Mantra Yoga Intensive
This 3 day intensive is part of our RYT300 training, but it is open to all. It is intended to familiarize students with the basic theory and practice of mantra yoga as a personal, spiritual path. The full intensive requires 12 hours to complete, divided into 4 sessions of three hours each. The sessions are spread out across three days, allowing for plenty of down time in between for students to integrate the energies they are working with. The structure of the sessions begins with the physical elements of mantra yoga, and then progresses to the intellectual, the energetic and beyond. It is necessary for the intensive to occur in a specific order to allow the students to absorb both the information and the vibrations in the most logical manner. The full intensive of four sessions will provide everything that the student needs to have a functioning mantra practice.
The following is a general outline of the topics that will be covered in each session of the Level 1 Mantra Yoga Intensive:
Session 1. Basic definitions of Mantra Yoga and sacred language. An introduction to Sanskrit pronunciation. Explanation of mālās (counting beads) and how they are used. Preparatory practices and an explanation of daily practice sādhana. Mantras for Gaṇeśa and Sarasvatī.
Session 2. Mantras for Lakṣmī, Hanumān, Durgā and Śiva. Explanation of mālās (counting beads) and how they are used. Preparatory practices and an explanation of daily sādhana. Understanding deity vibrations and the nature of conscious energy. How to interact with deities on a personal level. The role of mythology and storytelling in spiritual practice.
Session 3. Lectures on the underlying theory behind mantra yoga, using information gained from texts of the yoga tradition as well as practical experience. Major topics include the nature of śakti (divine energy), prāna (life force) and kundalinī (evolutionary energy), a detailed examination of the cakra system and the relationship between that system and the Sanskrit language. Discussion and practice with bīja mantras (seed sounds) that encapsulate the basic vibrations of reality.
Session 4. Advanced topics in mantra yoga. The gāyatrī and mṛtyunjaya mantras (it will probably require 2 hours just to go over these 2 mantras, and even then we will only touch the surface!). How to develop a specific mantra sādhana to achieve a particular goal. The structure of deeper practices. Discussions about the students' personal practices with a Q & A session.
Session 1: Friday, 7-10 pm
Session 2: Saturday, 2-5 pm
Session 3: Saturday, 7-10 pm
Session 4: Sunday, 2-5 pm
Full Weekend; $144 ($108 if registered by June 1)
First two sessions only: $72
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June 8 – June 10, 2018
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/events/191877664961772/
