The beauty of our existence as holy human beings is the unique diversity of individual gifts and desires. Yoga, as a spiritual discipline, was originally passed down from teacher to student, with one-on-one guidance and mentorship. My intention in offering this program is to offer an exquisite quality of attention and care in guiding you on your path that is rare to find in the yoga world today.
This is a rare, lovingly-crafted, powerfully personal program that prepares you to genuinely live the life you love: through an intimate understanding of yoga, health, business, spirituality, relationships and all matters concerning your greatest holistic well-being, peace of mind, joy of being and abundant success.
[ut_tabgroup]
[ut_tab title=”My Story” id=”t1″]
I grew up as the daughter of a mathematician father and artist mother, who instilled in me a great love of hard work, inspired living and the great joy of beauty. They both lived their lives to the fullest, doing what they genuinely loved to do. Fast forward a few decades —
Asana: Our asana practice will build you up, break you down and push you to your edge. We are hard workers, grand philosophers and great lovers of life— both on and off the mat. We share a colourful variety of styles with you and encourage you to find your own unique path.
Pranayama: From gentle ujjayi to powerful shamanic breathwork, you will be swept up in an electrifying energy current of physical, mental and energetic transformation. We share age-old techniques that are rarely taught in the West, medicinal tools for great healing and release.
Meditation: It is in emptiness that all the answers arise. We learn deep meditation techniques as we develop a daily practice of sitting with ourselves. This tool is one that must be practiced to be understood.
Kirtan & Chanting: Through Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion, we connect to a space of untouchable joy. Get ready to jam out with Sufey on the ukelele and Allowah on the guitar. We learn sacred songs and chants (and rock spontaneous dance parties)!
Teaching Preparation & Practicum: We believe the best way to master anything is to simply do it. Opportunities to teach begin in our first week together, starting from simple warm up sequences to a teaching a full 60-90 minute class.
[/ut_tab]
[ut_tab title=”Satsang” id=”t2″]
Satsang comes from the root words sat meaning “truth” and sanga meaning “company”. As we sit together in a community of truth, we hold space for passionate discourse on the meaning of life and Yoga. This is supported through yoga films, insightful readings and interactive lectures where we discuss everything from philosophy to ethics to anatomy to happiness!
The History and Philosophy of Yoga: Where did this practice come from? Who started it? What is it really all about? As we dive into the philosophical side of Yoga, we decode classic yoga texts including the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas and the Upanishads. We marvel at great myths and examine their relevance to our modern age.
Sanskrit 101: Learning a new language is a challenging, fascinating and rewarding process. As we acquaint ourselves with the sounds of this sacred language, we begin to see a deep and powerful beauty within the meanings of these words.
Anatomy & Physiology: The more we study our physical bodies, the greater our appreciation for the vessel we move in. Through a yoga-related discussion of muscles, bones and body systems, we gain a clear understanding of safe movement, alignment cues and the physiological effect of Yoga in our bodies.
Subtle Anatomy: Beyond the physical body lies a fascinating world of unseen energy. The deeper we move through our practice, the more sensitive we become to the flow of prana or life-force energy. In this section, we study the nadis, chakras, koshas, doshas and meridian lines as part of an introduction into Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Teaching Methodology: From clear vocal cues to the secret behind sequencing, we provide you with simple tools to cook up a yummy yoga flow. We guide you to develop clear communication, a powerful voice, and a strong sense of intuition. As you master the basics, we encourage you to pick and choose from a buffet of knowledge to share what rings true in your heart.
Asana Breakdown: As we breakdown poses one-by-one, you gain a clear understanding of the alignment, benefits, anatomy, cues, assists, contraindications, energies and modifications of each pose.
Yoga Ethics and Current Events: From discussion on classic Yoga texts to modern day Q&As, we learn how to live harmoniously with the Yamas and Niyamas in our current society. We hold non-judgmental space for open discussion and intelligent debate on controversial topics in the yoga world.
Dharma Talks: From the teachings of the Buddha to the poetry of Rumi, we discuss the meaning of life in an open-ended, non-dogmatic way. As we nourish our spiritual essence, we wake up to the nature of human existence and the deep love within us.
Special Topics: We value flexibility in our sessions and enjoy adding custom modules based on the requests of each gathering. We also invite guest teachers and students to give talks on their own specialties, passions and life experiences.
