Tag: Chakras

Subtle Body Anatomy Workshop

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photo by Christopher Campbell

photo by Christopher Campbell

Have you ever wondered what is Prana? Is it the life force or the soul? Is prana good or bad?  What is the so-called astral body? How many subtle bodies do we have? What are their purpose?

And what about the Chakras? How many are they? Where are they? What do they govern? What does it mean to have a chakra blocked? Is Kundalini really a snake?

In the Berlin Subtle Body Anatomy Workshop we will explore what Prana is, our five sheaths or koshas, the seven main energy centers or chakras understanding their location, purpose, symbolism, and exploring ways to keep them open.

In the Berlin Pranayama Workshop we will offer an introduction to four basic Pranayama techniques exploring them both at a theoretical and at a practical level.

Note: You can only attend the pranayama workshop if you have taken part in the Subtle body Anatomy workshop before that.

 

What:

Subtle Body Anatomy: Prana, Chakras, and Koshas

Pranayama: Theory and Practice

When:

5th of June, 9.00 – 11.00

5th of June, 11.20 – 12.20

Teacher:

Pinelopi Sioni

Pinelopi Sioni

Where:

AIKIDO am Gleisdreieck, Tempelhofer Ufer 36, 10963 Berlin

AIKIDO am Gleisdreieck, Tempelhofer Ufer 36, 10963 Berlin

Price:

25 Euro

35 Euro (both workshops included)

Feeling you want more? These lectures are part of the Dynamic Mindfulness teacher training course in Berlin, and have been opened up to the public. Check out the full course if you wish to go deeper into your yoga studies.

 

Pinelopi is a sivananda Yoga teacher based in Berlin. She specializes in Hatha Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, yoga for beginners and business yoga. She usually works from our yoga Kreuzberg studio.  These lectures, however, will not take part in our English Yoga Berlin Studio, but at the Aikido center as mentioned above.

What is Tantric Meditation?

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Meditation is a means to train the mind. By repeating certain mental exercises —like fixing the attention on one point for awhile, or experiencing the whole body— the mind becomes more able to do those things. Just like when we train a muscle: Repeat the action and you get better at it. looking

From another perspective, meditation is a means to clear the mind of unconscious patterns and complexes. By entering the meditative state, we allow repressed memories and traumas to surface and dissipate, while we remain as the passive observers of this process.

What is so special about the Tantric meditation? Tantra doesn’t try to control the tendencies of the mind or to lead the mind in one direction or another. It allows anything that comes-up in the mind to fully express itself. We devote ourselves to whatever we experience, and use it as a tool in our meditation. We learn to be with whatever is happening without struggling, reacting or getting overwhelmed by it.

For a very clear example, see my post A Tantric Way to Dealing with Pain

Tantra documents a myriad of different meditations, for every temperament or life situation. Some of the most potent ones are Antar Mauna, Trataka and Yoga Nidra; which have themselves countless variations.  In these meditations you remain still, while devoting yourself to different experiences (a fixed point, the sense impressions, certain visualizations, etc.).  Their effects can not easily be summarized, but include: greater awareness and intuition, more calm and contentment, higher ability to concentrate, etc.

From Tantra we also receive the Kundalini meditation, which don’t so much work with the mind, but with the inner energy (prana) that animates body and mind. These meditations make us aware of pranic energy and of the chakras, where this energy is concentrated.  Two of the main energy meditations are Source of Energy and Ajapa Japa, in which you combine breath, concentration and visualization to connect with, and influence, our subtle energy flows.

Pedro teaches Tantra Yoga and Meditation at English Yoga Berlin.  He will be teaching the 10-Week Meditation Course: Clarity and Energy, where one has the opportunity to learn the meditations mentioned in this post, and to be guided step by step into creating their own meditation practice.