SOUND YOGA Advanced 300 hr Yoga Teacher Training:
SYLLABUS
School of Sound Wisdom
Mantra - Nāda – Sound Bath – Movement – Prᾱṇᾱyᾱma - Meditation
NOTE: To obtain the 300 hr status, trainees need to have already obtained their 200 hr certification. However anyone with a sincere interest in Sound Based Yogic practices, Sound Healing Certification* (Non-RYT), and a desire to help others by transforming themselves, is welcome to apply for this training.
OVERALL Learning Objectives:
Trainees will learn how to create a conducive environment for students to explore the yoga of sound through mindfulness, movement, prᾱṇᾱyᾱma, Nāda Yoga, & Sanskrit mantra chanting.
Trainees will be able to offer knowledgeable guidance about sound yoga and meditation practices to students and support them to create a daily transformational sound-based yoga and meditation routine tailored to their unique needs.
Trainees will be able to understand and explain the history, science, and therapeutic and physiological benefits of Sound Yoga and meditation, through a life-enhancing non-dual Tantrik perspective.
Trainees will be able to understand and apply sound as yoga, vs sound as performance. This includes applying energy anatomy by using key sound yoga techniques with their own voice and sacred sound instruments, including: natural harmonics and overtones; musical intervals; dynamics of consonance, dissonance, rhythm, amplitude and sensitivity.
Trainees will be able to read any Sanskrit word from its transliterated form (IAST), and pronounce it using the accurate alignment positions of the mouth. NOTE: This training emphasis is on learning the foundational tools to continue learning, instead of rote memorization.
Trainees will be able to use and understand the body-mind co-relation, in order to incorporate movement practices as a way to prepare for Sound Yoga meditations.
Trainees will be able to incorporate mindfulness practice into all other meditations and spiritual practices.
Trainees will be asked to step into the role of the Hero, the Modern Day Teacher/Guru/Guide, and will be invited to use their own lives as a model for deep transformation. By applying the tools from this course, trainees will develop greater self-awareness and self-reflection, and learn how to lovingly create space for their own challenges, while at the same time, creating new patterns more aligned with their goals. This will enable trainees to authentically share the same tools to inspire their own students.
The Sound Wisdom School: Sound Yoga 300-hr teacher training prepares its trainees to begin teaching the principles and techniques of sound yoga safely and competently to both groups and privates.
MAIN Syllabus:
PLEASE NOTE: FOR THE MOST UP-to-DATE SYLLABUS, please see my School of Sound Wisdom YOGA ALLIANCE page: Shannon Rose Scott - School of Sound Wisdom
For a printable pdf version of the most recent SYLLABUS - CLICK HERE
Techniques, Training and Practice: 143 hrs THE SELF-SHINING PRACTICES
Sound Yoga Meditations:
1. Movement:
32.5 hours
- Trainees will experience restorative yoga, vinyasa yoga, and hatha yoga ᾱsanas as warm-ups for the deeper meditation practices. (10 hrs)
- Trainees will practice and deepen their awareness of how to use their bodies safely and effectively during ᾱsana and meditation practices, using the universal principles of alignment, from a non-judgemental, listening-based, life-enhancing tantric yoga perspective, and how to adapt alignment for lying down, sitting, standing, or moving. (6 hrs)
- Trainees will explore movement as meditation, and become experienced in both practicing and guiding shaking meditation, intuitive movement, cakra dance, and walking meditation. (16.5)
2. Prᾱṇᾱyᾱma
10.00 hours
- Trainees will practice 15 minutes minimum of daily prᾱṇᾱyᾱma, as well as longer practices combined with movement (with a prᾱṇᾱyᾱma focus) to experience and deepen the connection between their breath and their voice, body, mind, emotions, and energy levels. Trainees will be able to guide effective prᾱṇᾱyᾱma meditations, and assist students of their own in connecting their breath with all the parts of their being.
3. Nᾱda Yoga
45.5 hours
- Trainees will be invited into the practices of vibrational mastery considered fundamental to embodied enlightenment by the mystics, gurus and saints of every culture. They will learn to awaken the bhakti through practicing “union through sound,” with their own voice through Hindustanī vocal toning & sargam practices. Trainees will also learn the practice of music as yoga, through sacred sound instruments, exploring natural harmonics and overtones; musical intervals; dynamics of consonance, dissonance, rhythm, amplitude and sensitivity. Trainees will experience meditation on sound as one universal path to Self-realization, accessible to anyone and everyone.
4. Sanskrit – Mantra Puruṣa:
10.5 hrs
- Trainees will learn the 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet first by embodying its energy anatomy through the practice of the Mantra Puruṣa. They will use this visceral practice as a way to integrate the language. Trainees will learn how to both read and accurately pronounce any Sanskrit letter and therefore word, from its transliterated (IAST) form, using the proper alignment of the mouth.
