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History of Yoga

SH100 Science and History of Yoga

Our 200-hour training program offers aspiring yoga teachers the opportunity to learn the fundamental principles of teaching yoga. Our program is designed to give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead a yoga class successfully.

The comprehensive curriculum gives you an understanding of why yoga works and how to share it with others. Not only will you gain an in-depth understanding of each topic, but you will also deepen your personal practice and understand yoga on the deepest level.

Sunshine School of Yoga’s 200-Hour Teacher Training Program focuses on two 100-hour modules, which can be taken in any order: 

The Science and History of Yoga & The Art of Teaching Yoga

Sunshine School of Yoga takes you back to yoga’s roots, explores its rich history, and brings you forward to understand what we know about yoga today. 

Yoga Alliance designates these Teacher Training programs that meet or exceed the Yoga Alliance Standards.    

The Science and History of Yoga: A 100-Hour Module

Five 20-Hour Chapters

  • 4 Yoga Class Logs per Chapter
  • 1 Hour of Meditation per Week (4 per chapter) with Journaling
  • 1 Homework Assignment per Chapter
  • One Test per Chapter

The Art of Teaching Yoga: A 100-Hour Module

Five 20-Hour Chapters

  • 4 Yoga Class Logs per Chapter
  • 1 Hour of Meditation per Week (4 per chapter) with Journaling
  • 1 Homework Assignment per Chapter
  • One Test per Chapter

A One-Hour Teach-Back

One Essay, “What Does Yoga Mean to Me?”

The Science and History of Yoga

Chapter 1 Foundations of Practice

  • Welcome & Introduction
  • Chapter One
  • The Four Agreements
  • Pranayama
  • Meditation
  • Sun Salutations
  • Homework

Welcome & Introduction

“Yoga is 99% practice and 1% Theory.”

 K. Pattabhi Jois

We will use this as our mantra for our training and everything that comes after. It is only possible to understand yoga with a dedicated practice of yoga.

“Practice and all is coming,” also Jois

The Four Agreements
The Four Agreements

To learn yoga, I believe we must unlearn many of the layers society has laid upon us. The Four Agreements is a book of Toltec wisdom. We learn simple rules to help us start to discover ourselves.

Pranayama
Pranayama

Understand the difference between unconscious and conscious breathing and techniques for guiding students in conscious breathing that slows their breathing rate and expands respiratory capacity.

Ujiayi and Durga
Ujiayi and Durga

Become proficient in the naming conventions related to natural breathing and diaphragmatic or belly breathing; characteristics and benefits of natural breathing; and ways to teach belly breathing, the three-part breath, and effortless breathing.

Describe Ujjayi Pranayama and provide a common focal point of concentration. Explain how Ujjayi can help with mindfulness practice and the expected effects that might prompt the practice of Ujjayi. Give instructions for practice.

Meditation
Meditation

Knowledge of meditation’s many potential effects and become proficient in explaining yoga philosophy related to thoughts, sensations, suffering, absorption (samadhi), and meditation.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness

Our process is one of being fully present right here, right now. Meditation is one form of mindfulness, but mindfulness is called by many names: attentiveness, nowness, and presence are just a few. Essentially, mindfulness means wakefulness—fully present wakefulness.

Sun Salutations
Sun Salutations

Surya Namaskar is a particular sequence that features a “marriage of breath and movement,” a series of postures and transitions coordinated with a phase of the breath.

Homework Explanation and Examples

You will have one homework assignment and four yoga classes to take and document each chapter. 

The Science and History

Chapter 2 

The History of Yoga

  • Ashtanga Yoga
  • Lineage
  • Yoga Sutras
  • The 8 Limbs of Yoga
  • Yama and NiYama

Chapter 2
Chapter 2

Let’s review Chapter 1 

The origins of Yoga
The origins of Yoga

Taking a look back over millennia

 to see the first written history of yoga and how it evolved. 

Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

We will look back 1300 years

 at the politics and see where two branches of yoga split.

Pradipika Postures
Pradipika Postures

Review the practice and physical austerities of ancient yogis.

The Astanga Practice
The Astanga Practice

The 60 Minute version of The Ashtanga Prymary Series

Ashtanga Breakdown
Ashtanga Breakdown

The Ashtanga Practice breakdown and the pranayama round robin.

The Yoga Sutras
The Yoga Sutras

The Yoga Sutras and the eight limbs of yoga.

Yama & NiYama
Yama & NiYama

The first two limbs of yoga.

The Science and History of Yoga

Chapter 3

  • The Science of Yoga
  • Arm Balance and Inversions
  • Musculoskeletal Movement and Connective Tissue
  • Energetic Alignment vs. Classical Workshop
  • Nervous System
  • Brain Physiology

Chapter 3
Chapter 3

Let’s review Chapter 2

Arm Balance & Inversion Workshop
Arm Balance & Inversion Workshop

Learn how to incorperate advanced postures into your practice and safely teach them to student. 

Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue
Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue

Learn the basics of our muscle , skeletal, and connective tissue systems.

Nervous System
Nervous System

How yoga effects the nervous system and why yoga is so effective. 

The Power Practice
The Power Practice

One Hour Yoga Class

Alignment
Alignment

Learn the difference between classical alignment and energetic. How to teach postures to all body types safely.

The Mind
The Mind

Learn how yoga effects the mind.

Teach Backs
Teach Backs

Teach backs and Round Robin

The Science and History of Yoga

Chapter 4

  • Ayurveda, the Sister Science to Yoga 
  • Elements 
  • Doshas 
  • Dosha Test 
  • The Six Tastes 
  • Eating for Balance 

Test for Chapter 3 & Review
Test for Chapter 3 & Review

Round Robin
Round Robin

Ayurveda
Ayurveda

The 6 Tastes
The 6 Tastes

Doshas
Doshas

Thai Body Work
Thai Body Work

The Science and History of Yoga

Chapter 5

Review and Test Chapter 4
Review and Test Chapter 4

Chakra Introduction
Chakra Introduction

Jessica Teach Back
Jessica Teach Back

Chakra Break Down
Chakra Break Down

Shawn Teach Back
Shawn Teach Back

Chakra Reading
Chakra Reading

This completes The Science and History module. If you have completed The Art of Teaching please email [email protected]  

If not, continue to your second module.

 Congratulations!