Curriculum and Calendar

Ananda Raja Yoga Instructor Diploma

The curriculum for Instructors includes seven courses which you can attend over a period of one or more years. Most of the courses are offered twice a year. The three Raja Yoga courses can be attended in any order and at any time, either before or after the techniques courses. These three courses can also be studied at home using the appropriate study materials and taking the written examinations at the end of each course.

The Hong-Sau and Energization techniques courses can be taken in any order, while the Methodology course needs to be taken after the techniques courses. The five-day Meditation Intensive can be attended at any time after the Hong-Sau course.

Examinations are given in writing at the end of each program, and should be done at home, using the study materials, and then sent by email or post to the Academy. The final written examination, presentation of the thesis and practicum will be scheduled for each student individually.

The seven-day intensives begin on Sunday evening, and conclude with the morning class on the following Sunday. The five-day courses begin on Sunday evening and conclude on Friday at midday. Attendance at all of the lectures and the morning and afternoon spiritual practices is required.

	Ananda Raja Yoga Instructor	Calendar 2010-2011
1	Raja Yoga 1: The Four Yogas		5 days
2	Raja Yoga 2: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras		5 days
3	Raja Yoga 3: Sanaatan Dharma		5 days
4	How to Teach Meditation Techniques		7 days
5	How to Teach the Energization Exercises	15-22 August 2010	7 days
6	Methodology, Anatomy and Physiology		7 days
7	Meditation Intensive	16-21 December 2010 17-22 April 2011 (ends at 15:00)	5 days

Raja Yoga 1
The Four Yogas: Bhakti, Gyana, Karma and Raja

Five days with oral presentations and short written examination

Prerequisites: Foundation Courses or on-line Lessons

This course can be taken at any time, either before or after the Techniques intensives, and before or after the other Raja Yoga courses. It focuses on practicing various techniques in each of the four major branches of yoga, including the practice throughout the course of introspection, maintaining a spiritual diary, and affirmations for self-healing. Most of the subjects in The Art and Science of Raja Yoga will be discussed, and the study materials include extracts from some of Yogananda’s original writings on these subjects. Workshops are available for those who wish to learn to play the harmonium.

Raja Yoga 2
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras

Five days with oral presentations and short written examination

Prerequisites: Foundation Courses or on-line Lessons

Each of the eight branches of Ashtanga Yoga will be considered, referring each of them to the classic definition of yoga (Yogas chitta vritti nirodh), and we will practice various techniques for achieving perfection in each of the areas. The students’ manual for this course includes extensive study materials. The course can be taken at any time, and will be offered twice each year.

Raja Yoga 3
Sanaatan Dharma

Five days with oral presentations and short written examination

Prerequisites: Foundation Courses or on-line Lessons

Starting with the basic, universal principles of Sanatan Dharma, we will focus on the concepts of dharma and karma, learn about and do practices relating to the three levels of consciousness, explore the three gunas, the four yugas, the four stages of human evolution, and the anatomy of the spiritual body. Extensive study materials are included. This course can be taken at any time, and will be offered twice each year.

How to Teach Meditation Techniques

Seven days with oral presentations and written examination

Prerequisites:

• Foundation Courses, or on-line Lessons
• Two years of regular Hong-Sau practice

This intensive focuses on one of the two basic practices in the science of Kriya Yoga. We will study and practice the technique extensively, and learn how to teach it to beginners. Study materials include a comprehensive teachers’ manual and video recordings of the entire week. The program begins on Sunday evening and concludes mid-day the following Sunday.

How to Teach the Energization Exercises

Seven days with oral presentations and written examination

Prerequisites:

• Foundation Courses or on-line Lessons
• One year of regular Energization practice, or, for Ananda Yoga Teacher Training students, 6 months of regular practice.

Yogananda’s recharging exercises will be studied and practiced in depth, with the emphasis on the proper practice of each exercise and on how to teach them to beginners. Study materials include a comprehensive teachers’ manual and video recordings of the entire week. The program begins on Sunday evening and concludes midday the following Sunday.

Methodology, Anatomy and Physiology
Teaching Skills, Class Preparation, Scientific Research, and the Ethics of Being a Teacher

Seven days with oral presentations and short written examination

Prerequisites: Hong-Sau and Energization Techniques Intensives

In order to give magnetic, inspiring classes, the teacher needs to be magnetic and inspired. In this intensive, you will learn techniques for preparing yourself to teach, for preparing your material, and for presenting the class in a clear and dynamic way. We will deal also with voice, body language, the use of stories and examples. We will focus on the introductory presentations for meditation and energization class series, on the structure of the class series, and give special attention to techniques for leading guided meditations.

The weekend is devoted to the current scientific research which verifies the physiological and psychological benefits of the practices. This material will be presented by doctors. Workshops are available for those who wish to learn to play the harmonium.

Meditation Intensive

Five Days Course

Prerequisites:

• Foundation Courses or on-line Lessons
• Hong-Sau Intensive Course

The students will stay together in one of our houses, where we will do long morning meditations, have breakfast together and a morning discussion about meditation practices. A second period of meditation will be before lunch, which will be taken at the community dining room, with late afternoon yoga postures for those who wish, followed by a third period of meditation. After dinner there will be a final hour of chanting and other devotional practices.

All instructors and teachers are required to attend this program at least once a year in order to renew their status and to recharge their own practice with new inspiration.

Thesis

Each student can submit a thesis proposal to the Academy director who will assist him or appoint one of the teachers to assist him. The student should complete the thesis within one year after finishing the courses, and present it to the Academy in person. Approved theses will be published on the Academy’s website and submitted to the international yoga federations.

Practicum

In all the programs, students have the opportunity to give oral presentations, and a final weekend will be dedicated to longer presentations on the practice of meditation.

Final Exams

The final examination will cover all areas of study, and will be completed at home and submitted by email or post.

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