• Table of Contents
  • 14 Practices by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Forgiveness by Swami Rama
  • Can I Have Samadhi? by Shi Hong
  • TTP Program for Thailand and Taiwan by Thaniya Kevalee
  • Navaratra (Poem & Slideshow) by Jay Prakash Bahuguna
  • HYT-TTP Newsletter by Rabindra Sahu
  • Pune Pranayama Camp by Dr. Shirin Venkat
  • Sangha Gathering 2016 by Joanne Sullivan (Divya)
  • Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is…
  • Swami Nijananda Bharati
  • Cancer, No Easy Choices by Richard Parenti
  • Netra Tantra Seminar, October 2016
  • 2016 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

HYT-TTP Newsletter

by Rabindra Sahu

Om Shri Gurubhyo Namah.

We have just completed another great HYT-TTP Level-1 & 2 retreat here at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) in Rishikesh. HYT-TTP is the Himalayan Yoga Tradition – Teacher Training Program. I would like to extend my gratitude to Maryon Maass for her continued guidance and working behind the scenes to make it a success. She was instrumental in innumerable ways.

We had Level-One with 18 participants representing 9 countries: India, Ecuador, USA, Brazil, Trinidad, Australia, Greece, Lithuania and the United Kingdom.

10 participants from 9 countries (Netherlands, India, Japan, Croatia, Greece, Australia, Lithuania, Ecuador and Germany) participated in the Level-Two program apart from the “Netherlands” group who joined with us for their “Special Teacher Training program”. All these students shared the many wonderful and fascinating ways in which they found out about our tradition.

The Level-One students learned the basics of the Himalayan Tradition and the foundations of the first level: proper sitting, proper breathing, Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, yoga ethics, meditation, etc. The teachers gave all they had to give including instructions to keep the head, neck and trunk properly aligned with frequent two minutes meditation.

The Level-Two students eagerly absorbed the deeper level of hatha practices along with further refinements in breathing practices and philosophy with lots of practice teaching.

During the second week, the Level-One participants enjoyed an outing to HIHT (Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust). We started our day with an amazing lecture on “Ayurveda, the Science of Life”, by Dr. Pratibha Mamgain of the Ayurveda Center. We then enjoyed meditating in the Meditation Hall adjacent to Swami Rama’s bedroom at the Swami Rama Centre.

The Level-Two students visited the Vashishta Cave and had a great time meditating in the Cave and spending some time near the bank of the Ganges along with attending the Ganga Aarati.

Towards the end, we had a beautiful “Classical Odissi Dance” performance by Chareita Gajadhar from the “Netherlands Group”. Odissi is one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It originates from the state of Odisha, in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences.

This year we had a quiet “Holi”, following Swami Veda’s Mahasamadhi. We celebrated the festival with 24 Hours Akhanda Japa dedicated to Swami Veda. Swami Ritavan lovingly blessed us by applying Sandalwood paste on our foreheads.

We are grateful to our teachers: Randall Krause, Sonia Van Nispen, Ashutosh Sharma, Dr. Stephen (Stoma) Parker, Dr. Manju Talekar and John Sellinger who lovingly guided the students throughout the program. Swami Ritavan guided a beautiful meditation and shared the importance of Seva with the group.

Others who supported the program with their dedication and expertise - Dr. Prabhu, Adhikari Bhoi, Chandramani ji, Rampraskash Das and Sandeep Pandey. As always, our gifted SRSG teachers were up early and ready for our new batch every morning for the morning prayers and integrated lessons of Joints and Glands while continuing to serve the Guests of SRSG all day.

Stoma ji reminded us to “Love” rather than to “Teach”!

Swami Ritavan reminded all that the “certificate” does not necessarily make us a good teacher. We must be humble, and let our presence be an invitation to quietness and peacefulness.

Tips

Here are some tips to help yourself and your mentor with your online assignments:

1. Document Name: You may want to try this way to name your assignments:
   Assignment_1_Name_date. The next would be named, Assignment_2_Name_date etc.
2. Heading in the document: Put your name, date, mentor’s name, and even your location at the beginning.
3. Include the questions into the document so your mentor need not look up the question. An answer without the question is an inconvenient read.
4. Point: Keep the answers to the essence of the question. This will keep the papers short and easy, it will be understood that you are progressing.
5. Multiple questions: Multiple questions in one assignment need to be on ONE DOCUMENT. That saves the space and keeps the questions in sequence for the mentors to decipher.

The next HYT-TTP retreat at SRSG is from November 6-19, 2016. To Register for Level one, go to www.hyt-ttp.com and choose “Student Application” under the topic “Teacher Training” (http://www.hyt-ttp.com/progression.html#apply). Then submit. If you have registered once, please do not register again. Contact Rabindra Sahu at [email protected] and you will be guided to the next level. 

Yours in Service,

Rabindra

Editor's Note: