The Artful Body Alignment of Shivakti Tantra Yoga...
The physical expresses from the inside out, in devotion by Her Grace.
Consciousness & embodiment, unmanifest & manifest, formless & formed, changelessness & change, being & becoming, this is the alchemical love dance of Shiva & Shakti, peace & passion, divine space & action...
We are born magical world weavers. Adi(first) Shakti is the primal, eternally limitless first power, she is Parashakti, the divine energy of creation, the pure eternal consciousness, the Shoonya Bindu, the divine zero feminine energy. Feminine in its aspect, it divines the future—both known & unknown, it is the embodiment of creativity, balance, & completion. She is known as 'Prakriti'(Universal Nature) meaning she who gives rise to all life forms and the potency that brings about evolution and change. She is called 'Mahamaya' or one who creates illusion of this world. Her name is 'Mahavidya' meaning the greatest knowledge that frees one from the illusion of this world.
In Shivakti Tantra Yoga, we open to grace as we bow to the divine mother of all peace, all passion, to the divine mother of all that we can perceive, to all that we can know thru our senses, thru these body temples, by her gift of form, the beautiful fabric which drapes us and through her all is known. We recognize that we are the embodiment of the power of pure consciousness, that same consciousness that is vibrating in every particle on the planet.
We align ourselves to align our world. The true purpose here is to awaken. To find balance in ourselves & our world, we must remove the bonds that have suppressed the divine feminine, we must unleash her, honoring her voice and her guidance. SHAKTI IS RISING to claim her authority. May we be clear to hear her voice and tuned in to feel her pulse, Pratibhā, guiding us.
We will be artfully weaving the feminine expressing herself from the inside out, as "The Many Faces of Shakti", while allowing for the container of the posture/form/world/consciousness .. the "Shiva" to hold her.
Photo Montage of Annette Martinez, HLITY Graduate Teacher.
We will largely be implementing the Universal Principles of Alignment as learned from Anusara Yoga. Sharene Shamana Ma will both help you to integrate the principles and information through demonstration and hands-on learning. You will learn to safely align, adjust, and gain a deeper understanding of the WHYS of Asana.
Initiate your asana by "Setting the Foundation with Opening to Grace", an intentional approach of softness. In the first moment of your pose, align your heart’s intention with your spirit and your physical being. Soften your whole being with humility. Allow yourself to be an instrument and embodiment of Holy Love. In Shivakti Tantra Yoga, we begin each practice with an intention and a "dial-up/dial-in" mantra. We weave this intention throughout our Yoga Asanas.
We aim to affect the Heart Chakra energy center as we maintain our pose. Muscular Energy, the second Universal Principle of Anusara Yoga, establishes stability and coordinates physical strength. Muscular Energy draws into the Focal Point, an area of localized power in the body. Muscle Energy is an energetic magnetism of the outer circumference of the body—skin, muscles, bones—into the core of the inner body’s radiance, harmoniously integrating the two together.
We expand our energy with Inner Spiral. Energy expands from the feet up into the pelvis and waist area, thighs widen. Inner Spiral is an ever-expanding energy spiral that widens the back of the body, broadening the roots of the limbs and connects us to the Universal. This will create physical fluidity, expansion, opening, flexibility, flow, movement... While having the emotional experience of an inner opening, thus becoming: accommodating, receptive, a refinement, flowing, free, open to self expression, open to receive.
we apply Outer Spiral principle, which redirects energy inward, back down through the tail bone and out the legs and feet. Remember that the previous principles are still active. Outer Spiral is an ever-narrowing energy spiral that narrows the back of the body, powering the hips and shoulders, and toning the front, brings us into our personal power. This physically creates integration, containment, connectedness, contraction, power, toning - while emotionally feeling fiery heat, personal empowerment, drive, confidence, recommitment.
Activate Organic Energy, the final Universal Principle of Anusara Yoga. Organic Energy is an outward energy that runs through the body’s outer core. Organic Energy is an extension from the inner body that radiates out in all directions symbolically representing the ultimate purpose of spirit to expand freely in the most creative and joyful way possible. The Anusara Teacher's Training Manual is required reading for this course foundation.
We bring an alchemized understanding of the human body and its potential to the student through artful alignment and application of the Universal Principles of Alignment woven with varied paths of study and background. Our techniques for achieving balance within the body will help you to better understand and refine your own approach to asana, and better enable you to help others.
Adi Shakti Mantra
Adi Shakti, Namo Namo, Sereb Shakti, Namo Namo, Pritam Bhagvati, Namo Namo, Kundalini, Mata Shakti, Namo Namo!
Meaning of Adi Shakti Mantra
I bow to the primal power, I bow to the all-encompassing power, I bow to the creative power at the beginning,
I bow to the divine mother of all peace.
In ancient times, Adi Shakti was revered and worshipped above all the gods. She was the Mother Goddess who commanded the love of her children and showered them with blessings. It is by her grace that we must first align, and allow the form to follow.
To bow is the beginning and the ending of the spiritual path. It is to humble oneself to acknowledge the infinite majesty of the divine. It is awe in the face of the great mystery. We bow to Adi Shakti as Parā Devi, the Supreme Goddess, as Parā Vac, the Supreme word. OM.
