Doug Swenson began his study of yoga in 1969. He has had the good fortune to study with many great teachers including Dr. Ernest Wood, Shri.K. Pattabhi Jois, David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff and others.
Doug is a master yoga practitioner, philosopher, poet and dedicated health advocate.
He has incorporated influences from several different yoga systems along with his passion for nutrition and the environment to develop his unique approach called Sadhana Yoga Chi.
Over the years he has authored several books; "Yoga Helps", "The Diet That Loves You Most", "Power Yoga for Dummies" and "Mastering the Secrets of Yoga Flow".
With over 33 years teaching experience, this is an unique opportunity to study intensively for two weeks in a limited group with one of the world's best instructors of yoga teaching. Doug's classes are always inspirational, educational and invigorating. In addition to Doug's wonderful, supportive style of teaching his keen sense of humour always sends the students home with a smile and their face ands warmth in their heart.
Students who attend this workshop will learn Doug's unique holistic approach to yoga training which you can then apply to your own classes.
This approach greatly enhances students' progress, self-confidence and ability in all styles of yoga practice. Doug teaches a balance between both hard and soft styles of yoga practice.
The course provides a professional approach to a very fluid - Power Ashtanga Yoga, plus a delightful arrangement of soft form asana progression. Sadhana Yoga Chi can be more challenging than Ashtanga Yoga, or gentle and easy...like a quiet walk in the park.
Sadhana Yoga Chi is comparable to all other existing yoga practices. It uses many of the same postures and familiar techniques of breathing and employs the vinyasa method of connecting asanas. However the vinyasas in the Sadhana Yoga Chi system serve as a special form of "electrical wiring" that connects the energy from posture to posture.
This method, formulated by Doug over many years' personal practice, creates a body of perfect health and strength, a mind with all clarity, intellect and focus, coupled with a heart full of peace and harmony. In your own practice you will be striving for a balance between your own physical mental and spiritual self, and at the same time keeping your sense of humour and touching the hearts of others in a positive way.
This is what makes teachers who have been though one of Doug's workshops so special.
A Sadhana Yoga Chi teacher training course is focussed on recognizing each student as an individual, and learning this ability to assess the unique strengths and weaknesses of each student. Novice teachers will receive simplistic, yet helpful and targeted instruction, while the advanced trainee teacher student will find it both challenging and invigorating.
Yoga practitioners who are not intending to teach are welcome to attend this workshop, however all students should be intending to develop their personal practice.
You should have a regular personal yoga practice at least one year old, of at least one hour a day, four or five days a week.
The schedule of this workshop will be six morning classes (Sunday to Friday) starting at around 6.45 or 7am, and finishing at around 9 or 9.30, followed by as-much-as-you-can eat buffet breakfast.
There will be four afternoon classes each week (Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays) where Doug will focus on adjustments, specific asanas, assessment of students, teaching meditation and pranayama and other issues as requested by the group.
Dinner will be at 6:45 each day.
Doug will be taking his meals with the group, and will also be available at certain times for personal private discussions with students.
Moon Days are not a day off, although there may not be a full or traditional practice. Saturdays are a day off, and there is no class between Friday morning and Sunday morning for those who want to take a break in the middle of the workshop.
Students can arrive at The Purple Valley Retreat Centre after 2pm on Saturday 18th March 2006, and are requested to be there before 6pm in time for a Greeting, Introduction followed by Dinner at 6.30pm.
Rooms can be vacated after breakfast on Friday 30th March, and students are requested to have vacated by mid-day on Saturday 31st March 2006.
Students taking the first week only should depart before 10am on Saturday 25th March, and students arriving for the second week only should not arrive until after 2pm on Saturday 25th March.
Purple Valley Yoga Retreat is located in a semi-rural part of North Goa, about 3kms from the sea. The Retreat is purpose built and all students live on site. All meals are sattvic and vegetarian, and are prepared fresh daily from organic ingredients whenever possible. The shala is separate from the living accommodation and comfortably provides space for 45 mats. The location is among teak and palm trees, and the only noises are birds, monkeys and butterflies, and the sob of a distant Enfield.
COST OF THE TWO WEEK WORKSHOP:–
• 650 UK pounds per person (sharing a room with en suite facilities).
Cost for one week only: £325
• A limited number of single rooms are available at £450 for one week or £800 for two weeks.
The residential price includes:
accommodation, two large meals a day, all classes and airport transfers.
A limited number of double beds are available for couples.
Well-behaved children are welcome, for a supplement of Rs2,500 per child per week.
(Children may have to sleep on mattresses on the floor of their parent’s room.)
A limited number of non-residential places are also available:
These cost £250 for one week or £450 for two weeks, for food and classes only.
(No accommodation or airport transfers.)
A non-refundable deposit of 100 UK pounds secures a place. The full balance is payable no later than 6 weeks before the start date of the workshop.
It is possible to come for one week only, or to mix-and-match with other workshops and to stay for as long as you like.
Click here to reserve a place
Massages are available on site from qualified Ayervedic massage practitioners for an additional fee.
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