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What is the time required for studying each module?
The program recommends that you spend between 1 and 3 hours a week distributed between viewing and practicing the lessons presented on DVD and Audio CD, engaging in discussion through the Internet and keep a journal of your experiences and insights. In short, you can benefit from this program by spending less than 10 hours a month to deepen your spiritual life! The rest of the time you spend living your life while at the same time seeking opportunities to implement the ideas and practices of the program into your life, your profession and your relationships, observing how the quality of your energy is being transformed. Here’s how it breaks down:
BASIC: 1+ hours a week to comfortably keep up with the curriculum: Each week, if you can spend about 20 minutes viewing the lessons on DVD, another 20 minutes practicing the lessons, and 20 minutes logging onto the Internet to stay up-to-date with the discussions in progress.
OPTIMAL: 2+ hours a week to get deeper into the lessons: If you can spend a full hour viewing in practicing the lessons, another full hour divided into two or three segments during which you log onto the Internet and engage in discussion you will be able to absorb the full value of the program.
MASTERY: 3+ hours a week for those who want to teach the curriculum: If you can spend an hour viewing in practicing the lessons, another full hour divided into two or three segments during which you log onto the Internet and engage in discussion, and a third hour reflecting and journaling on what you are practicing and how you are absorbing, you will find that you can master the content and develop additional background knowledge that will also enable you to become one of our program partners.
How many modules are there?
We estimate approximately 10 - 15 modules that will cover all three tracks at all three levels. The modules address very specific milestones in helping to establish students in each of the program tracks so that they can understand the depth of the method, build a strong foundation and be skillful in their practice if they apply themselves.
What is the cost of each subsequent module?
Approximately $250 each is estimated for each module but discounts will always be offered to registered students. Some modules may be combined with others and costs can fluctuate but within a reasonable margin.
At present, the entire first year of training is priced at $700 - $750 and covers four modules and a private consultation at the end that evaluates the student's learning process. (Actual cost at $250 is $1050)
Additionally, student who qualify for our Program Associate certification program, will be able to recoup their tuition costs through their efforts and, additionally, be able to generate income for themselves. Details on how this works will be provided upon completion of certification, which requires Level 1 completion, that is, one year of training.
We estimate the full program -- beginner, intermediate and advanced levels -- costing around $2100 and covering a three year period. This includes all costs of tuition, all learning materials, comprehensive internet based support as well as a certain number of one-on-one private sessions.
How long will it take to complete the entire training?
Approximately 3 years. Keep in mind the enormous time, energy and resources it is taking to prepare each level of the program, an estimated 3000 to 5000 hours of instructor time for all modules all levels. This excludes the student support and simply takes into account concept, design, tracking, editing, overdubbing, mixing, mastering and printing each module.
What is the time frame for master classes?
Once all 3 levels are completed, master classes will be offered through live sessions, conducted over weekends, weeklong, or 10-day trainings at retreat centers with follow up one-on-one training through phone and web camera. Special learning materials will be created to support the student to master the material being presented at this level.
What is the cost of the additional master level classes?
We do not know at this point. There is so much to do before we get to that stage and that’s where our energy is going right now. However, we will always make sure that our students have the best possible education at a reasonable cost and provided with the opportunities to recoup their costs as well as generate income for themselves.
Can I balance a busy work life & kids with this program?
Absolutely! This is the whole idea of the DVD approach. The lessons are designed so that if you spend just one hour a week with the DVD, you can over 8 weeks absorb the content of a module rather well. Furthermore, the content on the DVD is broken down to easy-to-achieve objectives laid out week after week. You have a whole week to study these objectives as well as ask questions or discuss your learning process. Additionally, suplimental content is offered through the web through audio and video so that you can pause, rewind and forward all of this extra content on your own time cycle. You can ask your questions or post your discussions any tme of the day or night and receive a response within 24 hours, usually a lot sooner.
Does this program qualify for Yoga Alliance credit?
We are working on this and intend qualify for credit through Yoga Alliance. This program without doubt offers a tremendous lot that Yoga Teachers are required to study, especially with Sanskrit and The Yoga Sutras, but also meditation. Please be patient while we pursue the necessary documentation for all of this. Our energy, presently, is focused on module preparation which is extremely laborious and time consuming.
What are the benefits to a Voice Teacher?
I’d say that the benefits are many, especially if he or she combines all three tracks: music together with mediation and mantra. It is quite amazing the sort of vocal textures that mantra practice can produce.
How does the on-line aspect compare with live teaching?
Live teaching is always available through my live presentations around the country. Additionally, you can seek to start or join a local study group around the program. However, the difficulty with “live personal training”, which is uniquely different from the group dynamic, is that it requires a good foundational training and this takes time, meaning, a lot of one-on-one private lessons, which can be expensive for the student as well as time consuming and repetitious for the instructor. I speak from more than 20 years of teaching and learning experience. Furthermore, even with live private sessions, a student requires effective learning resources to help develop their foundational skills when practicing on their own, unless they actually live and practice with the teacher in the ancient way, which is no longer practical in most cases. It is for this reason that I have created this program.
