Your true essence is pure, luminous, potent, powerful, transcendent and eternal.
Pause to consider that. Untouched by the life you’ve lived, the choices you’ve made, the things that have happened to you, this divine spark never tarnishes, never fades and never goes away. Can you believe it? As identified in verse 1:36 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, the essence of who you truly are is a radiant light at the center of your heart, experienced as vishoka, joy beyond all sorrow.
Many of us have a hard time accepting, or even imagining, a light at the center of our hearts. We reject the idea that we are anything other than hopelessly flawed, damaged, irreparable beings. Often we resign ourselves to the belief that we are victims of circumstance forced to struggle through life as best we can, clinging to any fleeting pleasure that comes our way and avoiding pain like the plague. Yoga has taught me, through direct experience, that there is another way.
How does the practice of yoga begin? How we begin depends on what we are attracted to. There are many ways of practicing yoga and pursuing one path will naturally lead to a craving for others. I was initially drawn to the physical practice of yoga, which we call Asana, because it gave me a way to channel my excessive energy and erratic mind. Through Asana I developed a relationship with my breath and as stillness became more accessible, I began to explore meditation, as well. Some practitioners prefer an academic pursuit of yogic studies, or are drawn to yoga for its therapeutic benefits. There is no one right way. However we begin, the way in which we progress is much the same. As our practice develops, we become increasingly aware of our holistic nature, realizing that while we are made of body, breath and mind, the sum of our parts is so much more. Who and what we truly are becomes clear, and our false perceptions – who we are not – begin to fade away.
This is the gift of yoga. Through cherished philosophies, practices and techniques, yoga brings us home to ourSelf. It leads us to a life of peace, purpose, power, unconditional love, and joy beyond all sorrow. Are you ready to begin?
My relationship with yoga spans nineteen years and I've been devoted to sharing the teachings for the last seven. In that time, yoga has grown from a purely physical experience to a holistic reintegration with my heart. It has become 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.
A 500-hour Experienced Registered yoga teacher and YACEP, I remain a lifelong student. My teachers are Tracee Stanley, YogaRupa Rod Stryker, and Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. We are of the Himalayan Tradition, as shared with the west by Swami Rama, a Master Yogi steeped in the teachings of the Himalayan Masters.
I share a modern approach to Traditional Tantric Hatha Yoga, interweaving Vinyasa Krama, Yoga Nidra, Mantra Japa and Meditation. Devotional Practices and embodiment work with Divine Feminine and the Mahavidyas is becoming increasingly significant in my personal practice as well as in how I teach. I teach only what I have embodied through practice, as I gain the power of transmission. I guide with the intention to help you not only strengthen and purify your body, calm and stabilize your mind, release self-limiting behaviors and beliefs, and manage your vital energy, but most importantly, to facilitate the sweet remembrance of your sacred Self.
Founder of Imagine Fest, Co-Founder of Sakti Rising, Co-Host of the sun, the moon & the truth podcast. Learn more at www.NatalieBackmanYoga.com