Early on in my teaching career I had three symbols made for my first yoga studio. Each one was painted on a small canvas, so that I could move them along to future studios. Nearly thirty years on and I still have the yin-yang, AUM and The Way of Tao in my current studio. Symbols represent a practice, philosophy and a way of being. Exactly what “the way” may mean is open to individual perception, but the broad strokes are as follow:

Nourish this understanding, of Self, in Life, and you balance yin and yang (doing, non-doing, form and formless) with, according to The Way of the Tao, Lao Tzu’s poetic, deep mind experience of nature and inner nature (a lovely companion to Patajali’s 8 Limb Principles and Sutras). And of course all of this happens in the Universe, or All That Is. The undifferentiated A-U-M is the Totality, the sound mantra, is the vibration we make in our practice, and it resonates with the vibration or multiple octaves of matter and subtle energy frequencies of Everything. Jesus said for us to build our lives on the rock of the Love of his parents, God/Goddess, or call it Shiva-Shakti.

This is what we are to surrender to if we are to be in the flow of the great Yin and Yang of duality, within the liberating Non-Duality of Pure Awareness. Practice of the Yoga of Self-realisation, Union is a practical day-to-day reality. It is a process where yoga is self-development therapy that supports change. We are the change, made possible by our surrender in our practice. Nourish this Way, Know Self, Know the Way and Grow. Realise Self, Be Bliss.

Practice Yoga and keep warm – I write this from a wintery Yoga Studio,
on Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town, July 2019.
Regards, Johann.

Those words on “came”, so to speak, from my Buddha nature, and sounds similar to other “Buddha nature” quotes or Buddha teachings. It is because these ideas flow from the inner place, described by the opening verse. Inner wisdom is accessed in mindfulness and meditation. These are states of contemplation, not thinking, more a kind of thinking combined with surrender to inner, innate intelligence. Anyone can “contemplate”, not only Buddhists, yogis ‘s or philosophers. It is a place of Universal Being, and has zero to do with religion or belief system. That is the whole point:

You have Buddha consciousness, in your nature, in your body

Yoga helps us awaken to the refined subtle, etheric body of existence which is connected to the dense, physical body with its limited perceptions and abilities. One can philosophise, and talk about Buddha nature, but as with describing a travel experience, one has to actually travel to experience travel. For meditation to be valid is has to experienced, in the bodymind, in the present moment. Becoming conscious, through movement and breath in synergy, the  meditating yogi evokes an actual experience of intelligent being within, inside the body.

We learn and practice this type of awareness in the yoga studio. We may realise the extraordinary levels and dynamics of innate intelligence in yoga, but to render it real, in the ordinary reality of the ordinary world, we must learn to live it, moment by moment, day by day, year after year, in body-mind-spirit integration. Realize this, surrender to this flow, and you have… self-realisation. Realising your Buddha nature is a long journey, that is also only a thought away.

Blessings,
Johann Kotze
In Yoga, Cape Town,
Muizenberg.

Yoga is associated with the East, with India and its cultural identities of race, ritual and religion. Its ancient Vedic roots are often misperceived as mere Hinduism, while its deeper message is a universal truth. Yoga’s non-duality philosophy, a science of Universal Life Force and intelligent creation, is a fascinating quantum metaphysics, where the universe, and everything in it, is interconnected. Such yoga asks us to understand life from beyond the limitation of the popular image of yoga, orthodox science, religious beliefs systems.

The concept of East and West and its embedded realities are but one example of the multiple duality fragments and aspects of non-duality truth. In Yoga, creation and Creator is “All That Is”, a living system of consciousness. The differences become apparent in the kind of yoga where the human bodymind is the device and temple of the practices of conscious awareness, which includes the yin-yang of duality, also on a Creator-Creation level.

Shiva, the Hindu God, may then be an aspect of “God”, more importantly a masculine aspect balanced by Shakti, a nurturing feminine power. Such a Shiva-Shakti is symbolic and functional beyond religion, with Shiva the destroyer of ignorance, and regenerator of the understanding that holism overcomes the illusions of duality. Shakti is the creative energy or Spirit that births and forms Creation.

Knowledge and understanding of the creative dualities that work in pairs – as example the masculine-feminine aspects are represented as the Ida and Pingala of the yogic Sushumna Nadi, the central channel of Life Force Prana, the spine, in the bodymind.

Knowledge, and understanding of the wisdom of non-duality helps the seeker of bliss to penetrate beyond the layers of superficiality illusions. The adept yogi practice on both levels, a duality within a non-duality. Applied to meditation practice the adept finds quickened wisdom of consciousness.

This throws much light on the practice of Yoga as Union, a holistic duality. This whole, with its ebb and flow tides of balance of dualities, is beautifully illustrated by the yin-yang representation of nature and existence.

