"LIVING LAB" - The chemistry between me and my yoga path

• Navigate life with skillful lightness
• Learn how the body works and what you can do with it
• Get some insight into your mind and how mind and body play together
• Take a closer look at ways we communicate with others: ways that are effective
• Analyze secrets of charismatic teachers - use it in a class, business or relationship
• Most important, learn how NOT to take yourself too seriously

The Teacher Training carefully designed and led by Adnan and Basia is deeply rooted in ancient traditions and yet delivered in somewhat non-traditional way.

The two principal teachers have extensive background in complementary disciplines which allow for deeper understanding of our body and mind. Basia draws on her healing practices as well as the study of psychology and philosophy; Adnan draws on Martial Arts as well as extensive knowledge of bodywork. The two together are a remarkable team. Be prepared to work diligently, but with lightness and a sense of humor.

The practice of yoga is the practice of getting real! We will use our body, mind, and other tools at hand to realize who we are.

It is time to let go of habitual patterns that our mind entertains and body holds. Release what is stuck, allow the flow of clear thoughts and space, and put the body at ease. Listen deeply to feel aliveness of each cell and each breath.

During the training course there will be lots of opportunities to get to know the body. We will explore anatomy and movement patters: those that invigorate our being and those that damage our health.

We will cover cross-section of required knowledge such as pranayama, meditation, major yogic texts, philosophy and psychology of teaching. We will go over the necessary theory, but our focus will be on making the theory real and relevant to our growth.

We will spend time on practice of reading bodies and skilful assisting of students. Many new teachers, after completing variety of training courses, feel inadequate in assists and problems solving. We will spend time on creating interesting sequences, keeping good pacing of a class, motivation the students and holding vibrant space. We will work with variations and props.

Learn to be a teacher by becoming a great student!

BASIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Must have an established, committed yoga practice (12 months minimum).
• Must be mentally and physically prepared for an intensive training.
• Must bring a positive, healthy attitude and a sense of lightness and dedication.

ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Teaching Certificate. This is the internationally-recognized standard certification for beginner and intermediate-level teachers. 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified teachers are fully qualified and prepared to teach.

Some of the main topics:

• Fundamental alignment principles
• Sun salutations (various styles)
• Standing poses – symmetrical & asymmetrical (and variations)
• Forward bends – prep, variations, intense
• Hip/Shoulder openers – beginners & intermediate
• Back bending – beginners & intermediate
• Arm balances
• Inversions
• Restoratives
• Pranayama & meditation
• Nadis/Meridians – what they are, where they are, practical application in Asana.
• Principles of sequencing, pacing, holding space
• Vinyasa – smooth linking of the poses (different ways to do it)
• Skillful hands-on adjusting – when to, when not to, how much (adjusting complete beginners and experienced practitioners)
• Verbal & visual cues
• Sanskrit: Asana names & common terms
• Functional anatomy - HANDS ON!
• Therapeutic application of yoga
• Philosophy: Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita
• Psychology of teaching
• Ethics in teaching and being a student
• Getting ready to teach – where do I start? teaching opportunities, etc.

So how is this course different from any other 200h course offered???

Asana

• Studying the precise alignment that actually works! Learning the fundamentals, and developing skills to adapt to what you really have to work with - injuries, apprehensions, habitual patterns...
• Multi-level classes - sequencing, alternatives - all in the flow of a vibrant class - very tricky for most new teachers...
• CONFIDENT adjustments - observing and reading bodies, seeing congestion of energy, working with breath.
• Step-by-step evolution of the poses - for beginners, intermediate, and advance practitioners.
• Creating interesting units - theme classes, ready for mini workshops or specialized classes.
• Creating the seat for the awareness to sit still.

Breath

• Before formal pranayama - learning how to breathe - we will spend time to discover the power of the breath - feel it, read it, ride it...
• Experimenting with bandhas - cultivating power and utilizing it to move, heal and stay light
• Formal pranayama practice - making it real

Power of inversions

• Grounding and lifting principles
• Overcoming fear - your own and those of students - successful steps into upside-down world
• Rewards of inversions

Becoming a great Container

• Becoming a great teacher, not a mediocre one
• How to connect with those around you
• How to motivate and uplift
• How to really listen
• How to have a great "career" as a yoga teacher and stay true to the yogic principles

Practical Applications

• Lots of personal feedback!
• Lots of coaching and constructive suggestions
• Lots of opportunities to practice - teaching, adjusting, lesson plans

We work a cycle of 5 days on, 1 day break, for 4 cycles.
(Off Dates: 9.16, 9.22, 9.28)

Daily schedule:
07:00 - 09:30　asana practice
09:30 - 10:30　breakfast
10:30 - 12:30　morning workshops and lectures
12.30 - 14.30　lunch and break
14:30 - 16:30　group work and lectures
16.30 - 17.00　break
17:00 - 19:00　asana practice and practical work

There will be an exam toward the end of our last week.

