ABOUT...
Swami Shritamurti Saraswati
My discovery of the science of yoga began in 2014, when I arrived in New Zealand. Already enthusiastic about circus arts and artistic gymnastics, I had always been drawn to a variety of physical activities. I was looking for a practice that required little equipment and offered great freedom. It was on Waiheke Island, during a beautiful New Zealand summer, that I began practicing yoga thanks to online videos. Little by little, this practice evolved and accompanied me for 7 years, transforming my initial 1-year stay into a real installation.
Over the course of my first two years of practicing online, and after numerous road trips across the landscapes of Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand), I decided to take in-person classes. This is how I discovered Iyengar yoga, an intense practice focused on perfect alignment in each posture. This method uses various props, and each posture is held for several minutes to focus on the quality of breathing, always with full awareness.
The following year, I discovered the Ashram Yoga training centre, which offers courses based on classical Hatha Yoga, in the tradition of the Bihar YOGA school founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This ancient and traditional school specialises in Tantric Hatha Yoga. My learning of Hatha Yoga then intensified, and I deepened my practice throughout my 7 years in New Zealand. Hatha Yoga, which is at the root of many modern styles (Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar...), invites both movement and static holding in the postures, with the emphasis on awareness of the breath, a fundamental element in cultivating vital energy (Prana) and balancing the whole of our being.
To deepen my practice and become a yoga teacher and yoga therapist, I completed the three levels of certified 500-hour YTT Yoga Alliance training. At the same time, I took part in numerous retreats at the ashram, as a practitioner, teacher and volunteer. These retreats, which covered a variety of themes such as silence retreats and specific Kriya practices, enabled me to develop a deeper awareness of my being, while discovering some incredible practices that have enriched my path. I met a caring, attentive and deeply nourishing community.
Convinced of the transformative impact of these practices, and eager to live according to the spirit of yoga for the rest of my life, I had the honor of being initiated a Sannyasin by my Guru (literally: One who dispels darkness). During this initiation, I was given a first name: Shritamurti (representing the goddess Lakshmi: wisdom, knowledge, creation...). And my last name, Saraswati, reflects the Swami lineage to which I belong.
Kirtan
Yoga impacts everyday life. It's an invitation to live in the present moment, to detach oneself from a past that no longer exists and a future that doesn't yet exist. One of the practices I fell in love with during my initiation is Kirtan, the power of sound yoga. It's THE practice that connects me to the present immediately and allows me to reach an incredible state of awakening quickly.
During a Kirtan session (which can be practiced alone or in a group), we repeat mantras for several minutes, gradually accelerating the rhythm. Or sometimes, the rhythm remains calm and deep. It all depends on the energy of the moment and the energy we wish to establish.
It's a powerful, highly meditative practice with strong vibrations. The singers follow one another organically, and participants can play other rhythmic instruments, clap, dance, and harmonize... or simply sit and feed off all the energies that fill the space. Everyone gives in to their own sensations and desires.
Kirtan sessions are often free or require donations, to help organizers and cover the cost of renting spaces. The main goal is to enjoy a festive, spiritual, and connected moment together in a spirit of kindness and non-judgment.
I leave you with a video taken from one of the many Kirtans I have been able to participate in and a song that is particularly close to my heart:
Kirtan - Anandamayi Ma
Lyrics: Bhajamana Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma | Anandamayi Ma Ma | Anandarupa Ma Ma |
Translation: Divine Mother, fill my mind with your divine name, Divine Mother, fill me with your bliss!
