Shamanic Yoga Institute (CYA–RYS Gold Member)

• E-mail: chris.selda@gmail.com
• Phone: 650 815 9123/604 815 0948
• Address: 37776 2nd Ave.
• Location: Squamish, British Columbia Canada
• Website: www.shamanicyoga.ca
• Service Offered: Shamanic Yoga Institute
• Type of Certification Granted: 300 hr. Yoga Siromani
• Years in Operation: N/A
• Date Joined: January 05, 2015

School Info

The Shamanic Yoga Institute is a school based in the ancient practices of Yoga, Shamanism and Expressive Arts.

Shamanic Yoga is a the ancient practice of Yoga placed in an opening of shamanic sacred space inviting and invoking transformation and the deepening of the heart of our spiritual practice.

Nature and landscape are woven into the dialogue invoking the students and the natural world to co create their relationship to one another and thus to power and unity. Breathing techniques, asana, mantra, song and energy work are all used along with journeys and visualizations to invite a conversation with the unknown throughout classes.

Shamanic yoga is concerned with connection, fluidity and proper framework as guiding principles of the work.

To participate fully in one's life is the promise of shamanic yoga.

The vision of Shamanic Yoga is to take the power of both yoga and shamanistic practices together to create a strong venue for transformation.

Tools for connection,self change & growth are offered in this practice.

Shamanic yogis and yoginis are activists, artists, change agents and warriors! Sages, elders and infants welcome!
Embrace the unknown and turn fear to love, experience trust. Dialogue with the divine in your yoga class.

Deepen the Heart of your Yoga
Shamanic Yoga

Course Outline

Shamanic Yoga Teacher Training 300 Hr. Curriculum and Learning Outcomes

Techniques, Training and Practice 160 hours (135 hrs. contact, 25 hrs. non-contact)
150 Hours of Contact with Primary Shamanic Yoga Instructors includes the guided practice and analytical training in how to teach and practice the techniques of:

Pranayama
Shamanic breathing and traditional Yogic Pranayama

Ritual
Opening and closing sacred space, holding space and creating a bhav

Spiritual Connection through nature and nature based dialoguing

Mantra
Invocation through sacred sound using chanting and mantra.

Meditation + Prayer /Presence + Awareness
Sitting, walking, lying down and standing, finding one’s centre and still point, dialoguing with the Divine through disclosure, gratitude and metta. A strong emphasis will be put on the practice of meditation and prayer, thus presence and awareness.

Journeying
Participants will practice journeying with rattles and drums to unseen worlds retrieving power animals and soulpieces for the earth and each other.

Asana
There are five categories of Asana. The trainee will practice and learn the key poses in each category of asana (standing poses, forward bends, backbends, twists, and inversions) and will begin to develop a relationship to both the form and the function of these different categories.
Trainees will also achieve comprehension of the alignment maps for each of the five categories of asana through observation and experience of how the poses in each category share a common foundation, and how to build upon this foundation.

Building and Using a Mesa
A Mesa is a personal medicine bundle, a Shaman’s Alter and map of personal transformation using stones that have undergone an energetic process of reclaiming personal power by the individual and weaving the land into their energy body.

Ceremony and Energetic Rites & Transmissions
Fire ceremonies, songs, bands of power, ayni karpis (archetypical animals) , healers rites, seers rites, earth keepers ceremony, keeper of the mountains ceremony, star keepers ceremony, solo fire- commitment to Spirit Vision Quest.

Outside Time
Expressive Arts modalities: sand-paintings, poetry, narrative drama, soul dolls, masks, medicine shields, song - PLAY, PLAY and more PLAY

Practicum: 40 hrs. (20 hrs. contact/20 hrs. non-contact)

Learning Outcomes:
Practice teaching as the lead instructor (does not include assisting, observing or giving feedback)*
Receiving and giving feedback
Observing others teaching
Assisting students while someone else is teaching
Daily practice of asanas, pranayamas, kriyas, chanting, mantra, meditation and other traditional yoga and Shamanistic practices.

Teaching Methodology: 40 hours (20 hrs. contact/20 hrs. non-contact)
The Teaching Methodology category covers a broad overview and analysis of teaching methods, rather than how to practice or teach specific techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Communication skills: Use of Language and Voice
Active vs. passive language and the effective use of each; positive and conscious communication, habitual speech and communication patterns as well as how to project your voice.

Time management and classroom organization.

How to address the specific needs of individuals and demographics.

Principles of demonstration, observation, assisting and refining alignment.

Teaching styles and the student learning process
Identifying your dominant style, and learning how to teach to a variety of different learners

Self-care practices

Physical and Energetic Cueing and Adjustments

Teaching Surrender and Letting Go

Energy Work
Practice of Soul Retrieval, yanachakwe( the transference of power), chanting, chakra cleansing, chakra illumination, tracking one’s destiny line

Business aspects of teaching yoga (including marketing and legal)

Homework (20 hrs. non-contact):
Running a fire ceremony, being a fire keeper, observing a public shamanic yoga class with written report, holding a community service event, presentation through the arts of how to hold truth and strengthen one’s will power, assisting in a shamanic yoga class.

