The Art and Science of Spiritual Counseling in Bothell

The Art and Science of Spiritual Counseling (AYYT level 2 accredited 55 hour course):

Who should take this course?

This course is designed to be accredited with the Yoga Alliance for 55 hours in Level 2. It is also a certification course in the Ananda Institute of Living Yoga. This course is valuable for all who seek a deeper understanding of their own, or others’ human natures, and how to integrate our inner lives with the world around us. Whether you find yourself needing to assist friends, students, co-workers, family members or clients (if you are a therapist), or simply to understand yourself better, this course will provide you with tools and techniques to bringing one’s physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual natures into balance.

What is Spiritual Counseling?

Spiritual counselors are not therapists. In this course we will learn to distinguish people and situations that require professional therapists’ assistance. As spiritual counselors we serve individuals and/or groups of people by offering insights and wisdom from the great wealth of the teachings of meditation and yoga as it relates to the inner life. We will learn to apply these insights to situations and relationships in life, in order to be the most helpful spiritually to those we interact with, as well as to ourselves.

In helping others, we discover that we, too, grow in Self-awareness. A personal commitment to Self-awareness through meditation is the only prerequisite, so to speak, to this course and to this enlightened method of counseling.

Course Description:

This course is open to everyone (see prerequisite below) but all students must enroll in the Institute of Living Yoga whether for the purposes of receiving a certificate of completion, or, for qualification as a Yoga teacher who is seeking Level 2 accreditation by Yoga Alliance.

Dates:

• 6 Saturdays: Sept 9, 16, Oct 7, 14, 28, Nov 4.
• 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day

Cost: $750

Texts:

• By Swami Kriyananda: Intuition for Starters, Affirmations for Self-Healing, In Divine Friendship
• By Paramhansa Yogananda: How to Have Courage, Confidence, and Calmness; How to Achieve Glowing Health & Vitality
• Spiritual Counseling Course Manual

About the Instructors: Nayaswami Padma will lead this course, joined by Nayaswami Hriman, Murali Venkatrao, Nayaswami Jamuna, Zach and Hailey Abbey, Bhakti Breckenridge, Shubatani Grubbs, Ph.D. and Christy Johnston.

Nayaswami Padma McGilloway:  Padma is the co-spiritual director of Ananda in Washington State, with her husband, Hriman.

Padma moved to Ananda Village in 1973 where she helped publish Swami Kriyananda’s books. She also served as a teacher and counselor. Padma and Hriman raised their son and daughter at Ananda Village. While managing Crystal Clarity Publishers, she worked closely with Swami Kriyananda during some of his most prolific years of writing. For nearly 26 years, she coordinated the offering of publishing rights to Swami’s books to publishers into different languages.

In her classes and talks, she weaves spiritual teachings with memorable stories. Padma also coordinates study programs for Kriya Yogis. She is an ordained Lightbearer and Kriyacharya of Ananda Church of Self-Realization.