Yes, you can receive funding to attend any one of SchoolYoga Institute’s 200-hr Yoga Alliance certified teacher training program!

The Vermont Non-Degree Grant is intended to help Vermonters [...]]]> Hey Vermont!

Did you know that you could receive funding to cover you entire cost for you Yoga Teacher Training Course?

Yes, you can receive funding to attend any one of SchoolYoga Institute’s 200-hr Yoga Alliance certified teacher training program!

The Vermont Non-Degree Grant is intended to help Vermonters enhance job skills and improve employability and to provide non-traditional students with an introduction to a post-secondary educational program. SchoolYoga Institute has been approved as private organization within the United States that offers training courses and meets the requirements for being an approved school for the Vermont Non-Degree Grant Program.

If you are a U.S citizen, a resident of Vermont and qualify as needing financial assistance this may be exactly what you are looking for to help fund your dream of becoming a certified yoga teacher!

To find out more about this opportunity Click Here for a direct link, or go to www.vsac.org and choose the ‘Grants’ tab to check your eligibility and apply today!

About VSAC

Mission

Our mission is to ensure that all Vermonters have the necessary financial and information resources to pursue their education goals beyond high school.

The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency to help Vermonters who want to go to college or other training after high school.

We provide grants, loans, scholarships, career and education planning, and general information about how you, or others in your family, can get the education you want.

Maybe you’re in high school and you want to plan for college. Maybe you started college, took some time off, and now want to go back. Maybe you have a college degree but want to change careers. Maybe you’ve had a job change and need to gain new skills. We provide assistance in all those areas.

Ask us – we’re here to help! (www.vsac.org)

 Imaging
We
Walk in beauty,
Land on the tip of tree perching to the beauty,
Fall from the grace through the waterfall down to the beauty of manifestations,
Surf the balance in giant [...]]]> Personal Transformation Coach Course

The Path of Transformative Alchemy

June 23-July 16, 2013
in China

 Imaging
We
Walk in beauty,
Land on the tip of tree perching to the beauty,
Fall from the grace through the waterfall down to the beauty of manifestations,
Surf the balance in giant waves in the ocean of consciousness,
Ski the poise into the mountain of elegance,
Glide the light in the ocean of love,
Immerse the aliveness of shaking of the earth,
Float the eternality in the clouds of the Cosmo,

Imaging
We
Senses the joy of heart without reasoning,
Experience intimate love with everyone who comes to our life,
At home, at work, on street, in neighborhood,
Have love affairs with everything we do,
Experience wonder of life with awe,
Tap into the gifts of our souls,
Sip the rejoice of humanity,
Co-create the existence,
Dream the world into our own creative expressions.

SOUL OF THE PTC COURSE
We all have experienced the beauty and wonder in this universe. We all have fallen into love with life. We all came from the source of the creation. We all have the birthright to live with fullness and contentment. As Navojo nation sings “Now I walk in beauty, beauty is before me, beauty is behind me, above me and below me”. We all know deep inside that we can walk in beauty in every action we take, every word we say, and every thought we formalize in the mind because we know we are the beauty

Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going after this life? What is the meaning of life?  What is ultimate purpose in life? Why can I thrive rather just survive? What are my birth gifts? What is my soul journey? Who is my soul mate? Is the life real? What is reality? How to dream the world into creative expressions? Why am I poor? Why am I stocked in my past? Why am I suffering? How can I create my life with full of joy and happiness?

Have we ever wondered to entertain these questions and hope to find the answers? Do those questions and inquiries even necessary for life? There are so much wonders in life that beyond the logical mind. There is so much beauty in life without needing to know why. We can simply live the joy and light as we continue to walk on the earth of the forms and names and float into the universe of un-manifested formless existence. Logical inquiries get us into the trap and beauty where the mind births the forms and shapes whereas the direct revelation intuits us the beauty and wisdom that reside within reach of our hearts.

This is the process of transformation and realization of transcendence. We have to come to experience the truth that we are the alchemists who transform lead to gold, transmute darkness to the light, and transfigure forms into the divine light. This is a Journey of love and divine affairs to mystical unknowns.

During the spiritual transformational Coach Course we will be guided to navigate our inner landscape through the Native Indigenous Medicine Wheel where we explore how to let go of the past, stories, and hooks that bind us back at physical level and shed layers, release, and let go of the war within the conditioned mind and ancestry bondage’s that have limited the nature of our creativity. Once we transformed the heavy denseness of body and mind and become the light and the source of the creation flying high beyond the gravitational pull where then we start to hear music, recite poetry, see painting, and reveal the innate gifts of ours souls and taste bliss and sweetness of life. The ultimate reality for all of us now and here is to create the world of beauty within reach of breath and so we can start to dream the world into creative expressions.

In each cycle of the medicine wheel, participants will be guided to shift their perceptional state by merging themselves into appropriate archetypes, exploring the realms of body, mind, myth, and energy, creating mythical sand painting for their own life map, journeying into un-ordinary reality to learn lessons and retrieving wisdom to serve on this ordinary reality where we all live, and using various ceremonies to activate the universal consciousness on our behalf. In this process the participants including facilitators become wounded and luminous warriors and healing practitioners.

