What to expect in a Zapchen Yoga class!

     Zapchen Yoga is a synthesis of classical hatha yoga postures, mind training, somatics and meditative practices to give immediate access to states of wellbeing and aliveness. The word Zapchen is Tibetan for spontaneously beneficial behaviour. Soma is the Greek word for body and has come to mean the enlivened and awake body. Karen has been given permission to teach Zapchen Yoga in Australia by her teacher of 25 years Dr. Julie Henderson (USA) (www.zapchen.com).

     Each Zapchen Yoga class has the potential to take you on an experience of self-discovery ... into waves of BodyMind Flow.

     The classes are shaped to create both unstructured and structured movement within your body, mind and energy. You will experience free flow wavelike spiral movements along with traditional shapes and postures inviting form, ground and focused attention.

     The purpose of a Zapchen Yoga class is to guide you through five levels, which Karen identifies as Soma Waves.

                    1.     Soma Wave of Becoming (Present)
                    2.     Soma Wave of Intending (Mindfulness)
                    3.     Soma Wave of Integrating (Body & Mind) 
                    4.     Soma Wave of Relaxing (Stillness & Silence)
                    5.     Soma Wave of Being (Awareness)

     The First Soma Wave of Becoming is giving time and space to become present to yourself. Arriving and becoming present leads to experiencing your inner ground and sense of self. By bringing attention to body, mind and energy you become present, available and in-the-now. This wave relates directly to the base chakra and the earth element. Warming the body and preparing the body with simple Zapchen well-being practices such as Jiggling, Setting Down The World, Turkey Flop, Vulture, Yawning and Sighing invites bodily ease.  

     The second Soma Wave of Intending is becoming mindful of and setting motivation. We synthesise movement, breath and intention towards being well and happy - to be free from suffering and to feel love. Intending wellness and happiness for self, others, all of us, all living beings and this earth we live on becomes the local and global motivation for your practice of yoga. The wish that I am well and happy, that you are well and happy and the earth and all beings are well and happy is the conscious invocation of the wish of every living being. This wave incorporates sandkalpa, mudra and opening the heart.

     The third wave is the Soma Wave of Integrating body and mind. Within this wave we work directly with asana and pranayama. This integrating wave incorporates stretching, balancing, breathing, moving inner chi, strengthening and aligning. Integrating body and mind includes working with major and minor chakras. Imprinting of the body and mind is to open inner channels and energy pathways. Expect to experience aliveness, vibrancy, clarity and openness as pathways are nourished, replenished and renewed. 

     The fourth wave is the Soma Wave of Relaxing, of letting go, of surrender into stillness and silence. This is the classical savasana posture. Savasana is referred to as the posture of tranquillity, as well as corpse pose or dead man's pose. Within this wave you move towards experiencing total integration of body and mind along with the spontaneous arising of blissful tension free relaxation.

     The final wave is the Soma Wave of Being. We are now moving from the lying horizontal relaxation position to the vertical sitting posture of meditation. Meditation is dyana in Sanskrit and inviting opening to experience inner stillness, silence and simply being. Body bliss may be experienced along with a sense of oneness and union with 'all that is'.  The body may feel light as if suspended in space or deep in the ocean. Rapport and wholeness with self and others may arise along with a sense of mutuality and connection with 'all that is'. Being and awareness relate to the brow and crown chakra.

     The Soma Waves lead to BodyMindflow experience of Becoming Present, Intending Mindfulness, Integrating Body and Mind, Relaxing into Stillness and Silence and Being Awareness.

     The first wave incorporates Zapchen Somatics wellbeing and self-regulation practices. The second wave includes Buddhist/Taoist mindfulness and yogic breathing practice. The third wave is the sequencing of classical yogic asanas and pranayama practice with chi gung and tai chil influence and Western mindbody therapies such as somatics and bio-energetics. The fourth wave is simply letting go, of resting down and surrendering to the earth. The fifth wave includes Buddhist meditation practices of shamatha or calm abiding, insight and awareness.