Sacred Heart Yoga

About the Training​

The Sacred Heart Yoga: Yoga Foundations and Teacher Training Immersion is a transformative month-long course designed to establish a thorough foundation in all the essential elements of living and teaching the ancient system of yoga.

The underlying theme of the training will be to connect with the heart and rediscover the sacredness within ourselves, each other, and the world.

It is almost impossible to sum up the breadth of wisdom and experience that one acquires in a one month yoga training; not only pouring from the teachers and the eternal well of yoga teachings themselves, but from the innate wisdom held in each participant and from the organic unfolding of group wisdom as well.

This is a brief attempt to highlight the main points, themes and feeling of the Sacred Heart Yoga training. Please take time to read, consider and reflect. We understand that choosing a training is a big decision, and we encourage each person to find the training that is right for them.

“I offer whatever I can, in the hopes that it may serve you on your path. Hari Om” ~ Greg

The Practice

- “Our Sadhana (practice) is the source of our liberation; the training ground for the arena of life”

A considerable portion of the training is dedicated to the understanding and development of our daily personal yoga practice; our Sadhana. Practice is the source of direct experience (living wisdom) and the foundation for lasting positive transformation; therefore it is the main focus of our training.

We will build a solid foundation in: Asana (traditional yoga postures), Kriya (physical and energetic purification techniques), Pranayama (breathing techniques), Mantra (sacred sound recitation), Meditation, and Kirtan (Sacred, heart-opening, group chanting).

All these techniques work together in a systematic way to bring overall health, harmony and happiness to mind, body and spirit.

With continuous and dedicated practice we receive the initial physical and mental benefits of yoga. Once the benefits are experienced, faith and confidence in ourselves and the practice becomes established. This confidence and faith serves as the inspiration for life long continuous practice, which allows the yoga to integrate over time, into subtler and subtler levels of our being. In time there is no separation between the yoga on our mat, and the yoga of life, between the philosophies and the actions…..it is all yoga; one integrated, harmonious life.

A strong foundation is the root system which allows the great tree of yoga and its fruits to grow over time.

The daily morning practice will consist of:

· 30 - 45 minutes of Kriya, Mantra, and Pranayama

· 1.5 hours of Asana

· 45 - 60 minutes of Kirtan and Meditation

· Total of 3 hours daily Purna (complete) Sadhana

· There will be evening Restorative practices six days a week.

Note: Students will be given the opportunity to participate in purification Kriya (Neti, Trataka, Vaman) during the course. These are not mandatory, but highly recommended as a supportive method of physical/psychological detoxification.

The Attitude​

Accompanying the development of our experience on the mat will be the deepening and integration of our knowledge of yoga philosophy and ethics, with the study of essential sacred texts, philosophical discussions and practicing mindful compassionate conduct

Our thoughts are the seeds of all of our actions. Our yoga practice has the potential to be the grounds for conscious positive shifts in our mental/emotional patterns. We practice being compassionate and lighthearted with ourselves when we fall out of a pose, feel discomfort in our bodies, or when we catch ourselves engaged in negative internal dialogue; over time that compassion spreads to all aspects of our lives.

​At least for the duration of the course, we ask that students follow the principles of Ahimsa (non-violence). This will be expressed in non-violent (non-judgmental, non-competitive, non-aggressive) conduct towards ourselves and one another, being mindful about not consuming violent/aggressive media, and the recommended observation of a vegetarian diet. This creates a peaceful, supportive and safe atmosphere, both physically and mentally, which is conducive to real growth on our path.

The overall goal is to cultivate a lasting attitude of peacefulness, compassion, gratitude and humility on our mat, and hopefully extending that attitude into life.

The Teachings​

It is important to us that we preserve the authentic teachings of yoga. We have seen the pitfalls of what can happen when systems are mixed ("Shamanic Yoga and Tai Chi Fusion with Massage & Reiki Training" for example). Students can become confused, never getting firmly established in any system. “Many shallow wells dug, but never reaching water.”

For this training we will focus on the teachings and philosophies of the classical Indian Yoga system; providing a balanced foundation in the six branches of Yoga, with Hatha Yoga as a base. For the duration of this training we ask that students allow themselves to fully immerse in this holistic and complete system, and create a very strong foundation free from external influences. This way you can be sure that the result of the training is from yoga and yoga alone. It will build great clarity and confidence in your yoga practice in its authentic form. You can pursue other teachings, mix, evolve and create any way you like in the future, but for the rest of your life you will have this solid foundation in authentic yoga.

The Art of Teaching

Refining the art of teaching yoga takes time and practice, and the best teachers are also the best students. We can't guide others through an experience we haven't been through ourselves; the most authentic teachers teach from their own direct experience. The real core of your teaching will be the direct experience you accumulate on your mat over time, going through your own inner process, and overcoming your own limitations. This experience will allow you to really put your own voice and perspective into whatever you are teaching, because it has meaning for you.

Our goal is to help you learn, refine and practice the techniques and skills required in transmitting authentic yoga teachings, clearly, effectively, and humbly, through your own unique personality.

You will build a strong foundation in: Sequencing, Voice training, Physical and Energetic anatomy, Time management, Safe alignment and posture variations, Adjusting, Developing compassion for your students, Teacher-Student ethics, Transformative space holding, and much more....

The Heart​

As important as it is to focus on ourselves and on our own personal growth, it is a scientific fact that dissatisfaction in life has direct correlation to how much time we spend thinking about ourselves. While supporting individual health and evolution, this training will also support a conscious movement away from self-centered thinking patterns, towards self-less thinking patterns; a movement towards loving kindness.

We will do this by:

1. Being mindful of our engagements with one another in our shared yoga space in a temporary spiritual community (Ie: helping each other with clean up/set up, respecting shala (studio) etiquette, respecting and supporting each others’ process, etc)
2. Taking heart opening trips to Spiritual sites in Bali and making daily gratitude offerings
3. Spending time in nature; nourishing our relationship with Mother Earth
4. Repeatedly realigning ourselves with the principle of ‘yoga as a form of service to others’
5. Blast our hearts open again and again with daily Kirtan (many are surprised to find this to be their favorite part of the course. Pure Bliss!)
6. Taking part in Karma Yoga. 5% of Sacred Heart Yoga profits go directly to a local charity. Additionally, the whole group will spend an afternoon doing Seva Yoga, selfless service.

The ability to reach beyond ourselves and offer into the world is the heart of Sacred Heart Yoga. When we feel connected with our fellow human beings, fellow creatures and the world, our natural instinct is to act in ways that uplift and support them, as they are now part of our extended family; our extended self.

Daily Kirtan

Kirtan is the practice of heart-centered group chanting with sacred mantras. It is quite simply the quickest way from the head to the heart. It emanates uplifting vibrations throughout our entire being, clears energetic blockages, calms the mind and nervous system, deeply connects the group, and expands the heart center in the most joyous and simple way possible: singing! Kirtan works on every level of our being, from the densest, most physical, to the subtlest, most intangible and beyond. It allows us to deeply integrate the physical and intellectual aspects of the training with the emotional and spiritual realms of our being. We will practice Kirtan every day and sing our way to bliss!

Everyone, Everything, is Sacred

This training is designed to support the simultaneous development of all the mentioned aspects of our being. There is no pressure to adopt any philosophy or change our lives. This is simply an opportunity to go deeper into the personal development of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of yoga lifestyle and teaching; and for those willing, an opportunity to truly shed layers, transform old patterns and find inspiring new ways of being.