Tantra the razors edge

reflections on my journey with yoga

I’ve been reflecting on the fact that I’m the same age as my teacher was when I met him. I remember that first meeting like it was yesterday. He seemed like an ordinary man until I sat in his class. His words were like golden honey; they dripped into me, and my mind became a pool of stillness. I knew from that first class that I’d found home—not with him, but with myself. From that moment on, I decided I only wanted true yoga, not glamour yoga. I wanted tradition and authenticity, and I made it my mission to learn everything I could from him about Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda.

They say that the tantric path is like walking a razor's edge. In Tantra, everything is used as a tool for transformation. For me, this included my health, my marriage, and my home—life as I knew it. I was lucky. My heart's desire to know the true meaning of yoga and to find my purpose shone brighter than the crumbling ashes of my life. 

I feel grateful to have met John (ironically through my teacher) and ultimately my Vedanta master, who broke open the word yoga in such a way that I can’t ever mistake its meaning. Teaching now, for me, is simple. It’s about transmitting the power and purpose of yoga without bells and whistles. The purpose of practice is to calm the mind so YOU—the truth, yoga, awareness—can remember yourSelf. It sounds simple, and it is. Unfortunately, in today’s complicated world, we get in our own way. Instead of seeing the practices as the reminder of who we are—i.e., when you feel peaceful after practice, the practice doesn’t CREATE the peace; it reminds you of the peace you already are—we think they are a means to an end. 

Finding an authentic, time-honored tradition with a teaching methodology that leads the mind step by step to the truth of oneself is all that is needed. Once the truth is pointed out, it can’t be forgotten. Then the practices become a subtle, beautiful song you can enjoy over and over in the playlist of life.

If you would like to study yoga asana with me over the winter you can find me on the schedule at Lennox Yoga on Wednesdays 4.15-5.15 pm and offering covers June-September. Visit www.lennoxyoga.com.au for more info

You can also join me for a 6 week course on Monday evenings 5-6 pm starting July 1-August 5 at my home studio in Lennox. Space is limited. The course is $90 and this payment reserves your spot. Reply to this newsletter if you would like more info

Lastly if you live anywhere in the world I have an ongoing Tuesday Class 5-6 pm AEST on our Sundaram Online Ashram. Its $49 AUD per month to join and you can cancel your subscription at any time. Plus you get access to over 180 replays. Visit www.rachelzinmanyoga.com/membership for more info

Hari Om

Rachel