Top 7 Reasons to Do a Yoga Teacher Training at WLYA in Thailand

Picking a place for your Yoga Teacher Training can be challenging.  You start asking around, researching online, comparing prices, and poring over the details.  Hundreds of aspiring practitioners have ventured to Wise Living Yoga Academy in Doi Saket, Thailand for their Yoga Teacher Training Course..  Let’s take a look at why!

1. Immersive experience

The Yoga Teacher Training Course at WLYA is all about yoga education and lifestyle.  You live in an ashram environment with teachers and other students sharing your interests. You live and breathe and observe the yogic lifestyle every day for the entire duration of your training.  The environment really allows you to develop a solid routine comprised of a good diet, exercise, and meditation, among other things.

2. Traditional yoga

So many people think of yoga only as a form of physical exercise, and so many yoga teacher training programs cater to that idea.  But what about its root and history?  The vast spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of yoga?  Yoga as a lifestyle?

WLYA is perfect for those interested in understanding how yoga is as a way of life. You are introduced to yoga as one of the ancient Indian philosophies and study important scriptures. The comprehensive curriculum is led by experienced teachers from the world’s oldest organized yoga institution in India.  You practice asanas (physical postures) and other techniques at a deeper level and learn how they contribute to one’s spiritual development.  You will find yourself shaping into a wonderful practitioner, educator, and ambassador of traditional yoga!

Follow the link to know more about our Yoga Training curriculum.

3. Affordability

Yoga teacher training is a significant financial investment for most of us.  At WLYA, you will find that the facilities are pleasant and simplistic without sacrificing comfort.  It is a very down-to-earth place with no frills.  You do not see products and services being marketed at every turn.  Likewise, the program costs have been made more affordable, especially compared to yoga centers that push for brand names and luxury.

The ashram is located away from the tourist central, and it costs less to do things around here.  You can rent a bike for less than 1 USD a day, treat yourself to a coconut that tastes like a slice of heaven, and then get an authentic Thai massage at a rate that almost makes it feel insensible to deny yourself of a good rubdown!

4. Location

Students have described the ashram and the surrounding area as the perfect place to study traditional yoga.  The ashram is tucked away in the neighborhood of Doi Saket in northern Thailand.  With few distractions around, you will be able to really soak in the ashram environment!  At the same time, there are great temples and places within reach if you want to venture out.  It is also a great stepping stone for travels before and/or after the yoga teacher training program.

Follow the link to see more photos and descriptions of our neighborhood.

5. Food

Part of living the yogic lifestyle means eating a vegetarian/vegan diet.  You have three nutritious meals a day made from scratch, along with fresh fruits and natural tea.  The food at the ashram is so delicious that students don’t miss meat, cheese, or junk food!  The ingredients are 100% organic and come from either the ashram’s gardens or conscientious local farmers.  Through an interactive nutrition session, you learn about the benefits and uses of all the ingredients as well.

6. People, people, people

Trained at The Yoga Institute in India, the teachers Jeenal and Daniel are very active and passionate about imparting their practice of traditional yoga.  They help you discover your strengths and weaknesses as you go through your journey, and are very flexible and accommodating to individual needs.  The ashram workers are locals who are incredibly generous and positive.  You will find them around the ashram smiling and putting in hard work to make your stay an enjoyable one.

At WLYA, you will meet students from all over the world and from different walks of life.  They have in common their interest in traditional yoga and spiritual development.  This tends to draw very genuine people, and the teachings shape the group dynamic in very positive ways. By the end of first week, the group will already feel like a family! 

7. Alumni network and support

The connections made at the ashram are invaluable and so are the networking opportunities.  WLYA has an active alumni group where former students share news and inspirations from around the globe.  This way, you are not just walking away with a certificate in hand, but you have a strong support network to pursue your next steps.

Several students also return for Continuing Education programs which are offered in modules of 100 hours (2 weeks) or as the 300 hours Advanced Yoga Teacher Training course (6 weeks). 

To sum it up, WLYA is an incredible place for those seeking a meaningful yoga teacher training experience.  Be prepared to work hard and learn so much about yourself and the world, and you will be richly rewarded.  Please check out our upcoming Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Thailand and reserve your place.

