Poznan, Poland Workshop with Gregor Maehle

Saturday
8:00AM-10:00AM Mysore class 2hrs
4:00PM-6:00PM A Technical Analysis of the Primary Series 2hrs
6:30PM-8:30PM Sutra class 2hrs

Sunday
8:00AM-10:00AM Mysore class 2hrs
6:30PM-8:30PM Tantric Meditation

Guided and Mysore-style asana classes

Here Gregor will analyse the many intricate anatomical details of the majority of the postures of the Primary Series, while maintaining as much pace as possible. The focus will be on breaking down the various phases of entering and exiting the postures into their constituents. Performing postures safely while understanding which anatomical actions will get us deep into the asanas will prevent unnecessary energy expenditure. Through inducing precision this format also achieves that conditioning and emotions lodged in bodily tissue are released, preparing us for the higher limbs of pranayama and meditation.
The Mysore-style format will give students the opportunity to integrate the information learning in the Led class and also for Gregor to give individual attention to student’s needs.

Yoga Sutra, and Sanskrit chanting
„The Yoga Sutra entered my life 39 years ago and since then it’s been a constant companion. It took me a long time to completely understand it but once this had happened it ended all confusion I had about yoga. Understanding the Sutra gave me complete confidence in how to apply my practices diligently and that I would succeed in due time. The Sutra changed yoga for me from a faith and hope-based system to a science with predictable and repeatable outcomes. It is exactly this confidence and certainty that I would like to pass on to my students. The workshop will be interactive, with ample time for participants to ask questions.”
The Yoga Sutra is the operating manual of yoga. It is only when we understand the why’s and how’s of yoga that we will practice with confidence and beyond doubt. In this class we will chant selected stanzas in Sanskrit and a detailed commentary based on Gregor’s four decades of practice and study will be given. The commentary will retain the depth of the ancient treatises but will be fun, relatable and applicable to modern urban life.

Tantric Meditation
Gregor teaches two meditation systems side-by-side, yogic and tantric meditation. Similar to our asana and pranayama practices so also yogic chakra-Kundalini meditation is very structured. While yogic meditation is a very transformational and powerful technique, some students struggle with its rigor and demands for concentration and visualization. If we experience a lot of pressure in our lives and minds the simple but effective tantric meditation techniques can be useful.
This workshop is based on meditation techniques from an ancient text called the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra. This text came down through Kashmir Shaivism and contains 112 dharanas, what we today would call meditation techniques. Many of today’s popular meditation techniques were already introduced in the Vijnana Bhairava.
Most of these tantric meditations are much simpler than yogic meditation and require less effort. There are also many different techniques to choose from. Here is a sophisticated approach that offers a great variety in case a particular technique doesn’t work for a student. This makes this system very adaptable to individual needs and preferences.
During demanding and stressful times, emphasis on these meditations can create more headspace and nurturing. During other times when more certainty and inspiration is available, this can then be invested into the transformational power of yogic meditation. Hence the two systems work excellently side by side and can easily be integrated with each other.