During the process of transformation we are also lead by helping spirits in all spiritual, mystical, and healing traditions of the universe consciousness.  Together we learn how to weave through the cycles of life from a place of self-awareness and with intuition carrying us and allowing perspectives and truth to unfold.

Studying Yoga at all levels of consciousness get us into the Philosophy, wisdom, and personal practice as a way of life with classes on asana, pranayama, meditation, Chakras, Kriyas, divine Chanting, Yoga Sutras, Ayurveda nutrition,  and art of living as yogis and spiritual aspirants.

Experiencing indigenous medicine through lucid dream, astral travel, healing from spiritual light, releasing unwanted energy, harmonizing drum beats of the Earth Mother, transformative fire ceremony, and creative expressions.

WHY CHINA?

What a privilege to bring a group of yogis and spiritual aspirants to the most sacred Buddhist site in China! There are many Buddhist temples and monasteries spread in the entire mountain where reside monks and nuns. Every year many Buddhist aspirants from around the country make pilgrimage to visit temples in the mountain so do we. It also happens to be Vedantin’s birth place where he has landed on this world in this very life to experience his soul’s journey here on the planet along with many unfinished souls.

Emei Mountain or Emeishan, Vedantin’s hometown, is one of the most beautiful mountains in China, about 12,000 feet elevation, from sub-tropical climate at the bottom of the mountain to alpine subzero climate on the peak in the summer months (June to September) and snow and ice in the winter. The mountains shape like the mystical mountains in Machu Pichu in Peru and mystical Lake Atitlan in Guatemala where our mystical yoga farm is located. They are constantly covered with clouds and make the mountains shapeshifting all the time. Our training sites will be held at the middle of the mountain where temperature is cool and refresh all day long. The sites are serene with nature beauty and wonder.  They are nested in the middle of forest, the center of national park, or surrounded by a local community with few tourists.

TIME SCHEDULE (24  days)

• Plan to arrive at noon June 23 at for registration, settle in, get oriented, opening Ceremony starts at 6pm after dinner.
• Plan to leave after lunch at 12pm on July 16
• You may arrive earlier or leave later. Please let us know. There is $65 American dollars per day for additional day to stay at our main hotel.

First day gathering hotel information

Name: Xiong Xiu Hotel,

Address:

Xiong Xiu hotel.
Location: Emeishan, Sichuan, P. R. China
Phone: 0118613890688766

TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE

6:00-9:00         Guided Self Sadhana (meditation/asana/energy healing)
9:00-10:00       Breakfast
10:00-11:00     Bliss of Kirtan/Art of Living Daily lesson
11:00-12:00     PTC creative expressions
12:00-1:30       lunch and self Sadhana
1:30–2:30        Tea Time – Ancient Wisdom Seminars
2:30-3:30         Medicine Wheel and Personal Transformation in Action
3:30-5:30         PTC Healing n Alchemy in action
5:30-7:00         Dinner and Self Sadhana
7::00-8:30        Ceremony/Satsang/reflection)
8:30                 Quiet and Dream Time

COST:

• $1500 for PTC Certification (Tuition)
• Room and Board $1495 (24 days)
• Optional Airport Pick up $50 one way
• Optional Tourist visits for transportation and tickets around $200

FACILITATORS:

We have four great souls who are called to facilitate this comprehensive course for personal transformation, yoga teaching in Tao and Mythic, and PT coaching, Vedantin who lives in wonder and beauty, Julia who embraces the forms and formless, Gabriella who creates and co-creates her existence, and Bonnie who embodies the truth in action.

WHO COME ALONG?

• Who are called to join the journey for personal and spiritual transformation.
• Who are called to become a PT Coach and guide others in revealing the beauty and gifts in life.
• Who has background and practice of yoga and other forms of spirituality.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Upon the completion of the course, participants will decide if he or she is ready to claim the gift to be a PT Coach from SYI.
• Experiential education – fully participation, mastery learning, and mystical connections are essential aspects of teacher training and certification
• Wellness Days – If you cannot attend some of the activities due to illness, we will work with you to develop a plan for making up the material during or after the course.

REQUIRED BOOKS:

• SchoolYoga Institute Personal Transformation Course Manual, please download on your own with no charge
• Spiritual Health and Healing – Art of Living by Vedantin Ping Luo
• Tao Te Ching by any translator will do. This is the book of the spiritual immersion for this course. My favor ones translated by San Hamill and Robert Henricks.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS:

• Yoga Sutra by Dennis Hill
• Upanishads by Fredrick Manchester
• Bhagavagita by Christopher Isherwood

RECOMMENDED PRE-COURSE WORK

• Asana – Practice Sadhana Hatha Flow and Sadhana Vinyasa Flow 10 times before starting the training (both sequences can be found on our online site). Connect to the Sadhana practice of Yoga forms we share at SYI.
• Yoga Sutras–Study the Yoga Sutras from our recorded lectures by Dennis Hill, the author of Yoga Sutra translation and respond to the questions (video clips and questions can be found on our online site).
• Read the following texts and prepare outlines and questions for seminar discussions and personal transformation beyond the knowledge

