Tantric Yoga and What Sets it Apart
I have been trained in a form of yoga, that I like to refer to as Tantric yoga. It is based on the Tri Dosha yoga series, that balances your entire body system helping you to find greater equilibrium within your body. While this series has many similarities to other types of yoga, there are a certain number of distinctions that I feel set it apart, and make it easier for you to develop a more peaceful and loving relationship with your body.
1.You Are Your Own Teacher
The word tantra often has a number of different connotations to different people. This word, broken down into two parts can be described as follows. Tan, translates to “extend” to or “stretch”, and Tra, associated with the word “tool”. In essence, tantra is an “instrument for expansion”, that we can mainly acquire through experience. While it is one thing to read about something in a book, or watch it on t.v, it is through the act of experiencing, that we truly understand how the world works.
In many ways, Tantric yoga is more like a guided meditation with movement. You are invited to explore the sensations of your body in a non judgmental way. There is no right or wrong, just exploration. You are invited to listen to your own body and what it is telling you you need in this moment. While form is still important, the point is to listen to your own inner guidance.
So often in life we are taught to listen to other people or told that they know what is best for us. From the time we are born, we are led by the guidance of others, but only when we actively practice listing to and trusting our own inner guidance, are we able to build a relationship with our true self. Through this we are able to check in with what our body needs and build a greater sense of confidence, self awareness and intuition.
2. You Experience Deep Relaxation and Meditation
There are many types of yoga that promote deep relaxation, however, Tantric yoga particularly allows this to happen. It has a nice balance of movement and rest, but encourages the body to relax as much as possible, both mentally and physically. You are asked to differentiate between pain and discomfort and allow all muscles that aren’t being used to shift into a more relaxed state. When practiced on a regular basis, this can have a very profound effect on the body, especially in stressful situations.
You learn to guide yourself through the sensations you experience and teach yourself to find relaxation, even in times of stress. You become more aware of the mind body connection, as you notice when your thoughts create tension in your body, but also how your body relaxes as you let go of those thoughts.
I have seen people become so relaxed during this yoga that they are even able to fall asleep while being in a room full of people. Completely letting go, and finding a deep state of peace and calm. This helps you find relaxation in all aspects of your life, whether it’s during a stressful situation, during a moment of creativity, or just relaxing before bed, so that you gain a deeper and more restful sleep.
3. You Develop a Greater Sense of Connection to Yourself and Others
The breath is life. Without it, we don’t exist, and neither does anything else. As with any other yoga practice you are invited to connect your breath with your movements, but because this practice is longer than most yoga classes, you have a greater opportunity to instill this way of being into your body and mind.
The more we are able to connect with our breath, the more we are able to connect with our body and understand the messages it is trying to send us. This allows the energy to flow more freely, releasing potentially painful blocks that hold us back from experiencing joy to the fullest.
The more we are able to connect with our own bodies, and our own internal processes the more we can allow ourselves to connect with others. In our breath we find our purest form of existence. It is from this place that love, joy and abundance can be found.
4. You Begin to Slow Down in Your Day to Day Life
So often in life we are rushing around, trying to get through one project so we can move on to the next thing, without even really experiencing what is right in front of us. How many times have you eaten a meal, and only on your last bite, wondered to yourself, where it even went. Tantric yoga really teaches us about setting our intention and being present.
Each movement is done with intention. Not for the purpose of getting to the next pose, but for the purpose of being present in the moment. Whether you are active in a posture, in a state of deep relaxation, or transitioning to the next posture, each movement is done with intention, as a way of building a deeper connection to the self, and expanding the awareness.
This effect is miraculous because it spills over in to all aspects of your life. You begin to be more present in your work, your relationships, while eating, everything. You bring your presence into the current moment, and outside of the stories that we so often find ourselves wrapped up in.
Most of our thoughts are ones that happen impulsively on a loop, without us even being aware of it, but by slowing down, and becoming more present, we become the conscious creators of our life, and are able to live from a place of purpose, rather than simply acting.
5. Tantric Yoga Makes Other Yoga Practices Easier
Anything we practice becomes easier. While some yoga practices focus on strengthening, toning, or exercising, Tantric yoga is all about relaxing and getting out of our mind. Of course we are still stretching the body, but this is done through relaxation rather than pulling or forcing ourselves into a posture.
Poses are held for longer, and we are taught to breath through the mind chatter and discomfort that usually leads us to give up in life. We are able to find and relax into a state of peace. By strengthening this “muscle” we are able to build ourselves not just physically, but mentally, so that when we are doing other types of yoga we can apply the same principles.
Difficult postures don’t seem to require as much effort, when you train your mind to release the thoughts labeling it as difficult. Not to mention the fact that poses are usually held for longer, so other types of yoga in comparison seem shorter and easier. Even in hot yoga practices I have found myself better able to breath through the perceived discomfort and at a faster rate. I can shift my focus to a state of joy, knowing that I am challenging myself to grow into a deeper state of self awareness and love.
While all types of yoga offer a benefit, I have found that our western versions of yoga have been transitioning more into a place of action, making it more like an exercise for the body, rather than a practice of training and calming the mind. Exercise is important both mentally and physically, but my intention is to bring a greater awareness to the true essence of yoga, and the benefits that come from tending to the mind, before the body. It is in this place that the greatest forms of healing can be found.
