India (Bharata) is well known for its wealth of knowledge and wisdom in the Yogic sciences and arts. The ancient Sages acquired this knowledge through their close study of the universe and their internal contemplation on the Self. It is the aim of Sadvidya Foundation to preserve and teach this ancient knowledge and to promote the original Indian sciences of Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedic Astrology, Sanskrit, Indian Music, Dance and more.
Sadvidya offers a one to three month yoga intensive course. Classes meet two to four hours each day to study an integrated approach to asana, pranayama, silent sitting practice and Yoga theory. In addition to these foundational classes, students can choose one or more electives based on their area of interest. Upon completing the first level of coursework, students may choose to continue on with intermediate and senior level intensive teachings.
For more information about studying in Mysore, India, please contact [email protected]
During the first month students will learn twenty primary postures. Importance will be placed on breathing and alignment. In the second month, fifteen more postures will be added as well as an introduction to moola banda and deep breathing. In the third month, students will be taught fifteen more postures with an emphasis on long sitting postures. This will support the students for learning pranayama and silence practice. The main objective of the asana classes is to support each student on the path to perfect health.
The focus of the pranayama class is on deep therapeutic breathing. In the first month, students will learn Ujayi breathing, which sets the proper foundation for learning further pranayama practice. Then, students will be introduced to Nadi Shodana pranayama (alternate nostril breathing). In the second month, students will continue with these two breathing techniques while understanding the subtle impact of pranayama on the mind and body. In the third month, students will be introduced to Chandra Bheda pranayama. All of the pranayama techniques help cultivate mental tranquility and support optimal health.
In the first month, students will be given certain techniques to reduce the modifications of the mind while sitting quietly for ten to thirty minutes. In the second and third month, more guidance will be given to still the mind and sit for longer periods of time. This class will assist students in developing a daily silent sitting practice, which provides huge benefits to one’s daily life.
In addition to asana and pranayama,Yoga theory is an essential element of a comprehensive education in the ancient Indian sciences and helps to support a deeper understanding of yoga as it was traditionally taught.
1. First month
In the first month, twenty classes will be conducted on the eight limb path of Astanga Yoga.
2. Second month
In the second month, eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Geeta will be taught. This will be an overview so that students will understand the gist of the important guidance imparted by this ancient text.
3. Third month
In the third month, twenty classes of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika will be taught. This will be an introduction to a classical text on Hatha Yoga.
Sanskrit is a divine language which carries the true essence of the Indian arts and sciences. In the first month of this elective, the teaching will focus on the Sanskrit alphabet, writing and proper pronunciation. Students will also learn gender, number, and cases in Sanskrit words. In the second month, students will be introduced to verbs and their forms in three tenses. This class will specifically focus on pronunciation of words as well as learning a hundred new words and forty simple sentences. In the third month, the teaching will focus on parts of speech, sentence construction, and the use of active and passive voices.
In the first month, basic pitch and rhythm of traditional Indian singing will be introduced. In the second and third month, students will learn various new verses and ragas once progress is made in understanding the basics. The art of Indian singing helps one focus attention toward the divine and cultivate tranquility from within.
In this course, we introduce students to the Veena, a classical Indian instrument. The Veena is known as the instrument played by the goddess Saraswati. In the second and third months, students will learn to play selected kalas and ragas as they deepen their understanding of the instrument.
Learning to chant the Bhagavad Geeta brings harmony to the mind and body. In the first month, this class will teach chanting chapter one of the Geeta with an emphasis on tune, rhythm, and pronunciation. In the second and third months, through repetition of chapters one and two, students will deepen their understanding and perfect the chant.
Vastu is a wing of the Indian arts that deals with proper house construction. In the first month, students will focus on the properties of the land, directions, slopes, and will also learn the beneficial signs of residing in certain areas. In the second month, students will learn the proper orientation of each room and the correct placement of doors and windows in a home. In the third month, ideal measurements, and correct day and month timing of the lunar calendar to inaugurate projects will be taught. This knowledge will help one to build a house in which internal and external wellbeing will be experienced.