1. Bhagavadgita by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood
2. Upanishad by Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester
3. Tantric – the Way of Acceptance by Osho
4. Shankara’s Crest-Jewel of Discrimination by Swami Prabhavanda and Christopher Isherwood
5. Serpent of Light Beyond 2012 by Drunvalo Melchizedek, or Mayan Prophecy 2012
6. Ayurveda: A Practitioner Guide, Science of Self Healing by Vasand Lad

Travel Information and Contact Information

E-mail: vedantin@schoolyogainstitute.com or info@schoolyogainstitute.com

Phone: 603-831-2281 (USA)
209-417-1415 (Vedantin, USA)
Skype: vedantinluo
China phone number will be sent to you directly in early June

Fly into Chengdu, China (airport code ‘CTU’)

There are many airlines flying to China. You will probably lay over in Bejing, Shanghai or Hongkong.  Follow the signs, passing first through immigration, then to get your bags passing through customs, rechecking your bags as you proceed to your next flight to Chengdu. It takes a couple of hours to fly to Chengdu from either of three transit cities..
When you arrive in Chengdu follow the signs to arrivals and baggage claim.  The exit to the street is in sight and you will see someone from the hotel holding up a yoga sign and your name.  The hotel is two to three-hour drive from the airport depending upon the traffic.

The Hotels and Monasteries

We will stay in sacred monasteries in most of time and hotels occasionally in the sacred mountains during the training, that enable us experience the beauty and wonders at many locations. The following hotel will be our base hotel located at the base of mountain near to the city, Emeishan, we may use it occasionally for your arrival day, departure day, possible first cycle of our training, and also for you to use the address when you fill out the form before you enter China.

Name: Xiong Xiu Hotel,
Address:  the xiongxiu hotel.
Location: Emei Mountain, Sichuan, P. R. China
Phone: 0118613890688766

Contact info in China:

Have people mail letters to: Xiong Xiu Hotel, Sichuan, P.R. China
Email: Schoolyoga@gmail.com
Phone: We will email you the number to contact us in China in case you need to talk to us directly. Facilitators will be there by then.

What to Bring

Pack light.  Bring what you only need. We will relocate ourselves in different parts of mountains so we can have full experience of the sacred sites during the training. Remember to bring layer system so you can adjust when cold or hot.
Backpack (is highly recommended, so we can easily move from one location to another, from temple to temple in the mountains)
Casual Pants (2)
Casual shorts (2)
Travel shirts (2)
Yoga Clothes. Pants. (2 sets), shorts (1)
Hiking shoes (1)
Daypack for hiking
Light Jacket (rain resistance or rain proof)
Fleece for cool evening and mountain stays
Down Jacket (highly recommended, super light and easy to pack, good use when we stay in the higher mountain)
Sun protection (hat, sun screen, etc.)
Comfortable shoes for lunge around and street walking (sandals or foot flops)
Toiletries for your special needs (you can buy pretty much everything there)
Any medications, enough for your trip (Western and Chinese medicine are available at the local stores and hospital).
Yoga Mat (1)
Yoga Props:    a block, a strip, a bolster,  (if possible and preferable)
Neti pot (1)
A musical instrument (we encourage to bring one to share your inspiration)
Creative expression – like painting or other means of creativity

Passport

A valid passport is required for entry into China.  Please allow 8 weeks processing time for getting your passport.

Chinese Visa

A visa is required for entry into China.  Please contact Chinese Embassy near to you. Typically it takes 3-5 days to process. Or one day express visa process but you have to pay a bit extra, or visit VisaRite, a company that can process your visa for you: www.visarite.com/chnConsulate.htm.  It will take one to two weeks to process. It cost $95 for the 90-day tourist visa.
(The People’s Republic of China currently maintains one Embassy in Washington D.C., five Consulates-General in the following U.S. cities: New York, NY; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Houston, TX.

Tourist Visa (L Visa)  Issued to foreigners who enter China temporarily for touring, family visiting or other personal affairs.)

Money

Bring spending money in cash or use ATM. We are able to exchange currency at the hotel we are staying. But ATM are everywhere.

Other Travel Fees

Domestic Departure Tax is around $8 USD

Health/ Vacinations – Travel to China is pretty safe. NO Vaccination required by CDC. But for cautionary measures, Please Check out www.cdc.gov/travel for more information on China

Adult Diphtheria and tetanua
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Measles, mumps and rubella
Typhoid

Food and Water

We have arranged for the hotels or Monasteries to cater vegetarian meals for us.  We will eat meals together in the dining room. Do not drink tap water.  Drink only bottled water.  Avoid Ice.

