Teacher Training

PADMA MEDITATION AND YOGA PHILOSOPHY TEACHER TRAINING

We’re thrilled to announce that we are commencing the Padma Meditation Teacher Training program this spring at Semperviva Yoga in Vancouver, BC, from April 13 to June 5, 2012.

Join us and become a certified Meditation Teacher!

We’re also offering this program in Toronto at Tula West Yoga from October16 to November 11, 2012.

Please read details of the program here, email us at padmaworkshops@gmail.com for information,  and then go to Semperviva Yoga to register for this spring session. For Toronto registration, please email us here.

Thank you for your interest in joining this exciting and innovative teacher training program. Please note that everyone is welcome to attend the first two Signature Workshops, regardless of wanting to complete the Teacher Training Program.

WHY A MEDITATION TEACHER TRAINING?

The Padma Yoga Meditation and Yoga Philosophy Teacher Training Program was created for those who want to enhance their inner strength and calm, achieve the sense of freedom, have focus, enjoy self-confidence, inspire creativity and to be excellent leaders in any field. Whether you envision yourself as a teacher or not, you’ll learn invaluable skills for being happy, and be able to help others.

Padma designed this unique and inspirational program to offer more people the chance to learn meditation, and then to be able to share this life skill with others. These workshops are not affiliated with any religious organization, and are designed to be secular and practical, as well as deeply fulfilling and effective. Padma offers a personally authentic approach to teaching meditation, outside of any one particular denomination. She presents a secular approach to meditation and reveals its benefits as a way to access deep, real joy.

This 108-hour Level 1 program is Canada’s highest quality series of workshops of Continuing Education for Yoga Teachers. Padma also offers Meditation and Yoga Philosophy components that can be included into Yoga Teacher Training Programs being offered at studios across Canada and America. Email to inquire if you are offering a Yoga Teacher Training and would like Padma to enhance your education program with expert meditation and yoga philosophy workshops.

WHAT MAKES THIS  PROGRAM SO UNIQUE?

Padma developed this program after 30 years of yoga and 25 years of advanced meditation study. The Padma Yoga Meditation and Yoga Philosophy Teacher Training is soundly based in classical meditation and yogic wisdom, as well as designed to suit modern culture. While not being a Hatha Yoga teacher training program, there are classical hatha yoga exercises and purifying yogic techniques included in the workshops. These were originally designed to assist meditation and Padma has carefully selected the best practices that support a meditation. The program includes a thorough overview of  Meditation Philosophy Studies, based mostly in Advait Vedant and Yogic thought, plus including some Buddhist philosophy and many meditation skills. Students learn to teach the art and science of meditation and to deepen and refine their own personal practice. The program lays the foundation for a deep personal practice and the ability to offer meditation to others.

This series of workshops is a unique and revolutionary fusion of western stress-management skills with scientific research, combined with the time-proven techniques of eastern wisdom, awareness and wellness practices. Effective skills help individuals to recognize stress symptoms and to make educated choices for managing the present moment, plus avoiding stress in the future. These time-tested practices unfold self-confidence, clear inner freedom, and eliminate doubt, worry and anxiety. Padma Yoga Meditation includes a select variety of meditation and yogic techniques, from simple to more advanced. The teachings are thorough, fun, simple and intensely effective.

You are welcome to take single workshops on their own without obligation to complete a teacher training, or take all six workshops and complete the whole program. Stay in touch as sections of this program also become available online.

HOW MANY LEVELS OF TRAINING CAN I COMPLETE WITH PADMA?

LEVEL 1. A 108-hour program consisting of six Signature Workshops: The four Signature workshops plus the two Teacher Training workshops. This is being offered in 2012.

LEVEL 2. An additional 192 hours of study and practice with Padma, totalling 300 hours.

LEVEL 3. Another 200 hours of study and practice, mentoring plus practice teaching with Padma, totalling 500 hours.

