Dates:

The weekend workshops will be approximately structured as follows:

Saturdays & Sundays 9:30am - 5:30pm with appropriate breaks

Review of previous workshop; feedback and assistance on points raised by homestudy when appropriate; teaching practice on previous theme when appropriate; introduction to the subsequent theme of the weekend.

The rest of the weekend will be dedicated to exploring the theme in depth with theory and practical application; Guided sessions throughout (and self-practice with hands-on assistance) on the theme of the weekend ; Q&A and open discussion; reference to anatomy/physiology/philosophy with hand outs (occasionally pure anatomy or philosophy seminars followed by practical application to asana/pranayama/meditation); ongoing reference to, and understanding of traditional yoga practices, techniques and philosophies. Setting of home-study. Pranayama, Meditation, Deep relaxation.

Brighton:

2012:
14-15 Apr |12-13 May |16-17 June |14-15 July |22-23 Sept |20-21 Oct |17-18 Nov|8-9 Dec|

2013:
12-13 Jan | 9-10 Feb |9-10 March |6-7 April |4-5 May | 1-2 Jun | July~7 Day Intensive (TBC)

TOTAL CONTACT HOURS: 252

Edinburgh:

2012:
121-22 Apr |26-27 May |23-24 June |28-29 July |15-16 Sept |27-28 Oct |24-25 Nov|

2013:
19-20 Jan |16-17 Feb |16-17 Mar |13-14 Apr|11-12 May |8-9 Jun |July~7 Day Intensive(TBC)

TOTAL CONTACT HOURS: 240
(remainder to covered by attendance to one weekend workshop with Pete Blackaby)

Course content:

Techniques Training/Practice — Including asana (posture work), pranayama and bandhas (breath work and relationship to structure), kriyas (cleansing techniques), mantra & meditation, and other traditional yoga practices, with reference to thematic (see below*) and traditional models of understanding. The Sequence© will form the framework for the work. There will be equal emphasis placed on teaching practice as on experiential and analytical understanding of the work...

Teaching Methodology — Including principles of demonstration, observation, teaching styles and appropriate pace, hands-on/instructional adjustments and the intention behind the adjustment, and awareness of the different ways students process and learn. The course will include supportive feedback of your teaching as well as your observation of others ... the Sequence© will used as the basic format to support and help you develop your personal style of teaching (I will offer some postural sequences to work with, but the course will also involve sequencing - the practice of creating your own series of postures to express the core principles based on your direct understanding). And the emphasis will be on developing simplicity in your teaching practice.

Anatomy & Physiology — Physical anatomy (with anatomical explanations of 'creating the conditions') and physiology (bodily systems, organs, nervous system and brain chemistry etc.) with reference to traditional yoga models of physiology (chakras, nadis, energetics and state of mind etc.). Emphasis will be on the application of yoga practice to bring all systems into balance. There will also be time spent with how to address particular situations (contraindications and other problems, and using the 'Sequence of conditions' as a framework solution).

Yoga philosophy — Including its practical application to teaching and business as well as yoga practice. The course will include clarification of personal intent behind the practice and teaching. There will be a section on the direct application of the 'yamas and niyamas' (ethics and observances), and some study of Patanjale's sutras

Course Themes:

*Themes are valid models of movement and support that can help clarify the principles behind the work.   The themes include:

Gravity
Gravity as a basis for movement and support. Redefining our relationship with the Earth. Sub-themes include:

The difference between 'grounded' and 'heavy'... contact with the earth, from the ground up.
Working with gravity versus working against it ... 'red' and 'white' muscle tissue.
Through the joints** as a model of support and movement, including:

Anatomy of specific joint types and familiarisation with the detail of interaction and relationships within the limbs and body.

