Yoga and Ecology
The ancient practice and philosophy of Yoga is grounded in a profound understanding of the interconnection between ourselves and the natural world. Yoga developed in the context of a close relationship with the earth and cosmos, and a reverence for animals, plants, soil, water and air. The Yoga and Ecology certificate program seeks to cultivate an appreciation for, and conscious connection with, the natural environments in which we live and also educate students on the deeply ecological, ethical principles which underlie Yoga philosophy, both through experiential workshops and Yoga philosophy classes. This program is facilitated with generous support from the Green Yoga Association.
Designed for Yoga teachers and serious Yoga students, this certificate includes five topics of study (listed below). For an introduction to this important topic of study, potential students are encouraged to attend the workshop "Yoga and Ecology: Joining Consciousness with Mother Earth" on Friday, September 9 at the 2011 Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree, California.
General Information
| Program |
Location |
Units |
Courses |
Tuition |
| 1 Semester |
Church in Ocean Park
235 Hill Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Loyola Marymount Univ.
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Hill Street Center
237 Hill Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405 |
5.0 |
YGEX 900 |
$850 |
This is a 50-hour certificate program which runs one semester in the Fall. Classes meet various days and times. Schedules and tuition are subject to change. Additional fees may be incurred for books and materials. Please check the Web site for updates. Submit an enrollment form for the program via direct mail, or contact LMU Extension at 310.338.1971 to handle your enrollment over the phone. You can also register for program online.
SCHEDULE
Topics of Study
Students will meet for 50-hours of study via the models listed below. Students are encouraged to attend all classes due to the intensive nature of the course work and the topics covered. One absence per term is allowed, however students are still responsible for all course requirements.
Yoga and Permaculture
Schedule: Saturdays, September 17-October 5; 10:00a-12:00p
Instructor: Swami Omkarananda
Location: LMU Campus
The goal of yoga is to reconnect ourselves with our divinity. Permaculture reminds us to reconnect with the natural world, of which we are an inseparable part. In this module, we will demystify what permaculture is: explain the three core values and the 12 principles of permaculture; review the Vedic teachings which remind us of the need for reverence for nature; explore how we can apply the teachings of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and express them through the practice of permaculture in our daily lives; and offer practical tools and strategies for living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Earth Verses: The Prthivi Sukta
Schedule: Sundays, September 18-October 23; 8:30a-10:15a
Instructor: Christopher Key Chapple, PhD
Location: Hill Street Center, Santa Monica
The Vedas include a book about the earth as mother, providing nurture to all forms of life. The text, known as the Prthivi Sukta, is included in the Atharva Veda, the basis for traditional medical practice in India. These verses ask for protection and give praise to all the elements, urging people not to pollute the earth or water, and to respect and give honor to the sun and to the air. Though composed many years before our current ecological crisis, this book can inspire and enhance environmental awareness.
UPDATE: Foundations of Yoga and Ecology
Schedule: Sundays, September 18, October 16, November 20; 6:00p-9:00p
Instructors: Christopher Key Chapple, PhD, Jasmine Lieb, Sara Ivanhoe
Location: Church in Ocean Park, Santa Monica
The confluence of Yoga and ecology offers a profoundly relevant response to the current planetary challenges. This course will investigate the foundational principles, practices, and participatory applications which help one actualize Yoga as a path of communion between humanity and the living earth.
Yoga as Personal and Planetary Healing
Schedule: Saturdays, October 29-November 19; 10:00a-12:30p
Instructor: Jay Kumar, PhD
Location: LMU Campus
Can Yoga be the answer to both and individual and collective healing? This module introduces the fundamentals of Yoga philosophy, ecology and sustainability as an integral strategy for advancing humanity’s emerging global paradigm of wholeness. Blending readings from the Vedas and Upanishads with posture and meditation, you will acquire the fundamental skills to live your Yoga as you heal yourself and the planet.
Green Yoga Sadhana
Schedule: Sundays, October 30-December 4, 2011; 8:30a-10:00a
Instructor: Christopher Key Chapple, PhD
Location: Hill Street Center, Santa Monica
This module will explore resources within the Yoga tradition for living a life in accord with ecological values. Readings will be provided from a variety of sources including the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda. Practices will be assigned for cultivating a heightened sensitivity of the relationship between the mind, senses and elements.