Final Quest: All of your newfound knowledge will be quested in a final exam designed to challenge and review the entirety of this course.
[/ut_tab]
[ut_tab title=”Yoga of Living” id=”t3″]
Ultimately, Yoga is a practice of humanity. It is a conscious process of observing our thoughts, of quieting our mind, of loving compassion, of radical forgiveness and simple joy. Yoga extends beyond the mat into our daily lives: into our relationships, the way we treat our families, friends and strangers, into our careers, into our attitudes and choices, into the way we experience every moment of our existence. As we journey through our time together, we find daily opportunities to practice what we preach.
Self-Study: The Yoga never ends on the mat. Through select readings, homework assignments and self-review, you will have the opportunity to make the most of your training. The more you dedicate yourself to your studies, the more you will learn from this experience.
Journaling: During our time together, we recommend you keep a personal journal to spark a conversation between yourself. This is not to read or share (unless you wish to), merely a personal tool for growth. We will have certain times each week set aside for free-writing and reflection.
Noble Silence: In the wee moments of dawn, we keep a noble silence as we transition into our first meditation. There will be select meals and sessions where we remain silent, attentive and meditative as we heighten our inner awareness.
Adventures: We are explorers at heart and love to trek through the land. Every place we go has its own charm and calling. From skinny-dipping in waterfalls to ziplining through Costa Rican jungles to soaking up the Hawaiian sun, we guarantee a natural high on mama Earth.
Circles: Clear communication and loving attention is a skill of innumerable benefits. We share stories, feelings and experiences as they arise. We practice conscious listening. And we check-in regularly so that you’re always heard, supported and taken care of.
Cooking & Nutrition (in select locations): Preparing food with love is a big part of our personal practice. We take turns making healthy meals with fresh, local and vegetarian ingredients. Nothing tastes quite as good as homemade meals prepared with our own hands!
Seva: Living in a home together brings many opportunities to selflessly serve each other. We all contribute to keeping a clean and tidy environment and tuning into the needs of the group. This shows up in the form of picking veggies from the garden, sweeping the yoga studio, taking attendance for class, or any other basic tasks that ask for a helping hand.
Friendships: As we laugh, cry and grow together, we inevitably become a family: a beautiful entanglement of diverse opinions, personalities and experiences. We practice our Yoga in all the relationships we form. How do we become kind, compassionate people to all that we meet? How do we see the light in all? How do we elevate each other and live harmoniously with all beings? This is the true practice!
Mindfulness: During breaks in our practice, we encourage you to remain mindful, present and true to your intention. Rest and recovery are essential in a day and age of go-go-go. Balance is key to the maintenance of a healthy, happy lifestyle.
Creative Works: As musical, visual and performing artists ourselves, we highly encourage the pursuit of creative passions. We have spontaneous projects that pop up from time to time— from choreographed dances to themed photoshoots to video interviews to the writing of a song. Make art, not war!
Secret Angels: As we tune in to the oneness of the Universe, sensitizing to the connectivity between ourselves and every other living being, ahimsa (non-harming) becomes an integral part of our practice. We take on the role of “secret angels” for one individual in our group and experience the true joy of sharing our infinite love.
Post-Graduation Support: As a Yoga University graduate, you have unlimited post-graduation support from our teachers within a powerful network of inspired yoga teachers. There are also opportunities to join our organizing team and continue to study with us as we travel to teach around the world.
[/ut_tab]
[ut_tab title=”Schedule” id=”t4″]
A typical day in our lives is a delightful mix of work and play. In Bali, we live and breathe yoga, on and off the mat. Each day is packed full of asana, teaching practice, satsang and culture. Our schedule ebbs and flows to nourish a healthy experience — there are days where we stay up late singing and dancing, days of introspection and reflection, and days of rest and rejuvenation.
[/ut_tab]
[ut_tab title=”Teachers” id=”t5″]
Sufey Chen believes in headstands, daily dance parties and love-fueled communities. An eclectic background of biomedical sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia and theatre/ art studies at New Mexico State University complements her extensive study with master yogis around the world. She started University at 15, travelling for months at a time to lecture and teach across Asia and North America. With 10+ years of teaching experience in movement, music and communication, she is known for her loving, energizing and refreshingly honest presence. In class, she channels an inspired mix of poetry, philosophy, power and play with a deep reverence for her teachers and devotion towards her students.