Namaste,

WLYA Team

Shavasana for Stress Management

Shavasana for Stress Management

A significant number of working professionals are showing adverse effects of stress on their physical and mental health that result in emotional disturbances, faulty eating habits and overall lifestyle disorders. Long term stress is also the cause of several diseases along with personal and family problems.

Yogic techniques for relaxation are very practical techniques to restore balance and rejuvenate the body and mind. Shavasana which is a conscious relaxation technique which is done by relaxing each and every body part, one by one, can be done in a time span of 20 to 40 minutes.

There are so many stressful moments that we have to face daily. Catching a flight, taking an important decision, managing the finance and with such other responsibility we often feel drained and dry. Along with these wrong eating habits, inadequate rest, faulty time management, lack of physical exercise can enhance the stress. In this way we start to accumulate negativity over a period of time. Therefore it is very important to release this negative energy on regular basis and replace it with positive energy. The reason we often feel depressed, lazy, confused and fatigue is that we haven’t learnt to relax.

The concept of relaxation is highly misunderstood. We may think that watching T.V or just lying in the couch is a form of relaxation, but it doesn’t really help you to ease and loosen your contracted muscles, neither it’s a form of a conscious relaxation that will calm down your breathing and cool down your mind. May be it can help you to some extent but when you relax with Shavasana you are actually messaging your mind to get inwards and consciously feel your body and release the stress from each and every body part.

With our own experience I can say that whenever we have given this technique to my students, it has shown tremendous results in their health and behaviour. Serious problems like insomnia, migraine, blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and asthma have all got under control. Other complaints like headaches, muscular tension, and back pain have got cured. After Shavasana our students have reported that they feel healthy and completely fresh and full of life. I strongly recommend this technique for all the working professional on regular basis.

In the beginning the student will need the support of the teacher for at least one month. For the beginners it is essential that the trainer gives them complete instructions verbally during the practice every time they practice Shavasana. It is normal that initially a person would not be able to relax because of the accumulated stress, but with the practice the technique will get easier.

It also possible that the person may fall asleep during the instructions, which is not expected. This can happen a few times when the person has not completed his sleep. But with gradual practice, a person will start to feel more and more calm, confident, happier and relaxed. This will bring a positive change in the personality and increase memory, concentration, decision power and emotional stability. Erratic eating habits, anger, fear and other negative traits will also get under controlled.

You can also give a chance to your employees to experience these techniques. It can be easily done at office premises after lunch or at the end of the day.!

Namaskar!!

Yoga and Ayurveda food session with Jeenal Mehta

Dear friends, 

Namaste! Almost all my life I have eaten pure Ayurvedic food.

Being an Indian, born in a traditional family and also being a Yoga Teacher the Ayurvedic food suits my mind, body and my lifestyle.

It was a fortune that I have learnt so much with my mother. She is an extremely intelligent women and when it comes to eating healthy and having healthy ingredients on your kitchen shelves, she puts all her energy into it. The kitchen cupboards and the shelves of her kitchen are filled with hundreds of varieties of health foods.

So, in our Yoga Teacher Training Course in Thailand - at our center Wise Living Yoga Academy - I have set a perfect diet which is not only nutritious but also delicious.

In Yoga we call it as 'Sattvic Food', meaning pure food which is easy to digest, assimilate and eliminate. It does not leave toxins in your body. It helps in conservation of energy and makes a person feel buoyant and healthy.

The participants follow this special Yoga and Ayurveda diet for 4 weeks and the results on the body and mind are deeply positive. The students have a special session on Yoga diet and Ayurveda food and spices with me.

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Wise Living Yoga Academy is authorized to impart Yoga Teacher Training Courses on the tradition of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz in Mumbai, India – the world’s oldest organized Yoga Institution. The residential programs are held regularly in Bali (Indonesia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) & Minas Gerais (Brazil) throughout the year and are accredited by the Yoga Alliance USA, allowing the graduates to teach Yoga in any part of the world.

The 200 hours courses and the Advanced 300 & 500 hours Yoga Teacher Training Courses are conducted regularly in our new permanent Yoga Center in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Please follow the links to know more about all the scheduled
Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC)  in 2013 and 2014:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in 2014

Dear Yoga Enthusiasts,

If you are interested in studying Classical Yoga, but are still not sure if you can handle a trip to India, this is a perfect opportunity for you.