UPON COMPLETION YOU WILL:

  • have an established personal meditation practice
  • understand yoga meditation philosophy
  • know what meditation is and what it is not
  • identify sources and symptoms of stress
  • be comfortable in long, silent, sitting meditation
  • be a truly dynamic teacher
  • know yogic practices for the body and for the breath
  • conduct guided meditations and understand their purpose, benefits and applications
  • assess students in order to best select the exact meditation technique suited to them
  • demonstrate meditation and breath techniques
  • be aware of some teaching precautions
  • offer knowledge and skills through multiple teaching methodologies
  • use wisdom and experience to inform discussions and question and answer sessions
  • communicate clearly, confidently and professionally with students
  • be knowledgeable of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras
  • chant key verses of the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit
  • chant essential Upanishadic Mantras in Sanskrit
  • skillfully organize and market your classes
  • be a part of a wide community of meditators and respected teachers
  • receive a diploma as a Padma Yoga Meditation Teacher, Level One: 108 hours
  • participate in yearly Meditation Teacher Training re-certification and upgrade programs
  • be able to proceed with Level Two Meditation Teacher Training

CURRICULUM

TECHNIQUES & TRAINING:

  • Meditation skills, applications, variations, benefits and precautions.
  • Meditation practices including inner awareness, breath-work, mantra, chanting, concentration, mindfulness, awareness-enhancing techniques, and techniques from Advait Vedaant, Zen, Vipassana, Mindfulness, Mind-Management, Tantra Yog, Kriya Yoga, and Raaj Yoga.
  • Mantra Yoga, including the chants Pranav OM, Gayatri Mantra and Om Purnam Adaha.
  • Classical Hatha Yoga postures that enhance meditation, health and wellness.
  • Meditation breathing techniques, Praanaayaam.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY:

  • In-depth exploration of what makes an excellent meditation teacher, utilizing various up-to-date professional teaching and coaching methods.
  • How to observe, assist, adjust, coach, facilitate and instruct groups and private students.
  • Class design and making an income as a teacher.
  • Understand various learning styles of students. Includes an education in Coaching, Adult Education and Leadership training.

PHYSIOLOGY:

  • The physiology of the subtle bodies : Chakras, Nadis, Mudras and subtle bodies observed in meditation.
  • Awareness of health practices for the physical body, including yogic diet  and exercise.
  • Purification practices.
  • The process of ego manifestation.
  • The powers of mental concentration.
  • Modern Scientific research on meditation and the effects on the personality, stress levels and on the physical brain as observed by fMRI and MRI scans.

PHILOSOPHY:

  • Sanskrit, Dev Nagri script, Philosophy of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita, and aspects of Zen Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Vedic Vision of Oneness, Tantra Yoga, Ayurveda Health.
  • Modern Stress-Management, mind-management, Yoga Psychology, Meditation Therapy.

ADDITIONAL PRACTICUM:

  • 60 hours minimum at home meditation practice.
  • Demonstrate teaching as well as observing and assisting in classes taught by others.

LEVEL 1  IS THE FOLLOWING SIX WORKSHOPS ALTOGETHER ( #1 through #6). Please See the Workshops Page for full description of these 4  Signature Workshops.

    1. FOUNDATIONS OF PADMA MEDITATION: Learn healing yoga and meditation. (12 hours)
    2. RELAX AND RENEW: Relieve stress and refresh your soul. (12 hours)
    3. FOCUS & EFFICIENCY: Maximize efficiency; Minimize effort. (12 hours)
    4. END STRUGGLES: Understand your mind and ego. Have a clear mind. (12 hours)

    PLUS THE TWO TEACHER TRAINING WORKSHOPS  of Level 1:

      #5. LIVING WISDOM: Classical meditation philosophy and practice. Explore classical meditation philosophy.* Exclusive to the Training Program and only for students who have completed the first four Signature workshops. (42 hours)

      This workshop is presented as a week-long intensive retreat concentrating on more in-depth philosophy and longer hours of meditation practice. Every day is structured as an intensive study and practice workshop. There will be hours of discussion, study, dialogue, silent meditation, sanskrit studies and chanting. There will be overviews of the studies covered in the four signature workshops, synthesizing the information and delving deeper into the ideas. Further topics will also be introduced, such as more sanskrit, chanting, and deeper insights will be explored and discussed. There will be time for a private interview with Padma during this week.
      As well as diving into deeper studies, there will be an exploration of how all of this information and practice is relevant to our daily living as well! You’ll discover how meditation can be apart of daily living and the effects it will have on you and your future students over time.

