MANTRA & MEDITATION

120 Hour Training Course

TUTOR: Julie Hemmings – IYN Yoga Elder

Mantra & Meditation Training Course

Chanting runs through each and every form of yoga. It enhances our asana, regulates our breathing, quietens the mind and fills our body with radiant energy. It is the thread that links all the classical texts, from the Vedas and the Sutras to the Tantric Puranas.

The sacred mantric sounds fell from the Divine source, were ‘heard’ by the Rishis whilst in trance states, and formulated into the cohesive body of Mantras that still exist today, forming an unbroken chain of sound energy stretching back to the Vedas. Each sound is precisely and exquisitely formed, creating powerful vibrations and connecting us back to this Divine source.

The ancient sages tell us that repeating a Mantra, placing it into our mind, our heart, and into the essence of our body, will eventually reveal its meaning to us.

Mantras can heal, they can bring enlightenment, they can calm and quieten the troubled mind, they can bring forth and manifest, and also create a shared sense of connection as we tap into this universal energy sound form – not only in our current time frame, but also stretching back to those original Vedic sounds.

This Training Course will take you on a journey of exploration, theory and practice of Mantra and Meditation. You are invited to delve into the Songs of Yoga, to experience their subtle energies, and to understand Yogic Chanting in all its forms. The practice of Yogic Meditation will be explored using the template of Mantra and the Breath. The course will offer you the opportunity to understand and experience the theory, history and practice of Vedic Chanting, Tantric Shakti Mantras, Japa, Bija and Kirtan. The Sankrit language will be explored in detail with an emphasis on pronunciation.

“I’m currently doing Julie’s Mantra & Meditation course and it’s been absolutely wonderful. The depth of the course has been extraordinary, learning about Sanskrit pronounciation and different types of mantra has really enhanced my own practice. I’ve been really impressed by the quantity and quality of the materials provided – plenty to keep me going well beyond the end of the course!

Julie’s attention to detail is amazing and it’s clear that she is teaching from her own personal experience of mantra and meditation. Her passion and own understanding shines through. And I am finally sticking to a meditation routine after many years of trying!”

Course Graduate 2021 Felicity Pryke

Course Details

The 6 day course is spread out over 6 months, with a 4 week gap between Tutor Days to give you time to learn, develop and understand the Practices. There are also 4 x one hour Recitation Evenings to practice and consolidate your chanting. The Tutor Days are a mix of theory, practice and discussion, while your home practice is a mix of Mantra Chanting and Meditation.

Full course content is set out at the bottom of the page. Due to the continued COVID restrictions, this course will be delivered fully online. We will have regular screen breaks throughout the day, and the sessions will be interactive. I encourage participation!

Next Course Dates

Tutor Days – Sundays 10.00am to 4.30pm (Final Session ends at 5.00pm)

Recitation Practice – Fridays 8.00-9.00pm

Dates: tba Early 2023

Venue: Elephant Rooms, Draycott, Derbyshire

Spaces Left: 12

Fees: Early Bird – £625 Full Fee : £675. For more booking information please scroll further down.

Tutor: Julie Hemmings

Julie is a Senior YAP and BWY Tutor with over 24 years of teaching experience. She began her meditation practice in earnest over 26 years ago at the local Buddhist Centre. She has studied on many residential courses at the Mandala Yoga Ashram, and under the guidance of the resident Swamis, has explored in depth the Gayatri Mantra, The Vigyana Bhairava Tantra, Tattwa Shuddhi, Prana Vidya, Durga Path, Ajapa Japa, and Antar Mouna, in addition to many, many blissful hours spent chanting many, many mantras.

Julie has a regular personal Mantra and Meditation practice, plus consistently integrates the techniques into her regular classes and workshops. She teaches the CPD Day ‘Mantra & Meditation‘ and the YAP Accredited 150 Hour Pranayama Training Course. She is also one half of Joyful Heart Kirtan, a Midlands-based duo bringing Kirtan events to the local area.

During Lockdown in 2020 she started to learn and study the language of Yoga –Sanskrit.

This training will inspire you to develop a daily practice of chanting and meditation, and to feel confident to introduce it into your teaching.

Course Requirements

This Training Course is open to fully qualified Yoga Teachers and interested Yoga Practitioners with over 4 years of regular yoga experience. It is recommended that you have a good working knowledge and practical experience of Pranayama. This is a very practical course, and you will be expected to complete between 30 and 60 minutes of daily meditation and chanting.

To qualify for certification of the Mantra & Meditaiton Training Course, you will need to:-

Attend 80% of the training days (5 out of 6 days). In exceptional circumstances, if a training day is missed, you may be able to attend the day on a future course if space is available, or have additional one-to-one tuition (fees apply).
Complete 30-60 minutes of Personal Practice at least 5 times per week for the duration of the Course
Complete a Practice Diary for each day of Personal Practice
Complete all assessments as given throughout the duration of the course by the deadlines provided. Non-teaching attendees do not have to complete the teaching assessments.
Course Assessments consist of: 1 x extensive essay, 2 x short written pieces, 1 x lesson plans and 1 x recorded teaching practice.

