Hybrid Teacher Training Course

the school

The next TTC will start in February 2025.
For info and applications: amanda@thisisyoga.org

The development of a conscious practice is the heart of our Yoga Teacher Training.

The practice and understanding of the various techniques of Hatha Yoga is the focus of the course, which includes the in-depth study of:

preparatory exercises
asanas
pranayamas
shatkarmans, bandhas, mudras
meditation techniques

The theoretical classes will enrich, structure and explain the practice, its origins, evolution, application, effects, accessibility, and safety, giving you valuable tools to guide yourself and others in a responsible and creative way. You’ll learn about:

anatomy and physiology
pedagogy, ethics
chakra theory
history and philosophy of yoga

In the journey of the training, both as student and as future teacher, the unfolding of your natural potentialities, inclinations and creativity is considered of enormous value, and will be stimulated from the very beginning.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The Training takes place over 2 years for a total of 460 class hours or 600+ teaching units / Unterrichtseinheiten.
An additional 5 to 10 hours of self-practice/study per week are suggested to take the best out of the training and gradually prepare for the mid-term and final exams, but left to your discretion.

Our Hybrid Teacher Training alternates in-presence and online learning hours, keeping a balance between the accessibility of the online format and the in-depth experience of an intensive practice during the retreats and in-person weekends.

It includes:

online training weekends
9x/year, one weekend/month, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am – 1 pm
in-person training weekends in Berlin (can also be joined online)
2x in 2025, 3x in 2026, Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4.30 pm
7-day retreats
1x/year, an opportunity to experience the benefits of an intense yoga practice, with space for revision and application of theory, and the practice of teaching skills such as hands-on or partner exercises.
online practice sessions
10x/year, 1 Thursday/month, 6-9 pm, dedicated to the practice of teaching, revision and Q&A
50+ pre-recorded theory classes
online theory Q&A
monthly or bimonthly 90 min evening sessions to answer your questions, self-assess the integration of the theoretical elements and prepare for the mid-term and final exams

All online sessions will be recorded and made available to the students for revision.
During the in-person weekends, the hours dedicated to the introduction of new practices can also be joined via online streaming and will be recorded. This option will not be available during the retreats.

The school provides videos and technical info sheets for each Yoga practice included in the program. Detailed and thorough handouts are also provided for the study of the chakras, anatomy, and philosophy and history of yoga.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The program is structured into 8 modules. The first module is introductory; the next seven are each organized in relation to the 7 Chakras.

Each teaching module is a complete immersion in a specific dimension of energy, with the corresponding practices and theory. This allows the yogic experience to be easily integrated with one’s daily life and stimulates awareness and personal growth, while the progression from the 1st to the 7^th Chakra leads to an understanding and internalization of gradually more and more subtle aspects of energy, planes of knowledge, and experiences.

This structure also facilitates:
– the memorization of functions and effects of each practice
– the substitution of a practice with more accessible ones
– the creation of targeted and meaningful sequences

Each module is covered over a period of 3 months (see Calendar) and includes:

PRACTICE

Preparatory Exercises (PE)
Introduction and practice of the preparatory exercises, whose purpose and effect is to stimulate awareness of the body and movement, release tensions, warm up muscles and joints and enter into a state of listening.
Shatkarman, Bandha e Mudra (SBM)
The Shatkarman are psychophysical purification techniques, used in Hatha Yoga to eliminate physical obstacles to the practice, especially those generated by excess of Kapha element. Bandha and Mudra are extremely important practices of control and direction of the vital energy.
Asana (A)
The positions of Hatha Yoga. The program includes the practice and detailed explanation of more than 100 Asanas, together with variations to make them accessible to particular needs or physical limitations, dynamic variations, practices with a partner (limited to some postures), effects, benefits and possible contraindications.
Pranayama (P)
This term refers to Yoga breathing exercises. You will learn the fundamental techniques (abdominal, thoracic, clavicular breathing), Full Yogic Breath, Pranayamas with the use of Mantras, the classical Pranayamas, and various dynamic breathing practices specific to the Pranayoga Method®, which are aimed at promoting the deepening and a complete awareness of the breath.
Meditation: Dharana e Dhyana (DD)
Concentration is the fixation of the mind on a single object (YS III, 1)
Concentration (Dharana) is a primary and fundamental state of Yoga and is present, with different nuances, at every level of the practice. It arises spontaneously as an effect of an attention that is focused on increasingly subtle elements, thanks to the reduction of the tamasic and rajasic energies in the body and mind and the accumulation and stabilization of Prana in the Chakras.
Meditation (Dhyana), also called the ‘fourth state of mind’, is a particular psychophysical condition that allows contact between individual and cosmic consciousness. The three common states of mind – wakefulness, sleep and deep sleep – are overcome and integrated into a higher level of perception.
Different meditation techniques will be explored and experimented, both live (online and in-person) and through recordings.

