Pranayama (Breathwork) and Yoga Therapy

During this module of the program we will learn anatomy of the spinal column, specific of structure, functioning, bones, muscles, tendons, interosseal tissues, joints, supporting-motor apparatus.

We will also learn the main and most common causes of issues of the spine.

We will study fundamental Yoga Therapy Sequence that can be used by the healthy people just to prevent issues and support general well-being and can be used by people with health issues as a healing program. This sequence can be used either as main method of healing or additional method of healing as well as rehabilitation method.

We will explore main and most common existing pathologies of the spinal column that are fundamental and primary/initial as a cause for the development of most of pathologies of the spine.

We will learn Yoga Therapy as influential method, as a rehabilitation method and what are contraindications in the yoga practice for the main pathologies. By controlling the development of the main pathologies you prevent development of many disorders of the spine either due to ageing or due to lifestyle, bad habits etc.

In this module we learn and practice Yoga Therapy for the Breathing System Sequence in the tradition of Dhirendra Brahmachari (1924-1994).

Dhirendra Brahmachary is one of the most outstanding yoga teachers and healers of 20 century who was offering a structured and detailed system of yoga therapy. His methods are highly efficient in terms of health support and healing.

This sequence is a main element in designing the yoga therapy program for healing ailments of breathing system including diseases that are known as non-curable by Western medical opinion such as bronchial asthma for example etc.

This practice provides amazing effect of cleansing (for example for smokers) and regenerating of the tissues, increasing the activity of micro circulating channel, pushing the processes of expelling the mucus from lungs, and a lot more.

During this unique training we will have 2 hours of theory and practice where we will do special emphasis on anatomical aspect of the practice and where we become very clear about correct performance, benefits, contraindications, influence on bodily systems.

This influential method that can be used by the healthy people just to prevent issues and support well-being and can be used by people with health issues as a healing program.

We will learn and practice methods of influence:

1. Breathing exercises
2. Cleansing techniques

The Sequence of Yoga Therapy for Reproductive System includes a complex of specific physical exercises, breathing exercises as well as relaxation techniques.

Reproductive system disorder is a very much common and determined by number of reasons either created by us or not created by us.

This sequence initiates a reboot of functions of the glands and organs of reproductive system. The efficiency of this program was proved in our practice by numerous cases with positive outcome.

It is very intensive workout which includes fundamental yoga poses and it has an amazing strengthening effect which also helps to build the structure in the body.

Interval Workouts is a unique program which works with four main groups of muscles in a human body.

This practice as a rehabilitation method was developed by one of the greatest Yoga Therapists of 20th century Dhirendra Brahmachary.

Later this method was adjusted by the professionals of Saint Petersburg Institution of Eastern Methods of Rehabilitation.

The current practice proved its efficiency as a best method for improving of muscle functions, of managing the weight at the lipid layers of the body as well as method of the mind control.

Information exchange within our body is done by transmitting of electric impulses and signal molecules.

High quality of information exchange within the body guarantees high quality of assisting/serving all systems and organs in our body.

This sequence helps to strengthen neuron communications within the entire body and in some cases is used as an additional method for healing serious neuron pathologies such as Alzheimer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy etc. Senior people will benefit the most from this program in terms of controlling the condition often developed with age and diagnosed as ageing dementia.

The program is open for everyone, no prior experience in any yoga practice is required for registration.

People of any age and physical condition will benefit from this program.

Yoga teachers will highly benefit from the course as this training will enrich their teaching approach and will help to assist their students in the best way as well as prepare the bodies of the students for more in-depth asana practice.

*In a case if applicant is diagnosed with non-curable disease it is needed an additional review of the application by leading therapist prior registration.

The course can be taken as residential program which includes accommodation and vegan meals or as non-residential (excluding accommodation and/or meals).

Check in (for residential students): 10 December 2023 after 14.00

17.30 Orientation meeting;

18.30 Dinner (optional);

Rich began his Yoga practice with hope for it to aid him in healing injuries sustained from his love to martial arts and extreme sport activities. But he grew to love Yoga as way of life, integrating Yoga philosophy and practical methods in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels of his life.