Born in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, I practiced, taught and competed professionally in martial arts, karate, kickboxing and Thai boxing in Europe, and had the honor of studying with the great Dominique Valera of France. After two decades of training, my knees were so badly injured that I had to stop competing and teaching. It was at this point in time that yoga came into my life.

After being introduced to Ashtanga yoga, I took private classes for three years with Marcia Solomon of Ottawa, who now resides in Boulder, Colorado, where she teaches at Richard Freeman's Yoga workshop. It is through Marcia that I had the privilege of becoming a student of Richard Freeman. I completed both basic and advanced teacher training programs with Richard Freeman, the “Yoga Spirit Teaching Training Course” as well as the “Primary Series Teacher Training Course” with David Swenson. I also took workshops with Rod Stryker, John Friend and Erich Schiffmann

I practice and teach a free style of Hatha yoga with a focus on flow and alignment. A certified massage therapist specializing in Shiatsu, I have also studied the art of oriental chiropractic techniques in Taipei. I was a co-owner of Santosha Yoga studio in Ottawa before moving to Taiwan in 2007. Since then I have taught students in Taiwan, China, Thailand, Austria and Bosnia. Presently, I teach at Space Yoga in Taipei, where besides teaching regular classes, I conduct workshops, intensives and teacher trainings.


As a little girl I was entranced by my father's books on yoga. I first embraced it in 1992. In the Sivananda tradition, which first opened my heart to practice and exploration, I completed a Teacher Training in 1997. A few years later I discovered Ashtanga Vinyasa and began my studies with Richard Freeman. Over the years, training courses and workshops with David Swenson, Ana Forrest, Hart Lazer, Sianna Sherman, Beryl Bender Birch, Shiva Rea and others have enhanced my life and my practice.

One teacher who has revolutionized my perspective on yoga has been the Sanskrit scholar and philosopher Vyaas Houston. A background in the healing arts of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture has also informed my personal practice and teaching.

In yoga and other disciplines, my greatest joy is to play with both great strength and profound softness. Whether constructing my country home, painting, or creating stained glass art, I try to dwell in the unity at the core of all action.

Presently, I direct Adishesha Yoga Zone in Ottawa, teach classes and workshops, and lead retreats and teacher trainings.

Installment Plan
Interest free installment plan is available upon request.

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation notice received 8 days prior to the start of the program, $2000 administrative fee would be deducted and the remaining balance can be transfer to other SPACE workshops and trainings.
• Cancellation notice received 7 days or less from the start of the program, there will be no refund or transfer.
• At any time prior to the start of the program, for those who reserve a spot in the teacher training, but find they cannot attend, the spot may be transferred to another student (who has gone through the application process and been approved).

Application Form Download 　

* 7:00am - 9:30am
* Open to all levels

Full Program Morning Intensive Practice

• 9.11-10.3, 2010
• 20 practices (off dates: 9.16, 9.22, 9.28)
• Regular price: NT$11,225 (NT$562 per session)
• 20% early-bird discount: NT$8,980 (NT$449 per session).
  Discount ends 7.31, 2010
• Additional 10% discount for those who also sign up for Adnan and Basia’s Level 2 Immersion

Q1. How much yoga experience do I need to attend?
A: At least one year of regular practice

Q2.: What kind of yoga is taught?
A: Yoga is observing "what is" through asana, pranayama, introspection, meditation, diet, healing practices and more...

We will study classical postures - as well as not so classical. We will study traditional sequences and not so traditional.

We will cover the fundamentals of yoga practice, its application and experiment with tools to teach any style you choose.

We will have an overview of few more known styles. The most important point is to truly know the techniques, the craft of the practice then you will be able to become an "artist". More detail to come.

Q3. How can you have different levels of students in the same class?
A: You have two people in the class - you already have two levels. Teaching multi-level class is an art; an art we will cultivate though study, practice and experimentation. It is truly an adventure. The skills develop here will be transferable to many aspects of life: personal, business, emotional - you name it! You always have to work with what is - and what is is often not black and white - being able to maneuver between the two will make you a great teacher, communicator, and facilitator.

