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SPECIAL UPDATE: New group format to begin September 2010. These group meetings will occur the 1st & 3rd weekends of every month beginning in Sept. Meetings are Friday's 4-7pm, Saturdays 1-5pm & Sundays 9am-5pm. Currently enrolled students are invited to attend and private tutorials remain as an option. Registration has begun.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About Dancing Shiva_________________________p.2
About Mas Vidal_____________________________p.2
Program Faculty_____________________________p.2
Course Background___________________________p.3
Private Tutorials/Group Study/DVD_____________p.3
Study Questions_____________________________p.4
Testing____________________________________p.4
Yoga Asana Practice_________________________p.4
Karma Yoga & Clinical Internship______________p.4-5
Workshops_________________________________p.5
Attendance Policy___________________________p.5
Examinations & Certifications__________________p.5-6
Certification Outside of Los Angeles_____________p.6
Required Texts______________________________p.6
Course Curriculum___________________________p.7-8-9
Interview___________________________________p.9
Ayurvedic Consultation________________________p.9
Tuition and fees______________________________p.10
Payment Options_____________________________p.10
Discounts___________________________________p.11
Refund Policy________________________________p.11
Application__________________________________p.12
Credit Card Authorization Form__________________p.14
ABOUT DANCING SHIVA
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Dancing Shiva Yoga & Ayurveda Center (DSYA) is dedicated to the practice, education and lifestyle of the great Vedic Sciences of Yoga & Ayurveda. DSYA is the home of an original style of yoga based on authentic Yogic and Ayurvedic principles and is the first center in the west to offer a complete curriculum aimed at achieving a balance of the Ayurvedic science of tri-dosha. DSYA also offers an array of Ayurvedic therapies and specializes in Pancha Karma and Ayurvedic bodywork. Additionally we have a bookstore and an herbal emporium with the highest quality products for everyone’s needs. DSYA is the original institution of higher learning for yoga and ayurveda in the United States and our small bookstore serves as a resource for many of the necessary texts and literature for deep study into these sciences and the broader wisdom of the vedantic philosophy. The center also facilitates many workshops, lectures and the spiritual environment to practice, study, intern and experience yoga and ayurveda first hand.
ABOUT MAS VIDAL
He is the Spiritual Director of Dancing Shiva Yoga and Ayurveda. The original center in the United States dedicated to the practice, education and lifestyle of the great Vedic sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda. He teaches group classes and conducts workshops and retreats internationally and as an Ayurvedic Practitioner maintains an active clinical practice. He teaches dynamic and integral classes that integrate the therapeutic wisdom of Ayurveda with the Raja yoga system. Dancing Shiva is the first center in the west to offer a complete integrative system aimed at achieving a balance life based on the science of tri-dosha. His formative studies came through the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, (the father of Yoga in the west), which lead him to become a Kriyaban disciple. His Yoga and Ayurveda gurukul teacher and mentor is David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri) of the American Institute of Vedic Studies.
PROGRAM FACULTY
Mas Vidal who is the director of the center created the curriculum for this program and also wrote the program manual. The program is taught by him and is designed in the traditional “gurukul” format of a direct teacher-student learning experience.
Ayurvedic Doctors - Directly to us from the mother country of India we have several Vaidyas (doctors) that visit each year. They teach workshops, intensives and offer students private tutorials and consultations. They are Dr. Subhash Ranade, Dr. Avinash Lele, Dr. Phadke and several others.
Guest Speakers - Special guest form various fields will join the program bringing their respective wisdom and experience to the students. Vamadeva Dr. David Frawley, Sanskrit Mantra expert “Namadeva” Thomas Ashley Farrand, World-renowned Vedic Astrologer Chakrapani Ullal and other recognized friends of Dancing Shiva.
