I recommend you read this article from The New York Times

With our brilliant western brains that always believe it knows better, we managed to go to the core of the ancient yoga’s DNA and change it to accommodate our ways. What I mean by “genetically modifying Yoga,” is the manner in which we have modified it to suit our egos and to fit it into the business world by mixing trends and fashion with spirituality.

Photo credit: Danielle Levitt for The New York Times

If originally yoga practice was meant for going deeper, bringing stillness, finding our inner silence and connecting with our higher self, genetically modified Yoga changed the practice to a fast, restless, physical and aggressive practice, where the main modus operandi for “gaining”  is through physical strain and pain, we are all familiar with the expression “no pain no gain”.

When we genetically modify food, by manipulating the natural order of the earth, we pay with our wellbeing. The same happens with the practice of yoga in the modern world. Change it to be a sport or form of performance and you will pay the price in physical injuries and more so by gaining even bigger egos.

You may find, after reading this article, that the descriptions in the article are quite extreme. Trust me, they are not. The only difference is that now the truth of what is happening in the yoga world is starting to surface and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Often I sit with a group of yoga students that are floating from one yoga center to another, from one style of yoga to another and they describe to me the different injuries they collected along the way, since they started their yoga practice. Shoulder, knees, neck, lower back, sciatica, hips, wrists…and the list goes on and on. What amazes me the most is that they do not find it awkward at all that their “spiritual practice” is actually adding more suffering to their being, rather than ease. Look around and you will find more and more balms and other aids for yoga injuries. The New York Times reported that yoga is the second sport that is currently creating most injuries.

The reason for this is first a large number of yoga teachers who, instead of passing on the ancient teachings to their students, mostly approach yoga as performance and they themselves are restless and pushy.

Next are the students who want to change their life but without changing their ways. They bring the same attitude and manners they have towards life, themselves, and others, to the yoga mat, yet they are hoping to experience something different.

I call upon all the hatha yoga teachers who teach the asanas with the understanding that the yoga postures are only a means for higher consciousness and who understand the postures are not intended to be a circus performance, to keep up their very good work. I urge them not to sacrifice the teaching to be trendy, for fame, or to further their business interests.

Lastly, avoid applying external pressure to a student’s body with your hands as you never know what is underneath the skin. Hands are meant to direct, without using force, and intended to transmit love and energy.

Love shakti

By Pepe Danza

As we know from recent scientific developments, the “material” aspect of matter is an illusion. Everything is vibrating, everything is alive. If we were to accelerate any given vibration until it was audible, we could hear the signature note that each object is broadcasting. In other words, if essentially all is vibration, then essentially all is sound.

Most scriptures tell us that the first seed of Creation was Sound. In esoteric texts there are innumerable references to the use of sound for healing and/or potentially destructive uses. Some sources explain how the Pyramids were built by moving enormous stones through the power of sound, and we all know the famous image of the opera singer breaking a glass at a distance with the power of her voice.

These are all bits of information and knowledge that can help us start to understand the potential behind the practice of Mantra and Chanting.

We can think of a Mantra as a unit of energy that connects us with, and awakens in us, a certain primal force that could be said to reside dormant in our very DNA. They can be keys that unlock certain forces within us, and once awakened, or remembered, they can bring us closer to our center and our full power as human beings.

In the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, for the most part, Mantras are connected with what is imperfectly termed “gods”. In western terms I think we can understand these forces better with Jung’s term Archetype. Each of these “gods” or deities has a certain “power” that can be actualized in us through their invocation.

In other words, these are not actual beings residing in the “clouds”, but Archetypes that reside in us as potential, and through tools such as Mantra, Chanting and Visualization, we can access and cultivate these potential powers consciously.

For example, Shiva is a most beloved deity in India. He represents the destructive power of “God”. In order to build something new sometimes we have to destroy or let go of that which doesn’t serve us anymore. The pain we may have to go through is directly proportional to the attachment we have to that which needs to be destroyed in order to make space for the new. The dance of Shiva is a reminder and in fact a celebration of the reality that the only constant in Life is Change, and that it is actually a fabulous Dance, a dance performed to the sacred rhythm of Time, and that ultimately it is all Maya , or illusion. This is not an excuse to bury or deny our need to mourn and/or feel our emotions fully, but it is a very important perspective that can help us move through life with more ease, wisdom, and a lighter step.

