Find Your Authentic Expression

“Authenticity. . . Depth. . . Transformation”

Why is Yoga and Yoga Training considered a spiritual practice in the ShambhavAnanda School? How is it different from Health Club Yoga and Trainings?

Hatha Yoga in the ShambhavAnanda Yoga tradition is more than physical exercises; it is part of a comprehensive system that can lead to the experience of the innate perfection within each of us. We teach and practice hatha yoga in the context of the Siddha yoga tradition as taught by our Guru, Swami Muktananda. Our yoga ashram is part of a 5,000-year-old spiritual tradition which, uses hatha yoga as a means to prepare one’s body and mind for meditation. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning to yoke. The idea is to yoke or harness the body and mind as a path to enlightenment.

Our approach to teaching Yoga includes Patanjali’s yoga Sutras and the eightfold path. These eight steps basically act as guidelines on how to live a meaningful and purposeful life. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct and self-discipline; they direct attention toward one’s health; and they help us to acknowledge the spiritual aspects of our nature.
Within our teacher training students are taught proper alignment of the body as a means to prepare oneself for proper sitting, learning to quiet the mind and regulate the breath-flow to come into harmony with the body and one’s own inner self or consciousness.

Aspects of ShambhavAnanda Yoga training that are not included in commercial yoga trainings:

1) Arrive at the ashram and begin practice of yoga stretches, pranayama (breathing techniques to quiet the mind and enliven the body), sacred mantras or aphorisms which remind us of our true inner nature which in yoga is described as Sat-Chit-Ananda or Being, Consciousness and Bliss. We repeat the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” which means I bow with respect to Shiva or the conscious energy of the universe. I also respect the divine in you.
2) We include Seva or selfless service as a part of our training. This involves giving back and being of service.
3) We include instruction on the subtle body system of chakras and energy centers and how to awaken and purify the 7 main chakras.
4) We teach purification practices including negative tension release.
5) We teach visualizations as part of meditation practice for both Buddhist and Hindu pujas and sadhanas.
6) Meditation is part of our daily routine and training.
7) We teach students the Guru Gita – an ancient Sanskrit mantra consisting of 182 verses followed by Arati, waving of lights, and silent meditation. The practice takes 90 minutes and is done every morning at the ashram. Teacher trainers are not expected to come daily.
8) We teach the importance of a Guru or spiritual teacher and a spiritual lineage.
9) We teach respect for all religions, races or ethnicity and gender or sexual orientation. All people are viewed as having Buddha nature or consciousness.
10) We practice Medicine Buddha practice to heal oneself and to benefit others with physical mental and emotional afflictions.
11) We teach Sanskrit language as the Sanskrit names and mantras are believed to have Matrika Shakti or the spiritual power of words.
12) We teach and practice Buddhist and Yogic mantras for mental purification and to train the mind.
13) We teach compassion and kindness as the path of helping others.
14) We find it extremely beneficial for students to be on retreat while studying so that they are immersed in the yoga lifestyle throughout their studies.
15) We teach Vedic fire ceremony, one of the oldest purification practices from Hinduism and Buddhism.

Are all of our students taking hatha yoga to become enlightened?

No, while that is our path and our religion (to become enlightened) the benefits of yoga are far reaching. Our graduates have used Yoga and Meditation to work with:

• Veterans suffering from PTSD.
• School teachers who incorporate yoga and mindfulness exercises into their classroom to help kids deal with stress and anxiety. One of our graduates teaches inner-city kids in Boston.
• Our teachers work with seniors to increase their flexibility and peace of mind.
• Our teachers offer classes at universities giving tools to help students with the pressures of academic and social life.
• Some graduates simply use the training to go deeper into their own spiritual practice.

Not all graduates use hatha yoga as a path to enlightenment or as their primary religion. Hinduism and the practice of yoga and meditation do not conflict with Christianity or Judaism or any religion – they encompass all religions!

