Yogateacher training – Thoughts and experiences of the fourth weekend: Yogasutra, standing asanas, extended Shavasana

This weekend I had the fourth training weekend focusing on standing asanas, didactics, correction in different poses and the Yogasutra by Patanjali.

It was such a great experience and I learned so much for my yoga practice and how to teach.

This weekend we learned following standing asanas:

• Digasana
• Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I)
• Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III)
• Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)
• Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose)
• Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide legged forward bend)
• Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Strech Pose)
• Parivritta Trikonasa (Revolved Triangle Pose)
• Utthita Padangusthasana I (Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose)

We also learned to teach a extended version of Shavasana.

The weekend lasted from Friday in the evening until Sunday afternoon.

Friday:

• Welcome
• Yoga practice
• Chanting Mantra
• Shavasana (extended)

Saturday:

• Yoga practice with Shavasana (extended)
• Breakfast
• Teaching Shavasana in a extended version

• Didactics of standing asanas
• Lunch
• Teaching asanas to classmates and feedback
• Short Tea break
• Chanting Mantra
• Philosophy
• Meditation

Sunday:

• Yoga practice mixed with information on correction for better alignment
• Breakfast
• Didactics, general teaching techniques
• Chanting Mantra
• Philosophy
• Meditation

Each pupil got an asana to teach to the classmates. I got Warrior III and learned so much how to better teach this intense balancing asana. Doing this for the first time was quite a challenge for me.

The weekend also had focus on didactics and how to correct someone in different asanas for better alignment. We corrected each other, this was very valuable.

In the philosophy sessions we had as topic the Yogasutra of Patanjali. On this I will write a separate blog post on my thoughts on yamas and niyamas.