INTERNATIONAL ŚIVAŚAKTI YOGA TEACHER TRAINING (500+ hours)

ŚivaŚakti Yoga Module

Yogamunīśvaradāsa Krishna Kumar Krishnan, grew up in a yogic family from South India. At the age of 7, he was initiated into spirituality and Haṭhayoga Sādhana by his father, ācārya y.m.ī.d. Krishnan Ramasamy, who was a priest, astrologer and siddhayogi in a Tamil saiva siddhānta tradition. At the age of 25, he pursued his higher studies in Aerospace Engineering in Munich, Germany, and worked as a scientific researcher in Madrid, Copenhagen and Berlin. His experience of western lifestyles reinforced his belief in the importance of yoga and mindfulness training. He began exploring applying yogic philosophy as a holistic approach to life, for a balanced, healthy and sustainable life in the modern world. He combines the essence of Siddhayoga knowledge from his father with Kuṇḍalinīyoga, from Yogācārya Paranjothi Subramaniam, with the addition of mindfulness, awareness and meditation techniques from Tibetan master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. He also studied for 4 years at Yoga Akademie Berlin under the guidance of Yogācārya Ananda Leone and became a registered member of the Berufsverband der Yogalehrenden Deutschland (BDY) and the European Yoga Union (EYU). His yoga path has brought him to the realisation that different yoga practices suit different people, and he explores his own yoga practice with acceptance, curiosity and joy. He is known for his sense of humour and dynamic teaching style, and his ability to present the ancient wisdom of Saiva Siddhānta in a fresh and accessible way. more info: kumar-yoga.com

Teaching Skills Module

Jennifer Mann has collected experiences as a yogini, yoga teacher, professional dancer, choreographer, modern/contemporary dance and improvisation teacher, as well as a partner and mother. She has taught yoga for 17 years and dance for 25 years, offering yoga, modern/contemporary dance and improvisation at schools, studios, businesses and dance companies throughout Europe, USA and Asia. She organises international retreats and workshops, teaching at festivals such as Bolzano Danza, Italy and The Dance Alps Festival, Austria. In Berlin, she can be found in Yoga Sky, yellow yoga and Marameo. After her graduation from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, USA, Jennifer moved to Europe where she embarked on a career as a freelance artist with various choreographers and companies. Her yoga teacher studies began in the USA with Iyengar yoga teacher James Bryan, and then continued on with a four year certification program at the Yoga Akademie Berlin with Yogacharya Ananda Leone, the founder of ŚivaŚaktiYoga. She is a certified member of the the Berufsverband der Yogalehrenden Deutschland (BDY) and the European Yoga Union (EYU). Jennifer recently furthered her practice and study of Yin Yoga, completing a series of intensive studies with Josh Summers. She is certified to lead the Group Motion Workshop, an improvisational evening focused on the universal language of movement and collective healing. She is also actively following the practices and guidance of the spiritual master Sri Mooji Baba. Jennifer greatly enjoys guiding others on a journey towards the Self.

more info: mannasana.de

ŚivaŚakti Yoga Module

Yogacharya Ananda Leone was born in Brazil from Italian parents, and grew up between the endless love of his parents and the lush tropical nature in South America. It was a very solid foundation in trust, truth, freedom and love. Here, spirituality was very present. His grandmother was a healer, and introduced him to many shamans and all kind of religions. After finishing college, he discovered three passions: dance, ecology and yoga. He followed these passions over the following ten years, traveling between Brazil, Europe and India. When his studies as a forest ranger finished in Freiburg, he was trained as a ballet dancer and performed in South America and Europe. He started yoga in 1980, and in 1990, he established the Yoga Akademie Berlin. During this period, he traveled to India to study with Dr Swami Gitananda, which became a life changing experience. Living in an ashram with a real master was intense and unforgettable. Swamiji teaches an old, tantric, traditional yoga. After Swamiji passed away a few years later, Ananda travelled all over India to experience other teachers and traditions. On one of those trips, he met Amma, an Indian saint who is the pure manifestation of unconditional love and compassion. In an urge to better understand human nature, he also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine for a few years, as well as Naturopathy and Family System Therapy. Travelling has always being part of his life; as a child in Europe and South America, and in the last few years in Asia. Ananda is always searching for holy places, pilgrimages, temples, healers, masters, and enjoying how rich our planet is through its amazing variety of cultures, languages, traditions, landscapes, values and food. In Berlin, he created the Yoga Akademie Berlin, Yoga Raum Berlin, Yoga Sky Berlin and Institut für Yogapsychologie, and in Vienna, the Yoga Akademie Wien. Bali has become a very important part of his life in the last years, where he created Bali Bliss, a wonderful yoga resort and a perfect place to recharge and connect with the divine. All of this would not be possible without the love of his wife and daughter, as well as the support of his students and friends. more info: yogaakademie.de

