So often we get asked, "What is tantra yoga?
And then there is the form of yoga we have become so familiar with in the West, which has a studio on almost every corner of our modern cities. We show up at the yoga studio, lay down the mat, and practice the poses. That's yoga, right? Yes, but that is only one form of yoga called "Hatha" yoga.
Hatha yoga is an exercise of the physical body. Tantra yoga is an exercise of the energy body.
What is an "energy body?" You can look at it this way: All matter is made up of energy frequency, as quantum physics has now proven. This includes our bodies. Life force energy flows through us humans from the moment we are conceived until the time we die. Life force energy is known by different names in different cultures, such as Chi in Chinese, Kundalini in Sanskrit, Reiki in Japanese, or the Force in Star Wars. Life force and sexual energy are the same. It is the energy that brought us into this world. Most of the time the sexual life force energy manifests in subtle states and then in excited states. Tantric yoga allows us to develop an awareness of our life energy and how it manifests in us on a physical, emotional, and mental level.
To access energy consciousness, we draw on the chakra system of the seven main energy centers in the body. Each chakra is associated with a different way of perceiving, feeling, and thinking. This can be seen when a person expresses love for something or someone and puts their hand over their heart. We all know this experience. If the heart chakra is out of balance and constricted, we may feel closed off from ourselves or others. Different chakras have different effects and they are all important.
By connecting with our energy centers we can begin to clear blocks of an emotional, physical or spiritual nature so that we can live life to the fullest. These blocks don't exist in the mind, they are held in the body. We look at the chakras to see where we are out of balance. Through breathwork, movement, meditation, and processes of emotional and physical release, one can clear these blocks and experience greater joy and aliveness in one's life. In the end, it also happens that the body starts to "work" better, and the energy starts to flow more and more awake and feel good.
Alignment is the primary goal of every Hatha yoga class. The poses (aka "Asanas") were designed to bring one's body into optimal alignment. And not for better posture; each pose has an energetic component behind it. For example, Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I) is great for building strength in the quadriceps and glutes, but also cultivates more courage and strength to face life's challenges.
Therefore, Tantra and Hatha Yoga begin to feed each other. For example, if a person practices a lot of tantras, they may find that their asana practice improves. This is because as their energy runs better, their body moves towards optimal alignment. , if a person is a Hatha yoga practitioner, their body will begin to release emotional blocks as it works on its alignment. This is why not everyone feels calm or happy during a yoga class. As we start to breathe and stretch into our bodies, old emotions start to surface.
You can see that yoga comes in many shapes and forms. Tantra is a practice that leads to deeper fulfillment and joy in one's life. When practitioners practice Hatha yoga, they can experience strength and vitality in their physical and energy bodies.
About TantraNova Institute
We are based in the Chicago area. It was founded in 2001 by Dr. Elsbeth Meuth and Mr.
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