THEORY

Anatomy and Physiology (pre-recorded classes + live Q&A)
Within a general overview, some topics particularly relevant to the practice will be examined, such as the respiratory, osteo-muscular, and nervous systems, aimed at a detailed understanding of the effects, benefits and contraindications of the individual techniques of Yoga.
History and Philosophy (pre-recorded classes + live Q&A)
A general overview of Indian Philosophy with in-depth study of some central themes, such as the classical Upanishads and the Upanishads of Yoga, Samkhya and the Yoga Sutras, the basic texts of Hatha Yoga, Tantrism and the origins of modern Yoga.
Chakra Theory (pre-recorded classes + live revision)
The themes concerning the seven evolutionary Chakras are all explored in depth: functions and characteristics, specific somatic (parts of the body, organs and associated functions) and psychic (personality characters, ..) relations, the symbolic aspects (Yantra, divinity, animals and other symbols, dreams) and those linked to everyday life (sleep, gross and subtle nutrition), as well as the vast panorama of rebalancing practices.
Methodology, ethics, and pedagogy (introductory pre-recorded classes + in-person hours)
The principles of the Pranayoga Method® are explored in detail, together with central questions of ethics of teaching and themes of Yoga pedagogy and psychology: how to relate with the students, the elements of stimulation and support, the practice of interpersonal relationships, how to bring out and stimulate the flourishing of a student’s potential.
The art of sequencing is explored and practiced in details, and will include the entire spectrum of Yoga practices, Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Deep Relaxation, Meditations and Visualizations.
The use of language as a guide to self-awareness and self-correction in the different phases of teaching, the use of repetitions to underline key aspects and the integration of language and demonstration, are other aspects of teaching explored in detail.
During the in-person hours (in Berlin and at the retreats), we will address the various facets of touch in teaching, from the practice of correction intended as an invitation, to the ethical implications of touch in the context of teaching.

You can find the detailed program of each module here.

PARTICIPATION, EXAM AND CERTIFICATE

The training is open to:

– All those who wish to become creative, responsible and competent Yoga Teachers.
– Yoga Teachers who wish to expand and integrate their knowledge with the program of our training.
– Beginner and expert practitioners who wish to deepen the theory and practice of Yoga for their own personal interest.

Admission is open to all adults in good health.

At the end of the training, subject to passing the mid-term and final exams, one obtains the 600h Certificate of Yoga Teacher, Pranayoga Method®.

Our teacher training’s curriculum satisfy the conditions of the Zentrale Prüfstelle für Prävention (ZPP) for certification of prevention courses in Germany.

The final exam includes:
– 3 Written Exams (open questions): philosophy/history of yoga, chakra theory and anatomy
– Thesis: minimum 55.000 characters + 20′ presentation of the same
– 1 sequence for a 90’ class, including 20’ of meditation or yoga nidra, and at least 1 pranayama, and 1 sequence for a 60’ pranayama-focused class, including warm up and asanas for pranayama. One of the 2 will be presented and guided.
– 5 questions on the full program of asanas, preparatory exercises, pranayamas, bandhas. Questions will involve guiding and explaining, including benefits and contraindications, use of props, hands-on, alternatives and variations (for specific conditions or beginners), or the creation of a short preparatory sequence.

