L

et’s start with an acronym: ‘

TA’ or Task Analysis which

http://www.dummies.com tells me is

training jargon for ‘the process

of identifying the specific steps

to correctly perform a task’. Then there’s

ADDIE: Analysis, Design, Development,

Implementation, Evaluation. And KSA:

Knowledge, Skills, Attitude.....an exhaustive

list of acronyms and buzzwords to inform

trainers in how to....well....train people.

Imparting core skills has become an

educational science.

I managed to while away a good half

hour on this site (as one does) drinking

my breakfast coffee and waiting for the

inspiration to start writing. And then it

came – wasn’t there someone called

Patanjali centuries ago who developed

a training package for would-be yogis,

synthesising the many elements of ancient

knowledge into one understandable and

accessible form known as the Sutras?

Isn’t the ‘Eight Limbs’ effectively a Task

Analysis? Having identified the task in

chapter one as ‘the ability to direct the

mind without distraction’ Patanjali goes on

to describe (in chapter two) the core skills

needed to achieve this, namely the ‘Eight

Limbs’ which in today’s training speak

could be seen as a flowchart. Or a set

of modules.

We start with yama or social attitudes:

interaction with the environment and

everything within it. Followed by niyama:

behaviour on a personal level. Asana is

the third step teaching understanding

of, and correct use of the physical body.

Pranayama is training in energy balancing

and mental focus through breath

awareness which leads to pratyahara and

control of the senses. Practicing these five

steps enables concentration (dharana)

leading to meditation (dhyana). Outcomes

= clarity and consciousness.

There are so many core skills contained

within this model of self-development

it would take writing a book to do each

justice, and goodness we have enough

on the shelves already. Yoga is a holistic

training and in my opinion should be

delivered as such. As tutors we might

focus on one aspect of asana work:

counterpose, for example, or sequencing,

so that students gain confidence in class

planning and delivery. However, asana

is not the goal of yoga but one step in a

journey.

A story to illustrate (reportedly from

Krisnamacharya) is about a student

seeking acknowledgment from his

teacher with his perfect headstand.

“Look what I can do,” the student said,

grinning enthusiastically. His teacher

was unimpressed and told him to keep

practicing. The same thing happened

several months later even though the

student was a little more subdued. Many

more months passed and one day the

teacher came upon this student, poised

silently in headstand, eyes closed and so

inwardly focused he didn’t notice anyone

watching him. The teacher said nothing.

Mental focus should therefore be the

core skill of a yoga teacher training course

and, ultimately, students need to develop

this themselves through personal practice

• this is the purpose of a foundation year.
  As trainers we give them the tools but
  it’s up to each student to use them. My
  recommendation: when in doubt, get on
  your mat.

Sheila Coombes is a senior tutor and

theory assessor for Friends of Yoga (Int)

(friendsofyoga.co.uk)

The core skills of a teacher training course.

By Sheila Coombes

Core skills

Universal Yoga

Teacher Training

Learn with experienced yoga

teacher trainers from the

Sivananda tradition. Deepen and

transform your understanding

of yoga in a peaceful residential

setting with a small group

(maximum 15 students).

January 2019 - November 2019

£3600 until 30th June, then £3900

includes accommodation and

delicious home cooked veg meals

universalyoga.co.uk/teacher-training

01761 470658

[email protected]

Teachers

Charlotta Martinus SYT

Rebekah Abhaya SYT