About this Retreat
Chitra is an experienced Yoga teacher, registered with The Yoga Alliance at the E-RYT 500 level. She holds a Diploma in Ayurvedic Sciences from Kerala Ayurveda and a BS degree in Spiritual Science. Chitra has committed her Life in diligent Service (Seva) to enhance the Lives of so many Others. Her Cause is, “To Enrich, Empower, and Enlighten (E3) through Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta, and Meditation.” Her Purpose (Dharma) is, “To raise the Consciousness of the World, so that All may live Happier, Healthier Lives together as a Whole.”
Chitra was born in Guyana to a Family of Indian ancestry. She grew up in the many Sivananda Ashrams scattered around the world. Chitra’s parents, Yogi Hari and Leela Mata, joined the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Organization when She was four years old; since then she has practiced Yoga and Meditation daily.
Chitra’s Mother, Leela Mata was also a spiritual guru and bright light who led many to higher consciousness while traveling the world teaching Ayurveda, Yoga, Vedanta Philosophy, and Meditation. Leela had a Spiritual Center (Leela Mata Peaceful Valley Ashram) in Pennsylvania. Her Father, Yogi Hari, a Master of Hatha, Raja, and Nada Yoga, is well known and respected around the world, has an Ashram in Florida, and has published over 20 CDs and 3 books. Chitra now continues the distinguished legacy of her Parents' LifeWork.
Chitra teaches and leads many Retreats around the world for adults and children. She has “birthed” the organization, New Age Kids Inc. -- a sincere effort to generate well-balanced individuals with a Sense of Self, from an early age. Chitra has created guided meditation CDs, Yoga Nidra CDs, and mantra meditation CDs, for adults and children in addition to authoring an acclaimed Children’s book, “Elven Rhyme – Journey through Time”. In addition she is a published Playwright with Her play “To My Amazement”, garnering praise from recent performances in Canada. Chitra was the first to create the Youth Yoga Teachers Training Course (YYTTC) for Youth ages 16-21, Herein, young people can come together to learn more about Higher Consciousness and the Journey of the Self, while becoming Certified Yoga Teachers.
Chitra teaches full-time at various ashrams, studios, and universities worldwide. She leads trainings, workshops, and courses on Vedanta, Tantra, Ayurveda, and Yoga. Her signature course, Yoga Nidra | Awak{end} Sleep™, has become a favorite among yoga teachers and those on the spiritual path. Chitra has certified hundreds of individuals to teach this transformative method, which she describes as a complete system leading to enlightenment.
Currently, Chitra is working on her book "Yoga Nidra Awak{end} Sleep™." When she is not traveling, she resides in Atlanta, Georgia, continuing her mission to inspire and guide others on their path to self-discovery and well-being.
Details of this retreat
Learn the fundamentals of Yoga Nidra and how to share this healing, powerful practice with others. The course is taught by Chitra Sukhu, a world-renowned Yoga practitioner and expert on Yoga Nidra and Hatha Yoga, and daughter of Shri Yogi Hari and Leela Mata.
The Yoga Nidra Training for Yoga Teachers will be based on Yoga, Ayurveda and Tantric texts and scriptures, teachings of Swami Satyananda, Swami Rama and Chitra Sukhu’s own profound discoveries.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra, often referred to as “Yogic Sleep,” is the conscious awareness of the deep sleep state. It is an ancient Tantric technique made popular in the West by Swami Satyananda. This simple, yet powerful tool moves you to a state of deep relaxation and has the potential to take you beyond the three normal states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep states), to the 4th state of consciousness (Turiya).
Benefits of Yoga Nidra
There are a multitude of physical benefits from practicing Yoga Nidra, including reduced stress, fatigue, anxiety, and worry; a better night’s sleep; improved digestion; and increased immune function. Spiritually, Yoga Nidra gives you access to that space between thoughts, beyond the mind. In this space, we reset the body, expand the mind, and see things from a different vantage point. This allows for the burning or neutralization of Samskaras (deep impressions), the true goal of Yoga Nidra. This is the promise and power of Yoga Nidra.
Who should practice Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is multi-layered in its benefits; as we move through the different layers of our being, through the different Koshas or subtle bodies that overlay our essence, we gain deeper levels of mastery over our lives. This technique has been known to help patients with PTSD, terminal illnesses, mental disorders, and other imbalances, physically, emotionally, and mentally. This practice is for everyone, whether you consider yourself healthy or not. Everyone can benefit in some way from the practice of Yoga Nidra.
This practice is a great addition to your yoga class
During this course, you will enjoy:
Daily Yoga Nidra practice to restore body, mind, and spirit.
Lectures to bring about a deep understanding of the Yoga Nidra process.
Harness the power of Yoga Nidra to remove emotional and psychic blocks.
Initiate life-changing processes from deep within, beyond the thinking mind.
Experience a deep, blissful state of being.
Practice teaching in a supportive environment.
Ample practice time for each student.
Training Information
Course Prerequisites
This course is open to all.
If you would like to participate in the course for your own knowledge and do not plan on teaching, you may do so. However, you will not receive a certificate upon completion of the course, unless you show your readiness and integration of knowledge by teaching a class.
All participants, in order to receive certification of completion, will be required to teach a class to the group.
Continuing Education (CE) Opportunities
Upon completion of this deep immersion in Yoga Nidra studies and practice, students will be capable to offer this service to their students and the community, for dealing with stress, addiction, trauma, depression, and insomnia. Chitra Sukhu is certified with Yoga Alliance and upon completion of this course, you may apply to receive 41 Continuing Education Credits from Yoga Alliance. The 41 hours include the Ashrams daily scheduled events, like yoga, meditations and Satsang. All these practices inform your Yoga Nidra study
The 41 hours of the Yoga Nidra Training for Yoga Teachers course consists of:
18 contact hours of Techniques, Training & Practice
8 hours of Teaching Methodology
4 hours of Anatomy and Physiology
11 hours of Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle & Ethics.
Yoga Alliance (YA): Approximately 41 contact hours.
You can input your contact hours using your YA login information.
Testimonials
Thank you Chitra for a truly transformational training weekend. Your Yoga Nidra Awakened Sleep Teacher Training was exactly what I hoped it would be and so very much more. The yoga philosophy teachings received, the format and structure of the course, the practice and feedback opportunities were all instrumental in allowing me to leave my experience of your course feeling confident, well-prepared, and inspired to share the practice of Yoga Nidra with others. From the deepest place in my heart, thank you. Thank you for creating this special container for personal growth and transformation. Aum Shanti. — Satya Devi Jaya
I had the pleasure of studying Yoga Nidra with Chitra Sukhu and I enjoyed every moment of her class. Her teaching style is straight forward, and thorough. She is a warm and caring person and a knowledgeable teacher. She encouraged us to ask questions and probe deeper into any areas we were unclear on or inquisitive about. I left her class feeling excited about Yoga Nidra and inquisitive to know more. I hope this helps someone.
– Erica Eva Freckleton
My experience with Chitra during Yoga Nidra Teacher training was profound. I left feeling expanded and touched deeply in my soul. Being in her presence is a gift in itself. I learned more about myself and the universe in those 24hrs than I have in years of searching for answers to my most yearning questions. Experiencing so much Yoga Nidra over the weekend left me with significant pain reduction and increased peace. There really aren’t words. It’s just something to be experienced.
– Tammie Pitanga Cummings
I recently took a Yoga Nidra teacher training lead by Chitra Sukhu. It was absolutely wonderful and very special. Chitra is a sacred woman who transmits her teachings in a lovely way. I really enjoyed learning from her. She is a powerful teacher that offers so much.
– Jai Singh