A.M. Patalakh¹
PhD R.S. Minvaleev¹
D.A. Shmagun^1
1St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg

Keywords: physical culture, yoga, higher school.

Background. Presently the academic physical education curriculum is designed as regular physical training system including primary and advanced education courses in different sport disciplines at higher and secondary education establishments the world over. Oriental body conditioning practices have been increasingly popular lately in addition to the traditional physical education and sports disciplines, with Hatha yoga leading as one of the oldest Indian systems widely popular for its health improvement and bodily adaptation effects [3].

It is the human body that is viewed as a subject for Hatha yoga or “action yoga” (in Sanskrit) net of the other philosophical yoga domains. Furthermore, one of the key advantages of Hatha yoga is its wide applicability range from the simplest practices that do not need any special preliminary training and to the complex static and dynamic sets of exercises that require special skills, high flexibility and outstanding physical qualities. It is also important that no special equipment is needed for the practices, only a 1х2m mat and a plane surface [1].

The high priority and popularity of Hatha yoga in academic environments is explained by the fact that the practices may be easily mastered at home or even at a hostel room. It should also be emphasised that the Hatha yoga practices help develop exactly the psychophysical qualities and personality abilities (attention focusing, long concentration, control of bad habits typical for the modern youth culture etc.) that are critical for success in the modern education process [2].

Objective of the study was to analyse the practical international experience of the Hatha yoga course in the academic physical education curriculum.

Study results and discussion. As things now stand in Russia, yoga as an academic discipline integrated in the regular physical education curriculum is offered only at Saint Petersburg State University where the yoga courses have been successfully advanced since 2000.

India

It is only natural that most of the state-run and accredited private universities that offer formal diplomas in a wide variety of yoga versions are located in India. There are multiple education establishments in the country specialising in yoga training and promotion by special courses, including the Yoga Institute Santacruz East Mumbai; Indian Institute of Yogic Science & Research Bhuvneshwar; Dev Sanskriti Vishwadyalaya University [7]; Gurukul Kangri University [10]; Gujarat University; Bhavnagar University; Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University; Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University; Lucknow University; Mangalore University and at least 40 other private and state universities. It is the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga established with support from the Health Ministry and Government of India that presently leads the yoga promotion and development process in India and abroad. The Institute offers a wide range of courses from short-term yoga courses with certification of the trainees to fully-fledged long-term Bachelor and Master Degree Programs with certification of graduates as Bachelors and Masters of Science in Yoga. 

Swami Vivekananda (S-VYASA) University offers three Bachelor, two Master Degree and two Postgraduate Programs in Yoga Therapy and Yoga & Consciousness disciplines. The University also offers special doctorate research and excelling opportunities to qualify for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Medicine in Yoga & Rehabilitation).

USA

Apart from India, the relevant Bachelor and Master Degree Programs are offered at some of the US universities. Thus Maryland University offers an integrated health course to train Masters of Science in Yoga Therapy; and Loyola Marymount Catholic University offers a Master of Arts in Yoga Studies training program.

Furthermore, students may opt for specific academic yoga courses at some universities including, for example, University of Minnesota that offers Hatha Yoga Basics course with a special priority given to the anatomic aspects of importance for safety of Hatha yoga practices; fundamentals of anatomy and bodily systems including nervous, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems; special Hatha Yoga practices; and Hatha Yoga basics course for yoga instructors.

The valid US classification of study programs includes 51.3602 Yoga Coach Training/ Yoga Therapy course designed to train professional instructors of spiritual and physical yoga therapy in private, state and clinical institutions. It offers a few education components including Ayurveda; philosophy of yoga; warm-up and basic yoga practices; breathing exercises; meditation; mastering yoga fundamentals and practices; postural control skills; client consulting methods; performance and progress rating; advanced yoga disciplines and styles; business practices in this domain; and relevant professional and ethical standards and requirements.

Italy

The state-run Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy) offers a Master of Yoga Studies course designed with a special emphasis on bodily practices and meditation.

Germany

Pedagogical institute in Karlsruhe (Pedagogische Hochschule Karlsruhe) in cooperation with the Professional Association of German Yoga Teachers (Berufsverband der Yogalehrenden in Deutschland) has developed a Master Degree Program including a yoga teacher training module for universities. As emphasised by the authors of the program, it sets new standards for yoga promotion via the academic education system to help students apply yoga in practice as the integrated physical and mental health improvement system.

Bircham International University that gives a high priority to distance study programs, offers the distance Specialist/ Bachelor/ Master Degree Programs in Yoga Therapy and provides yoga research and excelling opportunities to qualify for PhD in Yoga.

Conclusion. Theoretical analysis of the practical international experience of Hatha yoga courses in the academic physical education curriculum makes it possible to effectively implement these physical practices in the Russian academic system, particularly in view of the fact that formal yoga specialist diplomas are obtainable today at many Indian, US and European universities in different special fields including yoga therapy, philosophy and business practices.

References

1. Vereschagin V.G. Fizicheskaya kultura indiyskikh yogov [Physical culture of Indian yogis]. Polymya publ., 1982, 144 p.
2. Minvaleev R.S. Ozdorovitelnaya programma na osnove hatkha-yogi [Hatha Yoga-based wellness program]. Mater. Vseros. nauch.-prakt. konf. «Fizicheskaya kultura i sport v sisteme obrazovaniya Rossii: innovatsii i perspektivy razvitiya» [Proc. Rus. res.-practical. conf. "Physical Culture and Sports in Russian Education System: Innovations and Prospects for Development"], November 7, 2014. St. Petersburg: Moby Dick publ., 2014, pp. 155-159.
3. Minvaleev R.S. Fiziologicheskie aspekty izbrannykh asan hatkha-yogi [Physiological aspects of selected hatha yoga asanas]. St. Petersburg: SPbU publ., 2014, 103 p.

Corresponding author: khubbiev@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective of the study was to analyse practical international experience of the Hatha yoga courses in the academic physical education curriculum. It is the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga established with support from the Ministry of Health and Government of India that plays a leading role in the yoga promotion and development in India and abroad. Apart from India, the relevant Bachelor and Master Degree Programs are offered at some of the US universities. Thus Maryland University offers an integrated health course to train Masters of Yoga Therapy; and Loyola Marymount Catholic University offers a Master of Yoga training course. The state-owned Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy) offers a Master of Yoga Studies course designed with a special emphasis on bodily practices and meditation. Pedagogical Institute in Karlsruhe (Germany) in cooperation with the Professional Association of German Yoga Teachers has developed a Master Degree Program including a Yoga Instructor training module for universities. The authors come to conclusion that formal yoga specialist diplomas in different special fields including yoga therapy, philosophy and business practices at the relevant bachelor and master training courses are obtainable today at many Indian, US and European universities.