Anatomy and Physiology: 20 hours (15 hrs. contact/ 5 hrs. non-contact)

Learning Outcomes:
Human physical anatomy and physiology (bodily systems, organs, etc.)
Energetic Yogic and Shamanic anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.).
Includes both the study of anatomy and physiology along with its application to yoga practice (benefits, contraindications, healthy movement patterns, etc.).

5 hrs. Non-Contact
Students will present a homework assignment where they will be given piece of the body to teach to the rest of the group.

Philosophy, Karma Yoga, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers: 40 hours (30 hrs. contact/10 hrs. non-contact)

Learning Outcomes:
The study of yoga philosophies and traditional texts, such as but not limited to: The Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika & Bhagavad Gita

Honoring our Ancestors and the lineage of both Yoga and Mountain Shamanism

Mapping our Landscape

Principle of Peace

Oral transmission of ancient teachings

Yoga lifestyle, such as the precept of non-violence (ahimsa), and the concepts of dharma and karma

Ethics for yoga teachers, such as those involving teacher student relationships and community

Understanding the value of teaching yoga as a service, land stewardship and being of service to others (seva)

Destiny Retrieval

Soul’s Purpose

*Bringing Gifts to the Feast*- each student will be asked to make a final presentation at our last direction Potlach. The requirements are to present the integration of their shamanic yoga journey and what that has shown them about who they are and what they have come in the world to share.

Non-Contact: A minimum of 5 karma yoga classes taught by each student is required to graduate.
A written report on participation in a Kirtan, Ashram, Temple, Shamanic Ceremony or act of service.

Graduation Requirements for Certificate of Yoga Siromani: Teacher of Shamanic Yoga:

*All four directions/immersions are attended
*Active participation in circle discussions
*Ability to give and receive feedback
*Ability to open and close sacred space in ceremony
*All ceremonies and transmissions participated in
*Built full mesa
*Ability to articulate lineage of yoga and mountain shamanism
*Completion of four expressive arts objectives: My life as a River, Soul Doll, Mask & Medicine Shield
*Completion of four homework fire ceremonies
*Completion of teaching 5 karma yoga classes
*Observation and written reflection on 3 public Shamanic Yoga classes
*Completion of all non-contact hours homework
*Final presentation

Grading is pass or fail based on completion of course requirements and quality of participation.

TOTAL HOURS: 300 hours (165 hrs. contact/55 hrs. non-contact)

Graduates

Leyla Aeschilimann (Class of 2018)
Kristen Batjer (Class of 2018)
Sarah Rose Bergland (Class of 2015)
Jillian Bergsten (Class of 2016)
Kelsey Bjur (Class of 2019)
Cailin Blanchard (Class of 2017)
Natasha Bubershy (Class of 2018)
Jully Buckley (Class of 2018)
Megan Bulloch (Class of 2016)
Nina Campbell (Class of 2018)
Andrea Celestina (Class of 2017)
Karen Clarke (Class of 2017)
Alix Cooper (Class of 2019)
Marijke de Zwager (Class of 2015)
Ashley Dodd (Class of 2019)
Caitlin Dowie (Class of 2019)
Blaire Embrey (Class of 2019)
Jules Emmerson (Class of 2019)
Treena Fleming (Class of 2015)
Verena Frutiger (Class of 2017)
Nova Gem (Class of 2019)
Michael Genovese (Class of 2015)
Wanda Lee Groetelaars (Class of 2016)
Nikki Hainstock (Class of 2019)
Laura Hasted (Class of 2015)
Glen Hearns (Class of 2015)
Peter Hight (Class of 2015)
Ashley Hooper (Class of 2015)
Tracy Hopkins (Class of 2018)
Lauren Johnson (Class of 2016)
Sue Jovanovic (Class of 2016)
Jessica Kelly (Class of 2016)
Nate Kelly (Class of 2017)
Abby Kenny (Class of 2017)
Shannon Lawrence (Class of 2016)
Veronika Lelyavko (Class of 2018)
Alysia Livesey (Class of 2015)
Cara Long (Class of 2015)
Matt Lovick (Class of 2016)
Brittany Lyons (Class of 2019)
Jaqueline Macey (Class of 2018)
Darlene Maloney (Class of 2018)
Bridget McClarty (Class of 2016)
Chelsie McCutcheon (Class of 2017)
Janeta McNeil (Class of 2019)
Jolene Milan (Class of 2016)
Larissa Montgomery (Class of 2018)
Diego Montoya (Class of 2019)
Nadia Munarolo-Kurjata (Class of 2018)
Hilda Nyquest (Class of 2015)
Clodagh O'Connell (Class of 2017)
Drea Onofrio (Class of 2016)
Amanda Oster (Class of 2015)
Gin Perry (Class of 2018)
Tara Pisonnault (Class of 2017)
Rochelle Quarry (Class of 2016)
Colleen Reid (Class of 2015)
Jacinthe Rivet (Class of 2019)
Amanda Rose (Class of 2015)
Heather Royal (Class of 2016)
Sarah Saunders (Class of 2016)
Susan Shrimpton (Class of 2015)
Sarah Jane Thompson (Class of 2019)
Cathy Van Aert (Class of 2016)
Amanda Whitehead (Class of 2015)
Lydia Williams (Class of 2016)
Debra Williams (Class of 2016)
Amanda Woods (Class of 2015)