Anusara is a quickly growing style of yoga under the Hatha yoga branch, or the physical practice of yoga, according to the World Yoga Center. Yogis practice and teacher train in the Anusara style internationally. The teacher training curriculum for becoming an Anusara-certified or Anusara-inspired instructor is extensive and costs at least $4,000 as of 2010. The Yoga Alliance recognizes Anusara as an accredited school for 200- and 500-hour certifications.
History
John Friend began the Anusara style in 1997. Prior to starting his own style, he studied the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, and Siddha Yoga, under Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. The Anusara style is heavily influenced by the alignment principles of Iyengar and the principles of goodness embedded in nondual Tantric yoga. Yogis recognize Anusara as a heartfelt and jovial style, and attribute the growth of the practice to its positive messages and philosophy.
Function
Anusara focuses on practicing each yoga pose with five principles of alignment in mind. These include Opening to Grace, Muscular Energy, Inner Spiral, Outer Spiral and Organic Energy, according to Yoga Journal magazine. The Anusara style focuses on learning yoga with a sense of lightheartedness and joy. Along with detailed alignment, instructors use many flowing sequences of poses, or vinyasas. The goal of Anusara is to connect you with your divinity or inner goodness.
Time Frame
You must fulfill practical prerequisites prior to being eligible for certification, which include four years of yoga practice, two years of meditation practice, two years of yoga teaching and two years of practicing with a certified Anusara instructor, states the Anusara website. You also need a total of 500 hours of Anusara courses. The final exam takes 30 hours to complete. Anusara-inspired instructors require 200 hours of Anusara study.
Features
Features particular to Anusara teacher training include learning Tantric philosophy and teaching classes based on compassion and love themes. Anusara has three syllabi levels and 265 poses. Instructors learn sequencing guidelines, but are not bound to practice the poses in the order designated on the syllabi. General curriculum includes sequencing, demonstration of poses, physical adjusting and modifying of poses, breathing and meditation exercises.
Considerations
Consider working on the Anusara-inspired curriculum if you do not have the time for the certified Anusara curriculum. Anusara-inspired teachers still obtain the license to teach the Anusara style. Anusara teaches a standard set of ethical guidelines based on the eight limbs of yoga, including namas and niyamas. It also has an additional set of guidelines based generally on Tantric philosophy.
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