October 5th-14th, 2012
Programme summary
October 5th: The Essentials of Vinyasa Krama Yoga. (1day. 6 hours.)
October 6th-9th: The Yoga of Sri T. Krishnamacharya (4 days. 24 hours.)
October 10th: Mantra Yoga. (Afternoon. 3 hours.)
October 10th: Vinyasa Krama Yoga Practice. (Evening. 1h 45 mins.)
October 11th-14th: Hatha and Raja Yoga Practicum. (4 days. 24 hours.)
All workshops will be held at: Wells Museum Conference Room, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2UE, UK
The venue is located on the historic Cathedral Green in the medieval city of Wells. The Conference Room is a pleasant, spacious room overlooking a walled garden.
Scroll down for workshop details, course fees and booking procedure.
Workshop Details
Friday 5th
The Essentials of Vinyasa Krama Yoga
1 day (6 hours): 9.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5.30pm
Vinyasa Krama is an art form of practising yogasanas, based on the parameters mentioned in the Yoga Sutras. Sri Krishnamacharya taught this method of asana practice in which several asana movements or vinyasas are practised in succession slowly and with synchronisation of breath. In this program, you will experience an introduction to Vinyasa Krama, pranayama and the basics of meditation based on the Yoga Sutras. There will be a Q&A session as well.
All levels of experience are welcome.
Recommended reading: Ramaswami, The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga.
Saturday 6th – Tuesday 9th
The Yoga of Sri T. Krishnamacharya
4 days (24 hours): 9.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5.30pm each day. 24 hours
Sri.T. Krishnamacharya taught not only yoga and the various aspects of yoga, but also several other related orthodox philosophies. He was a qualified teacher of nyaya, the powerful system of logic used for spiritual discussions in olden times. He was known as Nyayacharya. He taught Nyaya Sutras and Tarka Samgraha, two important ancient works related to this subject. He taught Vedic chanting extensively and was given a title Veda Kesaari (Lion of the Vedas). He not only chanted with a booming voice but also taught the Vedic philosophy related to the ritualistic portion, known as Mimamsa. He taught Samkhya as well, and obtained a diploma in this philosophy, for these achievements he was known by the title Samkhya Siromani (crest jewel of Samkhya).
Of course he was also known as Yogacharya. His unique Yoga teachings of Vinyasa Krama, therapeutic approach and the Yoga philosophy, made him an outstanding Yoga Acharya. He taught the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras, the important three sets of texts for the Vedic philosophy known as Vedanta and earned the title Vedanta Vageesa, meaning the “master exponent of Vedanta.” He could teach with equal facility the Advaitic and Visishtadvaitic interpretation of Vedanta, even though he favoured Ramanuja’s Visishtadwaitic interpretation. Apart from these Vedic subjects and philosophies, he also was a scholar of the great epic Ramayana (story of Rama) and other religious/mythological works such as Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana (Story of Lord Krishna), as well as several other Vaishnavite religious texts.
He taught these subjects individually, depending upon the requirements of each student. Because of his vast studies and knowledge, he had a very comprehensive view of the whole range of Eastern philosophies and religious practices and guided his students according to what he thought was the appropriate path for each. Yogis who would like to enlarge their knowledge base of spirituality may wish to study more of these texts, slowly, one by one.
In this program an investigation into his teachings will be made based on the studies of Srivatsa Ramaswami under Sri Krishnamacharya over decades.
Suitable for Yoga Teachers and experienced practitioners.
Recommended reading: Ramaswami, The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga for the Three Stages of Life; Ramaswami and Hurwitz, Yoga Beneath the Surface.
Wednesday 10th – Mantra Yoga
Afternoon (3 hours): 2.30pm-5.30pm
For every Raja Yogi there are 100 Hata Yogis and for every Hata Yogi there may be several hundred mantra yogis. Mantra yoga and Bhakti yoga form an important yoga that is easily accessible to millions. This programme will include a general discussion about mantras and the chanting of important mantras like Pranava, Gayatri and others like Sanskrit alphabet mantras (matrukas) will also be taught.
All levels of experience are welcome.
Wednesday 10th – Vinyasa Krama Yoga Practice
Evening Session (1 hour 45 minutes): 7pm-8.45pm.
Vinyasa Krama is an art form of practicing yogasanas, based on the parameters mentioned in the Yogasutras. Sri Krishnamacharya taught this method of asana practice in which several asana movements, or vinyasas, are practiced in succession slowly and with synchronization of breath. In this program you will experience an introduction to vinyasakrama, pranayama and the basics of meditation based on the Yogasutras. 1.5 hours practice and 15 minutes Q&A session.
All levels of experience are welcome.
Thursday 11th – Sunday 14th
Hatha and Raja Yoga Practicum
4 days (24 hours): 9.30am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5.30pm each day
Asana practice has caught the imagination of a number of enthusiasts—especially Vinyasa Krama, the sequencing art form of yoga practice. However, yoga has other important ingredients, all of which promote a positive transformation of the individual. A holistic approach would require the yogi to practice not only asana and pranayama (the Hatha yoga aspects) but also chanting, meditation, and contemplation of the philosophical and spiritual aspects (Raja yoga).
In this program, half of each session will be devoted to different asanas, following the Vinyasa Krama method. It will involve doing more than 300 vinyasas, or variations in classical yoga poses, in the course of the program. The other half of the time will be utilized for detailed and varied yogic breathing exercises and the other Raja yoga practices, like chanting, meditation, and philosophical and spiritual contemplation of the yoga sutras. The objective by the end of the program is for participants to have a well-rounded understanding and practice of yoga, as opposed to doing only asanas or meditation. Hatha yoga and Raja yoga are aspects of the integrated system of yogic progression.
Suitable for Yoga Teachers and experienced practitioners.
Recommended reading: Ramaswami, The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga for the Three Stages of Life; Ramaswami and Hurwitz, Yoga Beneath the Surface.
Course Fees
| Date | Workshop | Course Fee | Deposit |
| October 5th. 1day. 6 hours. | The Essentials of Vinyasa Krama Yoga. | £70 | £25 |
| October 6th-9th. 4 days. 24 hours. | The Yoga of Sri T. Krishnamacharya | £295 | £95 |
| October 10th. Afternoon. 3 hours. | Mantra Yoga. | £35 | £15 |
| October 10th. Evening. 1h 45 mins. | Vinyasa Krama Yoga Practice. | £15 | £5 |
| October 11th-14th. 4 days. 24 hours. | Hatha and Raja Yoga Practicum. | £295 | £95 |
Booking Procedure
1) Please download, complete and return a Ramaswami 2012 Booking Form
(Or do feel free to email Steve for a copy of these details and the booking form)
2) You will then receive notification of your reservation together with payment options and details. You can pay by BACS, online or by cheque.
3) Pay deposit to confirm your place.
4) Pay balance by August 10th 2012.
Workshops are non-residential and no meals are provided.
Drinks are provided. The venue has a small kitchen to store/prepare meals.
A list of accommodation and food outlets will be provided on receipt of your deposit.
Ramaswami photo courtesy of Pam Johnson at The Heights School of Yoga, Houston, with gratitude.