Eating Dos and Don’ts

• Don’t wave your chopsticks around or point them at people. It is considered Rude.
• Don’t drum you chopsticks on your bowl.  Only beggars do this.
• Don’t stick your chopstick into your rice.  It symbolizes an incense stick in a bowl of ashes and is considered an omen of death.
• Don’t discus business or unpleasant topics at dinner.
• Don’t let the spout of the teapot point at anyone.  I should be directed outward from the table. (Adapted from Lonely Planet: China, 2005)

Questions and More Information

• Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
• You can call or email anytime.
• Email info@schoolyogainstitute.com
• Tel: 888-964-2123 (toll free from US and Canada)
• Tel: 802-448-2020 (USA)

CURRICULUM IN DETAILS – MEDICINE WHEEL IN ACTION

The 24 days personal transformation Coach Course consists of 4 days a cycle for a total of 5 cycles and 4 resting days between each cycle.

Wind of South – the serpent, the bodily and physical expression

As we move through the wind of south, great Serpent, Amaru, the ancient ones, gentle healer of the past, the one shows us the beauty of earth, the one guide us to walk on the earth with gentleness and softness, the one teaches us shed our layers like shed her skins, the one cleanse us and purify us.

• SPIRITUAL LESSONS SELECTION: lessons that relate to letting-go personal stories and wounds, such as: Letting Go, Surrender to “What is”, Action in inaction and Inaction in Action, Do not play the ego role, breaking free from Samskara, Natural Bardo of life, shedding the shadows, Playing the Edge, Connecting elements of the universe …

• ART OF LIVING IN ACTION (facilitator’s direct connection and sharing)

awakening self awareness – we see the whole truth about ourselves and that we do have the courage to face the truth, integrate it into the light and own our legacy because that is where our true fulfillment lies

cultivating acceptance and trust – non-resistance to this moment

remembering our wholeness – let go and be whole without outward needs

• YOGA WISDOM: History/Sadhana yoga, four paths and five points of yoga, Yoga Diet, Ayuveda medicine, Daily Sadhana Sheet, and any others topics such as Ahimsa, OM, etc.

• MEDICINE WHEEL IN ACTION

Identify the past stories that bind us back – three major stories

Reveal solutions for these stories through perceptual states, energetic methods, sand painting, journeying skill

• CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Through art, music, poetry, etc.

• SACRED CIRCLE (Satsang and Ceremony): Typical Satasng includes chanting, meditation, and group sharing/group healing process at the end. There are many additional form for the sacred circle. Opening night fire ceremony (including the sacred healing circle and the Wind of south), reflection of daily lesson, and daily reading and healing, Wisdom of Kirtan

            OPENING CEREMONY – the first night of course

            LETTING GO FIRE CEREMONY – end of cycle

• JOURNALING – remind participant to write their daily journal to reflect of self healing and transformation.

Wind of West – The Jaguar, the perception of the mind and emotion

When we move into the direction of West, the Puma or Jaguar, the mother and sister, the one provide protection and safeguard our sacred place to heal and transform, the one gives us courage to let go our fear, guilt, culture beliefs, learned knowledge, and ancestral bondages, the one bridges the worlds, the one serves as ancestral stewards of life, and the one leave no trace of death and life.

• SPIRITUAL LESSONS SELECTION: Choose lessons that are related to letting go of cultural and ancestral bondages, such as Who am I? Illusory Self? Bardo of Life, Power of Thoughts, You are bigger than egoic self, reaction to the world, emotion – bodily expression of thoughts in the mind, Rituals, random kindness, portal of enlightenment, etc.

• ART OF LIVING in action (facilitator’s direct connection and sharing)
• observing thoughts, the key to transforming feelings

practicing integrity & honesty, non-harming of self and others

allowing forgiveness, non-judging and self compassion

non violent communication class

• Yoga Wisdom: yoga sutra – Ashtanga (8 limbs/principles) , Three Gunas, Meditation, etc.

• MEDICINE WHEEL IN ACTION

Identify – three major obstacles from conditioned mind and ancestry bondages

Reveal solutions for these stories through perceptual states,

Sand Painting – similar process as the first cycle but choose up to three stones representing three bondages culturally and ancestrally.

Shape-shifting/merging – experience merging into Jaguar in personal sacred garden and learn the language and wisdom of the Archetype.

Journeying – Journeying into upper world to meet personal spirit guide in human form and learn the language and wisdom from personal spirit guide.

Journaling – continue remind of participants reflection daily.

peer spiritual healing counseling, energetic healing, Sand painting, etc.

• CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Through art, music, poetry, etc.

• SACRED CIRCLE (Satsang and Ceremony)

Daily Satsang

Let-go fire ceremony at the end of this cycle so we become light body to welcome our soul journey (see cycle one description)

Medicine for Earth Ceremony – using transfiguration to heal the land, water, and the earth

Mayan cacao ceremony with isaias, a local Mayan shaman or other shaman in action

• JOURNALING – remind participant to write their daily journal to reflect of self healing and transformation.

The Wind of North – Hummingbird, Perception of Soul

As we move into the direction of North, the Hummingbird, grandmother and grandfather, the one who takes us to epic journey of the soul, the one who experiences nothing but joy in the journey, the one who takes long journeys regardless of inability to fly perceived by others, the one only tastes nectar and sweetness of life.

• SPIRITUAL LESSON SELECTIONS: choose the lessons revealing the journey of our own souls, such as Meaning of Life, Flow into Life, Connecting to the all Providing Source, Homecoming, lose yourself before find yourself, the Field of Intention, Pursuing Happiness, Luminous Being, Dismemberment, etc.

• ART OF LIVING IN ACTION (facilitator’s direct connection and sharing)

cultivating gratitude, the creation of harmony

living in balance, discovering patience & calmness

experiencing unconditional love, moving from emptiness to readiness

• Yoga Wisdom

Human Soul Evolution – Karma and Incarnation and Human Consciousness

Continue on Yoga Sutra

Other spiritual Yoga topics

• MEDICINE WHEEL IN PRACTICE

Sand Painting – choose up to three stones that represent personal three gifts and leave in the sand painting along with other aspects of life during this cycle and make sure to visit the sand painting. The last day of cycle participants will pick up the stones and claims the gifts at the evening gift-claiming ceremony.

Who Am I – Reveal the true meaning of life through self inquiry of Who Am I is a partner activity. One person continue to speak who am I at the main time another person simple holds space and listen and support fully. After five minutes switch role play. Facilitator will constantly remind the participants, “Who Am I?”

Candle gaze or gaze into partner’s third eye or left eye without blinking eyes– repeat the question “who am I” and observe the images come to you.

Journeying into the last life, and asking universe provides answers to who person was at the last part of the last life. It may provide insight as who is this person at this life as the soul. Facilitator may lead participants to middle world, a crystal temple at deepest of ocean or at deepest lago Atitlan, or deepest mountain where you hold YTTC. Ask participants to access akasha record from the temple by open his or her open Akasha record from the temple. Make sure to repeat the questions four times before taking the journey “please show me and let me experience who I was at the last part of my last life.” And continue repeat the question if it does not appear.

Universal Elements Questions and Answers: Start tuning to the answers from universe elements, water, tree, lake, sky, clouds, air, earth, animals, etc.

• CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Through art, music, poetry, etc.

• Sacred Circle (Satsang and Ceremony)

Regular daily Satsang

Chakra dance and Creative expression– explore the chakras in dance form, up to 1-2 hours with retrieving some gifts and wisdoms.

Gifts sharing night (talents), music, reading stories, poems, sing, etc.

Mantra and Spiritual name initiation ceremony – lead facilitator have students familiar with all the mantra for the first two cycles. Once student resonate a particular mantra and student chooses his/her own mantra and/or spiritual names. Lead facilitator may assist students with the process. This is an empowering process yet optional. During the night of Initiation ceremony, entire group chant each mantra 9 times. Once the specific mantra is chanting, students have chosen this specific mantra will stand up to claim the mantra. After complete all the mantra chanting, entire group chant OM continuously while students who have chosen their spiritual name, stand up and claim their chosen spiritual name by saying out loud nine times “I am …”.  Finishing the ceremony with meditation at the end.

• JOURNALING – remind participant to write their daily journal to reflect of self healing and transformation.

The Wind of East – Eagle or Condor, the perception of spirit (pure energy)

As we move to the direction of East, the eagle, Aguila Real, the condor, upchin, the one who soars from the Apus to the Sun and back, the one who is a great seer, visionary, mythmaker, and story teller, the one who takes us on their wings above the mountains, above the clouds and above the oceans where we only can dream of, the one who shows us the spectacles of our life on the earth from bird’s view, the one who guides us to connect the spirit beyond our body and mind, the one who guides us and protects us that we may always fly wing to wing with the great spirit.

• Spiritual Lesson Selections: Choose the lessons manifest dreams into existence such as Walking Beauty, Love n Light, Dreaming the World into Being, Buy a Ticket, Harmony, Feed wolf, Getting into Zone, Unavoidable Drama – Manifestation of Divine Presence, Form and Formless, Whoever brought me here will have to take me home, and Current of Divine Grace.

• ART OF LIVING IN ACTION (facilitator’s direct connection and sharing)      Soaring with Perspective, perceiving vision, manifesting purpose, caring for the self, planning and maintaining a personal practice, setting intention, sowing the seeds of self empowerment, vision board class
  • YOGA WISDOM

Yoga as a form of Healing Art

Yoga Sutra in action

Other topics appropriate

• MEDICINE WHEEL IN PRACTICE

Sand Painting – choose up to three stones representing three manifestations a person wants to see in the dream state and place them in the sand painting along with other parts in life. It becomes personal life map.

Journeying – to the future world to see what society look like, what healing look like, what future our humanity look like, who we will be in 10,000 from now.  So we can bring mystical life map into this life

Vision/life mapping – Use drawing to create literal life map from all aspects of life and also create mystical life map through journeying, meditation, and mystical direct revelation.

Vision Quest – Take the last day or so to fast and be silence to ask for vision of life and truly turn inward in reflecting journey beyond the known, beyond YTTC, beyond life, to see the myth of unknown and wonderment.

• CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS

Through art, music, poetry, etc.

• SACRED CIRCLE (Satsang and Ceremony)

Regular daily Satsang

Manifestation Ceremony – at one night at the last cycle. Have students write manifestation statements, “I am manifesting … “ “ I manifest …”  for examples.  Afternoon singing and dance bring participants in state of reverence. One student at time will go outside to shout to the world, his or her manifestation statements.

Closing Graduation Ceremony – at Eve of departure day. Consist of closing all cardinal directions and sense all spirits leave the circle. Make sure to make the experience sacred.

• JOURNALING – remind participant to write their daily journal to reflect of self healing and transformation.

Is developed through SchoolYoga Institute support and partnership with JUSTA (Justice, Unity & Sustainable Trade for Artisans) to run a holistic health and nutrition program in the small village of Chacaya, located near Mystical Yoga Farm on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The program, Comida Vida Tradicional, is a month-long series [...]]]> Comida Vida Tradicional

Is developed through SchoolYoga Institute support and partnership with JUSTA (Justice, Unity & Sustainable Trade for Artisans) to run a holistic health and nutrition program in the small village of Chacaya, located near Mystical Yoga Farm on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The program, Comida Vida Tradicional, is a month-long series of nutrition classes for students in the Chacaya Middle School. The program´s mission is to promote health education on physical, mental and emotional nourishment.

Each class is taught by a local Guatemalan expert in each classes´s theme. The first class discusses what is nutrition and malnutrition and the local superfood Chaya. The second class analyzes sugar, diabetes, and the local super food Chia Seeds. The third class introduces local medicinal herbs and their remedies, as well as the local super food Amaranth. The fourth class includes recipe-making and the local super food Cacao. The fifth class is focused on personal health, women´s health, and sexual education. The class also includes recipes with the local super food Ramon Nut. Each class focuses on a different super food and includes a cooking component to provide natural, sustainable, and accessible alternatives to unhealthy and processed foods that have replaced local and traditional foods in the daily diet.

This program is organized by JUSTA, a fair trade project dedicated to supporting indigenous artisans through social entrepreneurship and sustainable development. In Spanish, justa means just or fair which are the guiding principles and forefront of JUSTA’s work. JUSTA provides continuing education opportunities such as business and computer skills, language and writing, health and nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

The Comida Vida program is based on the idea of Holistic Empowerment, which refers to the inter-connectivity of all aspects of the mind, body, spirit, environment, and community in creating happy and healthy individuals and communities. We focus this initiative in Guatemala, where the national malnutrition rate is 5 out of 10 children, and here in Lake Atitlan that number is 7 out of 10 children. Comida Vida is run in a country that has the fourth highest rate of malnutrition in the world. Through efforts by SchoolYoga Institute and JUSTA, we are aiming to change these statistics, one meal at a time.

Rachel’s Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwx2fgP4qf8

A full tuition scholarship to an accredited Yoga Alliance Certified School, for any one of their 200 hour yoga teacher training programs found in 8 different countries around the world?

Yes, that is exactly what SchoolYoga Institute has been offering to anyone interested [...]]]> Congratulations Rachel Olmedo on receiving a Free Tuition Scholarship!

Rachel’s Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwx2fgP4qf8

A full tuition scholarship to an accredited Yoga Alliance Certified School, for any one of their 200 hour yoga teacher training programs found in 8 different countries around the world?

Yes, that is exactly what SchoolYoga Institute has been offering to anyone interested in becoming a yoga teacher. After revamping the contest in July of this year, changing the format from 15 students on a full scholarship in one program to 4 full scholarships per year in any 200 hour program, we are feeling much more confident about the number of people who can have access to this amazing opportunity!

The chosen applicant of the most recent Full Scholarship Contest is Rachel Olmedo. Rachel was chosen to receive the full tuition scholarship to any 200 hour program of her choice. The selection of the contest winner is based upon a variety of factors with the originality of the video created being one of the biggest determinants. Other factors of consideration are the number of likes, video shares and comments that are made on each video, allowing others the opportunity to “vote” for their favorite candidate, as well as an essay submission outlining the person’s desire for becoming a yoga teacher, why they should be chosen and what they hope to do once becoming a certified yoga teacher.

SchoolYoga Institute has been working on the most reliable efficient way to facilitate the Full Tuition Scholarship program and have decided to begin the next contest through the website of Find Yoga (www.findyoga.com) This website is the newest social media, marketing, yoga directory that is user friendly, visually stimulating and will allow for video uploads, followers, likes and comments to be made on the video applicants of our Full Scholarship Contest. We are very excited about this change and feel that it will allow for intimate connection and community to be developed. All other contest rules apply and more information regarding the contest can be found here.

SchoolYoga Institute is proud to offer this and other amazing opportunities to ensure that all people have access to our life changing programs regardless of financial status. In addition to four full scholarships per year, we haven give out over $50,000 in scholarships this year to those who demonstrate financial need and in April of 2012, SYI held a teacher training at the Mystical Yoga farm in Guatemala that was attended by 13 students, all of which received free tuition for our Yoga Alliance approved 200hr program.