'Patterning' – recognising similar patterns of movement between structures to aid understanding.
The pull of gravity and the elongation through the axis of the spine.
the Ground and the naturalisation of all yoga practices

The Breath
As a model of practice, using the idea that there needs to be no conflict between breathing and postural support - ideally they are the same thing. Sub- themes include:

The choices available in our breathing, & awareness of personal preference/habit... .
Understanding of the physical mechansims of the breath, as well as awareness of the relationships between breathing, the emotional body and postural habits.
Applying awareness of choice to posture work and 'creating the conditions' for appropriate choices to be made available..
Breathing patterns and effects on posture and the spine
Breathing patterns and effects on state of mind.
Diaphragms – reorganisation of breathing spaces.
Bandhas, Mudras, the Sequence©, and application to posture.
Breathing practices (pranayamas) to redress imbalances in our breathing preferences.
Breathing and voice - mantra as a means of redressing habitual patterns.
Teaching the conditions that redress breathing preferences (without teaching breathing!).
The Breath and the naturalisation of all yoga practices.

The Fluid Body
Fluid mechanics as a model of movement and support. Sub-themes include:

The inherent strength of Fluid mechanics versus pulleys and levers
Through the joints** and our relationships to the space we occupy
The organs and their fluid nature in support and movement.
Diaphragms – reorganisation of the fluid core.
The Anti-gravity response to gravity, the diaphragms' relationship with the earth.
Spirals – the 'sleeve' the body. Bandhas & Mudras,
Relationships between the heavy structures of the body through the fluid core
Movements of fluid, pressure and the breath.
'Patterning' – recognising the similarity of key fluid movements to aid understanding.
Working with the fluid body to naturalise all yoga practices

The Spine
The spine at the central axis of movement and support as a model for practice.  Sub-themes include:

Defining and refining understanding the conditions that lead to the release of the spine...
Relationships between the spine and the heavy structures of the body.
Relationships between the spine and the limbs
Between the spine and the breath.
Between the spine and the pull of gravity
'Patterning' – recognising the similarity of key movements of areas of the spine to aid understanding.
The spine as a whole – Its relationship through the body & the limbs to the hands & feet. And its relationship to the earth through the released breath
The awakening and release of the spine to naturalise all yoga practices.

'The Sequence©'
Creating the sequence of conditions that remove internal conflict within the body - in the praparation for, the movement into, and within the asana, pranayama or meditation. The removal of conflictive relationships between structures of the body, the movements of breathing, and the support offered by the contact made with the earth, so that yoga can become a spontaneous expression of our natural birthright of freedom and health.

Quieten in... (so you can sense whats going on with the whole body without too much thought) make space... from the ground up (where there is none - an unevenly heavy base, a collapsed or heavy joint, around a stiff or collapsed area of spine, in areas of the body that don't have the structural freedom that allows a sense of the movement of breath)
Ground... (work to support what you are doing from the ground up so that you can release any restrictive 'lifting' effort whilst remaining spacious)
Move out in all directions to find your centre... (or Gather in to open out - either way it is accessing the body's potential to work as a whole fluid mechanism with natural core support)
Breathe... into what you are doing (If there is true structural support, the musculature of support does nothing to restrict the arrival of the breath - also, the body won't be able to release if it cannot breathe)
Release out into movement... with the release of the breath, from the ground up in all the directions you wish to open - if you have set it up well, movement into a posture becomes absolutely effortless, because the spine releases into the posture through the release of the breath and the relaxed body simply responds to the spine's movements.
Rest ... into the contact made with the earth. (In principle, if there is true balanced structural support, then the pull of gravity acts through its axis, including most importantly the spine, regardless of position in space.) If this is the case, the pull of gravity together with the natural musculature of breathing, become everything that is needed to sustain the posture, so it becomes possible to rest into the posture whilst it remains dynamic. This is the when asana is achieved - ie. 'comfortable seat'. To start with, these moments of true asana are likely to be fleeting, possibly becoming rhythmic as aspects of breathing start to improve. And harder with anything that is not vertically aligned through the axis of the spine. So if rest becomes too difficult to find, before stress is reintroduced to the system, it is better if the practitioner simply moves to a position where the various heavy structures are individually supported by the earth (usually by lying down, or it can be done with props). It is also important to realise that this actually indicates that there is more integration to be found within the posture that was being attempted. The fact that you can relax when you are lying down or being propped up, doesn't mean you have found the asana - it means every part of you is being supported separately .. which is not necessarily yoga - 'union'... So in the resting state, the practitioner gets an opportunity to Quieten in... so the sequence continues

Investment:

Brighton:

£2,400 for all tuition:

£650 on successful application
£500 at the beginning of March 2012
10xpayments of £125 each paid by standing order from 1st April 2012

Edinburgh

£2,100 for all tuition: (additional workshop with Pete Blackaby to be booked by students)

£500 on successful application
£500 at the beginning of March 2012
10xpayments of £110 each paid by standing order from 1st April 2012

The School will consider other reasonable payment options - the main thing we are looking for is commitment.