Wise Living Yoga Academy is a centre of Classical Yoga located in the outskirts of Chiang Mai, in the district of Doi Saket in Thailand. Our new training facility is set in midst of rice fields and surrounded by hills and forests. The centre provides an "Ashram-like" environment, ideal for the full immersion experience in Traditional Yoga studies.

Thailand itself is known to be a good balance (blend of East & West), providing the travelers with an exotic experience without much troubles and hurdles of the lack of infrastructure that is characteristic of much of Asian subcontinent. Our courses are structured to provide the students with the right environment for learning & authentic approach to Yoga Philosophy & Techniques.

Below you'll find links to photo albums of our last course in 2013, the upcoming courses in the second semester of 2013 and all the courses already scheduled for 2014!!!

Courses Completed Successfully in 2013

Minas Gerais, Brazil January-February 2013 Photo Album

Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st Batch: May 2013 Photo Album

Chiang Mai, Thailand 2nd Batch: June-July 2013 Photo Album

Chiang Mai, Thailand 3rd Batch: July-August 2013 Photo Album Upcoming 200 hours Courses in 2013

Chiang Mai, Thailand 4th Batch: From 27th Oct to 22nd November 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand 4th Batch: From 27th Oct to 22nd November 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in 2014 200 Hours Certification Programs

Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st Batch: From 5th January to 31st January 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand 2nd Batch: From 9th February to 7th March 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand 3rd Batch: From 4th May to 30th May 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand 4th Batch: From 8th June to 4th July 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand 5th Batch: From 13th July to 8th August 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand 6th Batch: From 26th Oct to 21st November 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand 7th Batch: From 30th Nov to 26th December 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Centre (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Please visit our website for complete information about the courses!

Read more information below!

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Wise Living Yoga Academy is authorized to impart Yoga Teacher Training Courses on the tradition of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz in Mumbai, India – the world’s oldest organized Yoga Institution. The residential programs are held regularly in Bali (Indonesia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) & Minas Gerais (Brazil) throughout the year and are accredited by the Yoga Alliance USA, allowing the graduates to teach Yoga in any part of the world.

The 200 hours courses and the Advanced 300 & 500 hours Yoga Teacher Training Courses are conducted regularly in our new permanent Yoga Center in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Please follow the links to know more about all the scheduled
Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC)  in 2013 and 2014:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Yoga Teacher Training in Brazil/Brasil

Dear Yoga friends,

It is the 20th day of our Yoga Teacher Training Course, here in the lush green mountains of Brazil/Brasil. And everyday is a long day filled with mental and physical yoga techniques. The students are going through a deep transformation at all the levels of their personality. It is a profound experience, living here up on the mountains, meditating and practicing, listening to philosophy and eating a healthy diet. It is a wonderful challenge, to bring a powerful and long lasting change. And it is in process :-)

From left to right: Jeenal, Cindy, Alice, Maria, Karine, Mariana, Damian & Daniel
Sitting: Luciana, Marli and Ana

All the participants have finished with their Yoga lesson plans and presentations. They have also experienced taking a 20 mins yogic relaxation class. Yesterday, Damian was the last but not the least to conduct his class on relaxation techniques. His words flowed like a soothing river, with so much serenity, with many colors and emotions, and everyone felt at ease. When a students find solace and satisfaction in sharing their deep expressions of the very essence of their being, I feel so much at peace and my trust and love in spreading this higher education of life grows even more. I felt gratitude, and I asked him "Do you feel content?"

It is a nice feeling, of peace, of kindness, when we know that we can be of help to someone. When we can make others smile, when we can uplift someones life. And this is YOGA!

Damian concluded the class with a sweet poem on Yoga, which I would like to share here:

Blossoming -

by Janet Arnold-Grych from The Poetry of Yoga Volume 2 (page 41)

In the beginning,

With each unraveling of the mat,

We are anxious to add to our garden,

To gather the beautiful buds,

And coax each asana to open quickly.

Feet in the dirt we stand,

Sometimes for the first time,

Connecting earth to muscle and muscle to sky,

The energy of an immense lineage

Pulsing with promise.

