Teacher Trainings

THE HERO’S JOURNEY 2024. With Michael Hamilton and Sabine Glück

The Hero’s Journey 2024 – a call to adventure. With Michael Hamilton and Sabine Glück

Archetypal stories of the hero on a journey have been told since ancient times. The tales teach us, that change is possible for everyone. They are about exploring themes and dilemmas that more deeply signify the spiritual challenges we face throughout life. Challenges that are necessary to our own personal development and growth.

In 8 weekend modules from April through December 2024 we embark on an adventure of our body, mind and heart. We explore how we can be guided and grounded in processes of change and growth, drawing from the teachings of Yogic and Buddhist practices and philosophy, complemented with approaches and exercises from western psychology.

How do we embody the essential? How do we recognize and grow beyond an edge that no longer serves us and with that live out more of our innate potential? How do we open up to the silent whispers of our heart?

In this intensive we gift ourselves with time and space to truly connect with our body, mind and heart. Inspired by the practices and teachings of Yoga, Buddhism and Western Psychology we explore and engage on a journey of deeper understanding and self-exploration of our individual path towards a liberated and fulfilled life. The teachings encourage personal reflection, inspire individual practice and offer a safe space in a group to explore and expand.

The intensive consists of 7 weekend modules in Zurich and a 5-day retreat at beautiful Casa Corvo in Ticino. Each module is dedicated to a specific theme. The weekend modules in Zurich start on Friday evening with an online session guiding you in your home. These evenings are intended to support you in integrating the experiences of your day-to-day life and with that open up the space for refined awareness and sensibility. Saturday and Sunday (and Monday for the Pentecost weekend in May) we meet at the “Kubus25” in Zurich for a long morning sadhana curated around asana, pranayama, chanting and meditation set to the module’s theme. In the afternoons we continue the exploration with input, exercises and discussions.

Dates:

  • Module 1: April 12-14, 2024
  • Module 2 (Pentecost): Mai 17-20, 2024
  • Module 3: June 28-30, 2024
  • Module 4: August 23-25, 2024
  • Module 5: September 13-15, 2024
  • Module 6 (Retreat at Casa Corvo): October 23-27, 2024
  • Module 7: November 15-17, 2024
  • Module 8: December 20-22, 2024

Times and Locations:

Modules 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8:

  • Friday 19.00 – 21.00 online on Zoom
  • Saturday 8.30-12.00 and 13.30-17.00 at “Kubus25” (Neptunstrasse 25, 8032 Zürich)
  • Sunday 8.30-12.00 – 13.00-16.00 at “Kubus25” (Neptunstrasse 25, 8032 Zürich)

Module 2 (Pentecost):

  • Friday 19.00 – 21.00 online on Zoom
  • Saturday 8.30-12.00 and 13.30-17.00 at “Kubus25” (Neptunstrasse 25, 8032 Zürich)
  • Sunday 8.30-12.00 and 13.00-16.00 at “Kubus25” (Neptunstrasse 25, 8032 Zürich)
  • Monday 8.00 – 12.00 at “Kubus25” in Zurich (Neptunstrasse 25, 8032 Zürich)

Module 6 (Retreat at Casa Corvo)

  • Arrival on October 23, 2024 (check-in from 15.00)
  • Departure on October 27, 2024 after brunch (11.00)

Requirements for attending:

  • At least 2 years of regular Yoga practice
  • Familiarity with Yogic and/or Buddhist philosophy acquired e.g. in a Yoga Teacher Training, self-study or similar
  • Physical and mental health
  • English (Sabine can offer German translation)

Cost:

The course rate is CHF 3’650.-

Paymnet as follows:

  • CHF 500.- upon application (reservation fee, non refundable)
  • CHF 3’150.- before March 31, 2024

Included are:

  • Teachings
  • Training Material

Not included are:

  • Cost for board and accommodation in double bed rooms at Casa Corvo (CHF 520.-)
  • Travel cost to Ticino

Application:

For applications, questions and other concerns please email michaelhamiltonyoga@gmail.com

The Modules

Module 1: Foundations in Mind, Heart and Body Yogic Practice

April 12-14, 2024

In this module we will build a foundation from which to explore the practice methods that support participants on their personal path towards a deeper understanding and the cultivation of their inherent heart qualities.
In the theoretical part, we introduce the Buddhist teaching of the Four Noble Truth and the Eightfold Noble Path and discuss its meaning in the context of our modern life.
This module is the starting point of a journey. We get in touch with one another and start growing together as a group which opens up a sacred space arisen out of trust to support each individual on their personal journey.

Module 2 (Pentecost): The forces within us

May 17-20, 2024

This module is dedicated towards clarity of one’s individual motivation and intention for the practice. In contemplation and reflection, we move closer to what truly matters to us and what our heart longs for. We gently touch on individual tendencies and investigate how these shape the ways we look at ourselves and the world around us. Informed by a deeper understanding of the internal forces driving us, we encourage participants to connect to an intuitive and personal approach towards the manifestation of their vision.
To support us in this exploration, we introduce e.g. Kleshas as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra as well as three levels of emotional experiences as described in Buddhism.  