COURSE BACKGROUND
Namaskar and welcome to the Yoga and Ayurveda Teacher Certification and Lifestyle Enhancement Program. This course is designed in a traditional or gurukul form of study that allows the student the opportunity to study on an individual basis at his or her own pace. It is an OPEN ENTRY enrollment, which means that anyone can enroll and begin study at anytime. It also establishes learning in a direct personal way that can provide for a deep transformational experience. This is important as each student/practitioner comes from different backgrounds and may require more time with certain sections of the course material and with the practical exercises. The course material is structured in a condensed yet specific format to allow the student a clear perspective of how the yoga and ayurveda traditions can be practiced and integrated into our modern lives. The program study is divided up into several aspects to provide a comprehensive approach to learning yoga and ayurveda in its traditional and authentic form, through a direct interpersonal experience. The course material is designed to be completed over six months time but can be accommodated to the individual’s needs and background and may be completed in more or less time. The importance lies in understanding the material in a manner that aids the student/practitioner in the development of his or her sadhana/spiritual lifestyle disciplines. Essentially if you are living it, you understand it. These disciplines are the adaptation of core principles that both yoga and ayurveda are founded on. Both yoga and ayurveda culminate in the practice of meditation; therefore the student is encouraged to develop a meditation practice that is complimentary to the material. These sciences consistently endorse the surest means of self healing and self realization. The cultivation of sadhana (spiritual disciplines) provides the foundation for becoming a Yoga teacher, Yoga and Ayurveda Therapist or an Ayurvedic Practitioner, and can be a great supplement for healers in alternative fields of natural medicine. This particular course is the foundational material required for enrollment into the Advanced Yoga & Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Practitioner Programs offered at Dancing Shiva.
PRIVATE TUTORIALS / GROUP STUDY / DVD
For each course section, students are required to schedule a 90-120 minute tutorial with Mas. If Mas is not available sessions can also be scheduled with Johanna Bennett. These should be scheduled after the reading for that section has been done and before the test is taken. Private tutorial sessions should be done in person or also by telephone only for unique or long-distance circumstances. These tutorials are the core of the instruction given in the program and students can ask questions on the course material and receive additional study recommendations as needed. Much counseling is given in support of each student’s spiritual practice and lifestyle. The other option is pre-scheduled group study sessions that cover certain sections of the course in a group setting. Please ask about these groups that are ongoing and lead by Mas or Johanna. Students often find this enjoyable as each individual poses different questions and perspectives on the topics discussed. DVD’s of each of the twelve course sections are available as an option for those students who live outside of the Los Angeles area. Students are encouraged to correspond via-email with any questions they might have about the program.
STUDY QUESTIONS
At the end of each course section are ten test questions that students should take time to answer without using the course material unless necessary. Once you have taken the time to complete these study questions, you should go back through the material to review each question and how you answered them. These questions are to be done in a Word document format, which includes both the questions (numbered) and the answers. Please e-mail them to
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for correction and comments. In both the study questions and the final test many of the questions are very straightforward, while other questions are designed to encourage introspection and your use of intuition. Please note that some questions may not be specifically answered by reading the material only but rather by digesting it through the practice of meditation or through personal life experience. The course materials only need to awaken the appetite of your higher mind. The rest should come from the slowly expanding wisdom derived directly from a higher consciousness. The practice of writing is an important part of increasing knowledge and will also support your fluidness in sharing this wisdom with others. Read, write and then meditate and slowly the knowledge will become your living presence.
TESTING
Once you have completed all of the program reading, the final test should be completed and e-mailed back to the center in a Word format and should include the test questions with the answer typed just below. The final exam will be returned with comments and notes as well as some specific recommendations with regards to the material and your spiritual practice. The majority of the questions must be answered correctly to receive certification. After the test is completed you should receive it back within approximately two-four weeks. The certificate will be mailed to you. Please be sure to provide a correct mailing address on the test where you would like the certificate mailed.
YOGA ASANA PRACTICE
All students are required to attend a minimum of two yoga classes per week (8 per month or 48 in total over six months) with Mas Vidal or another specialized teacher as specified by Mas. Completing the total number of classes may take more or less time depending on your individual background and direction of study. The yoga asana classes are to build a strong foundation of discipline, learn principles of alignment and to purify your body and mind. Note, additional study and review of specific postures, pranayama, bhandas and meditation techniques are usually done directly with Mas or Johanna in tutorials or group sessions. The program includes six months of unlimited yoga asana membership beginning from the first day of registration.