Q4. Do you have a required reading list?
A: Yoga Sutra and Bhagavad Gita. Any translation is acceptable and reading a variety of editions is interesting. The ones that I like are:

The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali – Chip Hartranft
The Bhagavad Gita – Barbara Stoler Miller

Recommended texts:
Really handy to have:

• Ashtanga Yoga – Practice manual – David Swenson
• *Indian Philosophy – Richard King
• *The Bhagavad Gita, A walkthrough for Westeners – Jack hawley
• Language of Yoga – Bachman
• Light on Yoga - Iyengar
• Light on Pranayama – Iyengar

Other interesting ones to explore at some point :

• A Path with Heart – Jack Cornfield
• Nonviolent Communication - Rosenberg
• The principal UPANISHADS – S. Radhakrishnan
• The Science of Yoga – I.K. Taimini
• Yoga Anatomy – leslie Kaminoff
• Anatomy of Movement – Blandine Calais-Germain
• PRNAYAMA beyond fundamentals – Richard Rosen
• Meditation and Mantras – Swami Vishnu Devananda
• The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga – Swami Vishnu Devananda
• The Sivananda Companion to Yoga - Sivananda Yoga Center
• The Inner Tradition of Yoga – Michael Stone
• The Bhagavad Gita – S. Radhakrishnan
• The Bhagavad Gita – Winthrop Sargent
• Yoga Chudamami Upanishad- Swami Satyananda
• Kundalini Tantra – Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• Dynamics of Yoga – swami Satyananda Saraswati

Q5. When will I find out if I have been accepted into the program?
A: After you submit your completed Teacher Training Application, you will be contacted via phone call within approximately 7 working days. Your payment will be processed upon acceptance, and final payment date is 1 week after the acceptance.

Q6. What if I miss a class?
A: To obtain a diploma of completion you must attend 100% of the classes to comply with Yoga Alliance requirements. However, absences due to illness will need to be discussed with the program director.

Q7. What is the Yoga Alliance?
A: Yoga Alliance is an organization that was started in 1999 as a way to create recognized standards for yoga teachers and yoga teacher trainings. More and more yoga studios are requiring their teachers to register with the Yoga Alliance, either at the 200 or 500 hour level. Yoga Alliance registration, however, is not a legal requirement for teaching yoga. Currently there are no legal certification requirements to be a yoga teacher.

Q8. Will I be qualified to teach yoga once I complete the 200-Hour Teacher Training Program?
A: With the successful completion of all the requirements of the program, including contact hours, homework, and exam, you will receive your Diploma evidencing your training at the 200-Hour level. You may also register with the

Yoga Alliance (www.yogaalliance.org) at the RYT-200 level (Registered Yoga Teacher 200). Graduates of the 200-hour program usually begin teaching in small studios, gyms, with private clientele (friends and family), etc. Many new teachers decide to continue their Teacher Training education and participate in professional programs such as workshops and other forms of teacher trainings as a way to further solidify their skills, knowledge and style as a yoga instructor. More information on SPACE workshops can be found on our website: www.withinspace.com.

Q9. What is SPACE Certification?
A: SPACE creates a pathway for teachers to achieve a benchmark that represents high level of education and skill: the SPACE Certification process. SPACE grants certification to those teachers who are recognized as knowledgeable and mature, creative, thorough and compassionate. These are teachers who can hold a room, see students’ bodies, offer appropriate modifications and adjustments, and create a well-organized and intelligent sequence of poses. These certified teachers also have an understanding of yoga philosophy and its depth as well as technical skill with asana and pranayama. SPACE Yoga Certification is an emblem of this comprehensive knowledge.

Diploma:
Upon successful completion of the SPACE 200-Hour Teacher Training, trainees will receive a Diploma from SPACE Yoga as an acknowledgement of the successful completion of the course. Receipt of a SPACE Yoga diploma is the first step toward Yoga Alliance certification as well as a doorway into teaching. With this diploma new teachers can begin the process of refining their skills as a yoga teacher at many local gyms and small yoga studios, as well as with private clients.

Yoga Alliance Certification:
Trainees will also receive their Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Certification (RYT200) as soon as they apply for it and pay a registration fee. Yoga Alliance 200 Hour Certification offers the added benefit of a listing on their website and the recognition of an international certifying body. Yoga Alliance certification is also a requirement for employment at many gyms and yoga studios.

