Much clarity is found in the ascribed translation of the Sanskrit word “Yoga” as “union”. This begs the question “Union of what?”

Derived from the root “yuj,” (“yug”),”to join”, “to unite”, provides a function, the idea that to practice yoga means to harness, “to subjugate”, or even the English word “yoke”, also derived from the same Sanskrit (Indo-European) root. Early yoga studies of understanding of the universe, in a sense the meaning of life, is found in the Vedanta and its great books that primarily discuss philosophy, meditation, and the nature of Brahma (God). This is the spiritual thought of Vedanta, of which the concept of Rig Veda, which means “knowledge”, is all about.

Vedanta

The bottom line is that Yoga includes asana, as part of metaphysical understanding of man and the universe, while asana or “doing yoga” without context of the whole yoga is, in this sense, not really yoga. To “yoke” or harness the Life Force energies necessarily includes the”force” as exemplified by “a combination of sun and moon”, i.e. a “union through balance of a binary or polar opposites system”. That is what the word “hatha” in Hatha Yoga means. The yogic meaning of that practice is an internal process of an individual “self”, practicing yoga with the aim to become one with All That Is.

Who Am I 

All of this involves an esoteric, metaphysical enquiry and practice, therefore it is a science. Some descriptions of “a yogi” is one who seeks contact with The Creator, or Creation. This explains why the deeper, or true motivation to practice of yoga is to realise self. The practice of the system of yoga suggests that only “self” can “realize itself” and become Self, through awareness of self and Self, when small self merges into consciousness with Self, and All. Herein lies the idea behind “Yoga of Union through Understanding”, which includes knowing about the polarities and dualities, the paradoxes and ordinary realities.

How to actually “do this yoga”takes us back to the word yoga, which suggests that there is really only one true Yoga, with many paths of yoga styles on the way there. When as much as is possible, all the aspects of yoga is included, it may be thought of as Hatha Yoga.

The Golden Middle Way of Hatha Yoga 

The Gold of the “middle path” is in the “All”. It’s value is by virtue of “making whole”, not fragmentation or specialisation. Such “complete yoga” points out that Self-realisation in Union with All That Is necessarily means to include all the practices. Hatha Yoga is a complete physical practice, as part of the philosophy and spirituality of Universal Yoga. The only extreme of Golden Middle Path is utmost dedication to holistic balance. This includes acceptance of the absence of balance, or chaos, therefore goes beyond perfection or imperfection.

The yin-yang of Taoism, with its philosophy of a superior man, comfortable in awareness of the ever changing flow, is this perfect perfection. Or perfect imperfection; preconceived notions of “doing” or “not doing” falls away. Through asana, informed by pranayama, meditation and deep relaxation and (in the modern sense) a lifestyle commitment to enquire into the truth of reality, the bodymind is prepared to understand itself, from within.

Hatha Yoga may be practiced without the Vedanta context, but then the philosophical, metaphysical core and physics (cause and effect) of yoga practice, or “the reason to practice yoga” fall away. This is why “yoga practice” is not Yoga when it does not include the mind. Simultaneously “Yoga” is not achieved intellectually. Logic is a tool, but as with asana, won’t get the practitioner to Nirvana “enlightenment” or “samadhi”, without the combined spiritual and intellectual understanding.

The Golden Middle Path is also called The Infinite Way, an all inclusive, free of dogma or style (brand). It promotes a Universal (non) identity with one of the most valuable insights in existence, which is to live in “heart and mind”, in body and spirit, locally, and universally. One has to go within for such a Universal Truth.

Yoga teacher training based on my Sivananda training in Hatha Yoga

“Turn on Your Bliss with Yoga” Module 1 of a 200 hour course.
Understanding Yoga in Direct Perception of practice of asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation.
September 9-15th. Daily study 8-5PM of the essence of Yoga Philosophy in theory and practice.

