Y O G A

Asana is another word for seat or posture. Trough noticing the body and the breath we can learn how to 'em-body' who we truly are. We harmonize action and breath to be more efficient, live present and remember our natural state. 

Yoga is a reference to Yog, to unite and or connect. The body can serve as a means to unfold into our natural state which is always Dhyan : Meditation. We don't need to try to meditate, we are meditation. We quiet down in order to remember we are already ONE. And that we are part of a bigger Whole. Serving benefits All. Working on ourselves benefits All.

I have experience with physical challenges in terms of chronic dis-ease, injury and dis-abilities. I LOVE to nerd out on anatomy. ALL ARE WELCOME!

P R A C T I C E - T O G E T H E R

Witness me witnessing you, us witnessing together. There is nothing like Be-ing together. All we need to do is, show up, beyond judgement. Know that what ever you may think is up with me, is in you. What you may think is up with the body is, not real. I mean not real in the Vedic sense. What ever is up with the body, is transient, it passes overtime. In fact, we cast the body off soon enough! There where years where this body of mine was unable to practice many postures. I have been grieving about it, and I still sometimes do. What we can do is, work with what we are given. Adapt, Adjust and Accommodate.

R E S T O R A T I V E

When we rest deeply, usually the mind goes in overdrive, brain loops come up and we these ingrained patterns become very obvious. Apart from this, or simultaneously repressed emotions and or insights can surface. These different impressions may be stored in the different sheets of the body called, Koshas.

There are 5 sheets, or Pancha Kosha:

Anna Maya Kosha ~ The Physical plane, nourished and fed by the outer gross elements

Prana Maya Kosha ~ The Pranic plane, Life force sheet

Mano Maya Kosha ~ The Mental plane, thoughts, ideas

Vjiana Maya Kosha ~ The Wisdom plane

Ananda Maya Kosha  ~ The Bliss or Buddha Body

During the steady regular practice of stilling the mind and body, we can gain insight into the Pancha Kosha we are. Some benefit from rapid active meditative posture practice, while others are enhanced by resting the body deeply by support of props such as blankets, pillows and blocks. 

In my experience there is no right way to practice yoga. However trough trial and error we and explore what works best each moment in time.

J A P A - M A N T R A

Repeating the names of the Divine is an instrument for the mind.

Japa is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism with parallels found in other religions.

The word “Mantra” has been derived from Sanskrit. Mantra contains two words – “man” which means “to think” (also in manas “mind”) and suffix “tra” which means “tool”, hence a literal translation would be “instrument of thought”. end quote

There is no right or wrong. Remember that the demon, who later became the Saint Valmiki that uttered the Epic Ramayana, was not able to utter the name of Ram. So instead he started repeating the word Mara (tree) and by this gradually sinking in to a deep state of meditation resulting from the repetitive sound Maramaramarama Rama! 

Start somewhere and enjoy the ride. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. 

When we learn and study the meaning of the words and how to pronounce them we can connect even more to the practiced mantra and it can have massive impact.

It sooths in extraordinary ways, like nothing else and to me is a GO-TO practice, above anything else: CHANT AND BE HAPPY!

C H A N T I N G

Syllables ~ Sound ~ Vibrations

For example the sound AUM 

A : the state of consciousness - Jargat

U : sleeping dream state in which we wish and process all sorts of things, REM - Swapna

M : the deep dreamless sleep state in which we are in silence - Sushupti

… : the silence behind the M in which we are one with All that is - Turiya

The syllable AUM expresses all this and more. Even though most of us do not understand this, when we practice reciting this AUM, repeating it to breath for example without expecting anything, we may feel harmonized and at ease. Some of us need to rationally understand what we utter before we start Japa meditation or reciting mantra, others benefit by sinking into the sound and riding the vibrations.

Many words are not translatable 1:1, therefor we meditate on the field or quality, and the rational explanation is secondary. During the course of time we encounter many invocations, sounds and prayers that can nourish us and give support. We call in specific qualities that are available the harmonize with the divine. Learning about the quality of the deity, can support the direction of the recitation - or Japa meditation.

C H A I R - Y O G A

Feel free to reach out to me for an intake consultation. I'm here for you!

In our first meeting we will connect, converse options and look at scheduling a practice designed personally for you.

P R A N - A Y A M A