Now I do understand that this new medium of technology may feel “distant” but I have put a lot of energy into the special resources you receive for each of the modules that are quite live and personal as I am speaking directly to you, the student, and you control the presentation at the touch of a button. Isn’t it amazing that you can pause or rewind or forward the information I am communicating any number of times you want to? Additionally, you get to ask your questions and receive intelligent responses through the web which is also a sort of live dynamic, and that too, is quite remarkable. Furthermore, once you get started, you have many live options available to you, such as scheduling live sessions through video camera. This may not capture the power of physical proximity, but it is invaluable for the time, energy and money that it saves.
What will I get out of this program as a Yoga Practitioner?
Most importantly, the type of energy and consciousness you experience in yoga practice will be greatly enhanced leading to more powerful spiritual experiences and transformations. Additionally, you will learn so much more about the heart of the yoga tradition, its deeper goals of expanded consciousness, and methods of accessing yogic states through meditation techniques. Additionally, you will learn about energy movement and stimulation in the chakras, gain a better grasp of key yogic texts -- such as the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanisads -- and enter consciously into the experience of spiritual enlightenment.
Should I take all 3 tracks of the program?
No, you can just take those tracks that you want. However, it is required that you take the first module of each track before deciding whether or not you wish to pursue that track any further. The ideal method is cross-disciplinary, although each track can be studied discretely, that is, by itself.
What does the music track cover?
The opening module of the music track helps bring out your voice and teaches you the most elemental aspects of vocal expression that can help you chant effectively. You do not need to have any prior musical knowledge to benefit from this module. As the track progresses, you will learn ragas (musical scales) that will help you sing and chant more confidently as well as appreciate music more deeply. You will also experience powerful spiritual changes in consciousness through learning to land on the correct intervals. A complete description will be posted soon.
Does the music track cover kirtans?
Yes. But, first you will learn the underlying musical forms that will enable you to chant or lead kirtan more effectively. As your vocal and interval range increase, you will be able to lead evocative kirtans through recognizing the power of the musical intervals behind the chants. This method will give you many resources to affect group dynamics powerfully through chant.
How does the program work on the Internet?
Only the support system functions through the Internet. You receive a package in the mail consisting of DVDs, Audio CDs and Text Materials (actual combination will vary by module). Once you receive the package, you start to work with it during the program season, logging onto the internet to ask your questions and to read up on the discussions evolving as your peers apply themselves along with you. I will post my response by text, or, when necessary, in the form of a video file or audio file that you should be able to view or hear directly from the discussion page without needing to download any software. Occasionally, I may conduct Web Seminars, called Webinars, whcich are live and interactive presentations. Again, no additional software will be necessary. And, additionally, if you need it, you can always schedule a private consultation with me by phone or webcam. Some modules have private consultations built into their structure.
Who is this program best suited for?
YOGIS: yoga practitioners and yoga teachers who wish to enhance and expand your yoga practice and understand the philosophy and spirituality of yoga more deeply. This program is ideally suited to you. And don't be concerned about too many Christian references as the main modules of the Yogic Mystery School will focus on purity and depth of the Yogic tradition.
PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS: Christians who wish to expand and deepen their mystical experience through incorporating Eastern spiritual practices will truly enjoy this program. For your benefit, I will additionally run special modules to help integrate and contextualize the yogic wisdom being learned within a Christian framework. This will enable you to deepen your faith and mystical experience without compromising your fundamental belief structure.
HEALERS: Reiki practitioners and energy healers who wish to understand more deeply the relationship between sound and consciousness and employ such an understanding in your practice will benefit greatly from this program as as you learn to incorporate the use of mantra, both mentally and subliminally, as you work on others to produce powerful results.
ARTISTS: Musicians seeking a spiritual dimension to your art, and visual artists seeking a sonic dimension to feed your artistic and spiritual lives will benefit from all three tracks. Obviously, musicians will gain much from the music track and visual artists from the mantra track which brings together both sound and vision t(through the Devanagiri script). However, all artists will benefit immensely from the meditation track.
BUSY PROFESSIONALS: Those who live exceptionally busy lives and have little time to attend seminars or retreats can use this program to deepen and nourish their spiritual lives on their own time. Just carve out an hour once a week for this program and then implement the practices you learn throughout the rest of the week, whenever you find time. You will certainly have access to a lot of tools through the meditation track.
THERAPISTS: Psychologists and psychotherapists are often seeking effective spiritual practices and methodologies to feed their own inner lives and to transform the negative energy that is a routine occupational hazard. You will, additionally, discover new tools that might serve some of your clients. All three tracks can offer you valuable insights and opportunities.
CAREGIVERS: Nurses, hospice workers and doctors seeking for ways to nourish their inner lives can connect to a sense of the sacred and sustain more energy at work. Take the DVDs or Audio CDs to work and plug in when you have a moment, or use the tools to unwind when you come back home from a busy day.
PROGRESSIVE HINDUS: This program is also for those who are of Hindu descent and are trying to find their way into Hinduism, especially young Hindus living in the west. You will find a deeper understanding and appreciation of our rich heritage and learn to develop a practical and viable spirituality through revisiting known themes in fresh language.
SPIRITUAL SEEKERS: Those of you who are without any formal affiliation with a church or religious group can explore the depth of the mystical life and discover a meaningful spiritual practice through this program. The power of the yogic path is that it is steeped in spiritual tradition and is yet non-denominational at the same time.
Note: If you do not see your profession here, please inquire and we will see whether any of the tracks would benefit you.
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