'Niwas 300-hr Yoga Teaching Training & Residency

New dates to be announced for 2022
The Ishtadev Niwas 300-hr Yoga Teacher Training is for dedicated Yogis who wish to both teach and practice Yoga as a complete immersion and philosophy to daily living.   Focusing on practicing all Yogic paths and the facilitation of Hatha Yoga techniques as described by Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga.

This radical act of self love will be taught as a 19-day immersion at the Ishtadev Niwas Ashram, situated in the foothills of the pristine Purcell Mountains and overlooking the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains in BC, Canada. We teach from a foundation of  Vedic and Tantric philosophies, providing tools for you to support yourself and others in the exploration of the inner self and techniques for living from a yogic perspective to bring us into harmony with all the day-to-day challenges we face. 

Why the 'Niwas 300-hr YTT?

  • Small, intimate cohort of a maximum of 11 students.
  • Approach to Asana from true Yogic foundations of Ayurvedic principles, Pranic flow and Doshic planning.
  • Tailored specifically for dedicated practitioners,  current teachers and/or sincere spiritual aspirants.
  • Explore Yoga, not as something you "do" but something you "live" in each moment.
  • Inclusion of Ashram life as a core principle of a Yogic lifestyle, including Satsang, Sadhana and Seva.
  • Rich, diverse and well-respected faculty including Sannyasi Shivani Howe, Salvatore Zambito and Hari Kirtan Das.
"I have completed NUMEROUS hours of Yoga Teacher Trainings and Yogic courses.  I had NEVER learned anything to the level that the 'Niwas YTT offers.  You have not learned Yoga in the West until you learn these Pranic techniques and foundational teachings as offered by through 'Niwas.

​- Sadhana

EMBODY YOGA - Learn it.  Live it.  Share it.

The primary outcomes of the 'Niwas 300-hr YTT are:

  • In-depth knowledge and understanding of Asana with foundations in Ayurvedic principles and Doshic planning, enabling you to tailor-make classes to the moon cycles, weather, season, and Yogic calendar, empowering you to choose postures based on the people in the room, in that moment.
  • Adjustment and postural alignment from both Pranic and anatomical foundations, as not all bodies are created equal. 'Niwas Yoga Training focuses on the importance of "reading" a posture based on the Pranic flow to see if the person is getting the most out of that posture, rather than just "doing" it.
  • A deep understanding of the Chakra psychology and principles for each technique and Asana/pose, so that you are able to understand and hold space for your students to make the connections of mind, emotion and body in your classes.
  • Exploration the Koshas (karmic, mental, emotional and physical sheaths) from a practical and experiential understanding with relation to each Asana/pose, so that even if you are facilitating a beginners class, the wisdom and energy you hold behind each cue has awareness and experience behind it.
  • The immersion will also include deeper understanding, exploration and facilitation of Pranayama, Dharana, Dhyana/Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Mudras and Bandhas, so that your foundation of these techniques are so strong, that as you start to come into more advanced combinations you are able to embody the practices on a deeper level.
  • Ashram life, Satsang, Sadhana and Seva (Karma Yoga) for Yoga is a way of life, and not something that we do, in order to teach it from an authentic perspective.  Benefit from having direct experiences of living a full Yogic lifestyle while in retreat.​
'Niwas 300-hr YTT Pre-Requisites: 
  • All applicants must have engaged in a committed Yoga Practice for at least 5 years.
  • Completion of the 'Niwas 90-hour Advanced Chakra Sadhana Immersion Course, or proven alternative (this goes towards your 300 hours).  
  • It is encouraged, but not compulsory, that all applicants have already completed a 200-hr YTT. 
  • Pre-course reading list must be completed prior to the start of the course.​​
All faculty teaching this course hold the E-YTT500 Yoga Alliance accreditation.  This course maintains, but also exceeds the Yoga Alliance minimum hour requirements for each aspect of Yoga teacher training. It is because of the unique emphasis on Sadhana and not just facilitation/teaching, this course is recommended (but not essential) for people who have already done their YTT200 or have had a committed practice for more than 5 years.  With the 21-day immersion, in combination with the pre-requisite Advanced Chakra Sadhana 70-hour immersion, the 'Niwas YTT total experience exceeds the 300YTT upgrade requirements.
"Wow. To complete a training of this magnitude and depth has been a real inspiration to my life.  I don't know how one could dive into the teachings without being in residency and fully committed.  The day-to-day schedule has been rigorous, yet incredibly uplifting.  I didn't know such confidence and lightness existed within myself.  With immense gratitude to 'Niwas and the space this place holds.
​
​- Becky

