Yoga Psychology: The Mind in Yoga

• Format: YTT Short Course
• Chose four Short Courses to create an Eclectic Weekend Module
• Also part of the “Yoga Psychology: The Mind of Freedom” YTT Themed Intensive Module
• Instruction Time: 3 hours

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.

The Mind course 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 anatomy and physiology, philosophy, lifestyle and ethics, and elective hours.

Course Outline (3 hrs)

YOGA PSYCHOLOGY:  Introduction

• Definition of Yoga Psychology

CHITTA SHAKTI:  Prana as Consciousness

• The Pranic Body:  Sukshma Sharir
• Prana: Unified Theory of Energy
• The Composition of Prana
• Qi Follows Yi

PATANJALI’S YOGA:  The Yoga of the Mind

• Patanjali’s Yoga
• The Psychology of the Eight Limbs
• Samyama
• Consciousness and Patanjali’s Classical Yoga

CHETANA:  Consciousness East and West

• Definition of Consciousness
• Awareness: Focused Consciousness
• Chetana: The Ultimate Reality
• Indriya: Our Sensory Awareness
• Four States of Consciousness
• The Five Basic States of the MInd
• The Kleshas: Spiritual Obstacles and Causes of Suffering

ANTAHKARANA: The Internal Instrument

• Definition of Antahkarana
• Manas
• Chitta
• Ahamkara
• Buddhi

KARMA: In Yoga Psychology

• The Three Types of Karmas
• Samskaras
• The Mind and Samskaras
• Moksha, Duality and Non-Duality

AYURVEDA PSYCHOLOGY:  The Mind of Nature, The Nature of Mind

• Ayurvedic Personality Types: Vata, Pitta, Kapha
• Triguna Psychology: The Nature of Mind, The Mind of Nature
• Rogakaarana: The Three Causes of all Disease