Other assignments to be submitted during the course and necessary for obtaining the certificate are:
– Ethics and pedagogy: short essay (maximum 10.000 character) summarizing your personal thoughts/experiences about the meaning and ethic of being a teacher, the student/teacher relationships and your personal journey.
– Asana Analysis: application of the anatomy of movement
– Sequencing: redaction of at least one sequence for each chakra

TESTIMONIALS

“I took up the teachers course with Amanda with the intention of deepening my personal yogic practice. Our group offered a safe container to learn with regards to our individual wishes and needs as participants. Amanda has built a high quality, comprehensive and challenging program which she delivers through the different modules with heart, mind, deep knowledge, generosity and authenticity. What I learned continues to affect and inspires my life, my research and my teaching. I am very grateful and happy to be on this journey with Amanda and the wonderful yogis and yoginis who study with her… the journey continues. Feeling deeply connected.”
– Isabelle –

“The teacher training course was such a wholesome experience for me!
2017 I decided to take that journey and hoped for deep knowledge in yoga, especially in pranayama, together with a friendly group and good instructions. All my expectations were exceeded. I met wonderful people, learned more than I hoped for and had the best teacher I can imagine. When a good teacher is characterized by authenticity, a genuine interest in your wellbeing and growth and the ability to share deep knowledge then Amanda is that and much more.
I still remember her benevolence and kindness, her intuitiveness that is backed by expertise and experience and her ability to guide without denying us our own experiences. This allowed me to trust her 100% which was very helpful in that journey and made it not only possible for me to learn the correct form of the asanas, execution of breathing techniques and meditation but really to connect with myself in a more wholesome, heartfelt and loving way. And I guess that is what Yoga is really about. Maybe 🙂
I did not become a yoga teacher after the course and that was not my intention in the first place, but I found the courage to change my career path and moved into my new home.
Both decisions increased the quality of my life immensely and I credit the experience of the teacher training for a lot of it. And I still benefit from this experience on a daily basis.”
– Florian –

“This Teacher Training with Amanda has given me so many tools and so much knowledge around my yoga practice, that I must say: these past two years have reshaped my life. The Hamsa – Free School of Hatha Yoga provides a safe space to practice, ask questions and have an exchange about any unique experience or transformation that one undergoes while learning the Pranayoga Method that follows traditional Hatha Yoga. The method is infused with an expansive and rich understanding of anatomy and safe practice as well as focused on conveying non-dogmatically but accurately the energetical aspects of asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and meditation. Amanda’s knowledge on the history and philosophy of Yoga, her knowledge and precision on anatomy, her dedication to her own practice, and her sense for community shaping is truly an inspiration and she shares all these skills generously, with a huge archive of written and recorded documentation that is accessible beyond the Teacher Training. With such profound kindness and empathy she encourages everyone to teach and grow, follows our progress as closely as one wants and needs, and gives the most constructive and empowering feedback. I truly feel like I want to keep learning with her forever and still I feel well equipped to go on to my personal path of sharing/teaching/deepening practice. I wish to say a big thank you to Amanda and all that is making it possible for her to keep sharing such valuable wisdom, love and care.”
– aR –

“Taking part in the teacher training with Amanda Morelli was the best decision of my life. Over the two years I learned more than I could have imagined about yoga, its history and philosophy, about teaching and anatomy – and not least about myself. Throughout the learning process I felt supported and guided to independence in practice and teaching as well as for my further learning process. And I met my fellow students – a community of individual and akin souls. To learn from each other and to witness each person develop in their own teaching personality was magical.
Thank you so much for the inspiring, beautiful years!”
– Katharina –

“The Teacher Traing with Amanda has been a life changing experience for me. The outstanding structured two year journey enabled me to deepen and explore my own yoga practice through the combination of theory in anatomy, history and philosophy as well as the practice of posture (asana), breath work (pranayama), seals (bandhas), gestures (mudras), cleansing techniques (shatkarman) and meditation. Amanda is a wonderful teacher, who encourages own experiences by her immense practical and theoretical knowledge, her ability to adapt to the needs of her students and her amazing way of teaching. She has the rare skill of guiding one through practice only by words, which makes the hybrid training easy and educational at the same time. She is the best role model for teaching and loves to share her knowledge and abilities. The combination of selflearning material, online and offline practices enables one to adapt the Teacher Training to individual circumstances as they might change through the two years. I really recommend the Teacher Traing for everyone who wants to deepen the own practice and needs a guided path into the potential of Hatha Yoga as well as the ones who want to teach in an inclusive, sensitive, caring, safe and profound way – especially if you are interested into pranayama! I am deeply grateful for this two years, knowing that I can always catch up. Thank you a lot for this wonderful gift.”
– Anna –

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