Copy
Jump directly to:
First Teacher Training on Bali
Yin & Yang Yoga in Ubud
New Venue in Thailand
Akasha Yoga Academy - Space for Integral Evolution

Namaste <<First Name>>!


New Year’s Resolutions
Determination vs. Surrender

There are certain moments and milestones in our lives which remind us to pause, to breathe, to look back – and to consciously choose the direction in which we wish to move forward. The New Year is one of those times of reflection in our Western societies. For us personally, it is the occasion to define our priorities in terms of practice. Patanjali calls this type of resolution Tapas and features it in the ten recommendations for integrating Yoga into our daily lives.

Tapas means burning, and refers to a chosen routine which is to be observed very strictly, in spite of any internal or external obstacles. Tapas is frequently thought of as a willpower challenge, a Yogic tool to build determination and stamina.

Anyone who has practiced Tapas knows that at times this commitment might seem to oppose spontaneity, that pushing oneself impedes surrender, and that Tapas can feed the ego instead of transcending it. Basically, Tapas seems to cultivate exactly those qualities which stand in the way of spiritual transformation.

Sitting for some time with the practice, we found that Tapas very much depends on goal and attitude: Any Tapas which is directed towards personal or even spiritual improvement will inevitably strengthen the ego – and this consequently contradicts Liberation. If Absolute Freedom is timeless and infinite, it cannot be a goal to be reached in the future. “Freedom is not for the person, but it is a Freedom from the person.” (Mooji)

The practice of Tapas radically shifts when we choose Freedom as the topic: Our commitment can be to any form of practice that allows us to tap spontaneously into the Present Moment. This is when personal effort becomes surrender, when aspiration and letting go merge in a symbiotic unity, and when the fire of Tapas reveals its inherent power of purification. Yoga is the challenge to find the balance between two opposing qualities. It is the art of meeting the silent gap, which opens the door for real transformation.

For us, Tapas is the tool to carefully choose our priorities in life, and it gives us the power to stick to them. Tapas is the purifying fire which lights our way and burns away all that is insignificant.

Impressions from our First Teacher Training
on Bali in Nov 2015


We transitioned really effortlessly into our new second home,
feeling both welcome and excited.
Thank you so much to everyone involved!
Graduation Ceremony of Bali YTT in November.
Practice during Yoga Teacher Training in Bali.
Take a look at some photos of the graduates and of our amazing venue in Bali.

“For me the course was not only inspiring, but transformative! I first got into Yoga for the asana practice, but I soon realized that there was more to it. I have found so much meaning in the teachings of Yoga and I am ready to apply them to my life. Moving forward, I know that I can trust in myself and in the universe. For the first time in my life, I feel connected.”
 - Arianne from Canada, YTT Graduate Nov 2015

“I came to deepen my own practice, with no intention to teach, but I am leaving with a passion to share this energy and the lessons I have learned here. The support from the teachers and students made me abandon my fears that I held on to and gain the confidence in all areas of my life that I was lacking. I really feel like a new person ready to shine and to share what I have learned!”
 - Coral from the US, YTT Graduate Nov 2015

Upcoming Akasha Yoga Teacher Trainings in 2016

…share the dates!

YTT Thailand: January & June 2016
YTT Bali: April & November 2016
Apply now

Experiences from the Balinese Yoga Capital Ubud


After our latest Teacher Training in Bali, we decided to stay for a while to immerse ourselves into the Balinese Yoga world. While we usually dedicate much of our free time to meditation and satsang retreats, we decided on this occasion to check out the contemporary expressions of Yoga instead. Ubud is the perfect place in which to do so. The town is chock-full of Yoga schools and retreat centers, as well as experienced teachers and healers of every specialty and area of study.

We mainly experimented with combining contrasting Yoga styles over the course of a day or even back-to-back: physically challenging Vinyasa Flow with Yin Yoga or Restorative – and we were amazed by how well they complement each other! The combination of these styles works quite nicely for the physical body, and it also allows for Present Moment awareness. However, practicing both styles individually did not feel entirely fulfilling. Yoga is about finding equilibrium, and it was difficult to strike the balance between the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of Yoga when practicing only one of these styles.

If you are looking for more than workout and relaxation, we definitely recommend combining complementary Yin and Yang styles or to go for good old classical Hatha Yoga.

Spiritual Heart Yoga & Meditation Retreats
 – in our brand new venue on Koh Phangan!

Dozens of coconut palms on the beach.
Not only have we settled into a second home in Bali, but we also found a promising new place in Thailand: It is located directly on the waterfront, near the harbor town Thongsala.
Dozens of coconut palms right on the beach, an amazing view of the turquoise ocean, and the fancy architecture were only some of the deciding factors.
Check out some pictures of the stylish venue here, and come join us for the upcoming season in Asia !

Loving wishes for a New Year of change,

Kirsten & Burkhard

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. 
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
 - Margaret Mead
Facebook
Facebook
Email
Email
Website
Website
Copyleft. No rights reserved.
Mailing address: Akasha Yoga Academy Jl. Cempaka, Ubud, Bali 80571 Indonesia

If you do not wish to receive our resources, you may of course 
unsubscribe from our list.
Update your subscription preferences here
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp