Shiva Shakti Yoga

Shiva Shakti Yoga teaches yoga in the classical way; in its entirety . Each class includes Asana, Pranayama, Meditation and Yoga philosophy. The exercises are sequenced in a special way to increase their impact. This is a tantric idea called vinyasa krama. Vinyasa krama is about returning man to a harmonious state within himself and in unity with the world. Yoga has developed over several thousand years and has had different phases in its development. The first part of the recorded development is found in the Upanishads and is a Vedic development. Yoga was then influenced by Buddhism and recorded in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Yoga then developed within Tantra which opposed many Vedic and Buddhist ideas, emphasizing the importance of life and oneness with nature. Yoga then developed further into Hatha Yoga where some Tantric ideas were retained while a return to some Vedic ideas took place. Shiva Shakti Yoga mainly has a tantric orientation to its teaching! According to the first recorder of the yoga system; Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, walks the path to the attainment of Yoga through 8 steps. These are: Yama- Attitude towards others, Niyama- Attitude towards self, Asana- Positioning (Body postures), Pranayama- Control of breathing and thereby also control of prana; the life force, Pratyahara- Withdrawal of the senses, Dharana- Concentration, Dhyana- Meditation, Samadhi- Eternal bliss, super-consciousness (result of the other exercises). Patanjali states that the goal of this exercise is: “chitta vritti nirodaha”, which means cessation of the fluctuations of the mind or stilling of the mind. Through this a pure consciousness is achieved. Swatmarama, author of Hatha (Yoga) Pradipika, follower of Swami Gorkanath, was a Hindu Nath Yogi. Gorkanath developed what is today known as Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga was developed i.a. from Tantra. Its purpose was to work with the energy system in the body, awaken the Kundalini Shakti and reach Samadhi.