Tibetan Heart Yoga
Tibetan Heart Yoga
Origins: This ancient art of yoga came to Tibet from its birthplace in India over a thousand years ago. The yoga practice taught today, which is called Tibetan Heart yoga, belongs to the Gelukpa tradition of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet. Jey Tsong Khapa was the teacher of His Holiness the First Dalai Lama (1391 – 1474) and from here Tibetan Heart yoga continues up to His Holiness the current Dalai Lama, whose cheerful wisdom and compassion embody its goals.
Teachings: Tibetan Heart yoga works on your heart in two ways: it makes your physical body healthy and strong and it opens your heart to love others. The instructions for opening our hearts to others are called “tong-len”, which means “giving and taking”. This practice involves special ways of breathing and thinking of others, throughout the day and especially as you do your yoga exercises.
Class focus: Tibetan Heart yoga is both similar to and very different from other kinds of yoga being taught today. The most important difference between this yoga tradition and the others is in how you breathe and what you think about as you do your exercises.
Teacher training: Tibetan Heart Yoga proceeds through ten different series, each one building upon the last. The Yoga Studies Institute issues a separate teaching accreditation for each one of the ten series. The teachings have only recently been brought to South Africa and so far Series 1, taught by Amy Cronise-Mead and Series 2 by Ted Lafferty both sent here by YSI have been received at Living Yoga in Johannesburg.
Philosophy: “You cannot enter the door of yoga without kindness and compassion for others” – Changkya, yoga teacher to the Emperor of China and His Holiness the seventh Dalai Lama
Contact details: For more info contact www.yogastudiesinstitute.org or to download courses online visit www.world-view.org. Should you wish to experience a Tibetan Heart Yoga Series One class, you can contact Lisa Heath at The Haum of Yoga on (011) 476-5534 or visit www.haumofyoga.co.za. You can also contact Cherryl Duncan at Living Yoga on (011) 787 9704 or visit www.livingyoga.co.za.
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