My Yoga Style and Background

Yogic practices can vary greatly in philosophies and practices, and so are often broken up into different "Schools" to describe the approach which is being taken. They also tend to share many common elements, despite other differences.

The schools that I currently teach from are Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Advaita Vedanta and Tantra. These four schools offer slightly different approaches, but are very interrelated. Tantra is the primary school which I practice with the Advaita Vedanta, Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga elements being used to support the Tantric Approach. Below are brief definitions of these schools:

Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is based upon a philosophy of Non-Duality. Non-Duality simply means that God or Supreme Consciousness is perceived as Being all that exists. Simply put: God or Consciousness is all that exists and everything else is a manifestation of that One Consciousness. This is the philosophy that causes one to proclaim that "We are all One" or "I am That".

Advaita Vedanta's philosophy is often expressed by saying that life is an illusion and only Brahman (The Absolute, God) exists. Self-Realization can only come about when one is able to directly perceive, without interruption, that Brahman is indeed in all things, and is the only thing that actually exists.

Tantra
Tantra is a vast study that usually follows a Non-Dual approach. It has various branches of practice all over Asia. Tantra seeks to understand the nature of creation and develop a conscious experience of the Divine Energy which manifests this Universe. This is done by consciously connecting with the Divine essence in all things and purifying the body and mind so that Divine connection is experienced more clearly. In doing this, ordinary experiences become transformed into moments of Divine Joy and Bliss and the Nature of the Self becomes revealed in all things.

In Tantra, there are a huge array of practices and tools that are designed to lead the practitioner to the Direct Experience and Direct Awareness of the experience of Non-Duality. Many other distinct schools and practices fall under the category of Tantra and Tantric philosophy has indeed influenced many other schools. This school includes Tantra Kundalini Yoga and Tantra Kriya Yoga. Hatha Yoga and its practices also come directly out of Tantric Traditions.

Hatha Yoga
This approach uses various internal and external cleansing techniques, Asanas (Yogic Postures) and Pranayamas (Yogic Breathing Techniques) to help purify the physical body as well as the psychic energy (prana) pathways in the body. As it advances, greater importance is placed upon increased awareness and control of the Prana in the Body/Mind system.

Ashtanga Yoga
Also called "Raja Yoga" or the "Eight Limbed Yoga", Ashtanga Yoga is based upon the Sutras (written text) of Patanjali. Like Hatha Yoga, it also includes Asana and Pranayama as key practices in the beginning. Patanjali was an Atheist, and his Yoga was created from the perspective of the Nature of the Mind, rather than Union with God.

This is an 8 step path, starting with Yamas (Social Discipline) and Niyamas (Self Discipline) as a foundation, and building through the last 6 steps: Asanas (Body postures), Pranayama (Breath Control), Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal), Dharana (Concentration), Dhyana (Meditation), and finally Samadhi (Salvation).

The approach of Ashtanga Yoga is to learn control over the Senses, the Emotions and Thoughts through practices which teach discipline of Mind. As Control of Mind increases, true meditation begins spontaneously. The practitioner continues to learn greater and greater focus of mind until the Mind is able stay fully focused on its True Nature.

While these are the schools that have most influenced me, and I identify most specifically with the Tantric School in association with Advaita Vedanta, it is next to impossible to be purely of one school. All schools influence eachother, and likewise I am a product of the culmination of my understanding of the different schools which have effected my personal path. These various schools of Yoga have been important to my personal education and experience, and provide me with a variety of tools and perspectives to offer my clients and Yoga students. When working with yoga students, I offer the specific techniques and practices which I feel will best benefit the group or individual based upon the intention of the Yoga Practice for that person or group.