KARMA YOGA & CLINICAL INTERNSHIP
Karma yoga service (seva) is always welcomed to students interested in immersing themselves in the environment of Yoga and Ayurveda at Dancing Shiva. The authenticity of the Yoga and Ayurveda traditions has been preserved for thousands of years through of the Yoga and Ayurveda traditions has been preserved for thousands of years through
the support of devoted practitioners and through seva, divine service. This is a great way to begin to digest the broad amount of material and knowledge covered in the course. It is best learned slowly and gradually through your own personal experience. Students will also have the option of interning at our Ayurvedic clinic with our staff practitioners and therapists. This is a great way to see and understand how ayurvedic therapies are practiced to restore balance to the doshas and bring an individual’s health back to its natural state through the use of yogic postures and breathing, bodywork, herbs and the ancient treatments of the Pancha Karma system.
WORKSHOPS
All students enrolled in the program are required to attend at least three workshops (of their choice) that are offered monthly at the center. Workshops are two to four hours in length and are not to be confused with “Intensives” which are also offered and provide students a deeper focus of study on specific topics. These workshops are given by our guest teachers who specialize in a particular field or by Mas Vidal. The average cost for the workshop is between 45 - 85 dollars and is to be paid for individually. One day intensives accredit for 2 workshops. These workshops are open to outside guests and are not limited to the students in the program. Please note credit is given only for workshops attended during the time of the program.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Like anything else in life, what you give is what you will get back. The key to advancement on the path of spirit and wellbeing is consistency. It is important to keep continuity of yoga practice, study, meditation and service. It’s not how much you do something but how regularly you do it.
EXAMINATIONS & CERTIFICATION
A great part of knowledge in this program is gained through the experience of the environment: attending practices, workshops and helping out at the center when it is needed (karma yoga). For those students who are interested in teaching yoga, Intro, Basic classes or private sessions with beginners must be taught for a minimum of three to six months before certification is granted. This also depends on class availability. Final certification is based on completion of these five factors:
• Completion study questions at the end of each course section, emailed to Mas for correction and commentary and returned back to you for review.
• Completion of the final exam with true/false, multiple choice and short essay questions, emailed to Mas for correction and commentary and returned back to you for review
• Attendance to the minimum requirement of 48 yoga classes over a six month period. Those in long distance study are required to attend approximately 2 – 3 programs/retreats offered by Mas in various cities or centers throughout the United States of Internationally.
• Completion of a 30-minute practical intensive review with Mas Vidal. This needs to be performed in person and serves to confirm that every individual has a clear understanding of the main themes of the course.
• Attendance to 3 workshops of your choice at Dancing Shiva over a one year period or less. Note: Those that are doing long distanced certification automatically fulfill this requirement by attending programs/retreats or workshops offered by Mas Vidal abroad.
CERTIFICATION OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES
Certain considerations are made for those being certified outside of the Los Angeles area based on the individual’s background and location. Long distanced study is done through viewing the DVD lectures, correspondence via-email and by attending any of the various programs or retreats offered by Mas in various cities or centers. The number of hours offered at these programs or events will vary and may require attending 2-3 events over a 1-2-year period to acquire sufficient direct contact time with Mas Vidal. These hours will be determined on an individual basis by Mas Vidal and offer the individual time to study at their own pace over an extended period of time.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Specific reading assignments are given from the below texts with each program section to support the core materials outlined in the curriculum. These readings are equally important to the program manual. The books can be ordered with the program on an individual basis or as a complete package with the course manual. Note, the course does require the specified texts and authors listed below.