Other costs:

Suggested Reading list:

Asana:

Awakening the Spine – Vanda Scaravelli

The Heart of Yoga – Desikachar

Yoga practice handbook – Cloe Fremantle Yoga and You – Esther Myers

Breath, The Essence of Yoga – Sandra Sabatini

(Light on Yoga – Iyengar ... optional)

Philosophy:

The Bhagavad Gita – Translated by Winthrop Sargent

Patanjili’s Yoga Sutras – Translated by Swami Hariharananda Aranya

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Anatomy:

Trail Guide to the Body – Andrew Biel

Anatomy of Movement – Blandine Calais-Germain

Job’s Body – Deane Juhan

The human body book. (ISBN 978-1-856-3007-3)

Psychology:

Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be – Lama Surya Das

A Skeleton – If you have an articulated skeleton at home, it will be an invaluable tool for home study, as well as help develop your understanding of structural support, visualisation and problem solving skills (You can usually get one on ebay for around £130)

Accommodation – For those of you travelling far enough to need accommodation in Brighton or nearby, there are local guest houses and possible flat share's available. This will be coordinated by Abigail (listed above). Those of you living nearby with appropriate space, might want to consider offering a bed (or something makeshift) for other students, perhaps for a nominal amount to cover heating costs etc.. Abigail is happy to coordinate accommodation plans if needed.

Edinburgh students will be responsible for their own accommodation .

The 7 day intensive will be either in the UK or Europe (date and venue TBC), depending on numbers, suitability, and cost. The venue hire and tuition is included in the cost, but food and accommodation is not.

Application and Requirements:

Applicants must have at least 2 years of dedication to practice behind them – this doesn't have to be in yoga, but some kind of body work that requires awareness and refinement of the body/mind relationship... Contact Marc if you are unsure whether your particular discipline qualifies.

The defining quality is an inquiring mind and an enthusiasm for the potential tranformational nature of body/mind work.

Successful graduation and accreditation will require attending all workshops, and submitting all homeworks on time, although in special circumstances extensions can be granted to complete the work. Workshops that are unavoidably missed can be replaced with a 3 hour private session with Marc (at additional cost).

Those that don't require accreditation, do not need to adhere to the requirements – certification by the AquaViva School of Yoga is still possible, and will be at the discression of the School. Homestudy is designed to aid your progress and understanding, so even if you do not require feedback on your work, it is suggested that you still do it.

Applicants will be required to submit an Application via email to : admin@aquavivayoga.com and must attend or have attended at least one full weekend workshop, or to have had at least two 1hr private tuition sessions with Marc Woolford. This way, all participants will have a basic overview of the work before the course starts.

Alternatively, if you have worked reasonably regularly with teachers such as Pete Blackaby, Diane Long, Sophy Hoare or John Stirk, attendance to an introductory workshop is still advisable, but not required. An alternative for those that can't make a workshop, is to book two 1 hour private tuition sessions with Marc (for this purpose at a reduced cost of £80 for both sessions).

After application, if you are selected, there will be an informal one-on-one interview (in person or via Skype) with Marc. If on application, you wish to book a private session with Marc, the session can serve the same purpose as the interview - two sessions for people new to the work.

On acceptance on the course, a non-refundable*** deposit of £650 is payable to secure your place (Brighton course) or £500 for the Edinburgh course.

A second non-refundable*** deposit of £500 is payable one month before the commencement of the course, followed by ten monthly instalments (£125 - Brighton, £110 - Edinburgh) payable on the first of each month.

What to include in your application is here (pdf)

***The exception being in the unlikely event of the course being cancelled at some point or not running at all, in the latter case, deposits will be fully refunded, in the former, there would be a refund proportionate to the number of course hours that would have run to date.