bwyt 60 hr foundation course 1 syllabus

The British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course 1 focuses on basic practical techniques and personal development taught in the context of the philosophy that underpins yoga.

aims

To provide a structured BWY Course to widen practical experience and to encourage personal development for serious students who do not necessarily wish to prepare for teacher training. To provide a basic grounding for those who do wish to prepare for teacher training.

length of course

60 hours

award

British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course Certificate

requirements

1. Minimum of two year class attendance with a suitably qualified and experienced yoga teacher

2. Students enrolling on the course will be required to take up BWY membership and pay the Course Registration Fee

3. British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course 1 Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to students who achieve 80% attendance or above

4. All enquiries concerning the syllabus and interpretation or application of its rules, must be made to the British Wheel of Yoga Education Committee

5. Students should continue to practice regularly throughout the course. Students will reflect and make notes on their practice in journal form

intended learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

1. Practise a range of Yoga asanas from the eight groups - forward, backward and side bends, twists, balances, inversions, seated and natural spine alignment postures safely and explain spinal movement in forward, backward and side bending, and twists

2. Practise a range of basic breathing techniques, including the Full Yoga Breath

3. Practise a variety of Pranayama techniques using nostril or glottis/throat control, with or without use of ratios

4. Practise relaxation using the techniques stated in the syllabus

5. Explain the place of relaxation within Western Yoga tradition

6. Use the concentration/meditation techniques stated in the syllabus

7. Chant the mantra stated in the syllabus

8. Plan simple personal asana practices to meet own needs, based on sound principles of preparation, body usage, balanced content, using modifications and counterposes as appropriate

9. Define commonly used Sanskrit terms relating to Yoga practices on the syllabus

10. Define the names of the Yoga paths

11. Define the Eight Limbs of Yoga

12. Observe, and record in diary form, the effects of personal practice of Yoga techniques during the course

FC1 course content

Preparation for Breathing

Clearing the air passages

Ways of warming muscles and limbering joints – general

Ways of warming muscles and limbering joints to prepare for specific practices

Asana / Poses

This should include the principles, reasons for practice and counterposes of the following and a study of how the spinal column behaves in forward, backward and side bending, and twists.

1. Forward bends – Dandasana (The Stick Pose), Apanasana (Vatnyasana/Knees to Chest/Wind Relieving Pose), Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend), Paschimottanasana (Western Stretch/Sitting Forward Bend) and Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee Pose).

2. Backward bends – Dwi Pada Pitham (Bridge Pose/Two foot support), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), Salabhasana (Locust Pose)and Ustrasana (Camel Pose).

3. Sidebends – Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and Tiryaka Tadasana/Chandrasana (Wind Blown Tree/Swaying Palm Pose)

4. Twists – Parivritti Trikonasana (Reverse/Revolving Triangle Pose), Jathara Parivritti (Jathara Parivartanasana /Lying twist) and Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Sitting Spinal Twist Pose).

5. Balances – Vrksasana (Tree Pose), Natarajasana (Lord Siva’s/Dancer Pose and Garudasana.(Eagle Pose)

6. Inversions – Adho Mukha Svanasana (Head Down Dog Pose), Sasankasana ( The Hare Posture/Bowing Pose) and Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand).

7. Seated postures – (suitable for breathing/concentration practices) – Egyptian posture (seated on chair), Vajrasana (Sitting on heels/Thunderbolt Pose), Sukhasana (Easy/Simple Sitting Pose) and Siddhasana (Accomplished Pose) .

8. Natural spine alignment postures – Samasthiti/Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Savasana (Corpse/Relaxation Pose), semi-supine lying and recovery pose.

9. Posture Sequence – Surya Namaskara (Salute to the Sun). MUDRAS (Gesture/Sealing Posture)

The use of the key Hasta (Hand) Mudras Jnana (Knowledge)

Mudras for alternate nostril breathing i.e. Mrgi (Deer)/Vishnu (index and middle finger tucked in) and Nasagra/Nasikagra (index and middle finger resting on brow)

Chin, Chin Maya, Adhi and Brahma.

Breathing

The co-ordination of breathing and movement.

Three part breath (diaphragmatic, thoracic and clavicular breathing). Full/Complete Yoga Breath.

The use of breath when staying in postures.

Kriya / Cleansing

Kapalabhati (Skull shiner/Frontal brain/Sinus Cleansing)

Pranayama / Breath Control

1. Ratio

Four components of the breath: Puraka (In), Antara Kumbhaka (Hold in), Rechaka (Out) and Bahya Kumbhaka (Hold out)

Samavritti – components equal (eg 1:0:1:0 or 1:1:1:0 or 1:1:1:1) Visamavritti - components unequal (eg 1:0:2:0 or 1:1:2:0 or 1:1:2:1)

2. Technique

Ujjayi (throat control), including use in asana.

Bhramari (Bee breath)

Anuloma (to lengthen exhalation) Viloma ( to lengthen inhalation)

Nadi Sodhana (In left, exhale right, in right, exhale left)

Concentration

Using the breath – e.g. counting on each exhalation or feeling the breath cool at the nostrils on inhalation and warm at the throat on exhalation.

Objects such as a pebble, leaf or piece of fruit.

Repeating a word such as ‘peace’ or a phrase such as ‘all is calm’.

Relaxation

Progressive Muscular

Differential Relaxation

Sensory Awareness

Rotation of Consciousness

Using affirmations

Visualisation/guided imagery e.g. picture of a garden or country scene or building a personal safe haven

Chanting

Bija Mantras (Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam and Ham)

Talks / Discussions

Brief history of Yoga

Sanskrit names of techniques on the syllabus

Names and definitions of the different Yoga Paths including Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Karma and Jnana

What is Prana, including a brief overview of the Pranic Body including Chakra and Nadi

Relaxation – its place in Yoga tradition & explanation of the different Western techniques used.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

Yama (Restraints) and Niyama (Observances)

Asana: - the importance of limbering + Vinyasa preparation + the use of movement and stasis - benefits of asana

Pranayama – Breath control Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)

Concentration, meditation and Samadhi (Enlightenment)

British Wheel of Yoga Teacher’s Diploma requirements, syllabus outline, timescale, level of commitment etc.

EXTRA TOPICS

1. An overview of the Hatha Yoga system as expounded in Swatmarama’s Hathayogapradipika, briefly explaining the practices contained within it and explaining the purpose of it.

2. The mechanics of breathing, explaining the action of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles on inhalation and exhalation.

3. Prana and the pranic body - nadis and chakras

4. Styles and Traditions of yoga – name and main emphaisis of any six different Yoga traditions and teaching styles

RECOMMENDED READING

Asana, Pranayama, Mudra and Bandha - Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Bihar School of Yoga

The Heart of Yoga - TKV Desikachar, Inner Traditions International

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Alistair Shearer, Rider