Advanced Course in Yoga

PERSONAL EVOLUTION
– AN ADVANCED COURSE
IN YOGA

When I first began attending yoga classes in 1983, my motivation was purely physical, as it is with most people who come into the classes today. The exercises gave me information not only about my physical condition, but also about how my mental condition fluctuated, and about the content of my mind. After a class, I felt different about myself, perceived myself differently, and I wondered how this change had come about. So started the esoteric journey that acquainted me with my true Self, the spiritual “I”.

In yoga the personal and spiritual evolution we undergo expands our consciousness. The scope of our consciousness is dependent on what we experience through our senses, our intellect and our socio-cultural conditioning. It is rather like being able to see only the tip of an iceberg, and not its bulk that lies underwater, out of sight. In the same way our hidden potential lies in our subconscious and unconscious dimensions, waiting to be awakened, discovered, and deployed to further our evolution..

In order to go more deeply into our nature on a physical, mental, energetic and spiritual level, we need to practice yoga regularly. It’s rather like gardening; if we take the time and effort to remove stones and weeds, to prepare the soil and research the optimal conditions for the growth of our plants and vegetables, we will eventually reap the benefits of our efforts and enjoy a very beautiful garden. Above all we will have become wiser in the process.

This course will give you the opportunity to go deeper into yourself, to discover your hidden potential and empower you to manage your body and mind so you can deal with whatever happens to you. It will help guide you to higher levels of self-awareness and develop your ability to be a witness (drashta) on physical, mental, emotional and pranic (subtle, vital energy) levels. Developing the ability to maintain balance between our heads, hands and heart will lead to a more lasting feeling of contentment and balance in all situations.

During the course we will deal with shatkarmas (internal cleansing of the body) and pay attention to the physical, psychological and spiritual characteristics of the seven major chakras. The practice of pranayama will gradually be deepened and intensified, according to individual capabilities, expanding what you can achieve and your awareness of vital energy (prana). Through meditation, yoga nidra (psychic sleep), antar mouna (inner silence) and ajapa jappa (clearing past impressions from the unconscious mind), we will internalize our attention, training the mind to be one-pointed and calm. This will help clean the body, balance mental fluctuation and clear away blockages that may be holding you back on a physical, mental and psychic level. This should result in feelings of strength, positivity in word, thought and action and increased awareness.

The eight-day series is not intended to substitute weekly classes, but rather to complement, extend and deepen the work we will be doing in the classes. There will be time to discuss what we have been doing and by the end of the course you should have developed a set of exercises that you can practice each morning, or during each day.

The course will be open to those who have attended classes regularly for at least a year; it is not possible to join once the series has begun.

This special course is being planned for 2011. There will be room for a maximum of 16 participants. To register your interest and receive details nearer the time please email 'Advanced Yoga Course'