But as the poses settle,

As we settle,

We find that yoga’s true gift is not about more

But less.

The outline of the poses remain the same.

Yet when the space between is fed,

When ease replaces expectation,

When patience replaces petals,

We find that the asanas are no longer

About holding on,

But letting go.

And in that release,

Without judgment or force to impede,

Breath floods in,

Releasing the mind and freeing the heart.

Through yoga,

We find

That core of serene nothingness,

And learn that in letting go,

We gain everything.

What a beautiful poem, indeed! Isn't it?

We wish all our students the very best for their Yoga exam which is coming soon. But life itself is a test, and our best wishes will always remain with them. All our students are so special for us. Thank you so much everyone of you!

Namaste! OM Shanti!
Jeenal

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in 2013

Wise Living Yoga Academy is happy to announce different levels of Yoga Teacher Training Courses which will take place in Chiang Mai, Thailand - Bali, Indonesia & Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Only old students (those who have completed successfully a 200 hours Course with Wise Living Yoga Academy) can directly apply for the Advanced 300 hours Teacher Training. But anyone can apply for the Advanced 500 hours Teacher Training by attending first a 200 hours and then completing the next 300 hours in the subsequent weeks or according to our calendar of courses.

Please check below all scheduled programs for the year of 2013 and the respective deadlines for registration if you want to pay less by availing of our early bird discounted fees:

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in 2013 200 Hours Certification Programs

Minas Gerais, Brazil January-February 2013 Staying at Antigo Mosteiro Serra Clara (Course Completed Successfuly) Photo Album

Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st Batch: From 5th May to 31st May 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 2nd Batch: From 9th June to 5th July 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 3rd Batch: From 14th July to 9th Aug 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Bali, Indonesia From 29th Sep to 24th Oct 2013 Staying at Shanti Loka Resort, Lovina Beach, Bali (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 4th Batch: From 27th Oct to 22nd Nov 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 5th Batch: From 1st Dec to 27th Dec 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in 2013 Advanced 300 Hours Certification Programs

Only for old students - those who have completed successfully a 200 hours Course with Wise Living Yoga Academy

Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st Batch: From 2nd June to 19th July 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 2nd Batch: From 11th August to 27th Sep 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 3rd Batch: From 24th Nov to 10th Jan 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in 2013 Advanced 500 Hours Certification Programs

Anyone can apply for the 500 hours Teacher Training by attending first a 200 hours and then completing the next 300 hours in the subsequent weeks

Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st Batch: From 5th May to 19th July 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 2nd Batch: From 14th July to 27th Sep 2013 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

Chiang Mai, Thailand 3rd Batch: From 27th Oct to 10th Jan 2014 Staying at Wise Living Yoga Center (Doi Saket) - Chiang Mai, Thailand (Registration Open)

______________________________________________________________________

- Fees include Accommodation, Meals & Course Material as mentioned above.
- Please fill in the application form and make on-line payment to reserve your place*.
- Book your place and enjoy discounted fee - Pay booking fee USD 400 in advance.
- Fees DO NOT include Flight Tickets.

(*) Only 18 places available in each program or according to the venue's capability.

Or Learn more about us:

Wise Living Yoga Academy is authorized to impart Yoga Teacher Training Courses on the tradition of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz in Mumbai, India – the world’s oldest organized Yoga Institution. The residential programs are held regularly in Bali (Indonesia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) & Minas Gerais (Brazil) throughout the year and are accredited by the Yoga Alliance USA, allowing the graduates to teach Yoga in any part of the world.

Our Advanced 300 & 500 hours Yoga Teacher Training Courses will be conducted regularly in our new permanent Yoga Center in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Please follow the links to know more about our YTT courses 200 hours in 2013:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Going Back to.. Traditional Yoga

Millions of people head towards Asia every year to have (besides the travelling experience) an encounter with eastern philosophies and practices which allows for self-healing, self-discovery and self-empowerment. Among alternative medicine systems, therapies, and many other technical systems (including massage, martial arts, dances, etc, etc) one of the famous and inspiring subjects that attract people to Asia is Yoga.

Although most people think, or like to think, of Yoga as a physical system, in reality it is an ancient and traditional system of Indian Philosophy and Disciplines that emphasizes on a holistic way of living which allows for a deep transformation, awareness and positive changes, not only on the physical, but also on the mental, social and spiritual planes of the human personality.