5. Mantra Yoga:
23.5 hr
a. Japa Mantra 7.5
Trainees will experience 15 minutes of daily japa, both guided and self-guided.
b. Vedic Sanskrit Transformational Mantra chanting 16 hrs
Trainees will be introduced to, and have a reference toolkit of, a broad range of different types of mantras and will understand how to appropriately apply mantra to restore balance to a variety of practical life issues.
Trainees will learn how to identify Vedic style mantra chanting, by sight – identifying the svara marking; and by ear – through listening identification; and will understand the difference between Vedic mantra, and Kirtan singing.
6. Mindfulness meditation
21 hours
- Trainees will experience a minimum of 15 minutes daily of direct mindfulness meditation instruction and practice. They will learn how to apply the practice of mindfulness to all other meditation practices, and come to recognize that mindfulness is the basis to all other spiritual practices.
Teaching Methodology: 38 hrs THE TRANSFORMATIONAL TEACHER
7. Qualities and Approaches of a Transformational Teacher: Trainees will identify the qualities and different approaches of a great teacher, and will consciously deepen their own skills, and development in this area.
3 hrs
8. Communication Skills
13 hrs
- Trainees will learn effective communication skills for teaching, and for interpersonal relationship building, through part lecture, part experiential games. Communication methods are drawn from Teaching Directional Language, Inspirational Theming and Languaging, NVC (non-violent communication), Interviewing Skills, and the ELC method (experiential learning cycle).
9. Group Dynamics vs 1-2-1 Dynamics for Sound Yoga and Meditation Sessions
8 hrs
o Trainees will learn how to create the appropriate environment for their students to explore Sound Yoga and Meditation.
o They will learn the characteristics, traditional progression and outcomes, as well as the pros and cons of working with groups, as well as working with 1-2-1 private clients.
o Trainees will learn how to work with the energy dynamics of a group or private client, and how to recognize the need for transition, energizers, calming down techniques, working through resistances, and other master teaching methods.
10. Class/workshop design and structure for Transformational Teaching
9 hrs
o Trainees will learn how to create class outlines that are logical, dynamic, and effectively lead to transformation. They will learn how to structure a class based on the type of group (small/large/or private client), type of class (drop in, series, or workshop), as well as the participants themselves (general public and special population groups). They will learn how to use transformational themes, and how to take their students on a spiritual journey.
11. Business of Yoga:
5 hrs
o Trainees will have the opportunity to discuss and consider the business side of being a Sound Yoga and Meditation teacher, should they wish to pursue a career in Sound, including but not limited to:
How to create their own personalized Sound Yoga offering, based on their own interests, backgrounds, and unique gifts
How to honour and express their own vision, brand it, and market themselves
The Ethics and Legalities
Anatomy and Physiology: CO-CREATE YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE CAKRAS
29.5 hrs Total
19.5 hrs applied
10 hours lecture
12. Energy Anatomy and Physiology of the Cakras, Koshas, Doshas, and Elements
10 hrs
a. Trainees will deepen their understanding and knowledge of the energy anatomy and physiology of the Cakras and Koshas, and how this applies and relates to the Doshas and Elemental Constitutions.
b. They will also learn the evidence-based scientific benefits and contraindications of the Sound Yoga Practices in regards to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
13. Physical and Energetic Assists/Adjustments and Assessment Frameworks and Suggested Practices
19.5 hours
a. Trainees will have the direct experience of, and practice in identifying the state of the Cakras and Koshas, through developing awareness of the variations of sounds and sensations while using sound techniques - (movement, prᾱṇᾱyᾱma, nᾱda, mantra [especially the Mantra Puruṣa], and mindfulness)
b. Trainees will be able to assess themselves and students, using Sound Yoga Techniques, and through applied understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the physical and energetic systems. Trainees will be able to both assist/adjust their students effectively in the moment, as well as create and chart an effective program for their students.
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers: 43 hours
- THE HERO’S JOURNEY
“Archetypes, Gods and Goddesses and the Hero’s Journey”
East meets West = Personalized Enlightenment!
14. Origin and History of Sound Yoga
3 hrs
- Trainees will be taught a non-dogmatic understanding of the origins, history, and modern usage of Sound Yoga and Meditation.
- They will also learn the difference between Sound as Yoga, and Sound as Performance, and why it matters.
15. Tantra Non Dual Philosophy
3 hrs
Trainees will deepen their understanding and experience of the philosophy of Tantra – rooted in the Kashmir Shaivism Tantra of Northern India. They will cognitively contemplate its deeply profound, esoteric, mystical, philosophical path, AND apply its practical tools that foster a life-embracing, life-enhancing approach to yogic practices, instead of a life-as-inferior (Classical), or life-as-illusion (Advaita Vedanta) approach.
