Continuing Education Pranayama Training Course

Pranayama and the Energetic Body

August 28 - September 17, 2011

with Paul Dallaghan

This course qualifies for 120 hours continuing-education credit toward Yoga Alliance 500- and Centered Yoga 1100-hour training certification.

It is possible to take only one or two weeks of this full three-week course. There are no applicable hours for any time shorter than the complete program however. Priority placement is given to those registering for the complete program.

About the Training Course

This course is inspired and blessed by Tiwariji, Paul's direct teacher and one of the few living knowledgeable authorities on Pranayama and its place in the field of yoga today. It is a living tradition. Paul has learnt the full practice in a special one-to-one capacity over the past ten-plus years with Tiwariji. Tiwariji learnt directly from his teacher, Swami Kuvalayananda, who was an adept and highly accomplished in Pranayama and the science of yoga. He was also a devotee and spent his years in practice and training with his teacher, Madhavadas, on the banks of the Narmada river, also being taught this exact practice of Pranayama. In this way it has been passed on very personally and effectively. Such a tradition survives all books as it is only experience that ultimately counts.

Over the years of study and introspection with Tiwariji and in this practice Paul has had the opportunity to better understand it from direct experience and how to help pass it on and help others to practice and teach it better. This course is designed to help you practice more effectively, understand Pranayama to a deeper degree based on the information given and the depth of practice being done in a purpose-built dedicated environment. Based on this you can improve as a practitioner and teacher. This course does not claim to develop Pranayama teachers but rather to stimulate and increase the base and understanding of practice.

Details

This course will cover a synthesis of practice, techniques, physiology and philosophy as follows:

1. What is Pranayama
2. Evolution of Pranayama
3. Asana for Pranayama
4. Pranayama from Patanjali to Hatha Yoga
5. How to Breathe in Respect to Yogic Practices
6. Physical Anatomy involved in Pranayama
7. The Small Details in the Practice
8. Tapas and Pranayama
9. The Energetic Body and its Influence in Pranayama
10. Nadi Shodhana through Breath and Shatkarma Kriyas
11. Preparations for Pranayama and the Release of Tension
12. The Importance of Kapalabhati
13. Obstacles to Growth in Yoga
14. Elements for Success in Yoga
15. Relationship of Yama and Niyama to Pranayama
16. Importance of Food and Pranayama
17. Pranayama Techniques Explained
18. Pranayama as Khumbhaka and the Pressure Effect
19. The Importance of Savasana
20. Guidelines to Teach Basic Pranayama
21. How to Continue and Grow Your Practice

Requirements

You should already have begun a practice of Pranayama.

It is open to all past practitioners of Pranayama with us, whether you have been diligent in keeping it up or found it hard and dropped it. Now is the time to immerse back into it.

This is not a beginner's level program.

The number of students will be kept below 30 to allow more personal work together.

Format

The key focus is on your practice and gaining experience.

The morning session will be devoted to a 90-minute Pranayama practice with some sitting meditation.

This will be followed by Asana practice. If your practice is other than Ashtanga you are still welcome. If you do not have a dedicated Asana practice then we will teach you the basics of the Ashtanga method.

The afternoon will focus on two Pranayama sessions along with Pranava and Mantra recitation to help still the mental activity and enable a shift in the autonomic nervous system thereby enabling one to get more internally connected, really touch something inside that leads to real transformation. Within this time will be the lecture focus for the day coupled with your questions and answers to the best of our ability.

In the evening will be a mixture of personal time, related videos, further practice and chanting. Typically Paul is not present for the evening programs but one of the team leads them.

This three-week format is a minimal recommended time to allow a shift to occur in our internal patterns so the practice of this can truly take root. Through repeated practice and greater understanding it can grow within. Pranayama is a true gift and holds a power to really transform one's state and behavior if practiced with faith and dedication over time. This program is dedicated to encourage that in you.

About the Teacher

Paul

Paul is a senior teacher of Pranayama, Asana and the meditative art and science of Yoga. He has been a dedicated student for over a decade of both Sri O.P.Tiwari, one of the few remaining classical yogis and masters of Pranayama, and the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in ashtanga vinyasa. Both of these great teachers have personally certified Paul in these practices, a unique position as the only one to receive this double honor. Paul continues with Mantra practice from the yoga lineage and meditative approaches, influenced by the Thai Forest tradition. This combination of practice and study through dedication and devotion has helped him gain some understanding of practice and to apply this appropriately in Asana, Pranayama, Mantra recitation and Meditation for the different level of students he has the privilege to share the teaching with. He continues his studies in health, digestion, anatomy and physiology. One of his main gifts is to be able to relate the teachings in a very down-to-earth way for the modern seeker. He does not take life or yoga too seriously and as a result the discussions and philosophical sessions are lively and humorous, helping to explain the meaning behind the practices and philosophy.

Paul grew up in Dublin, Ireland and completed formal university studies at Trinity College. He lived in New York for seven years where his life in yoga practice and teaching began. From 2001 to 2007 he focused six months a year on Continuing Education yoga studies in India and various pilgrimage spots in Tibet, Thailand and India. With his wife, Jutima, they opened Samahita Retreat and are both the happy parents of two lovely boys, Sean and Dylan. He knows firsthand about raising a family and keeping a sincere connection with practice and internal development. This practical experience and love of the subject matter he shares with joy, intelligence and humour.

For more please see his full bio.

The Daily Schedule

The program begins at 5pm on the first day of the retreat with a group welcome and departure is at 12pm on the last day.
The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the teacher.

Please arrive by 4pm for a program welcome on the first day. Departure is by 12 noon on the last day. You are welcome to arrive early or stay on, check our residential stay rates

If you can only take one or two weeks of this program then contact our reservation team who will inform you about availability and rate.

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