SchoolYoga Institute is committed to offering Yoga Alliance accredited programs of the highest quality, while ensuring a variety of locations, well-trained facilitators and a safe, supportive environment for people to transform their yoga practice into an everyday lifestyle.

Share in a part of Rachel’s journey by watching her video and reading her essay below. Also check out 3 of our favorite videos from the October contest. Remember, you can reapply to the contest using the same video, or a new one, one more time this year. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Other Favorites:
Michelle Acker Perez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn6tXTaYZNM&feature=plcp

Jen Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ALCLEsZZoQ

Thom Nagel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g357ZqxNP0&feature=g-upl

Rachel’s Essay:
Sometimes, on rainy days when the room is quiet, I have this fantasy. (Don’t worry, it’s clean, the kids can keep reading.)

In my fantasy I’m standing proudly at the top of a mountain, looking downhill towards a cottage. To my right, strong ocean waves crash on a pebble-sand beach. To my left, the morning sun rises on a rocky horizon. The cottage is a sweet little yoga-studio-slash-organic-pancake-bar. The studio, my studio, specializes in d
donation-based yoga classes for medical trauma survivors. Students come from all over the world to experience my emotionally cathartic yoga and oatmeal-banana pancakes.

This is sometimes how I expect my life will be once I complete my yoga teacher training. However, as yoga has taught me, more often than not the best thing you can do for yourself is to let go of any expectations, and the anxious feelings that tend to trail behind. In exchange, you can choose to experience life one moment, one deep breath, at a time.

I was first introduced to yoga when my mom suffered a stroke — a hemorrhage in the lower part of her brain. With serious damage to her balance and coordination, we thought yoga could help. I signed us both up for a casual weekly class at our local community center. That’s where it started.

Two years later, I graduated from college at the height of the U.S. recession. After struggling anxiously to make myself “successful,” I opted for a change and moved from South Florida to San Francisco, California.

Living in the Bay Area, a world of yoga suddenly became available to me. I found a local donation-based studio that teaches vinyasa flow, focusing on connecting breath with movement. That’s where I fell in love with yoga.

Yoga has given me more clarity than I ever thought I needed. Through my own regular practice, I’ve learned how to breathe deeply and keep calm when there’s chaos whirling around me. I’ve learned how to let go of stubborn tension, both physical and emotional.

The best thing about yoga is how these recurring lessons consistently feel fresh and relevant; each practice is a new experience in moving meditation that helps clear the fog in my head. My yoga practice habitually brings me back to myself.

Sharing that experience is the driving force behind my desire to become a yoga teacher. I believe that a regular practice can meaningfully improve the quality of life for all types of people. I am passionate about making yoga accessible for others.

I’d especially like to teach yoga to stroke survivors, like my mom, who often have to relearn basic skills like grasping a door handle or reciting the alphabet. My mom spent hours in occupational therapy, but healing the physical body wasn’t enough. Stroke is traumatic, and survivors can benefit immensely from the emotional healing yoga provides.

I wish to attend the 200-hour teacher training at SchoolYoga Institute in Guatemala so I can deepen my practice and share yoga with those who need it.

Vedantin Ping Luo, Founder and Director of School Yoga Institute, Ed. D, E-RYT, Herbalist, Reiki/Shamanic Mythic, certified Vinyasa Ashtanga yoga teacher by BNS Iyengar and Sivananda certified yoga teacher.

Vedantin wears many hats in his dharmic life. In addition to being an experienced yoga teacher, who has been teaching yoga and training yoga [...]]]>

Vedantin Ping Luo, Founder and Director of School Yoga Institute, Ed. D, E-RYT, Herbalist, Reiki/Shamanic Mythic, certified Vinyasa Ashtanga yoga teacher by BNS Iyengar and Sivananda certified yoga teacher.

Vedantin wears many hats in his dharmic life. In addition to being an experienced yoga teacher, who has been teaching yoga and training yoga teachers around the world for many, many years, he is also a certified integrative herbalist by School of Integrative Herbology, a master practitioner of Shamanic Reiki energy healing, and a university professor who teaches holistic health. Vedantin has studied extensively with a myriad of gurus from many traditions, including BNS Iyengar, Sri Patabhi Jois, Tim Miller, Berle Bender Birch, and David Swenson. Through years of experience, he has found that a true guru resides right in his heart.

Vedantin has also been studying Shamanic Healing for a long period of time and was fortunate enough to study Ancient medicine intensively with medicine men and women in the high Andes and the Amazon jungle in Peru and Bolivia. He has been blessed and initiated as an earth keeper and medicine shaman by the medicine elders and he continues to embark on the journey of healing as a medicine keeper of the earth.

Vedantin has been taking his journey and pilgrimage externally and internally into the synthesis of many mystical, healing, and yogic paths such as classic yogic, tantric yoga, Patanjili’s eight limb yoga, devotional yoga (Bakti Yoga), action yoga (Karma Yoga), and Yogic Living in Theory and Practice (Juana Yoga), and shamanic healing yoga. There are many paths but the essence of all the paths is One: to realize the SELF and to find a state of contentment, happiness, and bliss.