16. The Hero’s Journey: Tantrik Gods and Goddesses, + Western Archetypes (Jungian Psychology and Joseph Campbell’s)
26 hrs
a. Trainees will engage in a comparative Study of the Bhagavad Gita through the Tantrik lens, and also compare the learnings and lessons here, to Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, incorporating Jungian archetypes. (3 hrs)
b. Trainees will deepen their understanding of many other Hindu Gods and Goddesses, through further comparisons to the Jungian archetypes and the Hero’s Journey. (3 hrs)
c. Trainees will reflect and discuss the Namas and the Niyamas: to develop greater self-awareness and self-reflection, on their current and desired personal ethics, engage in shadow work, discuss their Dharma, and reflect on their own Hero’s Journey (3 hrs)
d. Trainees will engage in expressive arts and other experiential Games for self-reflection as applied to the texts. (3)
e. Trainees will partake in their own applied Hero’s Journey – through a personalized walking meditation ‘trek.’ Trainees will have continued discussions, reflection journal exercises, and other experiential games, on their personal trek to deepen their understanding of the Hero’s Journey experience, and what it means to be a spiritual seeker, and a Sound Yoga Teacher in this Modern World. (14 hours)
17. Ethics of Teaching
11 hrs
- Trainees will be able to discuss, reflect and represent:
- the ethics of the teacher-Student, and Teacher-Community Relationships;
- the ethics of teaching and behaving with Cultural, Racial, Sexual, Gender, Classist, and Able-ist Sensitivity;
- the ethics of using touch/non-touch practices, and following a trauma informed approach.
- the ethics and importance of a personal practice prior to, and continued use whilst, teaching the tools
- the ethics of being a helper/server – boundary setting & self-care, + the Sāttvic, Rājasic, and Tāmasic Use of yogic tools (in using for yourself and in teaching to others)
Practicum: 38 hrs, 15 I AM HERE – Claiming your Authority
18. Individual Student Practicums: Active Practice Teaching as the lead instructor
7 hrs, 15 min
- SELF PACED Trainees who opt in for the PRIVATE TRANSFORMATIONAL SESSIONS PACKAGE will have the opportunity to test and practice their workshop/class/private session plans, teaching and transformational facilitation skills, and practice their Sanskrit chanting, Nᾱda yoga, and movement instruction, all while receiving invaluable reflection and direction from their peers, teaching team, and lead trainer.
- Trainees will have the opportunity for plenty of active practice teaching as the lead instructor, with evaluation by the Lead Trainer.
a. Lead a Food Blessing Mantra: 5 min
b. Guide a Mindfulness practice: 10 min
c. Guide a Nᾱda Yoga Meditation: 30 min guided practice, 15 min receiving feedback
d. Guide a Mantra Yoga Meditation: 30 min guided practice, 15 min receiving feedback
e. Guide a Group Sound Yoga Class – personalized for students’ areas of interest and background: 1.25 hr guided practice, 15 min receiving feedback
f. Guide a Private Session that creates a personalized plan for the student as a home practice 1.5 hr guided practice, 15 min receiving feedback
g. Guide a Group Practice session that incorporates intention setting, movement, prᾱṇᾱyᾱma, the Mantra Puruṣa, and all the Sound Yoga Meditation tools in one practice. 2 hr guided practice, 15 min receiving feedback.
19. Practicum Participation:
31hrs
- Trainees will have the opportunity to attend others’ student-led classes and practicums, and practice observing, receiving the experience, as well as giving effective, compassionate, constructive feedback.
Alchemy of Sound YTT Pages
* = DISCLAIMERS:
Please note:
Any terms such as: “Sound Healing,” “Sound Alchemy,” “Sound Healer,” “Shaking Medicine,” “Sound Treatments,” “treatment,” and “healing” do not refer to actual medical terms, and should not be considered a replacement form of treatment for physical, mental or medical problems by your doctor either directly or indirectly. Sound Wisdom and Shannon Rose Scott, does not claim to heal anyone, but only to help others access the power of their own holistic well-being.
The yoga therapy (sound healing/alchemy/medicine/treatment) components of the Sound teachings are based on Sound Practitioner Certifications, and are not derived from Shannon’s status as an E-RYT with Yoga Alliance Registry.
The yoga therapy (sound healing/alchemy/medicine/treatment) components of Sound Wisdom courses are based on Sound Practitioner teachings, and are not a part of any RYS curriculum, nor are they derived from the status as an RYS with Yoga Alliance Registry.