This has led to what I call 'the Sequence©' ... This is not a specific sequence of postures, although it does offer a comprehensive template for any class you care to construct for any group (and I have put together some specific posture sequences that we will be working with for teaching purposes). It is a series of common-sense conditions that need attending to if we are to remove the restrictions of conflict and injury from the body. In the absence of conflict there is simplicity, and homeostasis occurs ... a neutral state that allows the body to redress its own issues. This sequence of conditions, if practiced in preparation of a posture or movement, will give anyone a clearer experience of centred strength and relaxed support within the movement they are attempting. It is valid for all body work and can be used to uncover specific body issues, as well as offering a way of redressing the difficulties that are revealed.

Once the Sequence© is understood, it becomes relatively simple to put together a class that will transmit everything that you wish to offer your students, because it becomes very clear, when moving from one particular posture to the next, whether the movement is likely to help things or not. The beauty of it for your students, is that it will work well for them regardless of whether they understand it or not ...

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There will be some introductory workshops - familiarising with the various conditions, to give you a direct experience of the effect they have on yoga practice... there will be some reference to information that will be offered on the teacher training course, but the introductory workshops will be mostly experiential... those of you that are used to working with me will already be familiar with some of the detailed principles behind the experience.

Cost: each introductory date £35 drop in, £30 prebooked online or £55 for each weekend if booked in advance online.

(All introductory Saturdays 2:00 - 5:30pm, Sundays 10:30 - 2:00pm)

 

 

Further introductory workshop dates
(Natural Bodies,28/29 Bond St, Brighton, BN1 6RD)

 

Sat 20th & Sun 21st March 2010

Sat 17th & Sun 18th April 2010

 

 

 

There will be an overview of the introductory workshops when the course begins on the weekend of 12/13 June, but if you haven't worked with me regularly before, it will be advantageous to have attended as many of these weekends as you can if you wish to do the full teacher training course.

The teacher training course will run over two years commencing June this year - over the time, there will be a three x 6-day weeks of intensive practice and tuition (42 hours each week), and 12 full weekend workshops (12 hrs each weekend) over the full term (total 268 hours).

The course itself is based on establishing a very clear personal experience of each condition of the Sequence© and how to include it in your teaching. There will also be detailed exploration of various themes (see below*) to clarify understanding, including study of relevant anatomical, physiological, philosophical and esoteric references. It is a teacher training course, so as well as developing depth of understanding there is an emphasis on developing your teaching practice in the most effect way possible. There will be teaching practice with the group, feedback and support.

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© 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.

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.
  • 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.

    • Using response to gravity to open the joint spaces.

    • Using response to gravity to collect around the joint spaces.

    • Practical understanding of the use of the pull of gravity in structural support through the axis of the fluid joints.

    • Spacial relationships between the pelvis, head and rib cage that will release the spine.

    • The joints the spine makes with the body and the conditions that allow 'the release of the spine'.

    • Spirals – honouring the nature of the body's lines of support and movement

    • Linear, whole body relationships of the body's structures and relevance to the Sequence©

    • 'Patterning' – recognising similar patterns of movement between structures to aid understanding.

  • The pull of gravity and the elongation through the axis of the spine.
  • Using gravity and the contact made with the earth to create each of the conditions – 'Pulsing' and the Sequence©.

• 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... relevance to the Sequence©.
  • 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 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 and the breath.
  • 'Patterning' – recognising the similarity of key fluid movements to aid understanding.

• 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
  • Understanding the effect of the Sequence© on the spine ...

    • Opening the secondary curves of the spine, structural support of the fluid core, and its relationship to the breath and the earth (quietening in)

    • Opening of the primary curves/centres of the spine, support through the joints and its relationship to the breath and the earth (making space)

    • The elongation of the spine through its axis, core support/strength and its relationship to the breath and the earth (collect towards the centre)

    • The hands and feet and their relationship to the elongation of the spine. Integration of the limbs with the body. Mudras (out through the fingers and toes).

  • '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 ('Pulsing')

Course dates : (TBC)

Investment : ~ £2,500 (268 hours) (TBC)

Course venue TBC