We have been instructed to first put the oxygen mask on ourselves in case of emergency on a flight, then put it on others who can not do it themselves.  In the same manner, you need to uplift yourself and help yourself first  before helping others.

The oxygen coming from the oxygen mask  is the life prana  (vital energy )and wisdom knowledge that comes from the long tradition of Gurus and Yogis. We just have to expose ourselves to this source of knowledge and our complicated  life falls in place and we develop proper perspective about ourselves and what we should be doing. The airplane journey, metaphorically, is our life, we take off, and there are unseen  turbulences.

Taking one month out of your life to do the Yoga Teachers training course seems a long time and a big investment but really it is not a luxury. Putting the oxygen mask on yourself first is not a selfish act, it is necessary . Once in a lifetime, we all need to do this, learning for the first time or re learning in the wisdom school, things abut yourself that you have not been taught in normal secular education system. To pass it on to others and become a Yoga teacher is another question to consider later. Once you have something valuable, automatically you would want to share with others.But first we need to know that we  do not know the truth and ask the right questions. We need to know that we know uptill now about ourselves and others can be seen in a larger context of our spiritual evolution. And everything starts to make sense.

There will be practical instructions daily how to keep ourselves healthier but Yoga is not only for the young, slim and fit. In this one month training, you really explore the intimate connection between body-mind-spirit and have a wholistic understanding of health. It is also the stepping stone to be a professional health educator  ̣therapist if you wish. The Sivananda ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley is the first ashram to offer the comprehensive 800 hours program on Yoga Health education (Yoga therapy, accredited by International Association of Yoga Therapists ) and the 200 hour TTC is the first stepping stone in that in depth journey.

Your body and mind are sacred instruments. You will learn to stretch their limits to a comfortable level. You will learn the balance between effort and relaxation, a precious balance to learn in life. You will learn to accept your body and mind limitations and to honor yourself . You will feel the thrill when you feel one more inch  stretch, one more deep breath, one more moment of quiet in meditation and in deep relaxation. In the recent TTC in Vietnam, there were 5 students over 70! We did not know in the beginning what to do with them, but we were  amazed how good students they are, they absorbed every bit of the teaching , enjoyed their time immensely and said” I wish I knew this before!” . TTC is for all ages, all mental and fitness conditions. You do to need to be a pretzel to take the training.

The day goes with sunrise and sunset. There is a natural rhythm to life, not the craziness of the rat race in the city. You breathe, you walk, you sit on grass, you enjoy the company of new friends, you live in the moment present, the precious moment present . It is in the present that you feel yourself alive, free from the binding  past and free from the anxiety of the future. You are now equipped to recreate this eternal inspired feeling in your life. One month is short for such experience. It is invaluable.

You are welcome to join. This is what this country and your loved ones need, for you to be stronger, breathe in your oxygen mask and put it on to others . Have a good flight, stay calm under turbulences, a brilliant future is awaiting you , according to Swami Sivananda a great Yogi from the Himalayas and a modern sage and saint.

Om shanti- shanti-shanti.

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Watch this video from Swami Sita on Why to take the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Couse >>

© Swami Sitaramananda 2019 – No part of this article may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author.