Born and raised in a Buddhist community, the sacred Emei Mountain, in China near Tibet, Vedantin learned Buddhist principles at an early age and integrated them into his lifestyle. Additionally meditation, Tai Chi, Chiqong, and Chinese Martial arts were of his upbringing. He began teaching these principles to others 20 years ago. When Vedantin was first introduced to Yoga, he found it incorporated all aspects of Buddhist principles. Practicing Yoga has been instrumental in his life realization. Vedantin believes that the state of love, life contentment, joy, peace, and bliss cannot be found in the ever changing world but can be found in inner stillness, the true Self. He shares yoga with others with his heart and his love of Yoga.

Vedantin integrates his pedagogical knowledge of modern techniques of teacher training with his knowledge of mythical teaching of Yoga, thereby blending “science” with the art of connecting and sharing. He integrates shamanic healing medicine into his daily self-healing practice and yoga teaching. He primarily practices and teaches Sadhana Vinyasa Yoga (Vinyasa Ashtanga based), Sadhana Hatha Yoga (Sivananda based), and Shamanic Healing Yoga (blending healing power of indigenous medicine wheel with joy of Yoga).

Vedantin is inspired to respond to his inner calling, to share the wisdom and power of Yoga and healing arts with others. He envisions the conception of the University of Healing Arts in the very near future to serve humanity and bridge the gap between “science” and “ancient tradition”. His dedication and love for Yoga and Healing Arts would benefit those who are pursuing stillness of mind and body and happiness and contentment in life.

• 
  Mystic Yoga Teacher Training Course 200 & 500 in China
  

  June 23-July 16, 2013

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  200-hr Peru Yoga Teacher Training
  

  July 20th- Aug 11th, 2013

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  San Francisco Zazen 500-hr Yoga Teacher Training
  

  Aug. 2013-May 2014

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  200-hr Peru Teacher Training
  

  February 2-22, 2014

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  500 hr Guatemala Advanced Yoga Teacher Training
  

  December 15th, 2013-January 10th, 2014

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  SYI 800 Apprentice Facilitator Training Course
  

  Jan 2014

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  500-hr Bolivia Advanced Yoga Teacher Training
  

  July 3-August 1, 2012

  Read More
  
  

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• 
  500hr Yoga in Guatemala
  

  Dec 11-31, 2011

  Read More
  
  

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The next full scholarship contest has already started and you can find details [...]]]> Congratulations for Kyle for being chosen to receive SchoolYoga Institute’s  Full Scholarship for July.

Kyle will receive a scholarship for full tuition to the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Guatemala in October at the Mystical Yoga Farm.

The next full scholarship contest has already started and you can find details about how to apply here. Applications are due October 15th.

“Yoga is a Lifestyle, Live it.”

One Lesson, that’s all it took. One hour and twenty minutes is all it took to change my life. Before then I never understood what Yoga was. I always thought of Yoga as some exercise people did because they were to lazy to actually workout. That was until my first Yoga lesson. During my workout I began to sweat and I felt the use of muscles that I usually kept dormant. Resistance training combined with stretching and breathing techniques created a challenge for me. Yoga immediately sparked an interest for me. I found myself out of breath and rather than struggle with difficult positions I was focused on my breathing. I learned Yoga isn’t about physical strength. Yoga is about the inner strength and discipline one must acquire within. Yoga is a lifestyle, Live it.

My name is Kyle Philip Mrzena, I am a 26 year old male from Chicago, Illinois. I come from a large family filled with brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and close friends. I attended catholic teachings throughout elementary school and high school. After receiving a scholarship from the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy I attended Harold Washington community college. My family always encouraged me to follow through with my education and join the Chicago Police Department; However, I would consider my self an artist. I enjoy learning more about myself everyday and I believe everybody uses Meditation. The way people handle relationships and experiment with feelings is a very interesting subject.

Yoga found me a long time ago but it was only until recently I became educated on the official practice. Everyday is something to cherish. I am thankful for all the tools that have been provided for me. Gratitude is one of my greatest virtues. Before practicing Yoga my mind was all over the place. Making it difficult to move forward in my life. Since I have been practicing Yoga I am able to Focus more and direct my energy to achieve my goals. I have only been practicing Yoga for a few weeks now and i already notice a difference in my everyday routine. I would love the opportunity to make a difference in other peoples lives. When I become a Yoga instructor I will practice what I have learned and incorporate these beliefs in my life. I would like to develop a routine to practice and begin teaching a class of family and close friends. Give the gift of health and wellness to those I know and then start encouraging new faces to join Yoga and bring education of positive living with me on my journey through life.

I am applying for the 200 hour Yoga training in Guatemala with the School Yoga Institute. I am the perfect candidate for a Yoga instructor because I can attract large crowds and gain others interest easily. School Yoga Institute can help me obtain the knowledge to teach others how to practice Yoga and Give a positive message to share with others. Thank You.

-Kyle