THE KAULA TRADITION OF KASHMIRIAN SHAIVITE TANTRISM
Daniel Odier teaches this tradition as he received it from his master, the Yogini Lalita Devî. It is a lineage that goes back to the Mahasiddhas, and in particular to Matsyendranath, author of the Kaulajnananirnaya Tantra.
This very ancient tradition, linked to Indus Valley Shaivism, teaches a form of yoga that has almost disappeared today.
Daniel transmits in the unique and incisive style of Lalita Devî. He strips participants of all their spiritual fantasies to anchor them in the heart of reality and lead them to a joyful presence through breath and mental silence.
THE SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
The weekend workshops, are open to all, and are devoted to teaching the four basic practices: Tandava, the Yoga of emotions, the visualizations of Matsyendranath and the practices of the Vijnanabhairava Tantra. These practices are selected and detailed according to the themes of each weekend. Some time is reserved for questions/answers.
The residential seminars, are open to all. They are devoted to a deepening of basic practices, and provide a theoretical introduction to the Yoga of touch, followed by a first practice. Some time is reserved for questions/answers.
The themed seminars are centered on particular practices such as Kali, Pratyabhijna, Baglamukhi or Chan. They are an opportunity for an intensification of the practice of the yogas and a better integration of the path. With the exception of the Chan seminars, which are open to all, the others themed seminars require Daniel's authorization.
TANDAVA AND THE YOGA OF TOUCH ARE CLOSELY RELATED
Tandava is a four-step practice that connects meditative sitting with movement.
At first, the Yogin learns to meditate by letting the body occupy space through a free and unintentional movement linked to abdominal breathing in the form of an infinity sign.
In a second step, the Yogin lets his arms discover the spherical space that surrounds him. The very flexible body fully participates in this exploration.
Thirdly, the Yogin stands up and begins the sacred dance of Shiva known as Tandava. It is an extremely slow free dance where the movement is gradually freed from all muscular tension and volition. The Yogin thus discovers his original spatial freedom on which the whole tantric approach is based.
In a fourth step, the Yogin drops to the ground and becomes aware of a new organic sensitivity.
It is a discipline that is both simple to understand and difficult to master because it introduces spatiality at three levels: body, mind and emotions. It is described in the Vijnanabhairava Tantra, one of the oldest yoga texts.
The Yoga of touch (Kashmiri massage) origineted from the Shaivite tantric tradition. It is an integral part of Tantric yoga. The Yoga of touch has no direct therapeutic purpose. It tends to introduce subtle body awareness and a vibration, the Spanda, similar to that of a stringed instrument. The Spanda dissolves the perception of duality and leads to an ecstatic experience of the world. The Yoga of touch is one of the four pillars of our practice, along with Tandava, the Yoga of emotions and visualizations. It cannot be isolated or practiced without the other three.