So… when we find ourselves stuck with outmoded behaviors, or we need to change our physical reality, we can call on the power of Shiva by using Mantra. This is a powerful psychological tool that can empower us, almost instantly, depending on the strength of our connection with the Archetype.

There are a myriad forms that can connect us with the energies of forgiveness, compassion, abundance, joy, creativity, assertiveness, love, etc. Whatever capacity we want to cultivate or enhance, it won’t be hard to find an Archetype to aid us and accelerate our process.

Now, having talked about the psychological aspect, the student of spirituality may well be puzzled by the devotional aspect of the practice from the Hindu standpoint. Do these people really believe there is some fat guy with an elephant head in heaven that can grant us wishes? To that I would reply that the western mind doesn’t seem to question fat naked little children playing trumpets in the clouds in our own culture, or babies being born without sexual contact, or saints in “heaven” listening to our needs.

All of these religious aspects need not be ridiculous if we again approach it from a Jungian perspective. Maybe we can allow for the possibility that these Archetypes, through the working of the Collective Unconscious over literally thousands of years, do take a life of their own in some metaphysical realm. In other words, they become a specific reservoir of energy that we can tap into in order to further our spiritual path.

When we express our devotion to Rama, we are expressing devotion to the qualities of faithfulness, unconditional love, protectiveness of the family, and high values that the figure of Rama represents. Ganesha opens our capacity to move through life with joy, ease, devotion and wisdom.

In Buddhism we have figures such as Avalokistewara (related to Kwan Yin in China). He/she represents the quality of total compassion, and the total commitment to help our fellow passengers on this existence to attain their highest potential.

Each of these entities has their mantras, usually several, through which practice we can call upon their particular energy for our own healing and empowerment.

All of these philosophies, or religions, as the case may be, believe in the ultimate Oneness of the Creator, or Original Creative Source, but they allow for the fact that within Creation the One divides into the Many, and different aspects then take certain “personalities” in order to accomplish the Work.

In Africa, for instance, these gods or archetypes usually line up with the elements, and so we have the personification of Fire: Shango, or Water: Iemanja. In the Hindu system Indra is the personification of the energy of Fire, and we could say that Saraswati, the patroness of the arts and learning, is the equivalent of Africa’s Mother Iemanja.

When we practice devotion to these figures we are bringing their energy into our lives. To the outward eye it may seem that we are paying homage to “idols”, and in some cases this may be accurate, but the proper practice is a sound spiritual and psychological technique that mirrors techniques such as NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), where these figures would be called “anchors”.

That in the East many believe in the “objective” existence of these “deities” and the power of their mantras, there’s no question, and, at the end of the day, Life is a vast and fascinating mystery where, literally… anything is possible.

Pepe Danza

Pepe will teach a yoga class based on the above principles beginning in September – Mondays at 5:30pm in Prana Yoga College center. Please see schedule.

Where in India can I practice yoga?

I often get asked by yoga students where to go in India to learn and practice yoga; and again and again I disappoint my own students and teachers by saying I have no idea.

Other than a close relationship with Shiva, my Ayurvedic doctor in Vancouver towards whom I have great reverence as well as deep gratitude for always helping me when my body needs guidance, I have no more connection with India. Most of the yoga ashrams in India have to do with worships and religious practices. Through my three decades of yoga and Zen practice I realized that the highest form of spiritual practice – which has to do with a direct experience – must move away from any religious aspects that always deal with a set of beliefs.

There are many levels of learning and experiencing the art and science of yoga. The simplest one and most common is through religions, as this is the easiest for the masses to take in. The highest one is practicing it beyond all concepts and perceptions. In the former you clutter your mind with more and more beliefs; in the latter you strip your mind of all you think you know until you have the space to enter existence with the utmost knowing instead of believing or understanding.

