IYI retreats bring together the dynamic and receptive aspects of yoga, the three schools of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana) and the skillful methods of psycho-dynamic personal and relational work, and are held in social silence. The teachers on retreat are not silent but will be leading classes and seeing people individually.
We feel that integrating essential teachings and practices from the wisdom traditions amplifies our insights and generates the potential for them to dawn as wisdom, helping us to become of more benefit to ourselves and others.
The Insight Yoga training program has drawn together these complementary streams to offer a heart-centered, well-rounded program that will allow each participant to cultivate and enjoy a daily home practice for the body, heart and mind through yogic, Buddhist and psychological teachings and practices. Many practitioners who join us are also teachers who have enjoyed deepening their methodology through this integrated program. To read reviews from our students, please click here.
This coursework is open to all. It is not required that you be on the path of certification to attend these teachings.
If, and only if, you are interested in our Insight Yoga Institute/Yoga Alliance certification program:
- you must complete and submit an application
- be accepted into the program
- complete all program and mentorship requirements
Program Description:
Insight Yoga involves four main aspects of development that are each interdependent. The body (physical and subtle), the heart, the mind, and relationships:
- For the body we engage in regular active and receptive (Yin/Yang) asana practices that are designed to develop and maintain pliancy in the muscles as well as the joints, to increase strength and vitality in all the systems of the body, and to cultivate a sensitivity to and refinement of the energy body- the gateway to an ease of being. Yin yoga is a meditative physical practice that stimulates the balancing of the energetic pathways (meridians) through holding floor poses while Yang yoga involves a slow alignment-based movement practice.
- For the heart, we practice opening to, and at times dialoguing with parts of ourselves, that when burdened operated in extremes. Skillfully and non-judgmentally turning toward any aspects of our psyche that are disturbed can help heal the sense of estrangement, anxiety and fear we may be carrying. This process also delightfully uncovers hidden insights and gifts that can blossom into genuine self-love and compassion. This has a direct and lasting impact on our relationship to ourselves and others.
- Mind Training involves practices of visualization, contemplation, concentration, mindfulness, and open awareness drawing from Yogic, Taoist, and Buddhist teachings.
- Relational awareness practices foster kindness, deep listening, meaningful exchanges, and learning to appropriately trust and reveal vulnerabilities with others. Practices include generating loving-kindness and compassion, as well as engaging in contemplative dialogues with others on specific subjects.
Yoga Alliance Certification:
NOTE: We do not explicitly focus on teaching you how to teach yoga in this program, rather how to integrate yoga with Buddhism and spiritual psychology.
This program offers 500 hours of Yoga Alliance Certification only. We do not offer a 300-hour program.
We do recommend that yoga teachers complete a 200-hour program before attending ours, as we focus mainly on advanced studies for yoga teachers. There are a number of good courses available. There are a number of good programs available. We recommend the Yogaworks and endorsed IYI teacher Theresa Murphy 200-hour programs.
