NIKOLDIA YOGA & PILATES

Who is this course for?

• This course is for any yoga lover that would like to spend 10 days of an in-depth practice in Vinyasa Yoga methodology, sequencing, energetic alignment and hands-on assists.
• This course is for anyone that is already a Yoga Teacher and wishes to have a deeper knowledge and skill in leading Vinyasa Yoga classes.
• This course can be used towards a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training certification for any aspiring yoga teacher. After this 100hr course aspiring yoga teachers can complete the remaining 100hrs in philosophy, pranayama, meditation and anatomy, live or online. Please contact us for details.

What is Vinyasa?

Vinyasa, or more accurately Vinyasa Krama is not just a vigorous, flowy class with lots of movement and music, as is commonly thought. The word vinyasa is composed of two words: vi = order + nyasa = placement; and the word krama means “the uninterrupted sequence of events from beginning to end”; so the entire term means “the ordered placement of the sequence of events.” Shortened simply to “vinyasa,” it refers to a sequence of asanas created with intention and intelligence and linked by breath. An immediate effect of an intelligent sequence is what we call a “Sattvic Effect”, a state of complete alertness yet complete relaxation upon the completion of the practice. If you have ever felt either wired / aggravated or tired / lethargic after a practice, then you know the sequence was not created with intent and intelligence. Long term, creating our practice in this way - with knowledge, skill, and intention, turns our physical practice into a tool for conscious evolution of the body, mind and spirit. We become aware of our life and our world as a process, where the sequence of changes is always occurring. When we inject consciousness into the process of change, we can become aware of the past patterns, connect the dots, and direct the sequence of changes toward the desirable future.

In Vinyasa, every movement into or out of a posture is linked to an inhale or exhale, our physical practice rides on the wave that is breath. Surprisingly, even after years of practice many people do not use their breath correctly during a Vinyasa practice because they simply were never taught the preliminary subtle breathing practices before learning the vigorous “Ujjayi” breath. In this 100hr course we will dive deep into all elements of Vinyasa Krama, so that you – weather teacher or practitioner – can use this fascinating practice towards your and/or your student’s evolution.

Contents of the Course:

• Breathwork:
  • Preliminary breathing techniques for expansion of breath capacity
  • Subtle Pranayama Practices
  • Pranayama for Vinyasa
• Asana:
  • Anatomical and Energetic Alignment of the pose
  • Optimal Postural Blueprint
  • Biomechanics of the Body
  • Hands on Assists
• Vinyasa Methodology:
  • Intelligent Sequencing According to Intention
  • Building a Themed Class
  • The “Sattvic Effect”
  • Rhythm and Flow
  • Voice and Instruction
  • Hands on Assists during Vinyasa

*Sample Schedule:

• August 14th
• Arrival by 5pm, Welcome session 7pm
• August 15th – 23rd
• 8:00 – 10:30 Vinyasa Yoga Class, Pranayama + Meditation
• 10:30 – 12:00 Brunch
• 12:00 – 13:00 Breathwork
• 13:00 – 16:00 Asana Lab & Vinyasa Methodology
• 16:00 – 20:00 Beach Time / Personal Time for reflection, journaling, homework
• 20:00 – 21:30 Evening Lecture + Meditation
• August 24th
• Departure by 10am
• *Schedule is subject to change on some days according to the needs of the group – we may have a longer afternoon session and a free evening for a group outing.

Upon completion of the course:

Participants will receive a 100hr Vinyasa Specialization Diploma. For those that are already Yoga teachers this will count as 100hrs Continuing Education. For aspiring Yoga teachers, it means completion of half of the 200hr Yoga Teacher Training course – additional 100hrs can be taken live or online.

Location:

This is our favorite place in South of Crete – Paleochora. Paleochora is a beautiful, graphic village set on a peninsula, surrounded by water on 3 sides. The village itself has a very laid-back hippie vibe with kilometers of beautiful beach stretches on both sides of a peninsula. The food in the village is absolutely amazing and you will find a wide variety from local Greek tavernas, Sea food tavernas, to a Vegetarian Restaurant (our favorite!). To reach Paleochora you’d need to fly into Chania International Airport and then take a bus from the central bus station to Paleochora. The buses run frequently throughout the day and the bus ride takes about 1,5 hrs. Our training venue is just a short taxi ride from Paleochora bus stop, and we can assist you with a taxi. It is also possible to take a taxi directly from the airport, please contact us and we will inquire with the taxi company for you.

Accommodation:

Our venue is a place we come back to year after year for the past 20 years. It is an eco-lodge build especially for seminars, 4km outside of Paleochora, set in nature with all the quiet and privacy that we require for our work. Beaches and Paleochora village are accessible by a taxi, we usually arrange the pick-up and drop off for the group at a specific hour. Many of our past participants also loved to walk the beautiful route to the beach and Paleochora village that takes anywhere between 20min and 40min. Accommodation is based on a double occupancy. Single rooms are limited but can be arranged upon request. *Food IS NOT included on this course. Due to a wide dietary preference we’ve faced in the last years, the overall cost of breakfast to satisfy all diets proved not to be cost effective for our participants. For this reason, we have removed the cost of food from this course and instead we provide two fully equipped kitchens for your use where you can store and prepare your food. We will arrange 2 trips to the supermarket during our stay so that you can purchase your brunch groceries. Late lunch / early dinner is usually eaten outside at the beach or in one of the many delicious restaurants that provide fresh local food.

Cost:

Room with AC:
• € 1250 by July 30th
• € 1400 by August 10th
Room with Fan:
• € 1050 by July 30th
• € 1200 by August 10th
Prices are per person in a double shared occupancy.

To enroll into this Vinyasa Specialization course, we require a filled out application and a deposit of €500.