So if you are wandering in India and find a yoga ashram which is free of any spiritual nonsense – which means no religions, no worship, no dogmas (you must be a vegetarian to reach realization), no fanaticism (only by the grace of a guru you can realize), no moral codes (you must always say the truth if you want to reach nirvana) – please let me know and I will pass on the information to all the yogis who truly believe that once they step on the mother land of yoga, bliss will descend from the clear sky of India and unveil their highest conscience which somehow cannot be materialized in any other of the world’s continents ;-)

The other option is to be aware that even though realization is already within you and you can manifest it HERE and NOW, you can still go to India and enjoy a good curry dish.

With love and joy

shakti mhi

If you’d like to comment on or discuss this posting, we’ve created a forum topic for that purpose.

The most traditional and the best way of doing yoga teacher training is in a retreat setting. Living in an isolated space away from the madness of the city immensely enhances the experience of a disciplined yoga practice. Slowing down your pace and calming your mind away from the neurotic frequencies of city life allows you to explore your self in peace. Even if you have to return to the city after training you will have had 28 days to build a strong practice, discipline, and a lifestyle that will merge with your daily life even after the course is over. Experts say it takes 28 days to build a habit!

All of our teacher training retreats are located in beautiful natural settings. Being in nature creates a spontaneous release and cleansing followed by a great recharge and rejuvenation on the physical, mental and energy level. Because there is no need to commute back and forth, the days start with a powerful early morning personal practice (sadhana) that involves cleansing the body, yoga asanas and traditional yogic Pranayam practice (the art of breathing and mastering the energy in the body).

The powerful experience of teacher training in a retreat setting will remain with you for your whole life and will be a seed of inspiration that you can go back to energetically in times when you feel you are slipping away from your spiritual practice.

I encourage all of you that are about to make a decision about yoga training to put in the effort, energy and your powerful manifestation to experience yoga in the traditional yogic environment. This will be one of the greatest gifts you give yourself, and you deserve it.

Our upcoming teacher training retreats can be found here.

Namaste,
shakti

Below is an invitation I received from “Western Canadian Hatha Yoga Championship” along with my reply.

To Shakti Mhi
Prana Yoga Teacher College

I wanted to introduce you to the upcoming Western Canadian Hatha Yoga Championship, taking place this January 18th at Sportsplex, Capilano University. This event is being jointly organized by Bikrams Yoga College of Vancouver, Bikrams Metrotown and Simply Eventful Management.

As a supplier to yogis everywhere, we would be excited to welcome Prana Yoga Teacher College to the event. Though this is not the first Western Canadian Hatha Yoga Championship in Vancouver, it is the first with an exhibit portion – adding additional value to the attendees. We are inviting table-top exhibits to yoga-related, sustainable and health-related organizations – in the Sportsplex concourse. See the attached for many other benefits of sponsorship.

This championship will begin with an early morning yoga class, led by Senior Bikram’s yoga master and octogenarian Emmy Cleaves, which will attract hundreds of hatha yogis from the Lower Mainland. The competition has 4 categories – the winners and runners up of each category will be permitted entry to the International Hatha Yoga Championship in L.A. in February.

Overall, we anticipate over 800 attendees! This is the perfect opportunity to begin a partnership with the Western Canadian Hatha Yoga Championship! The goal is to grow the exhibit portion, include educational components and raise global awareness of the health benefits of yoga and clean living.

Please find more information at www.bikramyogabc.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Annette McCunn

And my response:

Dear Annette McCunn

When I got your email I had to read it few times to be sure that it is actually not a joke.

How can “hatha yogis” And “championship” be beside each other in one sentence, let alone in one room?

I guess the winner will be the biggest fool that believes the discipline of hatha yoga is for the purpose of showing off.

Hatha yoga competition is the equivalent of organizing a strip show for nuns.

You are asking me to sponsor spreading ignorance to ignorants and leading people astray. That is the easiest thing I ever been asked as a spiritual teacher – but unfortunately that is not my “thing”.

shakti mhi

What do you think about this? Discuss this subject in the dedicated topic on our forum.

A question from a reader:

Hello!