This yoga of understanding asks us to learn from life itself, beyond religion, ritual, and intellectual knowledge. We study and we do yoga, using logic, experience and enquiry. To connect with the non-dual bliss of the whole, the spark of Divinity, we have to go within, reach out for Divine guidance, and surrender to it.

Join my Turn on your Bliss with Yoga Intensive

7 Day 50 Hour advanced yoga teacher training and yoga practice appreciation.

Please contact me with your enquiries, or to book to ensure your place.

In service of Peace & Bliss
Johann
Muizenberg Beach
Cape Town
16 June 2018

A belief is an illusion. A strongly held opinion is a chain that binds the believer to a point of view. An open mind and open heart is the pulse and impulse of an innocent child, an innovative entrepreneur, an authentic artist, an enquiring scientist and a healthy human being. #yoga #wisdom #wellbeing #motivation #inspiration

A post shared by Johann Kotze Music & Yoga (@johannkotzemusicandyoga) on Feb 19, 2018 at 11:08pm PST

When one person looks at the world entirely based on intellectual understanding and compares that viewpoint to another persons viewpoint who looks at the world from emotional experiences, for example, the person who can take in and interpret both viewpoints will, arguably, have a more balanced or holistic worldview. Any one point of view that does not take the whole into account is simply fragmented. What makes yoga such a phenomenal system is the way it helps induce, through its body-mind-spirit practices, holistic well-being.

Try it yourself – meditate! Of course I am not unaware of my point of view here, or that it is my opinion or viewpoint on yoga. But I do understand that meditation, a pinnacle of yoga practice, goes somewhere along the line of the opening line. Hopefully that point is taken for what it is meant, as a promotion of meditation as a means to open mindedness. The only way to put this to the test is to experiment with a meditation practice.

Have fun, exploring the open mind with an open heart!

Yours in yoga,
Johann, Cape Town,
February 2018

Although we sometimes fall way short on this invaluable attitude when the going gets tough, “appreciation of appreciation” is nurtured by simply taking note of “what is”, when “it” is. And when not feeling so awesome, just let things be, and be grateful when things are awesome. With practice we learn to become aware of the glass being half full, not half empty. Which is, of course, a full glass. The uplifting energy of appreciation may just be enough momentum to carry us through the trough to the next peak. The bliss of that peak experience is the necessary fuel of life to inspire higher living. Or the energy to aspire to, and develop the life skills to achieve such a life.

A simple uplifting yoga practice

In yoga the practice of pranayama – to lengthen or alter the breath, and therefore contact with Life Force – is a great way to mix gratitude practice with meditation. Just sit in meditation, mindful of you, yourself, and the breath, in the body. Take a sow, deep breath,  and gently hold it, for a few moments, in awareness of the expansive potential of the moment, without holding on to the moment. Breathe out. Now place your hands in prayer, and be grateful, physically. Not the word or the concept, but the energy. Of course holding an inhale for a few relaxed, focussed moments, is in itself uplifting, so combine the above techniques. With practice we begin to feel how frequencies form our lives, and learn how to choose frequencies that form positive, life affirming patterns in our lives.

Gain altitude with the attitude of gratitude. Get into the habit to follow your bliss and your highest self.

Johann
27 June 2017

Sacred geometry water crystals from the page of Masaru Emoto, and texts from his book “Messages from water”.
PS. See yantra for another connection of yoga to frequency, form and appreciation.

● Cape Town International Centre (CTICC) is Saturday 17th 2017, two sessions 08h30-13h30 and 14h00-19h00.
● The Consulate General of India, Cape Town presents Sunday, 18th at Samaj Centre Hall, Gatesville, 8.30 – 10.30 AM. A screening of a short film, a performance of some basic
yoga asanas by all, and a demonstration of more difficult yogic asanas.
● Solstice Celebration on International Yoga Day, Cape Town, 21 June 2017, 7.30 AM – 10 PM, Muizenberg Civic Center, Pavilion & Beach. Program on my workshop & events page and Facebook Event

The United Nations declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. This year this important day will be celebrated in all 193 member countries of the UN.

In our world there is a place for commerce, entertainment, work, leisure, religion ad sport. For those aspects of life to express in harmony, there also has to be a place for conscious contemplation, in body and mind.

Meditation is a phsycial, mental and spiritual practice.

The whole practice takes place in the body; a precise, active act of consciousness.  Through related yoga philosophy and techniques the body mind is purified of limiting thoughts and emotions. Non-duality Vedic teachings let’s us be mindful of the polarisation of have and not have, often expressed as fear and greed, which is a root cause of all suffering. Releasing life trauma and its related body stress impressions let’s us breathe in and out as we should, let’s us take making a living less serious, allowing us to take life itself more seriously, in grace and gratitude.