Emerson Lim
Emerson Lim, Head Philosophy Teacher
“I am Love,” is the most poignant way to describe Emerson Lim, founder of Karma Teachers. Lim has softened the edges of gang members and cleared the shadows around the hearts of those who’ve experienced the darker side of life. From homeless youth surviving on the streets to impoverished women, anyone who lives on the fringe of society and unable to experience the transformative potential of yoga—the doors of Karma Teachers are held wide open.
Intent on breaking social and economic barriers, Lim founded the Karma Teachers College, an experiential yoga teacher’s training modality that offers full and partial scholarships to those in need. He further gave us the gift of Ecstatic Yoga— a modern style that combines asana (yoga postures), pranayama (powerful breath work), and dance therapy to invoke a unique form of movement that is as much a workout as it is an opportunity for self-expression. True to form, Lim meets students wherever they are at to guide them towards and beyond their preconceived boundaries of possibility.
A self-proclaimed meditation junkie, Emerson’s personal focus is on the spiritual and philosophical elements of yoga, what he describes as “radical philosophy that prioritizes Oneness as defined by Advaita Vedanta. Although he is not a religious person, Lim worships the gods of unconditional love and compassion. Just a moment of time in his presence reveals his commitment (as both a student and as an instructor) to these teachings.
Owning the mantra of radical forgiveness, acceptance, and love, there’s no doubt that Emerson is changing the world, one person, one class, one revolutionary step at a time!
Danny Paradise, Ashtanga Master
Danny has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since May 1976 and teaching publicly (and occasionally privately) worldwide since 1979. He teaches all levels of students and teachers and was in one of the earliest groups of westerners to learn all the classical sequences of Ashtanga Yoga.
His first teachers were David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff. David was the first western Ashtanga adept. He began teaching with David Williams in 1979 and was asked to assist him at that time.
Danny introduces the forms to beginning students, experienced/advanced practitioners and teachers. Many people he has taught are now themselves teaching and have their own schools. He’s also introduced the Ashtanga forms to many people who were Yoga teachers in other traditions and styles.
He’s taught numerous well known artists, musicians, dancers, sports champions and studied with K. Pattabhi Jois in 1978 in Hawaii and 1980 in Hawaii in the USA. This included K.P. Jois’ first advanced series public classes in 1980 which were in Maui, Hawaii.
He’s also studied and practiced with numerous teachers of other Yoga forms as well as various martial arts including Karate, Kung Fu and Tai Chi. His influences in Spirituality have come from Krishnamurti, teachings of Buddha, Jesus, Shiva, Yoga, as well as numerous Shamanic traditions of Native North and South Americans, from indigenous cultures of the Pacific, Tibet, Africa and South East Asia. Some of these traditions also include Mayan, Egyptian, Hawaiian…
His main objective is to help people develop a sacred, personal, private, safe, healing, meditative, consistent, non-dogmatic Yoga practice.
[/ut_tab]
[ut_tab title=”Tuition” id=”t6″]
Yoga Teacher Training Tuition:
$3000 USD — full value
$2700 USD — early bird (if paid in full before January 1st, 2016)
Tuition includes 300+ hours of training hours in a registered Yoga Alliance 200-hour yoga teacher training program, a powerful healing curriculum, airport pick-up/ drop-off and The Great Yoga Quest manual.
Living Packages:
$2200 USD for the full week
Living package includes a month of accommodations, three weeks of an organic, raw vegan diet, a full juice cleanse, and a week of good times at the Bali Spirit Fest.
Refund Policy: If written notice of withdrawal is received:
[/ut_tab]
[/ut_tabgroup]
[ut_service_column_vertical] [/ut_service_column_vertical]
[ut_service_icon_box icon=”fa-envelope-o” url=”http://sufey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Yoga-Teacher-Training-Application-Form.pdf” headline=”Apply Today” target=”_blank” effect=”wiggle”] To learn more or to apply, please email smile@sufey.org. To be the first to know about upcoming events, workshops and programs, please sign up for our e-newsletter. [/ut_service_icon_box]