Since a couple of years I have been practicing kundalini yoga: I started practicing with a lots of joy when we moved to Vancouver four years ago. Currently I live in Germany, where I’ve had a complete different kundalini yoga experience. I am very interested in the roots of this kind of yoga, but although I’ve read a lot about it, I have not been able to find anything that resembles this kind of fast paced yoga with lots of repetitive movements as taught by yogi Bhajan. Although there are a lot of interesting writings on rising the kundalini (for example from Swami Sivananda etc), exercises as taught by yogi Bhajan are nowhere to be found.

I would like to learn more about kundalini yoga, but to be honest, the big emphasis that lays on the character of yogi Bhajan makes me hesitate to really commit to my practices in a way I would like to. In Vancouver the yoga students did not (have to) dress in white or wear a turban, something that seems more of a religious matter to me , and I would like to separate that from my yoga practice. Of course I am not saying that he might not have been a great teacher and guru to many, it’s just not my thing. It made me wonder more and more who this person actually was, and what tradition did he come from, etc. Research on his personality made my doubts only grow.

I am hoping to find a teacher that teaches this great kind of active yoga, and but within a different setting from what I tried to describe above. I’ve tried asthanga, hatha and luna yoga, but these types of yoga never brought me what I experienced during my kundalini classes. Do you know any teachers that teach kundalini, but don’t come from the yogi Bhajan tradition? Or have you heard of any literature about this yoga tradition?

I am not very sure if I could explain myself well, so please let me know if I haven’t been clear!

Thank you so much for your time and effort.

I am looking forward to your reply.

Warm regards,

M.

Dear M,

Well your request is very simple. You are looking for the kundalini yoga style (fast repetitive movement) without the cult and worshiping aspect of this style. I do think it will be a difficult thing to find a kundalini style yoga-teacher that won’t relate to yogi Bhajan as it is usually comes as one package (but you never know). So unfortunately I can not help you with this matter.

What is important for me, as a teacher, is to make sure that the kundalini aspect is clear to you, as from your letter, I am not certain that it is.

Kundalini is a philosophy and a practice that is embedded in the foundation of all yoga practices that rise from the tantric path. Although the Kundalini organization chose this name for their style, it does not mean that they are the only ones that deal with kundalini. So, if what you are looking for is the fast paced style, you must keep searching until you find (or don’t find) the suitable kundalini teacher for you. But if your interest is in the kundalini practice you may want to remain open to other teachings as long as they carry the true spirit of yoga and not the modern trendy yoga. Each asana (yoga posture) is designed to calm the restless mind and nervous system for the purpose of conducting a state of inner and outside stillness, where meditation can take place. It is in this stillness that we start to separate ourselves from our mind and body by becoming the ultimate observer. In the tradition of yoga, you enter the asana and then remain still in it, watching your breath and expanding your consciousness.

Namaste
shakti

NOTE: The following response was received from “M” after my posting above.

Dear shakti,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my email! I am really grateful and your reply was very helpful.

Trying to find out where the exercises from Yogi Bhajan stem from, I read about the general concept of rising the kundalini also. The more I read, the more things made me wonder: did this Sikh yoga tradition called ‘kundalini yoga’ really exist before Yogi B? Did this fast repetitive yoga style really exist, or did he just blend some poses and breathing techniques together and called it ‘kundalini yoga’?Who was this person actually?

The fast repetitive movements and poses ‘as taught by yogi Bhajan’ (which seemed to be so beneficial to me) that I learned, I have not yet found in other works about kundalini yoga.When I look at the exercises in Swami Sivananda’s book for example, they more resemble the hatha style asanas and pranayamas in order to rise the kundalini. I am not particularly interested in trying to rise my kundalini. So what I am looking are the roots of this yoga style, where you actually don’t hold a pose but repeat certain simple movements while controlling the breath. Or perhaps there any other similar styles that I could try? Because, for me personally, it is in the movement where I can find my stillness ;-).

All in all, your answer already helped me one big step forward: I have been looking for a Kundalini teacher (not trained by H3O) for two years now, without any success, and I think your answer made me that perhaps it’s time for me to move on and try other styles of yoga again!

