CME 101 Intro to Yoga Therapy for Medical Professionals

This course, for physicians and other medical professionals, is intended to describe the basis of yoga and the research done for therapeutic purposes and for health maintenance. Such knowledge brings a different way of thinking of life and healing process, and potentially prepares a health care professional for considering entirely different forms of treatment that may be less invasive and less subject to side-effects than conventional medicine, especially in cases when conventional medicine does not have good answers. This approach of healing can be used as a complementary practice for treating diseases. Another name for this course could be ‘Yoga as Medicine’.

CME 500 – Yoga Therapy for Disease Management and Health Maintenance

This course will deal with yoga therapy philosophy and practice of various diseases related to the following systems: (a) Musculo-Skeletal, (b) Reproductive & Excretory, (c)GI, (d) Cardiovascular, (e) Respiratory, (f) Endocrine, and (g) Nervous systems. This course is intended a essential training for those planning to administer yoga therapy.

GEN 101 - Gentle Yoga and Principles of Healing

This course combines the teaching of the Gentle Yoga regimen, Life in Yoga approach to healing and stress management. It is designed to meet the needs of all to adopt a daily regimen that reduces stress and increases vitality. Gentle Yoga regimen consists of five elements: (a) Stretch exercises done in three way: spine and upper body, pelvis and lower body, balancing of top-down; (the upper and lower body stretches cover sideway balancing too); (b) Breathing exercises of Bhastrikaa, Kapaalabhaati and Bhramari; (c) use of vibrations for cleansing each chakra; (d) affirmations to heal; (e) meditation as pure observer. The explanation of these techniques covers the Life in Yoga approach to healing and stress management.

GEN 102 - Stress Management with Yoga

This course discusses the source and nature of stress and methods to overcome them. Some of the Gentle Yoga exercises including meditative practices are taught with the intent of making them part of daily practice to reduce stress. The only differences between this course and the GEN 101 are the following: (a) extensive discussion of nature and source of stress; (b) not covering all the Gentle Yoga exercises.

GEN 150 - Regular Hatha Yoga Asanas

This course is intended for those in good physical condition and want to explore traditional Hatha Yoga asanas. This course provides step by step instruction of the standard Asanas or postures designed for those interested in great physical fitness. Presentation content includes do’s and don’ts for safe practice. Practice content includes Surya Namaskar, Chandra Namaskar, Bhujangaasana, Salabhaasana, Dhanuraasana, Halasana, Sarvaangaasana, Chakraasana, Ardhamatsyendra, Part by Part Relaxation (and deep relaxation with Yoga Nidra) and Yoga Mudra.

GEN 200 - Breath Yoga

This course introduces breathing practices in the context of Asthaanga Yoga and Hatha Yoga and explains its effect in the overall yoga approach – cleansing and energizing. Another name for this course could be ‘The Power of Breath’. Kapaalabhaati, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Anuloma-Viloma Praanaayaama and Bhramari are covered extensively. Requirements of safe practice are addressed. CRE Breath is also introduced. Advanced practices addressed in GEN 250 are discussed but not practiced. This course is intended for theoretical and practical understanding.

GEN 201 - Introductory Breath Yoga Practices

This course covers the systematic teaching of Kapaalabhaati, Bhastrika, Anuloma-Viloma and Bhramari. Their benefits are also discussed. Compared to GEN 200, this course focuses only on the practice with the intention of making it as part of daily routine.

GEN 202 - CRE Breath

This course also called Cyclical Rhythmic Exercising of Breath is a powerful technique designed to provide quick relief for bodily pain due to energy imbalance. The practice is similar to the breathing of Sudarshana Kriya popularized by the Art of Living Foundation. CRE Breath uses percussion beat for timing of the breath instead of ‘So-hum’.

GEN 250 - Advanced Breathing Practices

This course is designed for practitioners who have attained a high level of internal peace in daily living indicative of cleansing of their energy channels. The key practice is Ujjayi Praanaayaama and variations of it like Kriya Praanaayaama as taught by the Lahiri (Yogananda) tradition. As part of this course, other esoteric practices of Hatha Yoga like Sheetali, Sheetkari, Sadanta, Suryabhedi and Chandrabhedi are also discussed.

GEN 301 - Principles of Meditation and different practices

This course is a discussion of

• what is meditation in terms of the Yoga Sutra principles;
• the review of various common practices like Cyclic Meditation of SVYASA, mindful meditation techniques of Buddhist traditions, visualization techniques (including biogenic feedback techniques like Silva method), Mantra-based meditation, music meditation and Life in Yoga’s Chaadogya-Upanishad meditation;
• benefits of meditation.

The technique of Chaandogya-Upanishad meditation and individually adaptable techniques are also instructed and practiced as part of This course. Among all forms of meditative practices studied, Life in Yoga practitioners have found this to be most effective, and it becomes easier to practice with the exercises of physical alignment and energizing breath.

GEN 302 - Mantra-based Meditation

This course is considered unique and the best among all meditation techniques by Maharishi Mahesh’s organization. It actually covers music-based meditation as well. For effectiveness, it is taught and practiced in a minimum of 4 individual sessions and 8 weekly sessions over 12 weeks. This approach is similar to the approach of Transcendental Meditation taught by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s organizations.

GEN 350 – Shat Kriyas of Hatha Yoga

This course discusses the six cleansing techniques of Hatha Yoga: Neti, Nauli, Dhauti, Basti, Kapaalabhaati and Tratak. There will be a brief discussion of the difference between the Hatha Yoga approach coming from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and related documents versus the Raaja Yoga and Asthaanga Yoga approach of Patanjali. Each Kriya will be described and appropriately demonstrated.