● Day 1 Chakra System/Subtle Body
● Day 2 Metaphysics of non-duality
● Day 3 Shiva & Shakti, Ida, Pingala & Nadi
● Day 4 Patanjali’s Sutras
● Day 5 Five Keys of Effective Yoga
● Day 6 Mantra, mudra, bandha & meditation
● Day 7 Surrender & Self-realisation

The other 3 Modules

Doing and Teaching Yoga – Vinnie Vinyassa Flow inspired yoga and an investigation into other yoga styles
Anatomy – knowledge of bodymind for metaphysical wisdom
Healing – over arching and underscoring of Holistic Yoga

ॐ

Hari OM Tat Sat
Johann,
Muizenberg Beach,
Cape Town
22 August

A Serene Muizenberg Beach Meditation
Johann Kotze Music & Yoga
8 September 2017

ॐ ॐ ॐ

Awareness is the light that highlights the seen, and the unseen. Without awareness of the those unseen, dark and shadowy areas, and its interplay with the light, unhealthy behaviour occur. All behaviour is influenced by both light and dark. Ignorance is the unaware – become aware of the shadow side and you bring light to the unknown, or unnoticed – consciousness brought into conscious. Fear, literal or symbolic, backs off where there is light.

Integrating one’s shadow side is essential to well-being

One’s “dark side” includes physical, mental or emotional damage. This may be anything from birth trauma to illness to accidents and personal abuse. Healing the complex layers of bodymind – the yoga concept that all the parts are an indivisible part of the whole – requires extreme skill and diligence. It is vital to note that fear, again symbolic or real, has to be transformed into fearlessness, else it simply goes undercover, and operate as one’s shadow side. By that example underlying, hidden fear, sabotages conscious behaviour with its un-holistic agenda.

Yoga helps accomplish healing

Yoga is a potent combined awareness and skills practice. It guides its practitioner to an understanding of well-being, holistic health on its multiple levels, and simultaneously nourishes bodymind consciousness. Innate healing intelligence, inside the practitioner, and in relation to the world and the cosmos, is awakened. This is very different from  externally applied knowledge/mechanics systems prevalent in the world at this stage.

Disease occurs first on an emotional level. We get sick when we stress to much, eat too much, or too little, or run too fast or go too slow. Every single thought and feeling form in the body, and accumulates.  If not letting go of, or transformed, these energies breaks or interferes with natural healing.

Bring light to the dark, and the dark is transformed. Bring such awareness to the whole being, and the being is made whole. Light is wisdom and also “light”, and brings great joy to life.  

NJoY! Feel the Bliss!
Johann, Cape Town,
15 August 2017
ॐ ॐ ॐ

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).

Nikola Tesla said: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”

Energy follows intention

When I enter the studio for class, or soon after starting a class, I feel a frequency change in myself, and the studio space. Everything remains familiar and the same on the surface, but inside me the intention of a conscious connection with the Life Force alters reality.

In yoga we chant OM to connect with Prana and the Godhead, in our bodies. We gather in community, in a shared space, to enjoy the union of individuals, as part of a greater consciousness. These are the frequencies and vibrations, generated by the presence of the teachers and students, that seeps into the walls and the floors of a yoga studio.

Being in a space of such beautiful energy is a sacred experience, that indeed reveals the secrets of the universe.

Tune in!

Johann Kotze
Yoga, Cape Town
7 October 2016.

ॐ

The 10 Top Yoga Studios in Cape Town selected by the hugely popular CapeTownMagazine includes the up and coming Muizenberg yoga scene. The Cape Town Surf Yoga Studio on the now rocking-every-weekend-Surfers Corner received a warm heads-up in the influential online magazine:

“With the double-storey lodging literally on the beach, it comes as no surprise then that African Soul Surfer boasts Cape Town’s only sea-facing yoga studio. What’s more zen than looking out onto the calming ocean while perfecting your breathing and poses, right? The backpackers hosts yoga classes 7 days a week and pilates twice a week. Session costs between R70 and R80p/p. Of course, if you want to contrast the calming effects of yoga with an adrenaline rush, the vibrant hostel integrates surf culture into its look and feel and also offers surf lessons and hires out boards and wetsuits.”

See the other Top Cape Town Yoga Studios nominated by the magazine.

