Mark Shveima: Hridaya Bindu: The Balancing Point of the Heart
Hridaya means “heart”. Bindu is a point in time and space. Mark will offer a two-day exploration of the concept of the balancing point of the heart in the yoga practice.
In the non-dual tantric yoga tradition, the heart is the center of the entire universe. It is also the space in which our emotions surge and subside. Often, we can feel slightly or greatly out of balance in our emotional center. Most of us are pulled haphazardly from one emotion to the next, based on our immediate outer body experience. When we practice to listen deeply to the space of the heart, we discover there is a center point of balance that can be maintained. This point is where we truly feel a natural connection to crystal clarity, deep calm, and unwavering strength.
Mark will teach you alignment principles from the Anusara Yoga tradition. These principles will be presented in an intelligent, sequential way to increase your understanding of how to maximize your strength and flexibility, and find the center point of any balance. This understanding will bring greater focus to the mind. With that focus you can begin to penetrate your emotional center, and experience equanimity even in the face of challenges that may arise, both on and off your mat.
Both workshops are open to all levels of students. No previous Anusara experience is necessary. All that is required is a sense of curiosity and adventure!
Module 1: Rooting & Ascending
November 13th 08:00-10:30
This workshop will consist of both standing and hand balances. This balance practice will be supported and augmented by sequences of hip and shoulder openers, to maximize the ability to balance with graceful ease.
The bindu of the heart will be used as the point to root from into the earth. This rooting will bring a reciprocal ascensional energy that will bring a lift throughout the entire body, enabling you to dynamically rise.
You will learn:
- How to root your hands to maintain strong and healthy wrists
- How to align the shoulders to draw into and expand out of the bindu of the heart
- How to simultaneously create strength and suppleness in the feet and ankles for better grounding
Module 2: Opening & Expanding
November 14th 08:00-10:30
This workshop will consist of backbends for all levels of ability. It doesn`t matter how flexible or stiff you think you are. You will experience new levels of integrity and freedom in this session!
Here, the bindu of the heart will be used as a point from which to simultaneously strengthen and expand the upper back muscles. This will maximize the opening of the chest, and thus the energetic heart itself.
You will learn:
- How to open and strengthen the “four gateways” of the torso: the shoulders and hips
- How to use the bindu of the heart to increase the power and expansion of the upper back
- How to create a deeper backbend without creating pain