INTENTION

​

The intention for both of these trainings is to share the philosophies and practices of the Himalayan Tradition of Tantric Yoga in a way which touches your heart, transforms your life, and empowers you to effectively carry the light of a living tradition.

​

Tantra, Yoga and Sankhya philosophy are the sources of wisdom and techniques at the heart of Śakti Sādhanā and Embodied Śakti .  These ancient spiritual systems are as practical as they are profound. Their collective purpose is to guide you, grant you access to the inherent sacredness of life, and elevate your relationship to yourSelf and reality. The combined wisdom of Tantra, Yoga and Sankhya sheds light on everything - from the most practical and worldly, to the most subtle and sublime. In order to fully understand and experience the scope and ultimate promise of Yoga, we draw from the wisdom of Sankhya and the beauty of Tantra - one the most life-affirming and all-inclusive spiritual systems ever developed - and the light of a living tradition.

​

​

Śakti sādhanā (200-hours) is a deep exploration of your Self through the lens of the ancient wisdom bodies of

yoga, tantra and Sankhya. This 12-month 200-hour training will introduce you to their vast and glorious

world view and grant you a transformative experience through the teachings and techniques of this tradition. It will also impart a highly effective teaching methodology which will empower you to guide truly impactful and transformative yoga experiences for your future students. Though only 200-hours, Śakti sādhanā is still quite an advanced training and is appropriate not only for practitioners transitioning into the role of teacher for the first time - but also experienced teachers seeking a thorough introduction to the Tantric tradition.

​

Embodied Śakti (300-hours) is an advanced course of study for experienced teachers and practitioners of the Tantric tradition. We will build on your foundational understanding of yoga and tantra by further developing the subtly profound nuances accessible in both individual paths - and the magic that emerges as the two are woven together with finessed expertise. Embodied Śakti is best suited for teachers with at least a foundational understanding and experience of Tantric yoga, and ideally a few years experience of teaching. This training will be very practice oriented, improving the likelihood of genuine embodiment of the tradition through direct experience, and increasing your capacity for transmission in your teaching.

​

*If you are an experienced Yoga Teacher, but new to Tantra, yet have a strong desire to study and incorporate the wisdom of this tradition, Embodied Śakti may still be the appropriate training for you. I will be offering three Bridge Courses this year prior to the start of the training, which will provide the foundational understanding necessary. If accepted into Embodied Śakti, the cost of these Bridge Courses will be subsumed into the tuition for the complete training. 

​

​

​

WHAT MAKES these trainings UNIQUE?

Rooted in the tradition passed down by the Himalayan Masters, both Śakti Sādhanā and Embodied Śakti draw from ancient wisdom to create a holistic approach to modern practice and life. They are designed to both develop your personal practice and prepare you to embrace your role as an ethical, empowered, impactful teacher fully capable of carrying and passing on the light of a living tradition.

Śakti Sādhanā introduces the philosophies of this Tradition and teaches the fundamental practices and systems for sharing the tradition in an authentic and meaningful way. 

Embodied Śakti deepens your understanding of Tantra and Yoga, and how to share them in a way which blends traditional methodology with embodied intuition. The structure of the training provides the opportunity to empower and engage with your practice to develop an authentic voice in your teaching that is uniquely your own - yet still authentically represents the Tradition. This can only be done by embodying the teachings through dedicated direct experience guided and supported by an embodied teacher.

​

Every module in each of the trainings is mindfully crafted for an immersive experience combined with practical, effective teaching methodology. The modules are woven together in a wise progression to deliver knowledge, appreciation, and direct experience of the teachings and techniques of the Tradition.

​

​

​

Contents of Śakti Sādhanā

​

Module One : What is Yoga? 

Explore the historical context of yoga from the Vedas to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali to begin to answer the quetion, what is yoga, precisely? How does it look in theory and in practice? How can we embrace it as a lifestyle, rather than merely exercise on a mat? In this module you will also be introduced to the Himalayan Tradition and what it means to study under the guidance and support of a living lineage.

​

Module Two : Wise Progression on Retreat in Tuscany

How can we maximize the various components of a complete Tantric Yoga practice (postures, breath, relaxation, meditation + more) for the most impactful practice? In this module we will learn more about each of these various components and discover wise ways to select and sequence them in order to create a truly transformative experience for our students and ourselves.

​

Module Three : Anatomy & The Six Categories of Asana

This module is an examination of the major bones, muscles + joints involved in the asana practice, as well as an understanding of the nervous system and how we can access it through the body, the breath, and our mind's power of concentration. We will discuss the difference between the form and the function of the various categories of yoga postures, how to optimize safety by offering modifications appropriate for a wide range of students.

​

Module Four: The Worldview & Methodology OF TANTRA

Tantra is an ancient body of wisdom, a worldview, and a system of techniques which help us to maximize our experience of being human. Embracing the truth that all of creation is sacred, Tantra is that which moves us toward an embodied experience of this truth by helping us manage our energy, accelerating our progress, touching our hearts, and protecting us along every step of the path.

​

Module Five : Your Subtle Body

We are more than flesh and bone. Tantric Yoga gives us tools for understanding, uncovering, and utilizing our subtle nature to help us maximize our practice, and our experience of being human. In this module we will explore the koshas (layers of the self), the nadis (energy channels), chakras (energy centers), our pranic field, and more. We will also play with effective ways to weave subtle body techniques into the complete practice.

​

Module Six : Playing with Prana

What is the nature of the life force known as Prana? How do we develop sensitivity to it, increase our access to it, and work with it to expand our capacity for growth and evolution? This is where the magic begins, taking the practice from one of a purely physical experience to one in which we can sense that we are not, and never truly have been, alone.

​

Module Seven : Pranaśakti and Pranayama in Meditation

Meditation is the pinnacle of the complete Tantric Yoga practice. Why? How can we develop a meaningful meditation experience which nurtures and nourishes us and makes us eager to come back for more? First, by developing a meaningful relationship with the divine in Her form as Pranaśakti.

Module Eight : Ayurveda & Developing Your Personal Practice

Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga. Where Yoga is primarily oriented toward spiritual endeavors, Ayurveda is oriented toward health through balance of the various bodies. In this module we will explore a selection of approaches to maintaining this balance such as diet, self-care, prescriptive approaches to asana, pranayama and meditation, and more. In this module we will discover how you can customize your personal practice to compliment your ritual of self care, heal and nourish yourself in highly specific ways, and commit to a dedicated practice that evolves with you and accelerates your progress on the path.

​

Module Nine : Tantric Meditation & Mantra

As we discovered in Module One, yoga is so much more than a physical practice. It is a spiritual path. In this module we will entertain one of the most elusive elements of yoga, Ishvara Pranidhana - trustful surrender. We will also enjoy the bliss inducing practice of Bhakti, and the swiftest path to samadhi (enlightenment), Mantra Sadhana.

​

Module Ten : Living Your Dharma

Dharma is one of our soul's four primary desires. It is the desire to fulfill your unique desire. In this module we will begin to discover what this purpose is, what may be standing in your way of fulfilling it, and how to overcome those obstacles. This Tantric approach to self-discovery has the potential to be truly life changing.

​