Kutilaa School of Embodied Resilience

We live in a time of accelerated transformation and change on every level of the human experience. The teachings and practices of yoga have changed the lives of many, including those of us who are called to share these gifts with others by being teachers on the path.

Yoga is a worldview, a framework of reality, a philosophical system, and a collection of practices that all aim to create and cultivate the experience of oneness, connection, or wholeness. Ultimately, the aim of a yogic path is that of awakening to the unity of consciousness, and, in our case, living from this awareness within the world.

There are many different ways yoga is taught ~ different practices depending on the tradition ~ because yoga is a 'state' of being, rather than the form of the practice itself. 

For those of us who teach via embodiment, we've learned varying versions of the history of asana and vinyasa. Sometimes asana is described as thousands of years old, and recently we've learned that much of the modern physical practice sprung from European gymnastics. The physical practices of Modern Postural Yoga (MPY: common asana & vinyasa) have been shaped by numerous historical influences. Our understanding of history has significant impact on how we relate to teaching these embodied practices. Are they ancient cultural wisdom? Are they recent western inventions? Though both versions of history have truth, neither is the whole truth. We humbly continue to learn more about the missing links of the past.

Through understanding the sacred ritual origins of embodiment within the yoga tradition, we can unhook from ideas that only standard poses are acceptable in a yoga practice. In fact, there's little evidence of the standard asanas of MPY in accounts of the first known embodied expression from source texts.

What we know so far is that physical practices initially arose in spontaneous expression ~ from the 'state' of yoga ~ according to numerous source Tantrik texts. Learning this invites us as modern teachers to reflect on what we prioritize in our teaching. Are we guiding students toward an experience of presence and connection? Are we able to navigate the same in our own relationship to embodied practices of yoga? HOW we guide is more important than WHAT when it comes to movement as meditation.

When we look at the insights of modern movement science alongside this cultural and historical backdrop, we can choose to move in ways that are shown to support our nervous system, our bodymind integration, our inner state, and the sustainability of embodied practice itself.

Asana doesn't teach integrated movement, it teaches how to do asana specifically. The yogic approach of movement as meditation teaches presence and greater embodied awareness. This generally translates into bodymind wellbeing, but not necessarily for everyone, or indefinitely. 

 There is a growing epidemic of yoga-related injuries, and though we adapt asana for different needs, can we broaden our options beyond what we think of as asana entirely? If so, how can we do this well, in a way that honors the heart of yoga and welcomes all into this healing practice?

You will learn about the Tantrik roots of embodied yoga, the historical influences that have shaped what we now identify (most commonly) as physical yoga practices, as well as take a look at some of the most important findings of modern movement science and their implications for embodied yoga practice.

The BodyMind is one. We know more about the mechanisms of body-breath-brain and emotion on our lived experience than ever before. There's still so much we don't know, including the entirety of what's shaped the practices of the sacred paths of yoga. 

Can we move in ways that are accessible and healing for all bodies? 

Are we serving the intention of oneness, connection, and honoring the whole of ourselves and each other?

These questions will be addressed in this special masterclass. 

Are you ready to be a leader in the (r)evolution of embodied yoga practice?

This class is for:

~yoga teachers who want to stand out as a leader who serves the heart of yoga, not the outer performance 

~yoga teachers who want to create welcoming and safe spaces for the bodymind of their students

~yoga teachers who want to connect to the origins of embodied expression as movement meditation

~yoga teachers who feel called to innovate yet hesitate out of respect for tradition

~yoga teachers who are curious about feminine influences in yoga's history

~curious and dedicated yoga practitioners who feel the call!