what is sva sadhana?

Sva Sadhana is a nine-month Yoga & Āyurveda training that teaches you the tools and practices from these ancient sciences to live a healthier, more holistic, and more connected life. Sva translates as 'of the Self', and sadhana is 'an instrument, or means’… the Sva Sadhana training is an invitation to a journey of radical self-discovery with the support of a dynamic group along the way.
 
Whether you’re relatively new to Yoga and Āyurveda, or have studied for some time, but don’t yet feel like you’re taking your practice off the mat, this training invites you to begin to live these sciences - taking them from something you do - to someone you are. A way of being that permeates and shapes your daily life.

Āyurveda, the science of life, is used to create the level of wellness needed to do your work in the world. Yoga is the science of self-knowledge, that allows you to see clearly the true nature of yourself. Using the sister sciences of Yoga and Āyurveda, the Sva Sadhana Training delivers tools from these ancient sciences that will shape your modern daily life to bring you greater health, purpose, and clarity.

Sva Sadhana leads the way to living your Yoga, discovering the innumerable benefits of an Āyurvedic lifestyle, cultivating a friendlier relationship with your mind, and finding a community to support you in these practices.

Do you have two days a month to create a happier, healthier, more integrated you?

who is this training for?

This nine month program is a training program for students who want to deepen into self-study and practice.

You sense how powerful the practice of Yoga & Āyurveda can be, but you’re not living them yet. You know that healing the collective has to include a healthy individual (you!). You have a full life, but when it comes to taking care of yourself - you know there’s got to be a better way. The tools in your toolbox don’t feel personalized and effective. You want to take a more holistic approach to life: the foods you eat, the medicine you use, the way you care for loved ones - and Yoga & Āyurveda just make sense to you. But, you’re not quite sure where to start to bring these practices home, to personalize them, and get them working for you to create more wellness in body, mind, and spirit.

The experience of Sva Sadhana provides the tools for self-exploration, growth, and transformation within the supportive container of a community. Our students represent a large span of ages, levels of Yoga experience, and life paths. We learn from each other as much as we learn from the teachings of Yoga & Āyurveda. You’ll graduate the program with a community of friends who are walking this path with you.

* A minimum of six months of Yoga asana experience are required prior to the start of Sva Sadhana. If you have completed less than six months of regular, in-person, guided asana practice, then an on-demand, foundational asana course with Kara will be required prior to the start of the program.

* This training also counts towards Continuing Education Units (CEU) for Yoga Alliance registered teachers.

the path to practice; how you’ll engage the teachings

In this 150-hour training, focus is given to creating a supportive container for growth and exploration.

In addition to weekend immersions, this training includes 25 weekly classes, a private session with Kara, a 100+ page course manual, and digital resources. This course will use asana as just one tool on the path of self-mastery, and will focus on exploring the extensive practices of Āyurveda as well as the subtle aspects of pranayama, meditation, bandha, mudra, and Yoga nidra. Sva Sadhana will provide you with tools that you can use at home and off the mat, in your everyday life.

The group will meet live (online or in-person) September 2024 - May 2025. Each month you’ll have self-study, at-home practices, guided practices, and a training partner to support your continued learning between sessions.

the steps of practice; what you’ll learn

• Āyurvedic theory & self-application: doshas, bhutas, gunas, vayus, and so much more

• Yoga philosophy & classical texts including the Yoga Sutras & Bhagavad Gita

• Asana: alignment, six categories of asana, sequencing, and doshic approaches

• Āyurvedic diet & lifestyle: theory and self-application

• Āyurvedic recipes & cooking

• Dinacharya: the science of daily rhythms and routine

• Sanskrit Terminology: understanding the basics of this language unlocks a deeper understanding of the science

• Bandha & Mudra: how to accelerate your evolution within your asana practice

• Pranayama: the science of breath

• Meditation: the science of the mind

• Yoga Nidra: the science of Yogic sleep

• Mantra: the science of sound

• Tantra: the science of energy

• Living your Yoga off the mat

• Yoga through the lens of cultural appropriation vs cultural appreciation

I had been curious about the training for a couple years, but there was always "something" whether it be life circumstances or finances. It didn't feel like the "right" time in my head. Though, gaining a push from an outside perspective, someone who had completed the training nudged me in the direction to take the leap. I'm grateful the universe pushed to take the step when it did.

— Laceey McClain, 2024

training format

The 2024-2025 Sva Sadhana training is an online/in-person hybrid training.

1. In-Person Learning: You attend all sessions in-person in Kalamazoo, MI.

2. In-Person/Virtual Hybrid Learning: You attend some sessions online and some sessions in-person. We recommend certain sessions for in-person attendance that you’ll receive the most impact from being onsite (find those below).

3. Virtual Learning: You attend all sessions virtually via our online classroom.

As a Sva Sadhana student you’ll have private access to a virtual student portal where you’ll access learning materials, submit assignments, and be able to connect with your classmates online.

Due to the personalized instruction you’ll receive in this training, and the importance of one-on-one attention, this cohort is limited to 17 students.

weekend intensives

The 2024-2025 Sva Sadhana training begins September 2024.
We meet for one weekend intensive (1.5 days) a month, for nine months.

Saturdays: 8:45a-5:30p ET
Sundays: 12:45p-5:30p ET

This format fits well with the demands of a full home/work life balance and allows enough regularity in meeting to keep you committed and on the path of practice.

