If you’ve intuitively felt there’s something more to this thing called yoga beyond turning up to regular classes, you’re spot on. Maybe you’re experienced how the effects of your yoga practice can spill over into the rest of your life, and now you want to understand 'why'?

 Over six weeks, let's explore both ancient wisdom and practical tools for living a fulfilling and integrated life. Expect to learn more about yogic wisdom, mindful movement, breath awareness and self-reflective intentional living.  

In each weekly session there will be a blend of dharma talk and enquiry along with a practical experience of each topic. Between sessions we’ll provide tips and opportunities for reflection so that you have an opportunity to integrate the learnings and try them in your own life.

Course Outline

 1. Yoga Philosophy: We’ll explore what Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutras, has to say about mindful living through a practical and light-hearted exploration of the 8 limbs of yoga, a foundational yogic approach to life. While in the west, we concentrate on a physical practice, Patanjali invites us to be the best version of ourselves with subtle practices that are as relevant as when they were written thousands of years ago.

 You’ll learn how to cultivate a personal daily practice, called a sadhana, and experience first-hand how this creates an anchor to hold you steady through life's challenges.

 2. Meditation and Pranayama; Learn practices to unravel the knots that bind us in limited thoughts and perceptions of who we are. Move inwards towards freedom and peace by withdrawing the senses. This has the effect of calming and quieting busyness of the mind.

 Explore breath work and meditation techniques to broaden the horizon of your current practice including mantra, kriya and self-enquiry. 

 3. Subtle Body Anatomy; We will explore the attributes of the seven chakras from the root to the crown. You’ll learn how this ancient framework has informed psychotherapy, philosophy and movement practices from a host of different traditions. You’ll learn how to tap into your subtle body anatomy and have ‘ah ha’ moments as you tune into each chakra.

We’ll experience practices to cultivate flow in your daily life. You will leave with a greater understanding of the psycho-somatic connection in your body, as well as different techniques to restore and achieve balance on your own.  

 4. Ayurveda

Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed thousands of years ago in India and is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind, body and spirit. Ayurveda is based on the principles of three primary doshas or energies, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each of us has a unique proportion of these three energies that shapes our constition and defines our choices.

 Just as each person has a dosha that predominates, each season is also dominated by a specific energy: As seasons changes, our bodies require a different diet and lifestyle to stay balanced. Create personal rituals to feel well, vital and connected to the cycles of nature.

 5. Asana; You've probably done plenty of yoga by now. In this session you'll understand how intelligent sequencing and foundational poses support optimal health, vitality and wellness.

Moving energy and releasing the issues from our tissues, we’ll explore and integrate a true mind body spirit connection. This session will include deconstructing and workshopping familiar poses and sequences to look at the physiological, mental, emotional and energetic benefits of deepening a regular asana practice.

 You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the benefits of a yang style practice and how to tailor the practice to support you through injuries, times of stress and as your body changes with age.

 6. Yin yoga; a compassionate practice for self-nurturing & deep release. The introspective practice of yin invites us into awareness of sensation, time and space – a perfect and necessary complement to our yang style lives.  We’ll also explore the benefit of a yin style practice for the release of stress and anxiety together with restoration of body; including any injuries or conditions you may be working with.

 We will touch on polyvagal theory and how to self-regulate the nervous system. You’ll leave with a new understand how stress and trauma are stored in the tissues of the body and how a yin practice creates physical and energetic release.

 Join us and take your practice to the next level! 

Who is this for? Yoga students who have been practicing for a while and who are ready to learn more and go deeper into the practice you love. If you’ve been considering a yoga teacher training, this is a perfect way to see if further training is for you.

Investment: $395

When: Wednesday 24 April to 29 May (6 weeks) 7.30 to 9.30pm

Venue: Seed Yoga, 1A Salisbury Ave, Blackburn (In studio event)

Investment: $395

About: Lisa Allwell and Lisa Matthews are senior yoga teachers, collaborators and dear friends. They create and facilitate retreats, teacher trainings, workshops and mentoring programs.

Lisa Allwell is the founder of Seed Yoga & Wellness and a former Board Member of Yoga Australia.

Lisa Matthews is a Director of IllumineNation. Both Lisas have been teaching for over 10 years. Their students are drawn to their creative and inspiring teaching style. They’ll share some of their secrets in this course.