Yoga and meditation is an acquired condition, as the unconscious ordinary world tends to disconnect from holistic well-being. In a state of yoga we unlearn isolation and desperation, and learn how to open our hearts and minds to the world around us. It shows us devotion to life itself leads to the only place where true peace can be found: within. In surrender to All That Is. Then our inner being merges, more easily, with whatever comes our way.

Do it: learn, practice, discover

We begin to create the place for yoga and meditation in our lives when we begin to do the practice. We can learn how to from a book, a teacher in a class, online or real, join a meditation group, but is an acquired skill. It is so worthwhile a skill, because it is at once fun and meaningful, as it brings the pleasure of life to life.

Many blessings,
Johann, Cape Town
10 May 2017

Ps: The moon is a cool reflection of the warm sun. Balance of air and fire elements helps us live life affirming, balanced lives on Earth, under the heavenly skies. Meditation shows us how to be fluid and present and to surrender to and live in harmony with the forces of local nature and the greater cosmos. In yoga we don’t pray to the sun or moon, we acknowledge the Divine Presence in our own devotional presence in nature. (About Beach Yoga Meditation, as in the photographs).

We learn how to connect to our supernatural state of consciousness in class
and then practice
how to maintain that connection in real life.

That is mindfulness.

Learn mindful consciousness

● See my blogs for insights or techniques (actual practice) of how to be in the moment
● Alignment to Prana, the Universal Life Force is as good a place to start
● Also learn the joy of follow your bliss (video blog)
● With mindful commitment comes a life of increased joy and less suffering

ॐ

Many Blessings,
Johann,
In OM & Yoga, Muizenberg (link to “about my classes”)
Cape Town

Such exploration, overt or covert, class after class, or at work, home and play, is as this metaphysical inquest is as much a yoga root practice as breathing and meditation is. And it all takes place in the body. Not in the head; in mine or yours.

How true are these statements, and how true are they for you? Don’t take my word for it, find out for yourself. Meditate, go within and explore the nuances of reality. How are these realities for you? Remember this when you consider and think about and fathom this stuff to include the thinking mind. Feel, sense, and contextualise cognitively. The trick is to not let the thinking mind, emotions or material world, or for that matter, the unseen, dominate.

Everything, every single atom in this universe, and whatever it contains, is connected to every other thing. And this is only a beginning to understand the multimentionality of whatever it is that we are so inextricabally part of. To believe otherwise is… delusional… belieivng in an illusion.

Everything is about context – meaning if you look at something from a perspective, you are looking at it from “a side”. The drop of water in a bucket, the emotion behind a teardrop, the cloud above the rain and the sky above the earth are pieces of a greater whole. Every angle or point of view is relative, including one’s metaphysical point of view when it does not acknowledges that nothing but complete holism is accurate. Else a “worldview” is exactly that: “a view of the world”,  and not quite a “knowing of all things” :-))

Alienation, cynicism, aloofness, criticism, elitism, poverty in extreme and chronic states is a manifestation of seperation. We don’t have to believe in God, mythology or in science to know that the breath is life. When we include rather than exclude separation is abolished. Love is the bottom line. The chalkboard sign in the studio changes because the represent ideas, but the small love sign is written in koki.

Take care, nurture the illusion, and the connection to the unseen one-ness. One just got to… love the duality.

With love,
Johann
Johann Kotze Music & Yoga
Muizenberg,
Cape Town,
18 September 2015

Yoga points out that no-one person or group of people, no personal status or possession, no compliment or achievement, no religion, work, drug or pill can give any one person a lasting or sustainable experience of yoga without one doing it oneself. And none of the aformentioned can let you feel the awesomeness that we naturally embody when not caught up in storms of emotions and intellectuality, or lost in the quagmire of the thinking mind personality. In other words, yoga and mindfulness lets us experience something quite priceless. Something we can only experience directly, through our own practice. Yoga suggests that though we can, and should, think and talk about it, yet we have to actually practice it to feel it and bring into the reality, make it real, else it we’re only “thinking and talking” about it!

So in order to experience any degree of the bliss of a body-mind attuned to itself, and the world around it, and connected to the life force of all that is, we have to get down to the basics and “just do it”.  And yoga encourages us to “just do it”, to go for it, because we can – anyone with a willingness to try it can do some yoga. Any level of ability will let you feel looser and lighter, and more awesome. So you don’t have to be awesome at yoga to feel awesome from it.

Where do we start? We begin with every yoga session. And every day, every moment, every year of our lives. For me the “yoga quest” or striving for greater mindfulness is encapsulated in the Chinese proverb (old, wise China of ancients) of “Every 1 000 mile journey begins with the first step”.

I’d add that, for the journey to be a mindful one, one would have to be aware of every step along the way. As such mindfulness will naturally come and go, we return time and again to the mat, to evolve greater mindfulness.

I wish everyone on the path, good luck with the journey. I know only too well how challenging it can be!
Johann,
13 June 2014.

Audio for a 4 minute Mindfulness meditation:

Read Part 1