Meet The 'Niwas 300-hr YTT Faculty

Sannyasi Shivani Howe​

Head Teacher & Spiritual Director, Ishtadev Niwas Ashram

Sannyasi (Sn) Shivani Howe is the co-founder of Ishtadev Niwas Ashram and the non-profit Living Yoga Society. She is an accomplished artist, writer, inspirational speaker and Karma Sannyasin Yogini at the feet of her Gurus Paramahansa Satyananda Saraswati and Paramahansa Satyasangananda Saraswati in Rikhiapeeth Ashram, India.

Shivani has been teaching for nearly two decades, has completed  1,000+ hours of intensive Yoga training and is a certified E-RYT 500 Yoga teacher and teacher trainer.  She has traveled the world speaking and teaching Yogic techniques and philosophy that can be used in daily life to raise ones consciousness and quality of life.  To learn more about Sn. Shivani see here.

Salvatore Zambito

Guest Faculty, Yoga Philosophy & Yoga Sutras Scholar 

In 1967, while a sophomore in college, Salvatore discovered Hatha Yoga and massage. This was the beginning of his active and very personal bodymind research in transpersonal psychology and anatomical kinesiology.  He began his exploration of Yoga as a student of Hatha Yoga with the Sivananda Yoga Centers in Chicago and Val Morin, Canada. He was gently coerced into becoming a teacher in 1969. The Yoga-Sutra of Patañjali entered his life in 1969 and he is now the founder of the Yoga-Sûtras Institute.

His teaching areas span meditation, the Yoga-Sûtras of Patañjali, anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology. He is on staff at several Yoga centers and Ashrams around the world and has recently completed a 4-year conditional silence Sadhana.  Learn more about Salvatore and the Yoga-Sûtras Institute here.

Hari-Kirtana Das

Guest Faculty, Advanced Yoga Teacher Trainer

Hari-Kirtana Das is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and the author of In Search of the Highest Truth: Adventures in Yoga Philosophy. He's been practicing Bhakti-Yoga and other Yogic disciplines for the better part of 40 years, has lived in devotional Yoga Ashrams and intentional spiritual communities, worked for Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley start-ups, and brings a wide range of spiritual knowledge and life experience to his classes, workshops, and presentations. Hari-Kirtana is on the faculty of numerous Yoga Teacher Training programs and leads his own Advanced Teacher Training program in Washington, DC. His primary mission is to help Yoga teachers deliver a deeper experience of Yoga to their students.
See more about Hari-Kirtana here and what he has to offer here.

What you will receive through the 'Niwas 300-hr YTT

Accommodation

Accommodation is included in tuition price.  Lodgings are within a working Farm, are close to nature, simple and clean.  All spaces set the perfect foundation for transformation and exploration of 'Self.

Meals

Our vegetarian meals are often a talking point highlights of your residency. Meals are made with love, with vegetables from the garden, and bread from our own wood-fired oven.  In order to nourish the mind, we must nourish the body.

Certification

A Certificate will be given to each participant who successfully meets all course requirements.  This course maintains, but also exceeds the Yoga Alliance minimum hour requirements for each aspect of Yoga teacher training. 
Find your value.

'Niwas 300-hr YTT & Residency Tuition

Tuition for the 'Niwas 300-hr YTT is $3,586.00 incl GST  

​Tuition includes: All on-site coursework and teachings, meals accommodation, and personal text/logbook. Payment plans are available.
Please see all Program Cancellation & Refund Policies here.

Questions about the 'Niwas 300-hr YTT & Residency?

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