YTT Themed Intensive Module

Virya: The Spiritual Warrior Within

Virya: The Spiritual Warrior Within

  • Format: YTT Themed Intensive Module
  • Instruction Time: 14 hrs (200-hr), 14-30 hrs (300-hr and 500 hr, or Cont Ed)

The Virya Intensive is a deeper continuation of the Yoga Psychology weekend program, taking a closer look at personal transformation, change, and the spiritual warrior as an archetype for growth.

Life sometimes overwhelms us and we feel powerless to the sea of chaos. In these times Yoga can keep us calm. It can also give us courage, power, and a spiritual weapon:  faith. Not only faith in an unbreakable link to the divine, but more importantly, in oneself. A spark of grace is all it takes to kindle the Manipura chakra waiting dormant within the pilot light of the solar plexus. From there arises the sacred warrior, Virya, who stands in his/her essence fearless, in the company of truth. The great sword is wielded and the head of denial falls to the ground. We see these images in the sacred artwork of Devi, Durga, Kali, and Manjushri in Tibetan Buddhism. The archtype of the spiritual warrior does no harm to those who stand in truth, but wields extreme prejudice towards all obstacles on the path of awakening: denial, lethargy, attachment, arrogance, insecurity, avoidance, deception, and fear to name just a few. It is no contradiction for the Yogi to wield the sword that cuts through illusion to deliver us a solitary inch ever closer to our true nature. There is no himsa (violence). There is only ahimsa (non-violence) in the form of action.

How do we awaken to our true self empowered beingness? What limits us in life, relationships, as a yoga teacher, or on the spiritual path in general? How do we build the ahamkara (ego) without falling prey to the obstacles it so adores to befriend? The Virya course is for anyone with an authentic desire to explore the warrior within witout the fear of discovering the truth.

Weekend Structure

The Virya weekend intensive is a Themed Weekend Program split into five independent, but related, courses: a Friday evening 2-hr introduction to yoga as a path of truth and self knowledge (sadvritta), followed by four 3-hr courses divided over a Saturday and Sunday on the core topics of the yoga psychology, the cycles of change, agni (fire) as the element of personal transformation, and virya, the embodiment of the spiritual warrior archetype. With fourteen hours dedicated to the subject, more time is available to explore the material in a personal process manner, allowing time for students to both learn theory and practice as well as inquire into the uniqueness of their own lives.

Though the program is designed as a long weekend themed course with benefits to taking all courses, students are free to take any one course or all courses depending upon their own unique interests and time constraints.

The Yoga Psychology weekend program is an introspective review of yogic and ayurvedic psychology and the role of the mind in our capacity to heal, to self reflect, and to evolve on the yogic path. Students will also learn simple healing practices that heal and clean the mind and a short form of the Antar Mouna pratyahara practice to improve self witnessing skills.

Yoga Alliance: This program satisfies Yoga Alliance requirements for philosophy, lifestyle and ethics, and elective hours.

Course Sections

Part 1
Sadvritta: Living True to Ourselves in Yoga and Life (2 hr)

To live true to ourselves we must appreciate and integrate the power of our unique individuated beingness. We are one-of-a-kind. To be spiritually, emotionally and physically healthy we must be authentic to our true nature, as authenticity is the highest expression of faith in oneself.  Sadvritta is more than knowing our truths, it is the art of living it. Come and explore the inner teachings of the self within Yoga and Ayurveda as the grounding for those living a yogic life. We will explore outer versus inner truths, self knowledge (swasthavritta), self study (svadhyaya), pure satvic living (sadvritta), and living according to the unique truths of our own personal nature (prakriti).

Part 2
Yoga Psychology: The Mind in Yoga  (3 hr)

From Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras,” to the classic Tantras, the mind in all its forms is a primary focus on any yogic path. At once, the mind is either the greatest tool to our growth, or the greatest obstacle. In Buddhist yoga, rather than bliss out, the mind is made sharp and clear like a diamond. Karmas are both created and destroyed via the mind, as the mind alone stands as the deliverer or the executioner of our spiritual development. In yogic psychology the mind is more than the sum of the brain and nervous system. The mind is prana, life itself. The mind is Shiva, the cosmic witness. It is the heart, which loves and reels with empathy. It is that which both sees and chooses our life’s dharma. In it’s highest form, it is the guru within. In ayurvedic psychology, the mind is considered the cause of all disease, and many treatment modalities are available to keep the mind clean and vibrant.

Part 3
Parinam: Cycles of Change and Renewal in Yoga  (3 hr)

Cycles of nature come and go. We observe some while others go unnoticed. Yet, our bodies are rhythmic by nature and desire connection to the larger cycles around us. Cycles also bring change, both large and small. Every sensory phenomenon has a beginning, middle and an end. So does a single thought or an entire life span. We cry with joy over the birth of a life, a marriage, or a business. We do our best to maintain things in the middle, and yet we grieve and go unconscious at its end. In yoga as a reality-based spirituality, these powerful transitions are the real work. We observe that every death is followed by a new beginning. How do we stay conscious through transitions? Why do we numb ourselves to change? How do we keep it real? Come and explore reality-based spirituality as a powerful direction in contemporary yoga.

Part 4
Agni: The Fires of Personal Transformation (3 hr)

Homa, havan, agnihotra, antim-sanskaram (cremation), arti, and sati are among a few of the many ritual cycles which center around the element of fire, or agni. Once considered a diety, Agni was the messenger of the Gods, the acceptor of sacrifice, taking offerings to the Gods. The cult of Fire in Vedic times was later downgraded during the Hindu period to domestic and templar ritual. It is believed that through fire all offerings and prayers are delivered to the Divine. Likewise, in the human body, it is via agni that all metabolic transformations occur, all thoughts are thought, and all organs and tissues nourished. In this course practical yogic techniques and ayurvedic remedies to preserve, cleanse, rippen and strengthen one’s agni are presented. Herbs, spices, teas, fasting and cleansing techniques included.

Part 5
Virya: The Divine Warrior Within Us (3 hr)

Life sometimes overwhelms us and we feel powerless to the sea of chaos. In these times Yoga can keep us calm. It can also give us courage, power, and a spiritual weapon:  faith. Not only faith in an unbreakable link to the divine, but more importantly, in our Self (atman, soul). A spark of grace is all it takes to kindle the Manipura chakra waiting dormant within the pilot light of the solar plexus. From there arises the sacred warrior, Virya, who stands in his/her essence fearless, in the company of truth. The great sword is wielded and the head of denial falls to the ground. We see these images in the sacred artwork of Devi, Durga, Kali, and Manjushri in Tibetan Buddhism. The archtype of the spiritual warrior does no harm to those who stand in truth, but wields extreme prejudice towards all obstacles on the path of awakening: denial, lethargy, attachment, arrogance, insecurity, avoidance, deception, and fear to name just a few. It is no contradiction for the Yogi to wield the sword that cuts through illusion to deliver us a solitary inch ever closer to our true nature. There is no himsa (violence). There is only ahimsa (non-violence) in the form of action.
How do we awaken to our true self empowered beingness? What limits us in life, relationships, as a yoga teacher, or on the spiritual path in general? How do we build the ahamkara (ego) without falling prey to the obstacles it so adores to befriend? The Virya course is for anyone with an authentic desire to explore the warrior within witout the fear of discovering the truth.

All YTT modules