Warm regards,
M

i am very interested in yoga. In fact, I am representing yoga in a contest i am entering. In looking through your website, there was a lot of unique clothing in the pictures.. I was hoping that you would be able to provide any advice to me as to where i could buy clothing like that shown on your site. I don’t feel that lululemon and other clothing companies really show the cultural and historical components of yoga, which is what i am hoping to represent in this contest.

I greatly appreciate any help you could provide,
Thank you so much for your time,
S

Please see below shakti’s response in red

The traditional attire of the yogis is their state of consciousness.

Namaste
shakti mhi

Hello Shakti!.. i’m pleased that you recovered in such a good way!.

I’ve been doing sadhana since i finished the TT, and everyday i enjoy more the benefits of the pranayama practise. I’ve experienced many things when doing pranayama, sometimes when i hold the breath i feel like i’m going to faint but at the same time i like the feeling!, and right after that is like a deep silence comes, which i enjoyed even more!.. is that feeling ‘normal’?..

Please see below shakti’s response in red

Dear Fernando

If you like the way it feels and you enjoy the deep silence, it can only be good for you, as long as you do not faint. Fainting in Pranayama is an indication of crossing your limit, doing so, can happen only when you practice with a force. If we force the practice it means we let the mind take over the practice as only the mind forces. Pranayama must be done effortlessly otherwise instead of creating and expanding the energy, you consume it.

Namaste
shakti

Dear Shakti,

I did your TTC in Thailand in 2006 and enjoyed it more than words can say. I now want to do more teacher training but cannot come to Canada for 1-2 months to do your level 2 because of work. There is a very good Satyananda yoga centre near where I live and I have applied to do a two year teacher training course with them starting late this year. I have no doubt about the authenticity of the course or the teachers, they are wonderful and teach from the heart. However, my only reservation is that I don’t love the Satyananda style as much as I love the prana yoga style. But many of the most important elements are there for me. I don’t like the fact that the classes don’t flow.
Having said that, I think this may be the best quality teacher training in Ireland. Should I go ahead and do it, trying to ignore the aspect of flow and bring my own style to it afterwards? I’m confused. What do you think?

Peace and Love,
Karen

Please see below shakti’s response in red

Hi Karen
It is nice to hear from you.

Level 1 deals mainly with the asanas and methods, and tools to teach them. Level 2 is supposed to expand the teacher’s knowledge on other aspects of yoga. If the course deals mainly in teaching the asanas, it is not necessary for you to do it as it will be redundant, especially if you are not fond of their style. But if the asanas are a small component of the course and your intuition tells you that the teaching is deep, valuable and clean of new age nonsense, go for it.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Namaste
shakti

Dear shakti,
I have just moved to a smaller town and the teaching opportunities here are MINIMAL. There is a yoga studio in town but their classes now are not that full as it is. During these few years while I am here (I’ve moved to go back to university) should I be concerned that I won’t be teaching as often as I was before? My instincts tell me that it will pass and that it will all unfold as it is supposed to… and I’m ok with that. I just thought that I would turn to my teacher for some guidance in case there is something I am not thinking of.

I hope this finds you well. I love the new hair cut!

With love,
Joanne

shakti’s response is below in red.

Dear Joanne,
Do not waste your time by assuming what is coming or by being concerned as a result of comparing your future that is not in existence yet, or with what occurred in the past that is not in existence any more.
Assumptions and concerns are what freezes us from being creative and authentic, as you already set the tone in your mind for how things should unfold in reality.

Do what ever needs to be done.

Teaching one class is like teaching the whole word.

Be creative and come from the right intention, quality and love, versus quantity.

You said you are going to university. University is already a great opportunity for teaching. You have endless students that need yoga. You may need to educate them about the power of yoga. Do it step by step. Maybe you can offer in one of the many university events an open class introducing yoga. Maybe you can write in the university news letter about yoga. Offer classes to the staff members. Place posters on the boards. Enhance the yoga benefits for students: increasing concentration, relaxing the nervous system, helps to sleep better etc. Create one evening where people can come and meditate together. Become the yoga expert for your university. The sky is the limit.

Start teaching one class and the rest will roll on its own.

Love shakti