• Table of Contents
  • How to Prevent Future September 11ths by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Hiking with Swami Ritavan in Jasper, Canada by Margaret Wood
  • The Gardener by Phil Paradis
  • cialis tadalafil drug cialis 20mg split is generic viagra available over the counter generic forms cialis buy cheap brand viagra viagra online viagra cost australiaSvaha: On Giving Up my Father by Saumya Arya Haas
  • Training Using Yogic Breathing Technique... by Peter Fabian
  • Through the Eyes of a Student by Jyoti Gerlitz
  • From Simple Forest Monk to World Traveler by Daniel Hertz
  • Five Elements, Human Emotions, and Love by Arlene Matthews
  • Manu in Chile and Ecuador
  • Strengthening the Ball of Light in the Heart by Marylou Nunamaker
  • Swami Nitya Visits Southern California by Randall Krause
  • Something Magic Happened in Kauai by Swami Nityamuktananda
  • Important: Registrations for 2013
  • 2011 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

Teacher Training Program Retreat Through the Eyes of a Student

by Jyoti Gerlitz

This July I had the good fortune to attend the Himalayan Yoga Tradition’s Teacher Training Program in St. Paul, Minnesota.  What an experience!

(Click for larger photo)

Nestled in the beautiful campus of St. Thomas University, we moved into the dorms and set off on our journey.  The two week intensive was kicked off by an orientation that had the opportunity to be dry and run of the mill if not for Dr. Rene Alkalay and a rousing session of Laughter Yoga.  What better way to become acquainted with your fellow students and faculty than making lots of eye contact while laughing hysterically until your cheeks hurt!

Then we were off into the whirlwind of Teacher Training that was absolutely jam packed with daily sessions of many aspects of sadhana such as morning Hatha classes lead by faculty and Level Two TTP Students, Prayers and Meditation guided by Swami Ma Radha, Pranayama, Joints & Glands, Breathing, Inner Dialogue & Journaling, Sanskrit, Contemplative Walking, Anatomy and so much more taught by the truly outstanding faculty.  Each evening was filled with fantastic lectures from brilliant teachers like: Stoma Parker, Swami Nityamuktananda, Dr. Alkalay and of course Swami Veda Bharati.

(Click for larger photo)

We were able to try our hand at some practice teaching in small, supportive groups, experience Biofeedback first hand, participate in joyous Kirtans and attend the Family Picnic at The Meditation Center in Minneapolis.

On the Saturday night that we finished training we found ourselves sitting at the feet of the glorious Swami Veda Bharati for a moving Peace on Earth Meditation.

(Click for larger photo)

I am overjoyed at the opportunity to have been able to participate in this amazing experience and can assure you that your sadhana will never be the same after attending TTP Retreats.  I connected with some amazing people, made some fabulous new friends and was deeply touched by the extremely kind and giving nature of all of the folks who work so tirelessly to make these events happen.  The faculty offered guidance and really helped to foster a great sense of community.  Our tradition is very fortunate to have access to all of these wonderful resources, relationships and opportunities and I for one, am very grateful.  I will definitely be attending next year for Level Two; I hope to see you there!

Editor’s note:

Jyoti lives in Calgary, Canada, and is President of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Centre there (http://www.himalayanmeditation.com/). In addition to her dedication to ongoing personal yoga teacher training, she has been trained as a clinical aromatherapist and massage therapist.  She is also a Peace Ambassador for “Monks without Borders” (http://www.monkswithoutborders.org/) and is a firm believer that we each have the obligation to ensure the world is a better place than it was when we arrived. We invite you to visit Jyoti’s website: http://www.thepathofyoga.com/index.html

For more about the Himalayan Yoga Tradition – Teacher Training Program (HYT-TTP), please visit their website: http://www.himalayanyogatradition.com/