Module 3: Playfully approaching the individual practice

June 28-30, 2024

The third module is a playful exposition of and a deeper dive into the different orientations towards Asana, Pranayama/Kriyas, and Meditation in order to connect participants to an experiential understanding of the different approaches. Enriched by theoretical knowledge on Asana sequencing, different aspects of the meditation practice as well as approaches to classical Pranayama practice, this module gives Yogis concrete tools to keep up a purposeful practice at home.
Theoretically we will base this weekend on inspiration from e.g. the Krishnamaycharya traditions (Ashtanga, Iyengar), teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and the three turnings of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana).

Module 4: Awakening to wisdom

August 23-25, 2024

This module is dedicated to the teachings of natural wisdom that reaches beyond a conceptual mind. Letting body, mind and heart be our guides, there is the potential to discover that natural presence is always and already here and profound transformation can occur by resting in just simply being.
The Satipatthana Sutta, Heart Sutra and other Buddhist texts are introduced with the aim to broaden our understanding and encourage the inner exploration.

Module 5: Unleashing inherent heart qualities

September 13-15, 2024

The module’s focus is the traditions emphasizing and the practices cultivating heart qualities such as compassion, patience and kindness. Participants are guided to familiarize themselves with their inner landscape and find ways to move closer to inherent heart qualities that touch their life and the life of the people around them in a beautiful way.

To support us in this module’s dialogue and practice we draw inspiration from texts such as The Way of the Bodhisattva (Shantideva).

Module 6: Retreat at Casa Corvo

October 23-27, 2024

These days are an invitation to unplug, slow down, relax and integrate the practices and experiences of the past months. A long morning practice in silence, the surrounding nature and sharing this experience with a group of likeminded practitioners support us in further cultivating a gentle awareness. There will be enough time for walks, swimming, discovery trips into the surroundings.

Module 7: Working with difficult emotions

November 15-17, 2024

The seventh weekend focuses on working with difficult emotions. The practice offers a safe space to confront us with difficulties and with that, opens up the opportunity to learn and discover skillful means when encountering distress. Methods from Essential Psychotherapy (approach integrating psychotherapeutic work with Buddhist mind training) are introduced, which invite us to embrace healing and stimulate inner maturity through self-exploration.

Module 8: Re/vision

December 20-22, 2024

In this module the participants are encouraged to pause and reflect on the past weeks. How did my individual practice unfold? What creates resonance, what resistance? How do I connect to the motivation that keeps my practice steady? Does the practice lead me closer to my vision and heart wishes? Where do I want to go from here? How can I dedicate my life energy to the wellbeing of me and other beings?

Biographies of the teachers

Michael Hamilton

Growing up in apartheid South Africa led Michael to an early interest in the topic of individual and collective hardship and awakened within him the yearning to address and confront the challenges it brings.
In his youth it spurned him on to political activism and rebellion, sublimated through studies in art and literature, which additionally offered helpful glimpses into the human condition. The discovery of Buddhism in his twenties brought about dramatic life changes resulting in his departure from the west to the east and long years of studies in yoga and Buddhism in Asia. After discovering satipatthana meditation with its direct application of mindfulness to progressive stages of development, he started studies in short- and long-term retreat formats with Sayday U Vivekananda.
Currently Michael is undergoing a 3-year course in essential psychology, which combines skillful methods developed in psychology with the Buddhism teachings on wisdom, in order to better facilitate development and healing in individuals and small groups. He is deeply grateful to all those that have helped and guided him on his path, particularly Daido Roshi for his acts of kindness, Vivekanada and Baddhamanika for their endless patience, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor for their insights into approaching practice, Doug Keller for therapeutic body awareness and Wolfgang Erhard and Lama Lhündrup for awakening the Bodhisattva spirit within.
Michael lives with his wife Sabine Glück in Ticino, Switzerland.
For more information please see www.michaelhamiltonyoga.com

Sabine Glück

Sabine is a Yoga and meditation practitioner and teacher and is co-directing the Center of Mindfulness in Zurich. She has practiced and studied avidly since 2010. Her love and commitment to spiritual practice influences her life and what she shares as a teacher.

Sabine honors her primary teachers of Hatha and Classical Yoga, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, Michael Hamilton and Doug Keller as well as U Vivekananda and Baddhamanika for their compassionate and wise guidance in meditation practice.
She holds an MA in Psychology from the University of Zurich and is a certified MBSR teacher (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). Currently Sabine is absolving a 3-years training in Essential Psychotherapy, an approach integrating psychotherapeutic methods and Buddhist wisdom. 

Sabine lives in a remote valley in Ticino, Switzerland. She is regularly retreating for longer practice periods.

Locations

The training takes place at following locations:


Kubus 25

Kubus 25 (near Kreuzplatz) hosts different Courses and Trainings, Coaching and Therapeutic offers.

Kubus 25
Neptunstrasse 25
8032 Zürich

www.kubus25.ch

Casa Corva

... an Oasis in Ticino.

Casa Corvo
Ra Strécia 5
6986 Novaggio
Ticino

www.casacorvo.ch