Yoga Anatomy Module

Yogiraj Julie Blumenthal has been teaching yoga since 2003, in Berlin since 2007, and as a primary teacher trainer and specialist lecturer since 2012. Her primary lineage is ISHTA yoga, melding the influences of Hatha asana and pranayama, Tantric non-dualistic philosophy, and Ayurvedic life science to serve and celebrate the endless possibilities of yoga, and the uniqueness of each individual student. Other sources of inspiration include master teachers Angela Farmer, Kofi Busia, Glenn Black and Max Strom, as well as her kirtan teacher Jai Uttal. A specialist in Tantric meditation, restorative yoga, and yoga anatomy, she brings the humour and insight of all these influences into a practice that is non-dogmatic, full of curiosity and wonder at the remarkable human form and the spirit within it. She is grateful every day for yoga, and the opportunity to share it. 

more info: julieblumenthal.com

Core Stability Module

Doretta Dow, born in 1961 in the USA and raised in beautiful Maine, moved to Berlin in 1987 where she has been teaching yoga since 1995. She is a BDY yoga teacher (Yoga Akademie Berlin 1993 -1997), trained in Pilates (2004), certified in TriYoga Basics (2006), is a Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie (2010) and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist (2014). The longer she teaches and practices yoga, the slower, deeper and more subtle it becomes.

more info: dorettadowyoga.com

Yoga Psychology Module

Amanda Stone Nash is a highly experienced psychotherapist and coach based in the UK, with a private practice for adults working face to face and by phone and on-line, supporting clients in English in many countries. She is a professionally accredited psychotherapist with AHPP (UK Association for Humanistic Psychology Practitioners) and works with their code of ethics. She graduated from Spectrum Therapy Centre in London where she studied humanistic, integrative and formative psychology part-time over seven years. She continues to have regular professional development training in therapy and psychology and to work with a qualified BACP supervisor. Amanda is also an accredited yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance International (200 hours). She has attended numerous yoga trainings and classes in India, Bali and Europe and has run training sessions for yoga teachers on develop- ing self-awareness as a teacher, and on working with boundaries and groups. Amanda is a regular coach for charities and social change organisations who work on environmental and community campaigns, and has coached over a hundred leaders in the UK, Africa and Europe. She has been a consultant and Director for a number of international charities including Greenpeace, ActionAid, Unicef and Free Tibet UK, advising on campaigning and publicity. 

Her commitment to continuous study means she has trained in many spiritual traditions and in mindfulness, writing therapy, art therapy, nature therapy and voice therapy. She recently completed a MA in Gender & Culture at Swansea university with a dissertation on identity and stereotypes and is currently writ- ing a book based on this research. 

She previously worked as a counsellor for a leading UK mental health charity and with a children’s counselling service working in primary schools. She was also employed as an on-line coach and psychotherapist for headteachers and academics. 

Her early career included various senior leadership roles in marketing and advertising agencies in London and Singapore, working with clients across Europe and Asia Pacific and leading on various corporate social responsibility projects. Amanda was born and lived in Australia until age seven and then lived in Malaysia and England. Her work and studies have taken her to live in many countries and she feels this has influenced her open and enquiring attitude to life. 

Anusara Yoga Module

Bridget Woods Kramer began her yoga practices in India in 1975, and embarked on an intense program of study to become a senior teacher. Interweaving her visionary background within the fitness industry together with her love of meditation and yoga asana, Bridget teaches with enthusiasm, sensitivity and insight, conveying yogas potential to support us in living and serving with love. You’ll enjoy an inspirational and dynamic, yet playful class with a mix of flow and strong alignment principles, entwined with yoga philosophy. Bridget teaches regular Anusara® classes in Cornwall and at triyoga in London as well as offering workshops, teacher training’s, immersions and retreats all over the world; awakening and inspiring a most diverse and creative student body. Her steady enthusiasm, humour, depth of knowledge and humility sets a shining example, and her many students are devoted to her tireless effort and rich understanding. With great Love, Bridget acknowledges Gurumayi Chidvilasanda as her principal teacher and offers gratitude and love to John Friend. Other great influences have been Shandor Remite, Chuck & Maty (Yoga Works) Gabriella Guibalaro, Donna Holleman, and Lisa Walford, Rodney Yee & Patricia Walden & of course Krishna Das. more info: bridgetwoodskramer.com