Twin Streams: Blending the Wisdom of Buddhism and Yoga
with Satima
June 29 - July 1, 2018
Westerners generally consider Buddhism an intellectual discipline and Yoga a physical one, thereby never actualizing the true transformative power of either. Yet, Yoga’s ancient wisdom is one of the best complements to Buddhist spirituality; and when woven together, these approaches create a richer, fuller spiritual life fully developing this mind-body. The ancient yogic methods create a foundation for clearer insight into the Buddha’s teachings and prepare the physical vessel for deeper states of meditation (the cornerstone of Buddhist formal practice).
In this participatory workshop we will learn and perform yoga techniques including:
Pranayama – Breathlessness is the way to the Divine (Nirvana). Practice pranayama and you will know how to meditate—how to perceive the Divine (Nirvana) and be one with It.
Asana – Asana is traditionally defined as a “comfortable seat” that is the seated posture used for meditation. More typically now in yoga, the term is used for any physical posture of Hatha yoga.
Kirtan – a Sanskrit word meaning “praise” or “eulogy” used to describe a form of call-and-response chanting involving mantras or hymns.
Yoga Nidra – Disturbances in the flow of prana (life energy) cause distress and disease. In the state of Yoga Nidra one can learn to identify the flow of prana and to release obstructions to the flow, maximizing the potential for the body and mind to heal itself.
Our explorations will be interspersed with periods of sitting meditation achieving what the Buddha called the “right concentration” that leads to stilling of all thought and subsequent jhanic attainment.
This workshop is accessible to all; no prior experience with yoga or meditation is required. However, if you are a Buddhist practitioner and wish to take your concentration practice to the next level of direct experience, this training will be invaluable.
Leader
Satima earned her Yoga Nidra certification in 2012 at the Sivananda ashram in Grass Valley CA and her RYT 200 certification in 2013 in Rishikesh, India. A Buddhist practitioner since 1999, she spent the past 6+ years on a spiritual journey which led her to serve, practice and study in a wide variety of yoga ashrams, Buddhist Monasteries and retreat centers in the U.S., Thailand, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. She has recently settled in Hendersonville, NC as the Executive Director of Heartwood Refuge and Retreat Center.
Learn more about Satima