200 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course In Dharamsala

The spiritual town of Dharamsala provides a haven for practitioners of Buddhism and Hinduism. It is a peaceful area surrounded by cedar forests and features hills, picnic areas, and magnificent spiritual qualities.

As a result of the typical landscape consisting of verdant tea plantations, pine forests, and snowy peaks, this region is a beautiful collaboration between Tibetan society and Indian society and forms the ideal blend of cultures.

A sense of spirituality permeates the entire place, from the streets to the homes, and it’s even in the air.

The seclusion of the location, combined with the possibility of reaching a serene meditative vantage point on the summit of the mountain after only a few minutes of hiking, makes this an excellent location for the performance of ascetic observances. In addition to the natural splendor and tranquility that it provides, Dharamshala also provides the opportunity to cultivate relationships with the locals and engage in meaningful exchanges with them. They help you develop additional self-discipline and open your eyes to other aspects of life that are significant. Buddhist stupas and Hindu temples surround the area, and their combined prayers for world peace can be heard loud and clear.

What is Hatha Yoga & What will you learn?

Hatha Yoga is the first and most ancient style of yoga. At its origin and for many centuries on, yoga did not have anything to do with physical postures: it was all about the deep study and understanding of the mind through meditation and ascetic practices.
The ancient sages and yogis started then to develop some seated postures that would help them to gain physical flexibility so that they could endure many many hours of seated meditation.

The classic text on Hatha Yoga (Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svatmarama, written in the XV century) can be considered almost as an anthology of many Hatha texts combined. It includes fifteen primary postures (seated and non seated) as well as other additional postures, totalling 84 asanas. This is the first time we know of an asana being described as something other than a seated position. After all, the word asana means “to seat”, specifically a seat for meditation. 84 is a number used over and over again in spiritual practices, representing a connection between the individual practitioner and the universe.

Hatha Yoga is about balancing the body and mind. HA represents the sun and THA the moon. The practice of Hatha Yoga aims to join and balance these two energies. This is why, during our TTC, we give particular focus and importance to the practice of traditional Hatha Yoga; expect to move through a set of physical postures to warm up the body and circulate the energies, along with breathing techniques. You will be learning the traditional Surya Namaskar Hatha Yoga style and the different variations of it. You will also be practicing many other asana both standing and seated/reclining. These are typically practised more slowly and held for longer than a Vinyasa flow or Ashtanga class.

Other than asana, there are five more practices in Hatha Yoga that form the six limbs that you will be learning with us; they are: Shatkarma, Pranayama, Bandhas, Mudras and Samadhi. Lastly, during the “art of teaching” classes, you are going to learn the perfect alignment and all the variations of the main asana which are found in Hatha Yoga, through the expert guidance of lead teacher Hari ji.

Pranayama

Pranayama is an ancient breath technique that originates from yogic practices using which you can control every juncture of your life. Some pranayama techniques you will learn in this course are:

• Surya & Chandra Bhedana
• Ujjayi Breath
• Sitkari
• Sitali
• Bhramari
• Anulom Vilom
• Kapalbhati & Bhastrika

• Breathing & grounding
• Warm-up like Pawanmuktasana Series I,II & III
• Asanas Sun Salutation, flows through the 42 hatha yoga asanas
• Relaxation

Mantras & Mudras

Mantras are considered as an important part of Hatha Yoga. When you recite mantras, the energy channels of the body open up, and you become more reception to the universe. It also aids one to focus the mind on the yoga practice. When you recite mantras, your stored emotions are released and you get the full benefits of the asanas.

Mudras are nothing but gestures, which you make with your hands and fingers mostly. There are nerves that pass through the fingertips, and each one is connected to a specific organ. When you press the same, you are actually providing therapeutic healing to those body parts.

• Teaching practice, receiving and giving feedback
• Instructions guidelines, teaching styles, qualities of a teacher
• Voice projection, and floor presence
• Planning and structuring a class
• Principles of demonstration
• Observing, assisting and correcting
• Therapeutic tools in Alignment and hands-on-adjustments theory and practice in Hatha Sun Salutation 12 Asanas
• Dealing with injuries and safety precautions

Anatomy & Physiology

• Muscular and Skeletal System
• Respiratory System
• Nervous System Basics
• Cardiovascular System

Philosophy

• Yoga Philosophy introduction
• Definition of Yoga
• History of Yoga
• Goals of Yoga
• Introduction to the main texts:
  • Vedas (Rigveda, Atharvaveda)
  • Ramayana (Yoga Vasistha)
  • Mahabharata (Bhagavad Gita)
  • Patanjali yoga sutras
  • Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Bandhas

In Hatha Yoga, you will discover three essential bandhas that harness subtle energies. These bandhas aid in breath retention, allowing for prolonged posture holding. They promote tranquility and composure throughout your Hatha Yoga practice, while also facilitating the smooth flow of Prana.

The four bandhas in Yoga are:

• Mula Bandha (Root Lock)
• Uddiyana Bandha (Abdominal Lock)
• Jalandhara Bandha (Chin Lock)
• Maha Bandha (Great Lock)

Practicum

Hatha Yoga classes for up to 90 minutes or less. The teacher generally sets a goal for the class, which you have to accomplish. You will get adequate guidance in the sequence from a trained yoga expert at Shree Hari Yoga School.

• Practice teaching
• Receiving and giving feedback
• Observing others teaching
• Assisting students while someone else is teaching

Typical Daily Schedule

Training Locations

Our courses are offered in four carefully selected locations in India. We schedule each of our start dates in alignment with the best weather in each place. From April to September we operate our training in Dharamshala and Rishikesh; from October to March we are located in Gokarna and Goa.