Aerial Yoga Teacher Training at Gurukul Yogashala - Course Overview

You will first learn the history and philosophy of Aerial Yoga, where it originated from, how it has developed, and how it compares to existing types of yoga. It is important to know this information as a foundation. You will go over how Aerial Yoga relates to classical Hatha yoga, and how the use of the hammock enhances the traditional practices of bandha, pranayama, and meditation awareness.

One of the most important parts of the training is learning the skills of setting up, rigging and adjusting the aerial hammock. During this module you will learn the art of anchoring the hammock to ceiling rig, weight testing and height testing, and adjusting the hammock for various body types and practice. We at Gurukul Yogashala are committed to the safety of our students and have designed this module to explain safety protocol in detail so that you can conduct safe lessons for yourself as well as your students.

You will learn a wide variety of poses spanning multiple levels of difficulty - from gentle, accessible postures suitable for complete beginners to more advanced transitions and flows that will challenge even experienced practitioners.

Key areas of asana study include:

• Standing poses and balances utilizing the hammock for support, depth.
• Supported sitting and hip opening postures with hammock-assisted stretching
• Aerial inversions such as supported headstands, shoulder stands, and full body inversions
• Aerial Savasana& restorative hammock poses for deep relaxation
• Aerial flows of movement, breath, and transitions in a Vinyasa style
• Vinyasa flows of movement, breath, and transitions in an aerial arts context

Inversions are one of the most life changing parts of Aerial Yoga. When the body is inverted, the pressure of gravity is reversed-creating gentle traction that decompresses the disc spaces in our vertebral column and takes off the chronic compressive load we usually carry around in our back everyday. In this workshop, you will learn how to do and teach all of the aerial inversions, how to move your students though their fear of being inverted, and how to incorporate inversion therapy into your Aerial Yoga classes as a healing modality for back pain, a bad posture, tight spinal muscles, or simply as a tool to heal and energize your students.

Breath is fundamental to all yoga, and you will develop your knowledge of how to teach classical pranayama techniques such as Ujjayi, Nadi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, Bhramari etc in your aerial yoga teaching practice. You'll discover how and why breathing patterns may change when the body is inverted and learn how to coach students to breathe deeply and consciously through yoga practice to optimize the physical, mental and energetic benefits.

Having a solid understanding of the anatomy is key to becoming a knowledgeable yoga teacher. You will understand the effects of the hammock on the spine, shoulder girdle, hip complex, and core muscles. You will be able to identify contraindicated conditions and work around them, and learn how to modify your teaching to better suit students with different anatomies and needs.

It's only half the story to be a knowledgeable Aerial Yoga practitioner, part of the picture is to be a great teacher. During our workshop we focus on teaching techniques, and You will learn exactly how to give instructions, what to demonstrate and how, what assists or adjustments you should give, and how to handle the special group dynamics of a group aerial class.

Aerial Yoga is so much more than just a physical practice. When performed mindfully and with intention, it is an incredibly meditative and spiritual practice. The hammock provides a special vessel for relaxation and when the body yields to support from the hammock, it causes a down-regulation of the nervous system and mind and facilitates a very deep pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses).

Ayurvedic Wellness Consultation and Massage will be provided to students who are in Private or Shared Accommodations.

• Yoga and pranayama for normal delivery
• Yoga and pranayama for c- section.
• Post-partum depression.
• Baby and mother care.
• Nutrition for post pregnancy mother.
• Position during feeding.