The Shala
A fusion between Nature and Yoga
The story behind the Shala
Françoise Barkat, founder of the permaculture space and the Shala, has been practicing Yoga for over 20 years.
She was a home nurse until 2006 and her desire to know the human being in his various dimensions led her to specialize in naturotherapy, aromatherapy, relaxation, reiki and finally in Yoga.
Her encounter with Paramahamsa Nithyananda resulted in a second "birth." Alongside him, and under the guidance of Rahi Santhanam, she trained in Yoga in India and was initially certified by the IVHU (International Vedic Hindu University).
She continues to train regularly, mainly in India, and is certified 200 hours in Yoga Therapy, Kundalini, Power Yoga and Shakti Yoga.
She specialized in Ayurveda under the direction of Dr. David Frawley and is certified 300 hours by the American Institute of Vedic Studies.
Her teaching is simple, direct, and in touch with nature and the elements. She leads Yoga Teacher Training courses recognized by Yoga Alliance International.
His intention today is to share this art of living in the present moment, through courses, training and tailor-made stays, respecting the teachings of Patanjali and in the middle of the sumptuous Moroccan landscapes.
Recently, she learned about permaculture and created this garden space that surrounds the Shala.
The garden has become educational, with workshops and training in Agroecology offered there throughout the year.
Yoga
Before knowing what Yoga is, it is important to know what it is not...
Yoga is neither a physical exercise nor a form of breath control. Both practices are tools for achieving what Patanjali defines as Yoga, namely: "the cessation of the automatic functioning of the mind."
It is defined as "union with the divine, union with cosmic power, cessation of the mind to go beyond it and become one with Existence." Yoga is a continuous process, and it never ends.
In our modern society, and especially in the West, when we consider Yoga, we immediately associate it with being nothing more than a series of postures performed physically to promote strength, flexibility and balance in the body. We add some breathing exercises and a little meditation practice to maintain an exotic flavor...
Yoga is a great holistic science. It is one of the six basic systems of India. It has never been confined to being a specific practice, but a way of fully experiencing everything that touches every aspect of our existence. The great sage Patanjali, considered the father of Yoga, taught in his extraordinary treatise "The Yoga Sutras" the total mastery of all aspects of human life - the body, breathing, mind, health, and social relationships.
Over time, the power of Patanjali's message encoded in the Yoga Sutras has been diluted to suit the understanding of those who propagated it. Patanjali clearly established that Yoga is the instrument and means for directing the mind without distraction or interruption. In these Sutras, he answers questions about the nature of the mind and provides the means to stop its automatic functioning, conditioned by our past.
The heart of the Yoga Sutras is about perception and how our mind loses its original clarity. At Kalananda Yoga Studio, we teach the eight limbs of Yoga, Asthanga Yoga, in accordance with the teachings of Krishnamacharya. Patanjali recommends using all eight limbs of Yoga together to achieve the state of meditation and thus remain in this state of clarity and awareness.
The soul of the practice of Yoga is to clarify our perception, and through this process, move towards a profound transformation, and thus find our original state of bliss.
Simply put, Yoga is the means to unite with our Supreme Self. It means becoming unified in body, mind, and spirit. It involves a movement from the outside in. It accepts the individual as they are, where they are.
