About Marilena's Teaching Style, Methods and Goals

More than 5,000 years old, Yoga is a science of health. Moreover, it is a life style. Yoga harmonizes the body, giving it the order it needs to function properly. Yoga teaches how to catch, transform, direct, and distribute vital energy in the physical body. It restores peace of mind from which come freedom and skill in action, and clarity no matter how active you are.

For most of us, the understanding of our body, mind, energy, and spirit remains as a great enigma. Yoga opens a universe of possibilities, of creativity, ability, and unknown gifts, that are waiting to be found inside. Yoga teaches how to befriend our body with understanding, love, respect, and compassion. During practice we learn self-confidence, freedom, and balance, and recover our self-esteem, which cannot be reached by effort, vigor, or flexibility. With pranayamas (respiratory exercises), we also purify every system: circulatory, respiratory, elimnatory, digestive, and neurochemical. As we relax the body, we pacify the mind and emotions with clarity and alertness. With meditation, the mind calms and concentrates, and we enter a deep state, extending our mental faculties. Yoga is total health! After many years of study, research and practice, I could see that some exercises called Pawanmuktasana were effective in unblocking and energizing. These exercises detoxify the body, activate energetic channels and centers (chakras), and stimulate glands. In my classes, I use these practices systematically, as warm-ups or as a preparation for the asanas (postures). I have seen great improvements in my pupils as they detoxify and progress in flexibility. Students can stay in postures longer, enjoying meditative positions with ease. In my teaching, I also use Tibetan curative sounds (mantras), sacred dance, laughing therapy, self-massage, and acupressure (acu-Yoga). From my many years of dance, martial arts, qi-gong, tai chi chuan, shaolin, and art therapy, I have integrated these thousand year old techniques with the classic Hatha Yoga based on the Raja Yoga of Patanjali. My teaching style is aimed at a therapy of body, energy, mind and spirit. It is a kind of 'Yoga Therapy' on all levels. Thus, I say 'Yoga is health'.

Within each level of the curriculum (beginners, intermediate, advanced, and even meditation) I teach a series of postures that includes sequences of dynamic and passive positions. I begin all lessons with warm-ups, and finish with relaxation, respiratory techniques and meditation. In some sessions I will include partner yoga practice. Within a mindful state, I focus on the 'Here and Now', with 'active calmness', I create calm activity. With this attitude, students work systematicaly on all the levels: physical, mental, and emotional. They gain greater health, balance and peace in daily life. Asanas | Couples Yoga - Marilena Kali Schanzer