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Tantric Meditation and Yoga Nidra form the foundation of my Sādhanā, dedicated spiritual practice. I have found these practices uniquely transformative and a natural pairing for other modalities which center the awareness of energy, which lead me to pursue formal training first with Tracee Stanley and later with Ashram Studies.
This style of practice provides a meaningful counterpoint to forms of healing which center emotional processing and the development of insight. One of the most powerful effects of consistent and dedicated practice with these techniques, is that we learn it is possible to release tension without knowing its cause or effect.
My classes present practical techniques that are safe and suitable for beginners. Read on to learn more about Tantric Meditation and Yoga Nidra.
All Meditation and Yoga Nidra classes are donation-based: a small donation is required to register, to honor the time and energy of developing the classes. If this donation amount is beyond your reach, you are welcome to email me and I will send you a code to register for free.
What is Tantra?
Tantra is a spiritual approach practiced in both Buddhism and Hinduism. The classes I teach are rooted in the Yogic perspective, and informed by Sri Vidya, Kriya Tantra, and Shaivism.
Tantra is a non-dual philosophy: the world we see appears to be one of opposites, yet all are One. In Tantra, the divine is believed to be present in everyone and everything, even that which appears to be destructive or seems to be in duality. It is considered that one of the great illusions of human experience is that we believe we are separate and need to find connection or restore goodness, and Tantra tells us that by returning to the deepest sense of Self (our True Nature), distinct from personality and experience, we find that we are already a part of that wholeness that we seek.
This is not achieved by simply ignoring what is unjust, or never having “negative emotions.” Rather, the practices work through patterns of thought and action rooted in the subtle body (energy body). We also practice cultivating elevated attitudes and wisdom in meditation, which over time influences our day to day actions. Through continually returning to the position of an observer of our own consciousness— accepting all of it, both positive and negative— we develop space to respond more wisely rather than react. Further illustrating the nondual perspective: we both pursue right action AND cultivate the ability to accept things as they are.
Misconceptions about Tantra
For many, the word Tantra brings to mind an association with sex and sexuality. In the subtle body philosophy of yoga, one of the Yamas of the eight-fold path of Yoga, Bramacharya, which advises the conservation of sexual energy. And within Tantra there are practices (most which are secret, and only part of oral tradition that has been passed down through lineage teachers) which relate directly to the cultivation of sexual energy as a form Shakti, the creative force of prana. Some Western approaches to Tantra have offered modern interpretations which center this relationship to sex, which suggests that Tantra is primarily about sacred sexuality. However classical Tantra is an ancient, world-affirming, and comprehensive philosophy that offers meditative techniques for realization and liberation.
My teaching focuses on the classical, meditation aspects of Tantra, as well as Yogic Philosophy and Asana.
What is Tantric Meditation?
Tantric meditation is comprised of techniques that work with the subtle body to still the fluctuations of the mind and allow us to access inner knowing, and eventually experience the state of Samadhi, enlightenment.
Tantric techniques in this tradition generally include:
Pranayama
Breath Awareness
Dharana (concentration)
Visualization and breath/movement
Mudra (hand gestures)
And observation of Chittakash (the mindspace).
In some ways Tantric practice is like a pantry that can create variations on different recipes: there are ingredients that are foundational, and others that change the overall flavor. Many Tantric practices are deceptively simple— they are subtle and the deeper wisdom within these practices becomes available through dedicated and consistent practice. Other practices are more complex and require concentration, Dharana, and so here we have the balance! There is a science to Tantra, wherein certain practices are combined and produce reliable results. Over time we develop familiarity with our own subtle system, and in self-guided meditations, choose practices that will support us on the path to liberation.
My ongoing morning meditation class Shakti Rising has open enrollment on a monthly basis, and each month works with a theme so that specific practices can be developed over time and one can understand the effects those practices on their own system.
Want to try a practice first?
The video below is a morning movement and meditation practice, incorporating some gentle movement to release tension in the spine and hips. If it’s not suitable for you to sit on the floor, you can also sit in a chair.
After the movement practice, you’ll be guided through a short meditation incorporating the practice of Sama Vritti and the So’ham Mantra (Meditation begins at 17:50 if you’d like to skip ahead)
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra is a meditative technique, practiced lying down in Savasana. It is a relatively modern practice, developed in the 1950s and informed by the psychological theories of the era along with modifications of yogic techniques. Over the years a number of different styles of Yoga Nidra have been developed, each offering somewhat different approaches, but all create the conditions for moving your awareness through layers of the being, and relaxing the mind, body, and spirit.
Often described as a rest practice, Yoga Nidra is translated as “Yogic Sleep. ” This means the the body moves towards a deeply relaxed, sleep-like state while awareness remains awake. The wisdom of deeper layers of consciousness can be perceieved while the mind is relaxed, offering much therapeutic potential.
In the Classical Style, these techniques retain their roots in ancient Tantra but have been adapted to be suitable as a standalone practice for all levels of experience and do not require any specialized knowledge.
I teach Classical Yoga Nidra, which means that practice moves systematically through eight stages: settling the body and establishing an intention (called a Sankalpa), awareness of outside sounds, rotating awareness around the physical body, breath awareness, cultivating opposite feelings and sensations, visualizing symbols, a guided journey or other visualization, and observing Chittakash (the mindspace) and returning to presence.