“Like the dawning of the sun, awakening the soul that shines bright in all of us begins with a glimmer of light.  As we connect with this internal flame, we start the journey of unfolding our potential and releasing the joy that radiates from every cell of our being.”

--Sylvanus Klotz

 

Philosophy

At Rei No Dojo, the art and science of Hatha Yoga is taught according to the teachings and philosophy of B.K.S. Iyengar. 

The classes entail a very specific and detailed process based on universal alignment, breathing principles and the subtle science of body, mind and soul.  The Yoga journey awakens your intelligence and strengthens your intellect, mind, emotions and will.  It directs you on a path where meditation becomes your life and your inner Guru becomes the independent director of Self.

The use of various props allow all asana to be adapted to suit the individual needs of each student to ensure maximum benefit at the physical, subtle, and energetic layers of the system.    

Yoga classes at Rei No Dojo follow an ongoing 4-week cycle including:

Week 1 - Standing Poses
Week 2 -Sitting Poses, Forward Bends & Twists
Week 3 -Backbends
Week 4 -Supported Poses/Pranayama (breath work)/Relaxation
Week 5 -Option for longer months used to work on irregular poses and balancing poses.

A consistent and continuous practice of Yoga helps strengthen the immune system, improve circulation and respiration, balance hormones, improve coordination and strengthen bones and joints.  Yoga aids digestion, improves the function of organs, nerves and glands, slows the aging process and increases vitality.

“Yoga is a light which, once lit, will never dim-the better your practice, the brighter the flame.”  --B.K.S. Iyengar

 Iyengar Hatha Yoga

Iyengar Yoga is a very innovative, inspired, systemized approach to Hatha Yoga developed for over 60 years by Yogi and Author B.K.S. Iyengar.   The Iyengar Yoga method is based on the eight-limbed (astanga) path of yoga outlined over 2500 years ago by the Indian sage, Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras (see "The Tree of Yoga").   It emphasizes correct alignment, detailed precision, self awareness and balance.   The use of props are a creative addition to the teaching and of therapeutic value when adapting poses to the needs of each student.

The Tree of Yoga

To grow a plant there is a process, similarly, the tree of the self needs to be taken care of.  The sages of old, who experienced the sight of the soul, discovered its seed in yoga.  This seed has eight segments which as the tree grows give rise to the eight limbs of yoga. 

The root of the tree is yama -the outer observances. Since these "organs of action" control the "organs of perception and the mind," yogis think of yama as the foundation.

The trunk of the tree is the niyama -the inner observances. These control the organs of perception--eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin.

The tree's branches emerge in various shapes and directions representing the asanas; the postures that align physical functions with psychological patterns.

From the branches grow leaves whose interaction with air supplies the tree with energy. They correspond to pranayama, the science of breath.

The branches of the tree are covered by bark protecting the energy flowing inside the tree.  Bark corresponds to pratyahara, the inward journey of the senses from the skin to the core of the being.

The sap of the tree, the juice that carries the energy on this inward journey represents dharana-concentration, focusing the attention on the core of the being.  

Flowers bloom when the tree is healthy. Like meditation –dhyana- their nature is freshness. 

The fruit is samadhi.

"As the essence of the tree is in the fruit, so the essence of the practice of yoga is in the freedom, poise, peace, and beatitude of samadhi, where the body, the mind, and the soul are united and merge with the Universal Spirit

--B.K.S. Iyengar. 

“Impermanence is inevitable and is the essence of our being.  We grow like the tree, ever changing giving forth blooms so its essence and sweet nectar can be enjoyed by All.”

--Sylvanus Klotz

 

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