The unpredicatable Muizenberg and False Bay wind, cool or strong sun does not allow for regular beach yoga practice, but the surf yoga instructors do take learners through a beach routine. Yoga classes varies between before or after surfing, as yoga is equally useful as a warm-up or post surf practice. Most of all yoga helps surfing in the long run, with developing a more rounded skill set. And the combination is a lot of fun:

Johann, Johann Kotze Music & Yoga, Cape Town, Winter 2016.

A close knit community of alternatives, doing their own thing, is the thing to here. I suspect there are as many surfboards, or more, as people in the village. Boards are number one coffee shops and restaurant decoration, stacked in its numerous surf shops and surf schools, and just about every home or flat has a surfboard or three.

Apart from local surf mad nutters and the rest of town that enjoys the fabulous winter surf, with glorious sunny translucency or big swell rainy, offshore conditions, the want-to-surf tourists of summer, every Tom, Dick and Debbie these days want the freedom lifestyle image of surf and yoga. So the national t.v. broadcaster visited us on a lovely sunny winter’s day to report on the Surf Yoga Camp class I teach at African Soul Surfer lodge. Jamie, its owner and surfer dude deluxe, is very keen on yoga, and we contrived a great yoga and surf instruction combination:

Everyone welcome to drop-in for a yoga class

While surf yoga sure is a fun (and at least mildly challenging) endeavour for unskilled beginners, all non-surfer Cape Town yogis or visitors to our city are welcome to book a drop-in yoga class at the Sea-View Yoga Studio. If your kids, boyfriend, or girlfriend is a weekend wave warrior, and you’re not, you are super welcome to a Saturday or Sunday morning yoga class, listed by influential CapeTownMagazine as a Top Ten Yoga Studio in Cape Town. And to all surfer dudes and dudettes: as you can see in the surf yoga video, yoga is a no brainer counterpart to increase surf fun and ability.

Please note that I teach do-able, effective yoga,  the ability and need or requirements of the students to dictate the pace, level and other content.

This buzzing-on-weekends Muizenberg Surfers Corner is located halfway to Cape Point, surrounded by nature, perfect to explore the Southern Cape Peninsula from, and an open secret to Cape Town weekend travellers that loves to fact that one can get out of the city in one short drive to awesomeness.

Yours in Yoga,
Johann,
Cape Town,
Muizenberg.

All stills on this page from the Mela t.v. production.

Align with your intentions

Get clear on what it is you wish to achieve when starting a project. Clear intentions help invoke the necessary synergy for effective planning and implementation of strategies. What exactly do you want to achieve?

According to yoga, a vision and a pragmatic technique of what you’d like to attain, is well served by meditation.

Start with meditation: be it a new day, a new year or long term enterprise, clarify and potentise the project, just like you would in a yoga class. And strengthen the meditation with advanced yoga techniques.

Technique supports vision

Strong technique supports skill, and promotes sound action. In yoga meditation leads to “right action”, which springs from a Body-Mind-Spirit Source Integrity. Be in this Creative Zone and you will maintain Inner Peace with far greater ease. The resulting strength lets you put your foot down and stand firm, be more flexible, and roll with the punches, out of harms way.

It takes courage and perseverance to Awaken this Potential. Yoga is filled to the brim with practices to encourage and keep the Inner Fire alive. We learn and hold various Signs of Power, so we can discover how to “be yogic” in our daily lives, in the world.

In yoga meditation itself is supported by a host of practices. The Peace Sign in the top graphic is a cultural signal that sends a specific social message. It is similar to the specific hand positions, or mudras, of yoga. Read more about mudras and how to use them.

Inspiration and Divine Guidance

Without the teachings, insights, art, lessons and practical leadership of Buddha and Christ, Bob Marley and Madiba, Da Vinci and Shakespeare cultural poverty and spiritual void reigns.

Divine Guidance, be it one’s personal Inner Awareness of the Force, as in Star Wars, or a personal connection with goddess Lakshmi (my graphic to the right, as example) of the myriad expressions of the Feminine aspect of the Divine, are all revealed when earnestly taking the time to go within, into the Sacred Inner Sanctum of Self, and become conscious in that way.

Avoid getting bogged down too much with religious trappings, cultural programs and intellectual specifics.

Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha

Tara means “to shine”. It is used in an ancient Sanskrit Mantra, a beautiful prayer:
Tara, liberate us from fear, and find deliverance and the path to the heart.

This is what may be understood as Buddha Consciousness and Christ Consciousness.
Blessed are we when we connect with the Inner Divine. Help hold this peace in the world.

In Yoga,
Johann,
Muizenberg, Cape Town
5 January 2016.

Also see my blog Light of All Light.

I suspect impossible. On earth, anyway. Earth is only one tiny planet, the universe is… well, we don’t know how large, or even, for that matter (pun intended) what the “facts” are.

So for me it makes 100% sense to not dismiss anything outright, except knowing that we don’t know. Opinions about what is and what isn’t is, simply put, limiting. Extremely limiting, and dangerous. Even lethally so. Opinion is dualistic, narrowing, devolution. Like an analogy that, sooner or later, breaks down.

Why I value yoga, as a metaphysical body-mind-spirit system, so much, is because it values, above all, the whole. Everything. Infinitely so. It argues, very reasonably, that the whole has to be considered before true knowing occurs. This investigation into holism is the essential nature, or science, of yoga.

One may, or may not find God there. That is a matter of being, it simply cannot be a proving, believing, or not believing thing. In debate there can be no valid dispute that “we” are “body, mind and spirit”. Call it what you may, but we are material, the seen, and energy, for lack of better word, or the unseen. I feel totally safe with hedging my bet on a holistic model of a non-dualistic universal system of multi-verses, an infinite (whatever that actually is), or Prana.

And I am most certainly here, in this aspect of duality, in the flesh, contemplating and existing here. Quantum science, inner knowing, yoga and meditation confirms for me that this reality is an aspect of a holographic prism that may just be the Godhead of the ancient and timeless yogi’s. I also call it consciousness. Buddha nature. Personally I don’t want to limit my options or yours, by thinking or saying more than this.

Meditate and Know?

Wishing you much yoga insight,
Muizenberg beach, Cape Town,
4 November 2015.

The long, sandy beach has a great wave for beginners and a long ride from the deep back line for the more daring. All-in all a great, fun place to catch a wave on a long board, short board, old board, new board, boogie board, SUP, surf ski, paddle ski, whatever floats. On a nice weather days, and weekends throngs of visitors flock to coffee shops, surf schools, surf gear hire vendors, restaurants, rusty old cars with roof racks, shiny SUV’s and all sort of transport that brings surfers, alone, in groups or in families.

Right in the thick of it, overlooking the famous Muizenberg Surfer’s Corner circle and beach area, on the 2nd store above a surf business and eateries, are my Sea-View Yoga Classes at African Soul Surfer, a lodge with surf town amenities and a great vibe.

Be one of the Cool Ones. Join Gandhi, Einstein, Bob Marley, Mandela and some other icons in the Surf Yoga Lounge at African Soul Surfer. Prove it with a selfie. :-))

More Cape Town Yoga Holiday and Surf Yoga Holidays are coming up from mid-year. We have some cooking ideas like rooftop yoga and other special events lined up for 2016 and beyond. We’re amped to welcome local Cape Townians and international tourists who specially come to us for a surf & yoga tour, or who just happen to be near to catch a wave or be on the beach. 

● Drop-ins welcome.
● Book your own session should the scheduled classes not cater for our needs (Cost is R 350 individual /R 450 for 2 or more, up to 8 persons)
● Stay tuned for workshops and special events.
● See my yoga class schedule. My Johann Kotze Music & Yoga Studio is just a block away from the buzz, further down Beach Road.

Classes are presented in an accessible, Easy Flow Hatha Yoga style. All level of practitioners are welcome. Make a great family outing to Muizenberg beach even better. Moms can do yoga while dad has session and the kids are taking surf lessons (or any combination thereof). Surfers can loosen with a pre session stretch and surf better with yoga that basically makes for a more effective pop, agility on the wave, and improved focus and speedier recovery time.

We invite you to come get amped, be stoked, chill out and feel great with a yoga class. The motto is:

● Surf ● Yoga ● Sleep ● Coffee (in any order)

Cheers, Johann

Below: original promotion poster, September 2015.