Immerse yourself in the world of traditional tantric yoga and follow the path of the Masters of the Himalayan Tradition.

Set out on the journey which will eventually yield life's greatest rewards: ultimate freedom, lasting fulfillment, and remembrance of who and what you truly are.

WHAT IS SAKTI SADHANA?

Sakti Sadhana is a deep exploration of yourSelf through the lens of the ancient wisdom bodies of yoga and tantra. Through this 10-month 200-hour training, your guides: Natalie Backman and Chrissie Chung, will introduce you to the vast and glorious world view of tantra and offer a transformative experience through the teachings and techniques of traditional tantric yoga.

Rooted in the teachings of the Sakta Tradition, as passed down by the Himalayan Masters, Sakti Sadhana draws from classical yoga, tantra and Vedic philosophy to create a holistic approach to practice and life. It is designed as both a means for developing your personal experience of yoga as well as a training to foster ethical, empowered, impactful yoga teachers.

WHAT MAKES SAKTI SADHANA UNIQUE?

Every module of Sakti Sadhana is mindfully crafted for an immersive experience combined with practical, effective teaching methodology. The modules are woven together in a wise progression to deliver genuine knowledge and appreciation of the teachings, the techniques and the yoga tradition.

INTENTION OF THIS TRAINING

Our intention is to share the teachings and practices of the Sakta Tradition of tantric yoga in a way which touches your heart and transforms your life.

THE TRAINING

MODULE ONE : WHAT IS YOGA? 

Let's explore the historical context of yoga through the Vedas and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. What IS yoga, precisely? How does it look in theory and in practice? How can we embrace it as a lifestyle, rather than merely exercise performed on a mat?

MODULE TWO : WISE PROGRESSION

How can we maximize the various components of a complete Tantric Yoga practice (postures, breath, relaxation, meditation + more) for the most impactful practice? In this module we will learn more about each of these various components and discover wise ways to select and sequence them in order to create a truly transformative experience for our students and ourselves.

MODULE THREE : YOUR SUBTLE BODY

We are more than flesh and bone. Tantric Yoga gives us tools for understanding, uncovering, and utilizing our subtle nature to help us maximize our practice, and our experience of being human. In this module we will explore the koshas (layers of the self), the nadis (energy channels), chakras (energy centers), our pranic field, and more. We will also play with effective ways to weave subtle body techniques into the complete practice.

MODULE FOUR : PRANA

What is the nature of the life force known as Prana? How do we develop sensitivity to it, Increase our access to it, and work with it to expand capacity for growth and evolution? One of my favorite modules, this is where the magic begins, taking the practice from one of a purely physical experience to one in which we can sense that we are not, and never have been, alone.

MODULE FIVE : MEDITATION

Meditation is the pinnacle of the complete Tantric Yoga practice. Why? How can we develop a meaningful meditation experience which nurtures and nourishes us and makes us eager to come back for more?

MODULE SIX : UNDERSTANDING ANATOMY

This module is an examination of the major bones, muscles + joints involved in the asana practice, as well as an understanding of the nervous system and how we can access it through the body, the breath, and our mind's power of concentration. We will discuss the difference between the form and the function of the various categories of yoga postures, how to optimize safety by offering modifications appropriate for a wide range of students.

MODULE SEVEN : AYURVEDA + SELF CARE

Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga. Where Yoga is primarily oriented toward spiritual endeavors, Ayurveda is oriented toward health through balance of the various bodies. In this module we will explore a selection of approaches to maintaining this balance such as diet, self-care, prescriptive approaches to asana, pranayama and meditation, and more.

MODULE EIGHT : TANTRA

Tantra is an ancient body of wisdom, a worldview, and a system of techniques which help us to maximize our experience of being human. Embracing the truth that all of creation is sacred, Tantra is that which moves us toward an embodied experience of this truth by helping us manage our energy, accelerating our progress, touching our hearts, and protecting us along every step of the path.

MODULE NINE : LIVING DHARMA

Dharma is one of our soul's four primary desires. It is the desire to fulfill your unique desire. In this module we will begin to discover what this purpose is, what may be standing in your way of fulfilling it, and how to overcome those obstacles. This Tantric approach to self-discovery has the potential to be truly life changing.

MODULE TEN : BHAKTI & MANTRA

As we discovered in Module One, Yoga is so much more than a physical practice. It is a spiritual path. In this module we will entertain one of the most elusive elements of Yoga, Ishvara Pranidhana - trustful surrender. We will also enjoy the bliss inducing practice of Bhakti, and the swiftest path to samadhi (enlightenment), Mantra Sadhana.

YOUR GUIDES

Natalie Backman

My relationship with yoga spans twenty years and I have been sharing the teachings for the last eight. In that time, yoga has grown from a purely physical experience to a holistic reintegration with myself. My practice of Tantric Yoga is a means for mental clarity, emotional stability, a life's purpose, and spiritual path. As an initiate of the Sri Vidya Tradition, I am profoundly grateful to belong to an unbroken lineage of Tantric Yoga devotees, reaching back several thousand years.

In addition to my 500-hour ERYT status, I am also a certified Teacher of Vishoka Meditation and Yoga Nidra. As a lifelong student, I am endlessly engaged in study through the Himalayan Institute, with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD.

My teaching and methodology are a personalized approach to Traditional Tantric Yoga, as they have landed with me. Interweaving Hatha, Vinyasa Krama, Yoga Nidra, Mantra, Meditation, and more, I share what I have embodied through practice and direct experience. My aim is to empower you to strengthen and purify your body, calm and stabilize your mind, effectively manage your energy, and facilitate the sweet remembrance of your true essence, your soul. This remembrance delivers the promise of tantric yoga: ultimate freedom and lasting fulfillment.

Chrissie Chung

It started in India with a 200hr training in Ashtanga Vinyasa, and I haven’t looked back since. This was just the scratch on the surface of something vast & beautiful, and I’ve continued to train and study, understanding & unpacking what Yoga truly means for me.

The last five years have seen me traveling around the world, teaching on numerous YTTs in India, in studios from UK to Bali, and retreats in South Africa & Europe.

My heart is now firmly rooted in sharing the incredible and far-reaching potential of practice, using its various tools as a means to serve the individual in finding their own unique way to live wholeheartedly, playfully & with joy. 

Learn to embrace your practice as a spiritual science. Move with purpose, breathe with wisdom and start the journey of turning your attention in, returning to a state of Being that is inherently whole. Expect deep practices intertwined with philosophy, intelligent manipulation of the breath, self study, contemplation, and the greatest gift, meditation.