♣ Yoga & Ayurveda by David Frawley
♣ Yoga For Your Type by Frawley/Kozak
♣ Ayurveda, Natures Medicine by David Frawley and Subhash Ranade
♣ Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda
♣ Autobiography Of A Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
COURSE CURRICULUM
PART ONE: HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY
ξ Ancient Texts (Veda’s)
ξ Introduction Yoga & Ayurveda
ξ Vedanta & Samkhya
ξ Understanding the Bhagavad Gita
PART TWO: FOUNDATION & SCIENCE
ξ Tattvas (24 Cosmological Principles)
ξ Yugas (Cycles of Creation)
ξ Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) basic principles
PART THREE: ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE 1
ξ Pancha Maha Bhutas (Five Great Elements)
ξ Gunas (Prime Qualities)
ξ Doshas (Biological Humors)
PART FOUR: ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE 2
ξ Essences
ξ Chakras
ξ Nadis
ξ Kundalini Shakti
ξ Three Shariras (Gross, Astral & Causal)
ξ Karma & Reincarnation
PART FIVE: CLASSICAL STUDY
ξ Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (Ashtanga),
ξ Hatha Yoga Pradipika,
ξ Yoga Lineages
ξ Yoga in America.
PART SIX: TOOLS, APPLICATION & PRACTICE
ξ Asana Purpose & Function
ξ Types of Asana Postures
ξ Salutation to the Sun (Surya Namaskar)
ξ Yoga Practices
ξ Identifying the Doshic Types
ξ Three Bandhas
PART SEVEN: TOOLS, APPLICATION & PRACTICE 2
ξ Mantra
ξ Types of Mantras
ξ Pranayama
ξ Types of Pranayama
ξ Meditation Prayer, Visualization & Affirmations
ξ Preparation for Meditation (Understanding Pratyahara)
PART EIGHT: ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
ξ Dhatus & Malas
ξ Human Body
ξ Spinal Column
ξ Major Systems
ξ Anatomy Part ll (Dosha Organs)
PART NINE: TEACHING
ξ Role of the Teacher
ξ Qualities of a Teacher
ξ Doshas in the classroom
ξ Practice Notes for Dosha Types
ξ Five Vital Components (asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana)
PART TEN: THERAPEUTICS, SPECIALTIES & INTUITION
ξ Therapeutic Benefits of Practice (Svedhana, Digestion, Peace Of Mind, Balance)
ξ Specific Concerns of Practice (Menstruation Period, Injuries, Alignment Pregnancy & Ailments)
ξ Learning the Art of Instincts (Creating a Practice for all Types)
ξ Ethical Guidelines
PART ELEVEN: LIVING WITH NATURE
ξ Ayurvedic Living
ξ Diet (Six Tastes, Tastes & Doshas, Ama, Jatharagni, Spices, Seasons).
ξ Herbology (Two Forms, Digestive System)
ξ Foods (Dairy products, Milk, Ghee, Meats, Chywanprash)
ξ The Ashramas (Yogic Living)
ξ Therapies (Nasya, Neti, Abhyanga, Fasting)
PART TWELVE: SPIRIT & NATURE
ξ East & West (Models of Contrast & Parallel's)
ξ Understanding the Caste System
ξ Being a Bhakti Yogi
ξ Universality of Truth (Brahman, Divine, Religions)
ξ Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism)
ξ Cultivating Your Sadhana
INTERVIEW
After completing the application all students must schedule an interview with Director Mas Vidal. The interview serves to better understand the student background and intention and make clear the underlying purpose for taking the program. During the interview various topics are discussed such as placement, intention, finances, level of commitment and realistic frequency of participation to yoga classes and events.
AYURVEDIC CONSULTATION
An understanding of your doshic type is an important part of taking the program and beginning the Yoga and Ayurveda journey. This session is the first step to orientation of integrating Ayurveda into your daily and eventually seasonal routine. Therefore students are required to begin the course with knowledge of their own Prakriti (constitution) and Vikriti (imbalances). Dosha Sessions (consultations) with Mas can be scheduled at the front desk weekdays from 8am to 6pm. The consultation and the Interview (above mentioned) can be done during the same meeting. SPECIAL NOTE: The Dosha consultation is a separate cost of the program fees and is priced at one hundred dollars.