At his early age he got qualification of doctor majoring in medical care at Rostov State Medical University of the Federal Agency of Healthcare and Social Development.

His passion to personal development brought him to meet and learn from different teachers in Europe, India, Russia, Kazakhstan and Thailand, over the years he has been exploring asana and pranayama practice, kriyas, meditation, ayurveda, herbal medicine, reiki, su djok, cold water treatment and art of cooking health food.

The practice of Ashtanga Yoga had a huge impact on Rich and within this practice he found himself in his true element. Ashtanga or “eight limbs” brings the body, mind and spirit into alignment for greater health, happiness, gratitude, kindness and spiritual growth. Rich is studying Ashtanga with R. Sharath Jois at Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Institute in Mysore, India which is number one center of Ashtanga in the world. He also got his asana and pranayama training and certification in Rishikesh, India. As a Yoga teacher Rich is affiliated to Yoga Alliance International he is settled in Phuket teaching Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama, different yoga workshops, anatomy, art of adjustment, yoga therapy, chanting etc.

Initially Rich has started his Yoga Therapy studies at the Saint-Petersburg Institute of Eastern Methods of Rehabilitation at the Faculty of Yoga Therapy and over the years of practice he developed his unique approach to the Yoga Therapy practice.

Rich is famous with strict but also warm and personal approach to the teaching of Yoga. He is talented with a special natural vision of students needs which allows him to guide them in their practice in a right direction to achieve the best result on their path of Yoga.

From the young age Sofya was into studying spiritual traditions which brought her to practice meditation, tai chi, attending Buddhist teachings and retreats and do researches in religious studies. She obtained a BA degree in theology and philosophy and was travelling throughout the world to learn and experience spiritual practices.

In 2005 her searching brought her to work at Jamyang Buddhist Center in London where she first started her Yoga practice. Since then Sofya was practicing Yoga and exploring the methods of yoga visiting different schools and Yoga Ashrams mainly in India. With the time she stuck to traditional Ashtanga Yoga practice and dedicated years for practice and studies in this field.

Sofya is studying under the guidance of R. Sharath Jois at Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Institute in Mysore, India – the place where Ashtanga yoga as a set of asana and pranayama practices was systematised and kept preserved. There in Mysore she was also studying Ayurveda, Sanskrit and ancient yogic texts. She was also trained and certified as Asana and Pranayama teacher in Rishikesh, India. During her yoga journey Sofya had a chance to practice and come across such an outstanding teachers as Matthew Sweeney, Ajay Kumar, Kino McGregor, Balu Thevar, Ian Grysak, Kamal Singh, Sunil Sharma. As a Yoga teacher Sofya is also affiliated to Yoga Alliance International.

Sofya is a certified specialist in Yoga Nidra practice in the tradition of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. She is practicing and leading Yoga Nidra for a number of years and she also runs Yoga Nidra Training Courses.

Sofya is known with her warm and light way of teaching Yoga which creates special atmosphere at her classes. She finds personal contact with every student giving clear verbal instructions and physical adjustments, she keeps them motivated to practice sharing with them her knowledge and experience.

From an early age she began to work on body awareness through conscious
movements, studying ballet and contemporary dance at a dance conservatory in
Caracas, Venezuela, where she later worked as a dance teacher for 3 years.

She always had an innate curiosity towards contemplative practices and somatic experiences, which led her to discover Yoga in 2008. From that meeting, she did not hesitate to continue investigating and completed her first training in classical Hatha yoga and kriya yoga.  In 2010 she begins to give classes to beginners and assist her teachers.

In 2011 she moved to Madrid where after experimenting with various styles, she discovered Ashtanga Yoga and found in this method her ideal practice.  It is in 2018 where, looking to deepen the method and learn more deeply the origins of this practice, she travels to Thailand to train in Yoga Phuket with Rich and Sofia with whom she did 200h TTC in Ashtanga yoga, TTC in Yoga Nidra and Yoga therapy for the spine.

Since 2020 she lives in Tenerife where she teaches Hatha and Ashtanga vinyasa yoga.