“The letters of the Sanskrit alphabet allow the human mind to interface with the primal energies of cosmic intelligence and receive its deeper insights.“

David Frawley

Course Provision

The training course consists of:-

6 full days of Yoga Alliance Professionals Senior Yoga Tutor and Accredited Trainer Contact from 9.30am to 4.00pm with an hour for lunch and short breaks in the morning and afternoon. The final session will close at 4.30pm.
4 Recitation Evenings of one hour to develop chanting skills.
Online Learning Portal with additional resources and further tutor contact via the Group Forum.
Full Training Notes provided in comprehensive PDF format.
Assessment and feedback of all work submitted.
Certificate upon successful completion of the training, plus digital badge for Yoga Alliance UK tutors.
A maximum of 16 participants on each course.
For this Training Course, I have also developed an Online Learning Portal – a password protected web page with downloads, videos, MP3s and additional resources for each session.
There will also be a Forum to ask questions and receive additional guidance from myself and your fellow course participants and the opportunity to join a dedicated What’s App group for each Course.

Not quite sure?

I’d be happy to chat with you to help you decide if this training is right for you. Please call Julie on: 07983 714848

Terms & Conditions

CLICK HERE to read the full Terms & Conditions, Cancellation & Refund Policy, Booking Procedure and Code of Conduct. Please read these Ts & Cs before completing your application.

COURSE CONTENT

Click + to expand the full content of each session

Session 1 - Introduction to Sanskrit & Mantra

1. The Theory of Sanskrit

2. Sanskrit Pronunciation – Consonants, Vowels and Dipthongs

3. The Theory of Mantra

4. The Devata – The Gods and Goddess of India and why we chant their names

5. Kaya Sthairyam Meditation

6. Spotlight on Saraswati

7. Saraswati Mantras

8. Personal Practice Guidelines

Teaching Hours : 5 Hours

Personal Practice : Approx 8 Hours

Session 2 - Bija Mantras & Om

1. Bhramari and the ‘Violet Hum’

2. Sanskrit Pronunciation – Semi Vowels, Anusvara and Visarga

3. The Theory of Bija Mantras

4. The Chakra Bijas

5. The Theory of Om

6. Spotlight on Saraswati

7. Saraswati Mantras

8. The 16 Matrika – ‘The Divine Mothers’

9. Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation

10. The Importance of Grounding

11. Chakra Bija Meditation

Teaching Hours : 5 Hours

Personal Practice : Approx 8 Hours

Session 3 - Vedic Chanting & Gayatri

1. The History of the Vedas and Vedic Mantra

2. The Ayur Mantra

3. The Theory of Gayatri Mantra

4. Practice of Gayatri – with Svara and Ekasruti

5. Patanjali Sutra Chanting – a selection of sutras

6. Saha Nau Vavatu Mantra

7. Deity Gayatri Mantras

8. Gayatri Meditation

9. Body Awareness Meditation

Teaching Hours : 5 Hours

Personal Practice : Approx 8 Hours

Session 4 - Tantra, Shakti Mantras & Japa

1. The Surya Mantras

2. The History and Theory of Tantra

3. Shakti Bija Mantras

4. The Theory and Practice of Japa

5. The Theory and Use of Malas

6. Goddess Shakti Mantras

7. Devi Suktam

8. Japa Meditations

Teaching Hours : 5 Hours

Personal Practice : Approx 8 Hours

Session 5 - Tantra, Bhakti & Kirtan

1. The History and Theory of Bhakti

2. The Vigyana Bhairava Tantra

3. Nyasa

4. Spotlight on Krishna and Hanuman

4. The Theory and Practice of Kirtan

5. Tantric Meditations

6. Devotional Chanting

Teaching Hours : 5 Hours

Personal Practice : Approx 8 Hours

Session 6 - Shiva & Consciousness

1. What is Consciousness

2. Nirvana Shatkam

3. Spotlight on Shiva

4. Meditation & Mantra for Emotional Healing

5. Spotlight on Durga

6. Durga Path

7. Mahesvara Sutras

Teaching Hours : 5 Hours

Personal Practice : Approx 8 Hours

Why do we Chant?

“We chant to join our voices to the voices of countless seekers, worshippers, mystics, and lovers of life, in every time and in every place, who have shared in sacred song.

We chant to fill our hearts and fill our homes with loving and peaceful vibrations of sound.

We chant because it’s fun.

We chant to help the stress and freneticness of our busy lives melt away.

We chant to spread our wings and let our soul take flight.

We chant for the sheer joy of letting our God-given voices sing out.

We chant for the heartful communion that we feel with others when we come together in song.

We chant our prayers to God, so that our lives may be graced by more intimate Presence of the One known by so many names.”

Robert Gass ‘Chanting : Discovering Spirit in Sound’