|
 It is a
pretty amazing energy when 132
yoga practitioners gather together for a weekend. It is even more
amazing when the teacher takes everyone to new realms of their
practice. This is what happened at the SOYA Retreat at Naramata Centre
this past June 11-13, 2010.
Rod helped
us all to understand the many aspects of Tantra yoga. He explained that
Tantra means; TAN-to stretch and TRA- to protect, and also move beyond
our limitations. So Tantra is to weave or stretch the fabric of our
being to its fullest, using mind, breath and body; to weave our lives
in such a way that there is no difference between our body and our
spirit. The goal of Tantra is to find heaven right here in this life.
We are all born with limitations, every one of us, and Tantra is any
system that moves us out of those limitations!
 We focused on exploring the Sun, Moon and Fire practices:
the Sun practice affects the flow of prana, which brings action to the
body. Moon practices affect the mind, where we can become more
observant of ourselves. Fire practices activate the Spirit energy, and
any time we break away from our limitations we are becoming the
embodiment of that fire. Each of these practices has a time and a place
for us according to what is going on in our lives. Fire practices are
best done when our life is in balance. Tumultuous kundalini awakenings
are usually a result of an imbalance in prana. Do our homework of
preparation and let our kundalini awaken like the petals of the rose
opening towards the light, rather than like the rosebud falling off
with a crash!
 Many of you have asked for a copy of the wonderful reading
by Rod that we read at the close of the retreat. This is part of his
book “The Four Desires” that is due to be released by Bantam Books next
spring, so I cannot share it with you now, but you will be able to have
it then! Rod was very impressed with our Canadian yogis and yoginis,
and left Canada very touched by the experience.
Bob and I extend heartfelt thanks to:
- Matthew and Michael Marsolek from
Arlee, Montana for their lovely Kirtan (they emailed us and said they
nearly fell off their chairs at the sound of those first “OMs” from the
group!)
- Kassandra Morrison (Swami
Kripananda) for her morning meditation
- To all of you for being a part of
this amazing event, and for your support for SOYA
- A special thanks to Yoga Master Rod
Stryker for making the weekend so enlightening for us all.
Rod has had an impact on many of us…
here are more photos
of the retreat and a bit of the incredible feedback
we have received!
Mugs and Bob McConnell, SOYA
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