Thank you all who joined this transformational training. Next dates are May 2023 - link below for more info.
CONSCIOUS BREATH & AWAKENED MIND
Pranayama and Meditation Training
UPDATE: THIS TRAINING IS SOLD OUT
We will have the dates for the next one soon.
The second week of the Advanced TTC is devoted to the Power of Breath and the practice of meditation, including Mindfulness and Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep).
Breath is the primordial movement of life, enough concealed but almost magically essential in opening the doors to more subtle perceptions. Pranayama represents a complex voluntary action requiring conscious manipulation of the breath in which the respiratory organs and respiratory structures expand willingly and rhythmically. Breathing alone occurs at the level of the internal organs, just like the heartbeats. Still, unlike the heartbeats, it involves the entire network of muscles and bone tissues and cannot be separated from them. The goal of this practice is to put the autonomic nervous system under control. We can observe the instant change of our state of body and mind through the voluntary act of breathing and learn how to control our state, especially when feeling aroused / anxious.
However, learning how to control the breath is an essential and healing practice in itself. In this training, we will work with the traditional Hatha yoga techniques, a combination of kriyas, bandhas, mudras, and pranayama. Pranayama thus becomes a bridge between the physical existence and the mind as it cleanses the perception and prepares you for deep concentration and meditation.
The benefits of meditation have been experienced by everyone who meditates and recorded in the plethora of scientific papers. We will cover different methods of meditation, including Mindfulness and Yoga Nidra.
At the end of the week, you will have a deeper understanding of the history, theory and practice of traditional pranayama and meditation. We will explore all the relevant research on the long list of benefits of correct breathing and how different breathing techniques change our physiology during the course. We will also explore Neuroscience meditation, learn about Neuroplasticity and how meditation can re-wire our brain.
Before our daily pranayama and meditation practice, we will start each morning with Yoga Asana practice, sometimes restorative, sometimes more dynamic, but constantly connected to the Theme we are covering that day.
This Pranayama and Meditation week is open to all teachers and practitioners alike. You do not need to be a yoga teacher to attend if you are interested in the practice. We intend to help you establish a daily breathing and meditation practice, hopefully for life, to support your everyday life and help you heal, grow, and thrive.
The hours can be counted as Yoga Alliance CE, our 300-hour program or our soon to be launched Yoga Therapy program.
YOUR TEACHERS
NINA VUKAS E-RYT 500, RPYT, Somatic Psychotherapist
Meditation
The founder of the Spanda Institute will be your Lead Teacher during this week.
Nina has been a Yoga practitioner since 1998, started teaching full time in 2005, and has been educating yogis on their journey towards becoming Yoga Teachers, as well as educating Yoga Teachers to advance their knowledge and teaching skills since 2009 Nina is also a Somatic Psychotherapist, Mindfulness and Meditation teacher, and forever a student. Currently, she is studying Psychology as well as Yoga Therapy.
More about Nina
PETRA BIANCO E-RYT, Cert. Pranayama Teacher
Pranayama
Petra will be joining us for the Pranayama part of the 2nd week.
She grew up in a yogic environment in Zagreb as her parents were practicing and teaching Yoga back in the eighties. They are her great inspiration and her first yoga teachers. After her initial 200-hour studies, her interest in pranayama brought her to study under the guidance of O.P.Tiwari. With his blessing, guidance and yearly extensive education in pranayama teacher training program in Kaivalydhama Yoga Institute of India, in 2015 she became a registered pranayama teacher.
More about Petra
MARINA MORIC RYT 500, PhD
Nervous System, Neuroscience of Meditation
Marina is joining us for the second week, unraveling the secrets of the Nervous System.
Marina is a Spanda Yoga Teacher, Aerial Yoga Teacher, Prenatal Yoga Teacher with a PhD in Neuroscience, connecting the ancient knowledge of Yoga with today’s science of Mind.
Marina lives and works in Basel, Switzerland where she moved to pursue her PhD. You’ll most likely find her upside-down or in the air; her passions include Acro Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Paragliding.
CHRISTOPHER HAREESH WALLIS, PhD
Yoga History & Tradition, Tantric Yoga
Christopher Wallis, also known as Hareesh, is a scholar-practitioner with thirty years of experience, having been initiated into the practice of yogic meditation at sixteen, and fifteen years of formal education. His degrees include a B.A. in Religion and Classics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley, an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford, and a Ph.D. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley. His doctoral dissertation focused on the role of spiritual experience in the tradition of Tantric Shaivism. He is the author of Tantra Illuminated: The Philosophy, History, and Practice of a Timeless Tradition and The Recognition Sutras: Illuminating a 1,000-year-old Spiritual Masterpiece.
LOCATION
We have decided to host this training in the beautiful, sunny Algarve in the South of Portugal.
Our retreat centre, Quinta da Calma opened its doors over 35 years ago as one of the first ever yoga and holistic health retreats in Europe. As the name suggests, is a calm, quiet place, within 20 acres of untouched nature and beautiful umbrella pine trees, yet conveniently located only 20 min drive from Faro airport and Faro Train Station. If you decide to drive from Lisbon, it’s only a 2,5 hour drive through beautiful Alentejo. The stunning white sand beaches of the Algarve are reachable within a 15 minute drive from the Quinta. If you don’t drive yourself, Ubers and Taxis are available to take you wherever you need to go.
The rooms are a different levels allowing you to choose your level of comfort and budget. The Quinta is eco friendly and as such there is no air conditioning but there are fans in the rooms in spring and summer. There is a kettle in each room with a selection of (herbal) teas and a communal safe at reception.
The Restaurant, Gaia Sol Canteen, serves delicious, vegetarian and vegan food made using the local produce and hosts weekly organic farmer’s market on Wednesdays.
PRICES
Prices include:
Tuition, materials
Accommodation for 7 nights
Breakfast, lunch and dinner (including lunch on the final day)
Prices below are per person Early Bird / Late Bird
Buganvilia single room with shared bath SOLD OUT!
Buganvilia twin room with shared bath SOLD OUT
Jacaranda single en suite room SOLD OUT!
Jacaranda twin en suite room SOLD OUT!
Rondette cottage single double bed + living room SOLD OUT
Rondette cottage with double bed (friends, couples) SOLD OUT
1490 euro / 1560 euro
1400 euro / 1470 euro
1620 euro / 1700 euro
1520 euro / 1600 euro
1750 euro / 1840 euro
1620 euro / 1700 euro
Terms and Conditions
Packages do not include transfers.
Please note that the choice of room is subject to availability.
We take 300 euro non-refundable deposit to save your spot.
Full payment for Early Birds is due by January 15th 2022
Full payment for Late Birds is due by April 1st 2022