What is Shamanic Yoga?
Shamanic Yoga is a new model for healthcare – for physical benefits and states of deep relaxation, peace, happiness and bliss. Shamanism and yoga are profound philosophical and practical disciplines. Uniting the physical, mental and spiritual practices of each, Shamanic Yoga teaches the knowledge and healing we seek lies within. First, let’s explore shamanism and then yoga.
What is shamanism?
Shamanism stems from the word shaman which has its origins from Northern Siberia. A shaman is regarded as having access to the world of spirits through entering a trance like state. The word shaman has now circulated across cultures to define a medicine man or woman. Healers and others who work within the divinatory realms to assist in peoples’ healing may also be considered shamans.
For centuries the shaman would aid in the healing of various ailments in the tribe. People would seek the shaman to heal physical, mental or spiritual maladies. The shaman guides the practitioner through various techniques to the source of their ailment. They are able to receive communication from the spirit world to aid in the restoration of the practitioner’s health.
There are many lineages of shamanism found throughout the world, Shamanic Yoga does not follow one particular lineage. This modality honors and respects the profundity that each cultural heritage encompasses.
General shamanic practices include:
Consciousness: a very common shamanic practice is reaching altered states of consciousness. This trance state connects the practitioner with the spirit world. Altered states of consciousness can be reached through breathing techniques, dancing, drumming, chanting, rattling, deep meditation, sacred medicines, self-hypnosis, and dreaming.
Vibration and Rhythm: understanding the entire universe is made from vibrational sound. Honoring the natural rhythms of the cycles of change (lunar cycles, the sun rising, seasons, etc.).
Interconnection: developing an intimate relationship with the seen and unseen world.
Presence: connecting with our breath and our relations. How we breath and how we treat ourselves and all things around us reveal our present state of being.
Awareness: witnessing and observing that everything in life happens for a reason. Being aware of the constant communication from the spirit world and its deep meaning in our life.
Healing: different techniques of healing the physical body and energetic body (the soul) to better oneself, their community and the planet.
What is yoga?
As with the many different lineages in shamanism, yoga has a multitude of schools with a broad variety of specific teachings. The art and science of yoga is a spiritual practice. The ancient texts of the Baghavid Gita and the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali are the philosophical background to balance the mind, body, and spirit. Through the philosophical structure of yoga, the practitioner learns the intricacies of the mind and how influential it is over the body and soul. The foundation of the Eightfold Path in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali is a basis throughout all yoga. These teachings are to help direct us in living a life full of meaning and purpose.
The limbs of the Eightfold Path of Yoga include:
Yamas: ethical behavior (nonviolence, truthfulness, non stealing, continence or self restraint, and non covetousness or non attachment)
Niyamas: self discipline (cleanliness, contentment, heat or self will, study of sacred text and oneself, and surrender to Great Spirit)
Asana: the physical postures of yoga used to prepare the body to sit in deep meditation. This is a way to take care of the physical body as this is a temple for spirit.
Pranayama: breath control techniques used to connect the breath, mind and emotions. This develops a deeper awareness to ourselves.
Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses or gaining mastery over external influences. Directing our focus and attention internally, we detach from our senses to observe our inner workings.
Dharana: concentration. With single pointed focus, we learn how to slow down the thinking process by concentrating on one point.
Dhyana: meditation or the uninterrupted flow of concentration as a state of being.
Samadhi: a state of ecstasy. The practitioner transcends the Self and a union connects the practitioner with Great Spirit.
The Unity of Shamanic Yoga
The thread that interweaves shamanic and yogic teachings is the emphasis on the physical, mental and spiritual relationship we have with ourselves. By continually elevating our self awareness through Shamanic Yoga tools and techniques, we are able to move past emotional, mental, physical and traumatic blocks in our lives to live in harmony within ourselves and our environment. Intertwining the Eightfold Path of Yoga and the shamanic practices described above, a practitioner is able to heal negative habits, emotional wounds, traumatic life events, and artistically live the life they came here to live with joy and happiness.
Combining shamanic practices with yogic philosophy, Shamanic Yoga creates a unique atmosphere during each practice to honor and connect to the seen and unseen worlds. By creating sacred space using shamanic techniques to clear the physical space of low vibrational energy and encircling the space with protective loving energy, we can move, meditate and transcend the body, mind and spirit to be connected and whole within ourselves and Great Spirit. Once the sacred space is sanctified, the healing experience of moving the body through physical postures (asanas) and decreasing the mind chatter (dharana), Shamanic Yoga infuses the healing qualities and transcendental elements from both modalities to transform the practitioner into their deepest desires.
Each individual session, workshop, retreat, and moon circle is unique in its own regard as no two shamanic practice or asana sequences are exactly alike. The fundamental structures of shamanism and yoga unite both techniques as a means to create structure and guidance as the journey unfolds beautifully for each practitioner.