Graduate Experiences
“I have more confidence in my abilities to be a mindful and effective teacher. When I first started this journey, I wanted to share my love for yoga. That’s still true today, although that goal has been compounded to mean so much more. Through the practice, I wish to move my students to a more conscious state of peace. Getting to know yourself is where the real shift occurs. I’ve learned that solitary self-reflection and sitting in meditation is the real catalyst for change. My spirit is renewed and I feel a wealth of love I’d like to share and spread. I’ve always been a skeptic so I came into this with some resistance. My blinders are off and I see firsthand the benefits and joys a healthy yogic lifestyle can bring. I’m eager to learn more about ShambhavAnanda yoga and to teach!” – Amy, Level 1 August 2017 graduate

“When I came to yoga training I was looking for a change. I had been struggling with the big dynamic changes I’d experienced over the last few years and was feeling overwhelmed. My inner knowing had been nudging me toward the training for over a year. You could call my hesitation resistance, but I didn’t understand how a yoga training could shake me out of my funk. I felt I already had a lot of tools to work with, meditation, etc. I had been feeling like a leaky boat at sea taking on water. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d stay afloat! All the things I had been trying to plug the holes with weren’t working. What finally started to seal up my leaky boat…it was everything in the training, and for that I’m so grateful. I’m more equipped for life’s challenges, and feel lucky to now have the ability to share my passion for yoga with others.” – Stefanie, Level 1 graduate August 2017

“This training has been a wonderful opportunity for transformation. I have recognized my tendency to resist certain challenges and the ways that I tend to distract myself. I feel more confident in my abilities to stay present and aware to anything that arises in my life. In any moment I have the capacity to feel my breath at my heart center and trust my intuitive “knowing” of what most truly nourishes.” – Esther, Level 1 graduate May 2017

“I chose this training at Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram because of their long time tradition and the respect for the mindfulness that naturally and historically goes along with yoga. Being immersed in this community, even just for the days of training, really brings a wave of tranquility that you can learn from and bring back into your daily life. I found my spiritual practice strengthen and develop into a strong daily practice including yoga, meditation, reciting mantras, etc. All of our teachers were amazing, open, and focused on helping us grow and achieve our goals. I know that they will always be there for me to reach back to as friends and mentors. I feel immense gratitude for everything that Eldo has brought into my life.” – Julia, Level 1 graduate January 2016

“ShambhavAnanda Eldorado yoga teacher training is a well-rounded program encompassing the true meaning of Yoga as union. I found the teacher trainers to be thoughtful and knowledgeable instructors coming from a long-standing tradition. They created a supportive environment in which to learn and helped me understand the physical and energetic components of the asanas as well as the philosophy surrounding each branch of yoga. ShambhavAnanda Eldorado stands out among the many choices for yoga schools. I feel secure in my teaching knowing that my training here has prepared me to guide students in a safe and meaningful practice” – Leslie, Level 1 graduate May 2015

“It was a joy to complete my teacher training through ShambhavAnanda Yoga Eldorado.  The structure gives you the space to go as deep as you wish, while ensuring that you always cover the essentials.  The emphasis on the deep roots of yoga, and the power of meditation, were key reasons why I chose this training.  I teach today using the lesson planning techniques I learned at Eldorado, and enjoy working with a wide range of students in my classes” – Brett, Level 1 graduate 2013

“I chose this training over others out there because I wanted an opportunity to grow spiritually and really deepen my practice in Yoga.  ShambhavAnanda Yoga Teacher Trainings are an invitation to become grounded in a rich spiritual tradition within the context of an active spiritual community. You can feel the heart in the instructors, the materials, and even in the location! If you are looking for depth in your practice and in your teaching, this is the place” – Rachel, Level 1 graduate 2012

“The ShambhavAnanda School of Yoga Level 2 was a wonderful training. The teacher trainers are extremely knowledgable and give undivided attention to each of their students. I learned level two asanas, pranayamas, and how to teach a multilevel yoga class. I enjoyed the yoga philosophy and having discussions during the teachings.  Not only did I learn the above but I also learned how to truly embody being a teacher and teach from a heart space.” – Janis, Level 2 SYTT graduate 2014

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