Known for his unique insight and knowledge of the human experience, Max Strom’s teacher training intensives are designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of his unique methods of teaching personal transformation, using mental, emotional, and physical practices. He has taught tens of thousands of students and trained several hundred teachers. Ultimately, the work will change the way you see yourself and others as you gain greater understanding and wisdom. It will change your life. These teacher training intensives are focused on helping to inspire teachers of transformation who will help to bring about both personal and global changes.
Students with a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Certificate will receive credit towards their 500 hour certification through completion of this course.
1. The Power of Ethical Precepts–The Ten Virtues (or Principals of Actions and Response)
November 29th, 2012, 10:45am – 3:45pm
The essence-message of all the great teachers of morality is at heart, the same. They may appear different because the message was altered for the particular time, place and culture they were addressing. The message is that our battles are not fought by challenging others to change their beliefs or behavior; rather, our own personal behavior is all we really have power over in the end. This effect or lack of a person’s ethics are so potent that it has been said that virtue alone is the most meaningful standard to distinguish one person from another. It is important not to divide ourselves over which virtues we follow, what is important is that we choose a code of conduct and truly follow it.
Following a virtuous path obviously benefits mankind and the world, but the great secret of ethics is that they also have an ineffably powerful transformative effect on our own being.
2. The Breath
November 30th, 2012, 10:45am – 3:45pm
Getting students to commit to deep breathing, especially in big cities can be like pulling nails…there is so much frozen energy around the heart, so much stress, so much competitiveness and self-loathing that to breathe makes some feel like their lives may fall apart. So, teaching deep breathing is a real challenge. Opening the chest area is the hardest aspect because it is in the chest/thorax (Latin for shield) that we keep our old memories, our sadness, and to open the chest would mean dealing with a new personality – dealing with a new body.
3. Communication
November 30th, 2012, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
We teach in 5 different ways:
- By example (including behavior, demonstration, and pantomime)
- By what we say
- The order in which we say it
- By what we don’t say
- By touch
Your function as a teacher is very similar to that of a midwife, as the student is both the mother of the coming child and the child itself. Because the heart breaks open and the new vulnerable little child is revealed, it dries off and becomes the new student. So, sometimes you are dealing with the mother and sometimes you are dealing with the child depending on the moment.
About Max Strom
Born with severe clubbed feet, Max Strom spent much of the first five years of his life with his feet confined in plaster casts and braces. Today, he is known for inspiring and impacting the lives of his students, teaching with the aim of personal transformation and has become one of the most respected teachers of yoga on three continents. He reaches beyond the boundaries of yoga postures, and addresses the internal and emotional aspects of our life, subjects which often lie painfully neglected in the yoga community. Many teachers have cited Max as a most important influence in their teaching and life-journey.
Former director and co-owner of Sacred Movement Yoga in Los Angeles, Max taught over 400 dedicated students a week, now travels extensively teaching and lecturing on yoga and transformation and leading teacher trainings. He is recognized by the Yoga Alliance at their Advanced Teacher Level (ERYT 500). You can see more of his work on his DVDs, Learn to Breathe, to heal yourself and your relationships, and, Max Strom Yoga–Strength, Grace, Healing. Visit MaxStrom.com for more information.