Specialised Precision Training (SPT)
for Yoga Teachers with Senior Teacher David Curtis
Do you feel competent to provide a safe live class having trained online?
What skills as a teacher are needed for teaching safely and effectively in a live class?
What elements are missing from an online training?
These questions and more will be addressed in this Specialised Precision Training (SPT) focusing primarily on teaching methodology and application in a live setting
The principles applied through this training will be used in conjunction with a strong dynamic posture practice rooted in classical theory and decades of application
This training will fill in the gaps for those recently trained online as well as those feeling they need more technical development in their teaching methodology
For yoga postures to remain safe and effective the body must retain postural integration and structural integrity while the mind must be capable of remaining alert yet receptive
What will I learn live that cannot be taught online?
How to read your students body language and adjust your instructions accordingly
When and how to use demonstration to improve communication
How to modify your instructions through verbal queues and body language
Learn to see have your instructions been implemented correctly
How to facilitate space by creating a safe yet challenging environment for personal growth and transformation
Learn to guide your transitions safely and with composure so students do not dissipate energy or focus
Notice the condition of the nervous system, the breath, the sense organs. Was the posture practiced in such a way as to maintain ahimsa
Looking around the room learn to draw instructions from what needs to be corrected
Learn to teach to what you see
Teaching Methodology and Application
Learn to apply the Principles of Practice in a live class:
The Law of Compensation: Understanding the path of least resistance – created by blockages, poor posture and muscular tension which can lead to imbalances and injury in the body. Learn how to address these imbalances and ‘see’ what needs to be aligned and activated from the 4th dimensional perspective
Bones: See from the bones – When bones are aligned there is little muscular effort. Bones are meant to support the body weight and muscles are meant to hold the bones in place. When they don’t there will be imbalances in muscular effort to compensate for misalignment, creating hardness and contraction in the muscles. This can lead to chronic pain and compensatory issues in the musculoskeletal system
Dual Action: To create and maintain stability in the joints most actions and instructions require an equal but opposing action. Observe the effect of instructions on the whole body and link your instructions with dual actions to create stability and intelligence. Learn to link your instructions around the planes of the body e.g., front-back (femurs back/sacrum in) understanding what to say and when to say it based on what you see in front of you
Movement Versus Action: Movement involves little internal control and use the big muscle groups. Asymmetry is not recognised or adjusted. Action initiates a movement with internal levers which require muscles of postural integration to maintain structural integrity. One must know how to act internally to minimize risk of injury and compensation. The body must be taught these internal levers as mantras of alignment to insure a safe yoga practice and long-term effectiveness
Control versus Surrender: Organs of Actions and Perception – Through the relationship we have with the body and each yoga posture our practice shows us how we deal with problems and resistance. Equalling important as teaching the structural integrity of a pose is to work with the practice of releasing or ‘undoing’ what is unnecessary. Striking a balance between softening the organs of perception and directing guidance skilfully where needed
Modifications Versus Variations: Learn when and how to modify a pose when a student has difficulty or for therapeutic purposes – this may mean a simpler version or use of a prop. Variations should teach a particular action relevant to the classical asana and not purely for entertainment. Subtle individual adjustments or actions are required to make internal corrections necessary to restore balance and symmetry
Stable versus Moving: The mind generally moves between past and future – when practicing we are most interested in where we are going. Bringing attention back to where we came from creates a stable foundation upon which to move forward
SPT Applications for Posture Practice:
* Hands-on adjustments:
Learn what level of touch and adjustment is appropriate and in what postures. A physical adjustment can have a more positive impact on the students practice than a verbal instruction however it must be appropriate to the individuals needs and applied in the right manner
* Restorative Yoga:
Incorrect use of props and bolsters can lead to serious discomfort or potential injury if the students lack the knowledge for the correct use of body position and prop support. Learn the correct use of bolsters, blankets, and props in relation to the variety of restorative postures and apply it to the various body types and abilities you will encounter in a live class
* Sequencing for Beginner\Mixed level classes:
Learn to understand the appropriate level of activities and their modifications in creating an effective and safe sequence for your students. Understanding the function of each activity is paramount to the evolution of an effective yoga practice Learn the safest and most effective level of application for the following movements:
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Squatting, Lunging
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Bending Forward, Bending Back
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Weighing, Pumping
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Standing, Sitting
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Twisting, Balancing
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Lying on side, Lying on back
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Preparations for Inverting