2024-2025 dates:

- September 21-22, 2024 (in-person recommended)
Yoga Theory

- October 12-13, 2024
Āyurveda Theory

- November 9-10, 2024*
The Science of Asana (in-person recommended)

- December 14-15, 2024
Rhythm & Routine (in-person recommended, includes Āyurvedic cooking session)

- January 11-12, 2025
The Science of Prana

- February 8-9, 2025
The Science of Mind

- March 22-23, 2025
Going Beyond Mind

- April 12-13, 2025
The Science of Tantra (in-person recommended)

- May 10-11, 2025
Dharma + Graduation (in-person recommended)

*these dates the times will be reversed Sunday for Saturday, see below.
please be flexible with end times. It’s possible we’ll run over occasionally, as we follow a teaching to completion.

location

In-person weekend intensives will be hosted at the Ayurvedic Wellness Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Local lodging with group participants may be available. Please inquire if interested.

The livestream teaching of Sva Sadhana will occur in a hybrid classroom. The technology set-up is optimized to give you an engaging experience that’s easy to see and hear, creating a rich learning environment.

I’ve never felt more aligned with the true essence of who I am. My home practice has never felt richer. My life has never felt more vibrant. It has made me a better mother and better in my work, and helped me to see why I’m here. The friendships I’ve made are profound. The wellness center feels like a home away from home. Kara is a gifted and skilled teacher who made me laugh, cry, and contemplate my path from here.

— Megan Kolaja, 2024

investment

This program is offered on a sliding fee scale to create equitable access to the teachings across a broad range of financial resource levels. To familiarize yourself with our sliding scale and where you fall on it, please read more here.

Tuition:

1. Full Price Tuition $3390 (unlimited spaces available)
   - paid-in-full due August 15 or
   - 3 payment plan + administrative fee. $300 Deposit + 3 payments of $1060 (Aug 15, Nov 30, Feb 28)

2. Middle Price Tuition: $2590 (three spaces max)
   - paid-in-full due August 15 or
   - 3 payment plan + administrative fee. $300 Deposit + 3 payments of $795 (Aug 15, Nov 30, Feb 28)

3. Minimum Price Tuition $1890 (three spaces max)
   - paid-in-full due August 15 or
   - a monthly payment plan + administrative fee. $300 deposit + 9 payments of $195/month (Aug 15 - Apr 31)

4. Pay it Forward Price $3990+ (unlimited spaces available)

Scholarships:
A limited number of scholarships for historically marginalized populations including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), Latinx, LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, or Asexual), and Veterans are available towards tuition. You can find the application form here.

- Crowd Sourcing via a platform like GoFundMe or Indiegogo is a wonderful way for your community to support your journey.

FAQs

I don’t live in the area, can I still participate?

Students will have the option of participating in-person, an in-person/virtual hybrid option, or a virtual only option. Experience has shown that students find the in-person sessions invaluable. If, due to travel, a student can only attend a few in-person sessions, we’ve suggested certain sessions based on topic. You can find those above in the list of dates.

How much experience do I need to participate? 

We generally suggest that students have at least six months of asana experience before Sva Sadhana. We have had students with just that amount under their belts when the program began and Yogis who have been practicing for decades. This is a non-competitive, all levels program that welcomes students from all backgrounds. What we know to be true is that small actions, taken regularly, equal big change! If you have less than six months practice, or want to familiarize yourself with Kara’s teaching style, we offer an online yoga asana series you can take as a prerequisite to prepare. This course is included with your tuition.

What is the time commitment needed for Sva Sadhana?

We meet for 1.5 days each month. Each month you’ll also have some type of home practice to engage with, plan for a few hours each week (most of these are short 15-30 minute practices you’ll do three or more times a week).

There are 25 weekly classes included in the Sva Sadhana curriculum. These 60-90 minute classes will be held mostly on Wednesdays nights, and can be completed via recording if live attendance isn’t possible.

We also work through a few books over the course of nine months, so you’ll want to create some time for reading.

What happens if there’s a session I can’t attend?

Upon registration, we expect you’ll reserve the live program dates and attend each session of the training. We ask any planned absences be submitted before the program starts. We also understand life happens. If training hours are missed, students will make up the session via recording and submit any applicable homework by the requisite dates.

How does Sva Sadhana differ from a Yoga Teacher Training (YTT)?

While teacher trainings focus on helping you obtain the skillsets to convey the teachings to others, Sva Sadhana is about your learning, your process, and your transformation. The process is designed to help you digest and integrate the teachings. There will be a monthly home-practice focus, reading, an accountability system to help you meet your goals, and a personalized approach to help you craft diet, lifestyle, and Yoga practices that will help you thrive.

What if I’m already a Yoga Teacher?

Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs) attend Sva Sadhana each year and report that this program grounds them into the teachings and their practice in different and deeper ways than they experienced in their YTTs. Sva Sadhana is an opportunity to focus on your own practice and digest the teachings for your own evolution and not for the transmission to anyone else. This training also counts towards Continuing Education Units (CEU) for Yoga Alliance registered teachers.

What if I have an injury or other physical limitation?

Part of an individualized practice is about learning to modify a practice to meet your needs. Asana is absolutely part of this training, but it is only one part. We are committed to helping to make these teachings and practices accessible to anyone with the willingness and commitment to participate. Students with injuries or other physical concerns typically find that together we are able to make physical practices accessible. You’re also welcome to contact us to inquire about your particular circumstance.

Who isn’t this training for?

If you’re looking for a purely theoretical training, one where you receive information but don’t engage in the practical application of the teachings this program won’t be a good fit.

If you’re interested in Yoga as a purely physical modality, this training won’t be for you.

If you’re interested in the broad expansive of capital “Y” Yoga, in all its aspects, this training will be a great fit.

the fine print

- A $300 non-refundable application fee reserves your space in this training (fee applies to total tuition payment).

- Tuition does not include travel, lodging, required/recommended reading.

- Paid-in-full payment due: August 15.

- Installment payments are possible, please see contract for terms.

- Payment by cash, secure bank transfer, or credit card (3% cc fee added).

- See contract for additional terms.