About shadow yoga
The practices of hatha yoga were designed to use the body as a tool to access and condition the mind and bring it into single pointed focus. Regular use of joint-mobility exercises, squats, stances, sun and moon salutes, bandha (energetic locks) and breathing exercises cultivate a quiet discerning mind for the purpose of observing the self and the reaction to the self. The ultimate goals are to remove obstructions and patterns in the physical, mental, and emotional body, so that movement and posture will become effortless and then the mind will become steady and able to observe oneness.
Shadow Yoga is the name given by Sundernath (Shandor Remete) to his ongoing development of a system that is intended to be a renaissance of classical Hatha Yoga, which utilizes rhythmic breathing, kriya, bandha coordination, and the system of vital energetic junctions referred to as marma. The ultimate intention is to free the peripheral body of its energetic obstructions, and to ignite the inner fire for healing and meditation. Shadow Yoga consists of circular and spiraling movements, warrior stances, and sun salutation forms that prepare students to safely and effectively practice the more advanced limbs of hatha yoga known as pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana and samadhi.
Shadow Yoga is the name given by Sundernath (Shandor Remete) to his ongoing development of a system that is intended to be a renaissance of classical Hatha Yoga, which utilizes rhythmic breathing, kriya, bandha coordination, and the system of vital energetic junctions referred to as marma. The ultimate intention is to free the peripheral body of its energetic obstructions, and to ignite the inner fire for healing and meditation. Shadow Yoga consists of circular and spiraling movements, warrior stances, and sun salutation forms that prepare students to safely and effectively practice the more advanced limbs of hatha yoga known as pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana and samadhi.
About My process
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Richmond Dickson is the Owner and Director of The New England School of Therapeutics. He is also a Structural Integration Therapist, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, and yoga instructor. Richmond's teaching derives from his 20+ years of studying and practicing yoga, meditation, kinesthetic movement and healing arts. You can read more about his professional work at The Bodywork Clinic here. Richmond was introduced to, and studied the Shadow Yoga prelude forms with Scott Blossom, Matt Pesendian, and Andy Matinog over the span of many years. He continues his study of Shadow/Hatha Yoga with Sundernath (Shandor Remete),the founder of Shadow Yoga, and Emma Balnaves.
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about the student process
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Creating a personal practice is essential to maturing one’s skills as a yoga practitioner and is an integral part of studying Shadow Yoga. While persistence and devotion are required, one also needs a flexible, creative set of tools and a solid theoretical understanding to meet one’s changing needs from day-to-day and to realize the inner potentials of yoga.
The once-a-month weekend workshop format will afford the time and space to delve deeply into the practical, philosophical, and energetic basis of the sequencing of the Shadow Yoga Prelude Forms, the “seed” asanas, and primary asana-vinyasas. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how to utilize Shadow Yoga for personal growth, prepare the subtle body for the internal limbs of yoga, and address special therapeutic needs such as women’s and men’s health and recovering from injury or illness. The Shadow Yoga In-Depth Studies course has been designed to offer students an opportunity to learn Shadow Yoga in a methodical way that will support a fruitful home practice. It will focus on foundational practices such as the three Prelude Forms, Kriyas, Bandhas, and Ayurvedic self-care. The Prelude Forms have been developed to overcome the energetic obstructions of the body, rendering the mind sensitive towards the action. This process is intended to prepare the student for further asana and energetic work and, therefore, should come before it. This necessary foundational piece is largely absent from modern-day yoga styles and systems and, without it, the Hatha Yoga methodology cannot yield its intended results completely if at all. It is recommended that students commit at least two to three years to this process of working with the prelude forms. While much can be learned in the first year, the learning is more intellectual as there is a lot of theoretical information presented that must be worked with over time to understand its uses. The second year and, perhaps, third year will focus on developing mastery of the three Shadow Yoga Preludes which will serve to deepen the purification of the subtle body, heal the organs of reproduction, digestion and elimination, and set the foundation for safe and effective entry into the more subtle practices mentioned above. |