GEN 400 – Affirmation Techniques

This course discuss what is broadly called the “Power of Positive Thinking”. Yoga’s understanding of the role of mental affirmation and using it for healing and removal of unwanted mental/psychic patterns is discussed and demonstrated. Two practices called Energy Meditation (of Dr. Patel) and Karma Cleansing are taught and practiced in this course.

GEN 401 - Karma Cleansing

This course is a powerful affirmation technique that removes unwanted patterns in the system that helps to increase ones meditative abilities while also improving health. This is a development of Life in Yoga based on the Rainbow Bridge technique. Its effect is similar to the absolution of confession for Roman Catholics, Praayaschitta for Hindus and the Kaamo Kaarishit Mahamantra Japam done by those who change their sacred threads annually on Sharvani Poornima day. This is best for regular practitioners of yoga who can add another 5 to 10 minutes of practice every day in the morning and evening.

GEN 402 - Energy Meditation

This course is a technique of directing mental energy to heal any afflicted part of the body. The precise technique was developed by Dr. Narayan G. Patel of Wilmington, Delaware.

GEN 450 - Dance Yoga

This course is a creation of Life in Yoga that combines the 5 types of exercises (physical, breath, vibration, thought and pure observation) in one exercise regimen. This is taught over a minimum of 4 sessions of 90 to 120 minutes each and practice sessions that follow thereafter. It is a complete regimen and not suited for people who are not in good physical shape. For people not in good physical shape, it should be attempted only after several months of regular practice of the Gentle Yoga regimen.

TTC 490 - Conducting a Yoga Session – Instructors

This course covers basic pointers for conducting a yoga session safely, effectively, and in a well-organized manner.

TTC 499 - Teaching Practicum – Instructors

This course covers teaching practice for instructors in training until one qualifies for certification.

TTC 500 - Yoga Sutras

This course is a line by line discussion of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This is the philosophy and system of yoga. There are no practices in this course. It only covers the principles that govern the practices. It addresses the nature of creation, the meaning of life and the process of direct spiritual communion to derive the answers for all the questions we may have. This is core requirement for teacher training.

TTC 510 – Reiki 1 and 2

This course is designed to initiate Reiki practice of levels 1 and 2. This is a common healing technique of Japanese-Tibetan Buddhist origin that is used even by some nursing staff in hospitals, and falls under the general category of faith-based healing. This process opens out the sensitivity in ones hands that enables one to feel the flow of energy. This ability helps a yoga teacher to assess the needs of anyone for individual customization, and is hence a core requirement for teacher training.

TTC 520 - Human Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Yoga

This course is designed for an in-depth study of the human system and how yoga works with it. This is core requirement for teacher training.

TTC 530 - Introduction to Ayurveda

This course is a course designed to show the link between Yoga and Ayurveda. The philosophy and practice of Yoga is infused with Ayurveda principles. The course serves as a primer to further the study of Ayurveda. For a person with Ayurveda background, it enables them to practice Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy.

TTC 590 - Conducting a Yoga Session – Teachers

This course covers basic pointers for customizing a yoga regimen safely, effectively, and in a well-organized manner.

TTC 599 – Teaching Practicum – Teachers

This course covers teaching practice to customize routine until one qualifies for certification.

TTC 600 - Life in Yoga Approach

This course is the capstone course for teacher training. It combines the principles of the Yoga Sutras, the Human system as medical science understands it, Yoga exercises and their interaction. This discussion evolves the Life in Yoga approach to healing. Another key component of this course is the technique of intuitively divining answers to any query, which comes under a broad subject called Prashna Shastra. This course also covers the ethics of yoga instruction/usage and has extensive discussion of Dharma.

TTE 610 – Introduction to EAV for Energy Channel Measurements

This course demonstrates the use of EAV to measure the five levels of energy circuitry and their immediate impact from doing certain yoga exercises. This is a growing area of research for Life in Yoga. EAV or Electro-acupuncture according to Voll is a technique first developed by a German physician, Dr. Reinhard Voll, to measure the meridians of organs postulated by the Chinese meridian and acupuncture points. We use it in the same way as Dr. Voll intended, except that we extend its usage to measure the impact of yoga and to read the higher meridians that relate to relaxation (stress level), vitality and genetic expression.

TTE 615 - Seminar Discussion Topics

This course conducted from time to time.

TTE 640 - Hatha Yoga Principles and Practices

This course discusses the approach of Hatha Yoga which is expressed in traditional literature in a way that is comparable to the Asthaanga Yoga principle associated with the Yoga Sutras, but is yet slightly different. This provides some insights into how Yoga as perceived by the world as postures, often is weak on the idea of Ishvara Prannidhaana or surrender to God which is a core concept in the Yoga Sutras.

TTE 650 to 654

These courses are discussions of traditional texts of yoga that go beyond the general principles summarized in the Yoga Sutras. These are esoteric and detailed understanding for those who seek it.

TTE 650 - Hatha yoga Pradipika

This course is intended for line by line discussion of the original text. It is the principle text of Hatha yoga.

TTE 651 - Bhagavad Gita

This course is intended for line by line discussion of the original text. It gives a philosophical overview of yoga, and is consistent with the Yoga Sutras, but less precise.

TTE 652 - Vasistha Samhita

This course is intended for line by line discussion of the original text. It introduces the concept of physical anatomy and the energy channels within the philosophy of yoga.

TTE 653 - Shiva Samhita

This course is intended for line by line discussion of the original text. It explores the concept of subtle energy in the body along with elements of philosophy and practice.

TTE 654 - Gheranda Samhita

This course is intended for line by line discussion of the original text. It is one of the texts of Hatha yoga

TTC 699 – Teaching Practicum – Therapist

This course covers therapy practice until one qualifies for certification.