TUITION & FEE’S
♣ Registration, Course Manual, Examination Fee $100 Non Refundable
♣ Base Tuition in Full $2,500 See Refund Policy
♣ Returned check fee $25 Non Refundable
♣ Replacement for Lost Manual $50 Non Refundable
♣ Monthly Payment Deposit $300 See Refund Policy
♣ Late Examination Fee* $250 See Exams & Certification
*For exams turned in after a one-year period from the date of registration. Therefore a period of one year is given for completion of the course as included in the base tuition.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
1. Pay Entire Program Tuition in one payment of $ 2,500.00. Includes Registration, Course Manual & Exam fee and unlimited monthly yoga classes for a six-month period.
2. Pay Tuition in three alternate monthly installments of $858.33 Includes Registration, Course Manual & Exam fee and unlimited monthly yoga classes for a six-month period. Credit card authorization form must be completed and filed as a security deposit. Cards will be charged automatically when payment is due.
3. Pay Tuition in six monthly installments of $441.66 Includes Registration, Course Manual & Exam fee and unlimited monthly yoga classes for a six-month period. Credit card authorization form must be completed and filed with the bookkeeping department.
Cards will be charged automatically when payment is due. A deposit of $200 deposit will be collected at the time of registration for the convenience of the monthly payment option. The deposit can be used towards the last monthly payment.
Signature___________________________Date_____/_____/_____
(By signing you acknowledge that you have read the above and fully understand the tuitions and fees, payment options, discounts).
DISCOUNTS
For students that live outside of the Los Angeles vicinity that are interested in certification, the program can be taken at a discount of $500, which excludes the unlimited participation in the yoga classes at Dancing Shiva. These students would
receive certification for the course under special arrangements with Mas Vidal or as structured by an affiliated center. Often students begin the correspondence portion (via-email) of the course to advance themselves with the philosophical and scientific aspects before beginning the practical side.
REFUND POLICY
100 % of all tuition's are refundable if student chooses to cancel or withdraw on the first day of registering. If the student decides to discontinue his/her enrollment before the end of the first month (as dated on the application) 50 % is refundable. There will be no refunds after the first month or thirty day period. If for some medical reason or family
emergency student has to discontinue, student can reenroll in the next program offered in the same year or the following year. All cancellations of enrollment must be made in writing. For the Monthly Payment Option, the deposit ($300) is Non-Refundable if the student decides to cancel or withdrawal after completing the first month or thirty day period.
7 REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFCATION
1. Ayurvedic Consultation
2. Completion of study questions in the course manual (11 Parts).
3. Viewing of videos/DVD’s for all eleven sections of the course.
4. Yoga practice minimum of 2 classes per week for six months.
5. Completion of Final exam.
6. Three workshops of your choice in a one-year period.
7. Intensive Practical Review with Mas
Signature___________________________Date_____/_____/_____
(By signing you acknowledge that you have read the above and fully understand the refund policy and the 7 requirements for certification).
APPLICATION FOR ENROLLMENT
Date_______/________/________
Name___________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________
City__________________________ State_________ Zip Code____________
Home Phone #_______________________ Wk/Cell Ph #_______________________
Date of Birth:_______/_______/________Email:_________________________
Education completed: High School________ College________ Graduate______
Major:________________________ Degree______________________
Yr. Graduated_________________
Current Profession:_____________________________________________
Career satisfaction: Love it________ Ok Career________ Unhappy________
Use a separate sheet of paper if necessary when answering these questions.
Experience in Yoga & Ayurveda (explain, courses, practice & related experience):
_______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________
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Reason for taking the DSYA Program:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Lifestyle & Spiritual practice, meditation, diet, service to others: (Describe):
________________________________________________________________
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Namaste!
Your signature below certifies that you have understood the policies of Dancing Shiva’s Yoga and Ayurveda Program. This also confirms that all the information you have provided on the application is accurate and true. Dancing Shiva is not responsible for employment of students at the Center or in the Yoga and Ayurveda community.
Signature____________________________________
Date________/__________/___________
CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM
Date:____________________
Name(s):_________________________________________________________
Card Billing Address:_______________________________________________
City:____________________________ State:__________
Zip Code:________________________
Phone #_____________________________________
E-mail:______________________________________
Type: Visa_______ Master Card ________ Amex _________
Card#_______________________________________________Special code:_________
Expiration Date:___________________
Amount $________________________
Signature: __________________________________________________
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Certifications 
