Relax

Yin Yoga

Is an original and modern approach, linked to Chinese medicine, where we go into a sequence of “shapes” (asanas), and where we stay for a long couple of minutes, surfing on the edge between comfort and stretching. It is delicious, but not so easy. No standing pose, no muscular effort, almost no movement, and nice restorative moments between the shapes. In this practice, you will surrender to the force of gravity, breathe naturally, explore your body from the inside, develop your proprioception, and experience deep relaxation. It all happens on the floor, using blocks, pillows, blankets, belts, and bolsters to support your body and make it comfortable and safe. Yin Yoga is excellent and known for healing old injuries and increasing flexibility, as it works very well on facias. Often music is played to entertain your mind. If you turn your awareness completely inside you, training Pratyahara (sense withdrawal) you don’t hear the music anymore and you enter that meditative state. Sometimes pleasant, sometimes not. It’s a great step to explore the three dimensions of meditation: relaxation, observation, and acceptance (thank you Osho for that clear definition).

• I like to guide this practice in classes from 45 to 75 minutes, in small groups, using a lot of space and props to enjoy a maximum. With music or in silence, depending on the group. This practice is excellent at the end of the day, to relax before meditation, and to prepare yourself for the night.

Yoga Nidra

Is probably the best introduction to any form of meditation, it is designed to induce pratyahara (sense withdrawal), where the conscious mind stays awake while the body sleeps. It’s practiced in Shavasana, for 20 to 40 minutes. We go into that particular state of mind that we all know because we experience it sometimes, just before sleeping or just after, when we are awake while the body is still asleep. We go there for as long as we want. During that special moment, the subconscious is accessible to your consciousness. Your subconscious memory, stored in the whole being, releases all trash like fears (traumas), beliefs, and conditionings, driving you unconsciously in the wrong direction. An essential part of the practice of Yoga Nidra consists of working with your deep intention in life (called your Sankalpa). Because we clean up the subconscious memory, creating a new space in there, we can reprogram it with our Sankalpa. The result is that your subconscious mind starts to drive you in the best direction, the one you chose consciously. Make sure you pick the good one when you choose your Sankalpa.

• I offer “one shot” Yoga Nidra sessions to those who need deep relaxation. But, to get the whole benefit of this magic practice, you need to go through progressive learning and training. I offer a 6 hours workshop to teach the Yoga Nidra Foundations. The main benefit is that you can do it alone, at any moment, and choose the scenario that you want for your lucid dream. It can be a 15-minute practice to reduce anxiety, a profound practice to work with your Sankalpa or just a nice restorative relaxation to get energized for the rest of the day. This workshop consists of 5 sessions of 90 minutes.

Breathing and relaxing

So many people need an easy way to relax, to reduce anxiety. There is no universal technique. Everybody, every being is different and needs to find its own way. Here I offer individual sessions to explore the relationship between the body, the breath, and the mind. Together we find exercises based on pranayama, asanas, and meditation to help you to reduce anxiety and to relax. The first step to well-being and happiness.

Meditation

Relaxation, observation, and acceptance. That’s it. (Osho)

I explored different techniques during my personal research, looking for the magic practice that will open your third eye, and bring you to total liberation, Moksha. I experienced auto hypnoses, Sophrology, Mindfulness, Vipassana, and different yogic practices like Kriya Yoga Meditation (Babaji), Yoga Nidra, and other meditations on Adharas (connecting points). They all bring you in the same direction and have common points, like scanning the body parts or Adharas, focusing on the breath, accepting without aversion or attachment, and developing your capacity to stay equanimous in all situations, to be mindful. It can be hard, and uncomfortable, it can be pleasant and delicious, but it’s not entertainment. It requires patience and work. As soon as you start to train yourself, you immediately feel the positive effects. Meditation and mantras chanting are the only way to raise your Kundalini energy higher than the third chakra.

• I offer an introduction to meditation in almost all my hatha yoga classes. I organize workshops to teach a complete practice based on the so-called mindfulness meditation technique. 6×60 minutes in a group workshop spread over 6 weeks. Each session is a new step with new tools and benefits. After 6 weeks, your central nervous system is transformed.