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  • The Fountainhead of Worship by Swami Veda Bharati
  • Samkalpa Shakti by Swami Rama
  • Audio Talk - Swami Veda
  • Japa, Silence and Ātma-tattva-avalokanam by Stephen Parker (Stoma)
  • Silence, Svadhyaya and Steadiness of Mind by Jim Fraser
  • March 2019 HYT-TTP Retreat Summary by Pandit Priyadarshan (Pierre Lefebvre)
  • Dear Yoga Mentor, My Question Is
  • 2019 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN Newsletter Archive

March 2019 HYT-TTP Retreat Summary

by Pandit Priyadarshan (Pierre Lefebvre)

This year, the March retreat of our Teacher Training Program happened to be just following our very successful Sangha gathering.  We welcomed students from all over the world of another great HYT-TTP Level-1 & 2 retreat here at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) in Rishikesh, India.

23 participants representing 9 countries took part in the levels one and two.  They came from: Canada, Mauritius, Lithuania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, China, Sri Lanka as well as from many states of India (Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu).  All these students shared the many wonderful and fascinating ways in which they found out about our unique Tradition.

TTP Closing Ceremony at SRSG
March 2019

The level one students learned the basics of the Himalayan Tradition and the foundations of the first level: proper methods of sitting, breathing, Joints & glands movements, asana, relaxation, meditation, psychology and philosophy of yoga, etc.

The level two students eagerly absorbed the deeper levels of subtleties in asana, pranayama, relaxation and meditations practices along with further refinements in psychology, philosophy and teaching methodology.
The level one participants also had the chance to enjoy an outing to HIHT (Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust). The day started with a very interesting lecture on Ayurveda by Dr. Ravindra Kumar Mamgain and a visit of the facilities at the Ayurveda Center. They then had a wonderful time at the Swami Rama Centre, visiting the Swami Rama photo museum, the book store, and most importantly the Meditation Hall adjacent to the room where Swami Rama left his body in November 1996.

Some of the level two students were also able to find time to complete their 200 hour requirements for Yoga Alliance certification. We were very pleased to grant certificates of completion for our 200-H programme to Shamani Fonseka from Sri Lanka, Piyush Saxena from India, Riemke de Groot from the Netherlands, and to Jay Prakash Bahuguna, our own ashram resident and dedicated family member.

This year we had a very intense “Holi” festival, which coincided with the penultimate day of the retreat.

The TTP students participated with full involvement and joy, splashing each other with powdered colours, water… and more! (More photos at the bottom)

The last evening of the programme brought the opportunity to listen to the most beautiful Indian classical music, with the exquisite recital of the internationally acclaimed musician Pandit Barunkumar Pal, who is a direct senior disciple of the world famous sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar.  We were all very thankful to Pandit Pal for his concert offering.

We are grateful to our teachers: Randall Krause, Sonia Van Nispen, Ashutosh Sharma, Dr. Stephen (Stoma) Parker, Swami Prayag Giri, Tejaswini, and John Sellinger who lovingly guided the students throughout the programme. Both groups also had the opportunity to sit in meditation daily with Swami Ritavan and to have lessons with him on mantra, meditation and initiation.

As always, our gifted SRSG teachers, Swami RamCharit, Adhikari, Geeta and Ramprakash were up early and ready every morning for the morning prayers and integrated lessons of joints & glands and hatha practice.

Tips for working through your home study

Here are some tips to help yourself and your mentor with your online assignments:

Upcoming Retreats

Do begin your planning to attend your first level of the programme… or your next level if you are already a HYT-TTP student. The next HYT-TTP retreats held at SRSG will be from November 10th to 23rd, 2019, offering levels one and three, and from March 8th to 21st, 2020, offering then levels one and two.

Also, please do remember that we will have a summer TTP this year at the Meditation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.  The dates of the retreat are July 28th to August 10th 2019. Levels one and two, as well as prana vidya one and two will be offered. Do register early.

To register on-line as a new student for level one, go to www.hyt-ttp.com and choose “Student Application” under the topic “Teacher Training” (http://www.hyt-ttp.com/progression.html#apply). Then submit after filling –in the application form. If you have registered once, please do not register again. Contact Pierre Lefebvre at hyt.ttp@gmail.com and you will be guided to the next level.

More Holi Photos

Editor’s Note:

We are also grateful to have Pandit Priyadarshan (Pierre Lefebvre) as one of the teachers who guides students.

Jay Prakash Bahuguna, who received his 200 hour certificate, serves as part of our newsletter staff, providing many of the photos that we have been able to share with you during the years.