      #6. LEARN TO TEACH: Learn the art of teaching Padma Meditation. * Exclusive to the Training Program and only for students who have completed the first four Signature Workshops plus the #5 LIVING WISDOM Workshop. (18 hours)

      This three-day workshop focuses on the art, wisdom and skills of being a great teacher. Not only will we go over several pedagogical methods, you’ll come to see how specifically to teach the fine art of meditation to others. You’ll become confident to deliver a short course on Padma Meditation and be supplied with a manual to help structure your courses.
      You’ll also learn how to produce a meditation class and market it to new students.
      All Padma Meditation materials are Copyrighted. You will earn the chance to deliver Introductory Padma Meditation Workshops.

      DATES of full Level 1 Program:

      MATERIALS:

      • Books: You will be expected to read a required reading list. There will be one suggested Patanjali Yoga Sutras Book and one Bhagavad Gita text to read or buy for Workshop #5.
      • DVDs: You will be expected to purchase required dvds for the workshops (at wholesale price).
      • Manuals: Manuals including curriculum materials for the Teacher Training will be for sale. All Manuals are Copyrighted to Padma Yoga and the materials in them is to be re-used only with written permission.
      • Audios: mp3 downloads of the sanskrit chants will be available for you to buy.

      COURSE ADVISOR and CONTINUING SUPPORT:

      As you take the Signature Workshops and the two Teacher Training Workshops, and afterwards as well, you’ll be able to email to Padma for support, answers to questions that arise and information. In some cases, an apprentice teacher or assistant will answer your questions.

      • Skype classes will also be available for your continuing studies after graduation.

      CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

      • 100% attendance to Workshops.
      • Complete home Practicum.
      • Complete an essay on a given topic.
      • Demonstrate teaching to students.
      • Write a final written exam.
      • Pass an interview exam.

      CERTIFICATION: Once you graduate you will qualify for a Certificate of Padma Meditation Teacher, Level 1.
      Level 2, an additional 192 hours, and Level 3, and additional 200 hours,  are being offered from 2013.

      REGISTRY: Your contact information will be posted on Padma’s website as a Padma Meditation graduate, certified by Padma to teach meditation.

      TUITIONS: Teacher Training Program Level 1

      WORKSHOPS
      LEVEL 1      		 FULL PRICE* EARLY-BIRD PRICE* EARLY-BIRD SAVINGS
      #1 FOUNDATIONS $430.00 $345.00 $85.00
      #2 RELAX & RENEW $430.00 $345.00 $85.00
      #3 EFFICIENCY $430.00 $345.00 $85.00
      #4 END STUGGLES $430.00 $345.00 $85.00
      #5 LIVING WISDOM $1500.00 $1215.00 $285.00
      #6 LEARN TO TEACH $645.00 $520.00 $125.00
      TOTAL TUITION $3865.00 $3115.00 $750.00
      ALL PRE-PAID IN FULL $2770.00

      *Pre-Paying in full for the whole Teacher Training Program is the MOST economical method. Paying Early Bird for each Workshop is the second most economical way to pay.

      *Prices do not include tax.

      *Prices are in Canadian dollars.

      *Prices include Workshop Tuitions only.

      *Transportation, accommodations and food are extra. Variable options will be offered by the Workshop Host to suit your personal preferences.

      For more information please email padma@padmayoga.ca or go to Semperviva Yoga College to Register for the Spring 2012 program in Vancouver. Toronto Autumn 2012 dates are coming soon.

      STUDENTS WORDS

      “I’m lucky to have found you and meditation in my life. Doing what you do touches people all over the world and changes their lives forever.”

      “The workshops increased my understanding and awareness of my personal practice and allowed me to go to a deeper place within myself.”

      “I value the effects of the benefits of yoga meditation. It helps me with dealing with a chronic neurological illness & it has made it go into remission.”

      “Every moment was great! But my best take away was how to be established in myself always.”

      “I really enjoyed the balance between postures, study, meditation & socializing with the rest of the participants.”

      “It was very cleansing and BLISSFUL!”

      “Padma is so knowledgeable and has great energy.”

      “The workshop increased understanding and awareness of my personal practice and allowed me to go to a deeper place within myself.”

      “The variation of activities kept things fresh & gave time to absorb what was learned.”