Ayurveda

The beauty of the Ayurvedic perspective on our wellbeing is that it is completely individualised, it understands that no 2 peoples constitutions (Prakruti) are the same - and therefore offers a system in which we can observe nature, its qualities and its energy, and apply that to our own body, as a part of nature itself. This provides the greatest potential of healing as it is simply nature coming back into its natural state or equilibrium.

Ayurveda is based on the understanding that we are all made up of a unique fusion of the 5 elements - Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth - when functioning in the body they combine to be seen as the 3 ‘Doshas’:

Vata - Ether and Air - responsible for motion and movement. When in balance can offer creativity, can be energetic and excited, adaptable and enthusiastic. But when imbalanced Vata can cause anxiety, overwhelm, instability, hyperactivity, fear and nervousness.

Pitta - Fire and Water - responsible for digestion and assimilation. When in Balance can offer clarity, an ability to comprehend and take in the world and life, warmth and friendliness, courage and intelligence. When imbalanced Pitta flares up our aggression, criticism, our desire to control or manipulate, be selfish or hateful.

Kapha - Earth and Water - responsible for stability and structure. When balanced offers consistency, stability, stamina, patience, qualities within our personality such as kindness, calmness and forgiveness. When imbalanced Kapha can cause stagnation, attachment, neediness, greed, excessive weight, depression, resistance to change and stubbornness.

From this we can see the simplicity in looking at the dis- ease and discomfort within our body or life and observing it in its elemental quality, and what needs to be balanced in order to bring wellbeing, stability, clear mindedness and optimal health.

We all have a specific balance of the 3 Doshas that make up our constitution - our Prakruti in Sanskrit or ‘Primal Nature’ as it translates to. However as life progresses we become imbalanced and effected by the environment around us and within us, the state we are at within these imbalances is called our Vikruti. Our journey of all healing is to move gradually and steadily towards our Prukruit - our balanced state - our Primal Nature.

We weave this foundational wisdom of life into all our offerings - treatments, and individual journeys.

Yoga

Our quest of harmony within the mind is the quest of Yoga. Its Sanskrit definition is to “yoke”, to be in union with Universal conciousness, the divine, with spirit, with the luminosity of the universal soul or ‘Atman’.

This is a journey and pathway of the mind, through the mind, in an aim to rest in the stillness of our being, even while in motion or with chaos surrounding, to reside in the lasting freedom and inner peace of the mind. A methodology to transform the mind into a useful tool - not as a master - to realise deeper fulfilment within our life and connect to deeper meaning - this is our true state of Self - this is the essence of Yoga as it is passed on through Vedic Wisdom.

Through the self inquiry and witness consciousness that we experience through yoga, we can begin to dissect the mind - the conscious, subconscious and unconscious realm, and delicately and deliberately detach and remove thought patterns or ‘Samskaras’ which are causing negative afflictions into our life - a process called ‘Viyoga’ in Sanskit - and begin to nurture and nourish the patterns that are having a positive or beneficial effect in our life - a process called ‘Samyoga’.

The basis is to create a stable and clear environment within the body in which the mind can experience the clarity to observe these deep and intrinsic Karmic imprints, this is where the wisdom of Ayurveda is essential as a first step - we must be clear and in ease within our body to find clarity and ease in the mind. Many issues that are causing fog within the mind can be managed and healed through Ayurveda - thus the wisdom and implementation of these 2 rivers of knowledge must be understood and practiced together for transformation to take place.

It should be said here that Yoga is MUCH, much more than exercises. In western society we have often been offered Yoga with much attention to only its aspect of Asana - and even in that often confused the significant use of these postures on the energetic body for something like a work out or to give physical strength and a flexible body. Asana is a drop in the ocean of Yoga - an exquisite and powerful drop - but still, a drop.

The beauty and power of yoga is experienced within the transformation of the mind and its wanderings. To gradually and steadily slow the pace of the mind and its constant ’spinning’ - ‘Vritti’ - is our intention of Yoga practice. To experience inner peace and calm in the middle of a storm - something each and every person is capable of in their essence.

This wisdom and science of Yoga is at the core of our mentoring and Transformative Arts offerings.

Tantra

Weaving into all aspects of life through the lense and philosophy of traditional Tantra, is one innate understanding - that all of existence is inherently sacred. It sees that we hold the an intuitive knowing of this at our core, and offers seekers to undertake its methodologies to unveil this within ourselves.

The practices that teach the masterful use of energy or ‘Prana’ - our life force - in Tantra offer the gift of deep reverence towards life and all its obstacles, all its beings, all its experiences, and allows us to alchemise our experiences from within and around us into fuel for the transformative divine fire in the centre of our being - our ‘Agni’ or ‘Rudrani’.

Tantra yoga is the exploration of energy and spirit within the body - it allows us to understand the energetics in the body as a path to liberation and inner freedom. In its essence it offers self-mastery, an existence that allows us to be freed of the control of the energetics around us that usually take influence over our body and mind.

It offers the understanding of the balance of the masculine and feminine aspects of self and of the universe - Shakti or Prakruti - the feminine, manifest matter and Shiva or Purusha -the masculine, unmanifest conciousness or awareness - here lies is the formula of all existence and creation.

Another aspect of Tantra is that is means “web” or “network”, symbolically highlighting that everything and everyone is interconnected. However - by all means this does not mean Traditional Tantra is about sex! This is a profuse and large misconception of Tantra and the reason referring to ‘traditional’ or ‘classical’ Tantra holds a lot of meaning. Although sex and intimacy are a part of life, our journey and can be a source of divine, transformative experiences, it is certainly not the whole scope of Tantra, and was never the main focus for this elaborate and magnificent Vedic science, or its practitioners.

Tantra offers us tools to master our inner and therefore outer world, to develop a connection with our inner selves and to bring us back into the Divine nature of who we really are - ordinarily mystic, Spirit in form.

Much of what can be seen in as used a pathway to Yoga are also methodologies within Tantra - such as meditational kriyas, bandhas or the masterful holding of energetic locks, mudras and even asanas, again demonstrating how these sacred rivers of knowledge flow into one.

The term ‘Tantric Hatha Yoga’ is given to this pathway which encapsulates primary aspects of both these systems - and is the way in which this traditional version of Tantra is blended into our offerings.

To masterfully and intentionally direct and alchemise energy within our practice, our ritual, our prayer and our state of being in everyday life is where Tantra and its philosophy is universally present here, its sacredness and reverence for life at the heart of our transformative journey.