Traditionally, Asanas (postural training) is only one part of Yoga. Certain sets of conduct regulations (Yamas) and observances (Niyamas) throughout one’s own life form the very foundation of Yoga. Only then follows Asanas. The next step being control of bio-energy through breathing techniques (Pranayamas). Eventually withdrawal of senses (Pratyahara) will be achieved. Following stages are concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana) and finally leading to total absorption in pure consciousness state (Samadhi). This is the goal of Yoga.

The stages described above are known as the “Eight-fold Path of Yoga” and the understanding of these disciplines and the systematic implementation of them in one’s own life is what is meant by “Classical Yoga”. The problem is that Yoga is becoming too much commercial and many teacher and so called “Yogis” have very little or no understanding of the Yoga path in its entirety.

Yoga has become just a matter of performing some “stunt moves” on a rubber mat. But, the truth is that, even for the physical training, if the right attitude and feelings are not present then the Yoga exercises will be just like any other exercise. It will, of course, bring benefits to the practitioner, but that will be only partial, not the real life transforming experience that one may be looking for. As we have seen, more and more, people are realizing this, and there is somehow, a search and an interest for going back to Traditional Yoga.

The first question is: where to go to learn Traditional Yoga? The most obvious answer would be: “India”. But nowadays even in India, commercial Yoga has taken over, and you can meet with either a good or a bad teacher or school, in India, or in any other Asian country. Literally thousands of workshops, retreats and teacher training courses are being offered throughout South East Asia, in countries like Thailand. And for one desiring to have an authentic Yoga experience (instead of just learning some acrobatic postures here and there) a good amount of research is necessary, before choosing a teacher or a course.

And which type of course? Well, the best way to absorb Yoga is to make it a part of one’s own life and then sharing it with others and teaching. That’s why more and more people are looking for Yoga Teacher Training Courses, because, besides being provided with the learning experience, at the end, one can be qualified and certified as a Yoga Teacher.

For this kind of program, the advice would be:

First, one should not undertake such a program only with the certification in mind, but to take it with a sincere interest in self-development and motivated by an altruistic desire to help one and others. Second, luxurious retreats usually divert the focus from the Yoga objectives, not serving the real purpose of simple, ecological and modest lifestyle which is in the core of Yoga. Then, choosing a school which follows a genuine Yoga lineage which upholds the traditional values of Yoga. Be aware of self-proclaimed gurus & too many mixture and fusions of “Yoga styles”.

Finally, if the program is a full immersion experience, that should enable one to live a yogic and holistic lifestyle which means, having a residential course, following a well structured routine including healthy diet arrangements and encouraging a meditative mood. Further, it should include a serious study of traditional Yoga texts like “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” and “Bhagavad Gita”. Practice and theory should go hand in hand. Of course the curriculum should also include anatomy & physiology classes, methodology and teaching practice.

But one thing is for sure, a Yoga course, especially if it’s a Teacher Training, which only teaches Asanas, and does not encourage a yogic lifestyle (having a good routine, vegetarian diet, abstaining from intoxicants - for at least 1 month period) and does not include the study of the Yoga philosophy, is certainly not imparting authentic Yoga. In here I would quote Leonardo da Vinci who said:

“He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast”.

So, if you are travelling throughout South East Asia don’t miss the opportunity to find a good Yoga course and perhaps even return home certified and a Yoga Teacher.

This article was written, to be published at the South East Asia Backpacker Magazine, by Jeenal Mehta & Daniel Fonseca, co-founders of Wise Living Yoga Academy which is authorized to impart Yoga Teacher Training Courses on the tradition of The Yoga Institute of Santacruz in Mumbai, India – the world’s oldest organized Yoga Institution. The residential programs are held regularly in Bali (Indonesia) & Chiang Mai (Thailand) throughout the year and are accredited by the Yoga Alliance at the 200 hours level, allowing the graduates to teach Yoga in any part of the world.

Please follow the links to know more about our YTT courses 200 hours in 2012/2013:

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Bali, Indonesia

- Yoga Teacher Training Course in Chiang Mai, Thailand