SPACE YOGA Certification:
SPACE YOGA Certification Assessment represents the students have passed the tests that consists of a written exam on all aspects of yoga: philosophy, anatomy, sequencing, as well as a practical exam to assess teaching skills in which applicants are asked to teach a 10-minutes sequence of asana in front of the teachers.

Applicants who are deemed representative of SPACE YOGA standards receive a certificate. SPACE YOGA Certification is an important achievement in the evolution of a teacher as it represents a vote of confidence from a highly respected yoga teacher training program. It also opens the door to many new career opportunities including the possibility of one day leading teacher trainings.

Although the great majority of students who attend complete this program and are certified, we reserve the right to withhold certification from any student who fails to develop the necessary skills. If it is determined that you have not successfully met the certification requirements, you can meet with the teacher trainer who will determine the appropriate steps needed to complete certification. In most cases, this process takes from three to six months but may take up to a year to complete.

I’ve been on the path of yoga for eight years now. Every time I talked about my journey, it always brought tears to my eyes because during the first six years, I kept getting injured. And no teacher has ever told me why, until I started taking Adnan’s class. In every class, I always felt he was very protective. There may be a language barrier, but he made me felt that the most important point was to safely and steadily advance in a practice. I then attended Adnan’s and Basia’s TT. Basia made me realized that Yoga is about life and everything in it. Using love and sincerity in facing herself, others and all things, she always brought tears to someone’s eyes during every class, because everything she talked about rang so deeply true. I surrender to and take refuge in both of these great teachers. As to exactly how amazing they are, don’t just take my words for it, I wish you are fortunate enough to experience Adnan and Basia’s yogic world for yourself.

Adnan’s extensive knowledge in yoga anatomy and his skillful, one-of-the-kind hands on adjustment, always left us uttering with amazement. During training, He selflessly shared his expert know-how, solidly trained us on the fundamental asanas, its sequencing, language usage and practical teaching as well as provided personal feedbacks. Although at the time, we’d be scared by all the information, now as I started teaching on the mat, I really appreciate his heartfelt intentions.

Basia was very deft in using everyday life and personal experience to explain yoga philosophy. With wisdom, she guided us in exploring our spiritual growth. Aside from brought us to both laughter and tears simultaneously, she slowly opened our hearts and successfully set us off on our journey of inner exploration and transformation.

Adnan and Basia have been working together for years and have accumulated tons of teaching experience. My congratulations to next year’s fortunate teacher trainees; you are about to meet the perfect teachers to take you across the river of yoga knowledge onto the bank on other side.

Namaste

Like a pair of compassionate and progressive parents, Adnan and Basia were able to lead trainees from all different yogic background, with the attitude of surrender and devotion to let go of their old baggage and to understand the essence of all aspects of yoga.

They taught us to use mindful listening and not rote memorization and inspired us to learn in a pressure-free environment, slowly allowing the external knowledge to be integrated within. Even until now, in my yoga practice, teaching or even in life, I often thought of their words of wisdom. With heart filled gratitude, I am very thankful to have them as my teachers and to have shared the experiences with the other students.

Adnan Tahirovic:
Time and time again, Adnan emphasized and explained in detail the potential danger of each asana and many ways of how to avoid injury. He said, “I don’t want you guys to go through all the injuries that I’ve been through.”He used humor, vast knowledge and years of experience to make the driest and the most boring terms in anatomy come alive for us. It was all seamlessly integrated in the asana practice and teaching. During class after class of practical experiences, he taught us that “unless you’ve thoroughly immerse in a style for 3, 5 or 10 years, you don’t have any right to criticize any style or tradition.”Without telling us so, his natural yogi spirit was simply shown through the way he would joke, kid and tease (all with an underlying authenticity), and through song after song of devotional mantra, Sufi chanting.

Basia Going:
“Create space, listen deeply” is how she explained yoga.
To skillfully and methodically guide a student to understanding is a true talent. Basia was able to integrate the philosophies presented in Yoga Sutra and Bhagavad Gita into our practice on the mat. These dry, ancient scriptures after her broke them down, the true meanings were revealed: It is in everyday life, everyone’s life, and endless stories.
On or off the mat, it was all a practice. Abhyasa and vairagya, consistent practice and non-attachment, Basia not only talked about these concepts, with full spirit and passion, she would take your hand and brought you along to this spontaneous dance of life.