Michelle Young is our guest this week. She is a certified yoga therapist and the founder of My Vinyasa practice, specializing in eating recovery, cardiac rehabilitation, and behavioural health. She also writes continuing education curriculum, including yoga therapy training, meditation, and yoga teacher training.
Michelle is passionate about helping others discover the Truth of their human experience as Beings. Realizing that our lives are not all true and that these perceptions shape our perceptions of the world and others and our negative perceptions is the first step to awakening. The process is the same for all people because it allows us to awaken to our natural Enlightened state, where we KNOW we are an embodiment of Sat Chit Ananda. This is the first step toward Self Realization.
History & Philosophy of Tantra Yoga
This workshop will focus on the fundamental principles of Tantra, a system of Yoga that aims to bring about illumination and absorption. These principles are:
- History and philosophy of Tantra Yoga
- Integrative practice and the human condition
- Understanding Our Why
- Transcending and manifesting through Self-Realization
Tantra Yoga, a holistic system that combines the various Yoga schools to create a tapestry containing integrative practices to support your life, is called Tantra Yoga.
Tantra examines the duality or polarity we experience as human beings through the lens of various yogic practices and philosophies. Samkhya Philosophy is the dualized philosophy that identifies Purusha as the essence and Prakriti.
Schools of Tantra
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Pradipika one of the most important sources of Hatha Yoga information that we can reference to understand its historical relevance is the Hatha Pradipika. Hatha is often referred to as the Union of the solar- and lunar parts of our being. However, other sides need to be considered. Hatha Pradipika Hatha Yoga describes persistence in something, particularly with strength. Hatha Yoga is synonymous with Union. It is important to remember that all Yoga involves Union. Hatha Yoga is the Union of all aspects, physical, intellectual, and spiritual, to purify and strengthen, precisely what Hatha Yoga is.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion, is also known as Bhakti Yoga. It represents creative expressions of love and devotion to the Divine. Bhakti is rich with poetry, painting and shloka. It also has kirtan and the expression of dance and trance.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga, the Yoga of selfless service and the Yoga of Karma Yoga are different depending on whether someone is from the Kashmir Shaivism camp (or the Avada Vedanta) camp. There are many similarities between these perspectives that can seem subtle. Karma Yoga is seen through the lens of Kashmir Shaivism. It is transparent, without projection, plan or story. As seen through Avada Vedanta’s lens, Karma Yoga is selfless action that is not rewarded and is unacknowledged.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga refers to the knowledge of the Self. Jnana Yoga is not knowledge for knowledge’s sake. It is not knowledge about who or what you are, but knowledge of who or what we are as living beings. If we believe we “know” something, we are most likely in avidya or ignorance (remember the Kleshas). But when we are in Jnana Yoga, we know that the only Truth is that we are Beings in a live experience. All else is perceptions or verbalizations.
Rajas Yoga
Rajas Yoga refers to Yoga that is reserved for the royals. Rajas Yoga is the study of scriptures, cleansing practices, asana (seated), pranayama and pratyahara. These are all considered Andaragna Yoga. Many people mistakenly refer to the Yoga Sutras by as Rajas Yoga. Rajas Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga are not synonymous as Ashtanga Yoga is a more modern, post-colonization practice.
Laya Yoga
Laya Yoga refers to traditional Kundalini Yoga and not the Kundalini Yoga practised under Yogi Bhajan’s lineage. This is a modern version. True Laya Yoga is secretive and can only be obtained by those who have been initiated into a cult that still practices the old techniques. Through practices and states, Kundalini energy, also known as potential energy, must be mated with Adi Shakti (or Universal Energy). Agni is also an important part of the Kundalini energy drawing upwards. It is necessary to remove impurities and limit beliefs that block energy flow toward Adi Shakti.
Laya Yoga
Laya Yoga refers to traditional Kundalini Yoga and not the Kundalini Yoga practised under Yogi Bhajan’s lineage. This is a modern version. True Laya Yoga is secretive and can only be obtained by those who have been initiated into a cult that still practices the old techniques. Through practices and states, Kundalini energy, also known as potential energy, must be mated with Adi Shakti (or Universal Energy). Agni is also an important part of the Kundalini energy drawing upwards. It is necessary to remove impurities and to limiting beliefs that block the flow of energy toward Adi Shakti.
What is Integrative Approach?
We can see how our experiences have shaped the reality of our lives when we view them through the lens of integration. Each of us is living in an altered reality depending on our perspective. While our perspective is valid based on our lived experiences, it cannot be used by all people as Truth.
We heal almost immediately after experiencing trauma, pain, loss, or hurt. However, that healing is accompanied by adhesions, attachments, conditions, and other factors based on our life experiences. Integrating our mind, body, intellect, emotional, spiritual, and physical levels can help us align our physical and metaphysical beings in harmony. This allows energy to flow freely and allows us to manifest our deepest wishes.
Tantra Yoga Teacher Training
Michelle’s My Vinyasa practice offers 50% off their HR Tantra instructor training if you pay in full. Traditional techniques will be taught that increase your awareness of yourself and others.