January 9 to April 8 2012
Overview
For over 40 years students have found the Yoga Development Course (YDC) to be a transformative experience.
The YDC is an intensive three-month program designed to give students an in-depth introduction to the major branches of yoga and a foundation in personal and spiritual development. The course is of lasting value not only to potential yoga teachers but also to all those who wish to deepen their yoga practice and make permanent changes in their approach to life.
In the YDC, students approach the fundamental goal of yoga – the union of individual consciousness with Cosmic Consciousness. Classes in Hatha Yoga, Raja and Jnana Yoga, Mantra and Japa Yoga, and Kundalini and Karma Yoga help to show how this goal may be attained.
Personal exploration workshops designed by Swami Radha – Life Seal, Straightwalk, Ideals, Two Selves and Identification – are given to help students accept themselves, develop strengths, overcome weakness and become the kind of person they want to be. Such inner work is essential on the path of yoga.
By integrating yogic practices with personal development techniques, the YDC offers powerful tools for transformation. Self-inquiry is the foundation, and questions are explored, such as, Who am I? What is life all about? What makes my life worthwhile? How do I prepare for the rest of my life?
The YDC is for those who wish to do extensive work on themselves and learn from living in a spiritual community. The YDC is the prerequisite for all of our Teacher Certification programs.
What to expect
The YDC is a 3-month, 7 day a week, full time, residential intensive, totaling 675 hours of class time. The course consists of a series of workshops 2 to 5 days in length.
Every day begins with Hidden Language Hatha Yoga. Morning and afternoon workshops are interactive with work in large and small groups. The daily schedule includes time for reflection and personal practice. Each evening the whole community gathers for satsang. One day a week is reserved for Karma Yoga.
The emphasis in the YDC is on personal reflection. Spiritual diary and written reflection are incorporated into each workshop. Daily and weekly written summaries (approximately 90 in total) are expected. There is a required reading list of thirteen books on yoga, from which three book reports are due during the YDC.
There is an optional post-course component of continuing study, in which each student has one year to complete a personalized reading list with written reports on a total of 30 books. These reports must be completed before taking the Hidden Language Hatha Yoga and Kundalini and Dream Yoga Teacher Certification.
All of our staff teachers are Yasodhara-trained, and our senior teachers are students of Swami Radha, each with over 20 years of teaching experience. Two resident sanyasis provide education program oversight and advisement during the course.
Individual Course Descriptions
For descriptions of our core practices of Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, Dream Yoga, Kundalini, Karma and Mantra Yoga, please go to “Our Practices”.
Other workshops offered during the YDC include:
Life Seals®
Life Seals are a symbolic representation of your path through life – as it has been, as it is now, and as it may grow in the future. Students draw personal symbols that represent mind, essence, senses, likes, dislikes, and positive and negative characteristics. This process allows the unconscious to come forward, revealing patterns, life lessons and the potential for change.
Straight Walk
The Straight Walk technique is based upon an ancient Buddhist practice of self-awareness. Through meditative walking, observation and concentration, students explore areas of their personalities that need to be refined or developed. Steps are taken, literally and symbolically, on the search for tools to expand awareness and understanding.
Ideals
This workshop is an exploration into the relationship between life purpose and ideals. We explore what ideals are, where they come from, how they work and what their power is. Each student investigates for themselves, What kind of person do I want to be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
Two Selves
This workshop looks at the dualistic nature of the mind and self. We examine concepts of gender roles and identities such as male/female, mother/father, rational/irrational, Siva/Shakti.
Identification/ Self Image
Using self-observation techniques, such as written reflection, group work, audio and video recordings, students explore their personality aspects, the power of imagination and image creation, in an effort to uncover the true ‘Self.’
Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga is known as the ‘King of Yogas.’ Taken from the philosophy of Pantajali, using the Yoga Sutras, we investigate the yamas and niyamas, which are the ethical foundation of all yogic practices. Pranayama, asana and concentration practices are also studied.
Mind (Jnana Yoga)
Jnana Yoga is the study of the psychology of the mind. Yogic methods of self-inquiry are explored, including meditation and mind watch. The questions, What is mind? and Who am I? are investigated.
Bhagavad Gita
An in-depth exploration of Karma Yoga, using the Bhagavad Gita as a source text. Through study and practical application, students develop a deeper understanding of the principle of spiritual growth through the giving of selfless service. The theory of Karma and Reincarnation will be also be studied.
Admission requirements and Fees
Each year we accept approximately thirty people into the Yoga Development Course.
To be admitted into the YDC, each applicant first has an entrance interview with the program advisor. This process is tailored to each applicant, taking into consideration personal circumstances. We ask that applicants thoroughly explore their reasons for wanting to take the course, and what their focus would be if they did.
We recommend that you visit Yasodhara for a course or retreat, or attend classes at a Radha Yoga Centre before applying to the YDC, so that you have a basic understanding and desire to live and study at Yasodhara Ashram.
The fee for the course is $7400. This includes your accommodation and meals.
After admission, a deposit of $750 is required to reserve your space. The remaining payment can be made at the beginning of the course or in three equal installments over the course of the three months.
There are bursaries available for young adults (ages 18-30) who have participated in the Ashram’s Young Adult Program. Payment plans can be discussed with the program advisor.
There is a required reading list that will cost between $80 and $100. These books are available in our bookstore. We have a number of these books in our library for those on limited budgets.
Post YDC Extended Stays
Yasodhara Ashram offers an extended-stay program for up to 5 months at no charge, to support students in the work they have done during the YDC. The program is focused on Karma Yoga and active engagement in the Ashram community. It is designed to help student put their learning into action, and develop a deeper understanding of what it means to live in a spiritual community.
Participants take part in the daily Karma Yoga, morning Hatha Yoga classes and satsang. There is also a post-YDC weekly reflection class for those in the program.
YDC as Teacher Certification
The Yoga Development Course has been given each year since 1969. Originally called the Yoga Teachers Course, it was created by Swami Radha in response to the need for skilled teachers of yoga. It was revolutionary for its time, offering aspiring teachers in-depth self-study before teaching others.
Although now open to all who would like to develop their yoga practice, the YDC is still the first step on the path to becoming a Yasodhara certified teacher.
Our full Teacher Training and Certification program looks like this:
Yoga Development Course
675 hours of instruction and practice
Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification
76 hours, plus 55 hours practice teaching prior to certification
Prerequisite: completion of the Yoga Development Course
Hidden Language Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification*
105 hours
Prerequisite: completion of the YDC and Book Report Project
Kundalini and Dream Yoga Teacher Certification*
105 hours
Prerequisite: completion of the YDC and the Book Report Project
*Teachers are required to be re-certified every 3 years
Application
Please contact the program advisor to begin the application process.
yashram@yasodhara.org or
800.661-8711 or 250.227.9224
Downloadable Forms
Required Reading List
YDC Pamplet PDF (when available)