It took me six weeks until I experienced it for the first time: I flow relaxed into the unloved Chakra Asana without any effort. A magical moment for me as a stressed filmmaker, who has always equated performance with effort. Today I run my own school. Durga ́s Tiger is a symbol that connects strength, concentration and lightness for me, and it stands for the Tantric – Shamanic way of consciousness expansion.

The First Days Of Yoga Teacher Training At Durga ́s Tiger School

There are the Yogi’s and Yogini’s and not much seems to be going on. Much too much Shava Asana. Much too much relaxation. Many students come from power-yoga approaches and want a body work out with a dose of spirituality. They get bored, go to the toilet, lie down again. Quiet restlessness in the hall. What does that mean: ‘flowing’ into the asanas? Trust the body intelligence? To perceive the asanas from the inside? Why again and again: relax in your Asana? Why the deep relaxation from which I start to move?

I Don’t Strain Myself

Two and a half hours is the duration of the recession. A meditation in motion, a dancing river. The eyes are closed. I relax while I hold the Asana, breathe. The focus is all here and now, all in the body, in the deep and regular breath. I don’t strain myself and yet my muscles have worked. The power Yogi’s are amazed: they have aching muscles the next day – but everything seemed to be “much too easy”.

Why Is There So Little Correction Here?

“Better you don’t make your Asana perfect, but you notice what happens in your body. The Asanas are not arbitrarily invented. Your body will gradually realize what the posture is like. It is important that no one from the outside tells you how to be ‘right’ again. Only you know what is right for you in every moment,” says the teaching Yogini. “It is a spiritual discipline that brings body, mind and soul together. Trust yourself, your perception, your body intelligence. This is the revolutionary thing about Tantra Yoga. You come into contact with your inner knowledge.”

The Breakthrough

The Yogi’s and Yogini’s become aware of how their wheel turns in their heads. Again and again the same chains of thoughts. This is the first step towards change. A week later, nobody gets up during the relaxation phases. There is a concentrated calm. Later the astonishment: the body follows the intention with ease. It can now also perform more complicated Asanas. A miracle. In addition, psychological processes come with motion. The chakras open up, a process that is specifically supported in dance and pranayama.

“I perceive myself in a completely new way”, says Maria. “I even dare to sing now”.

The Freedom Of The Self

Kaula Tantra Yoga is rooted in Uttara or Kashmiri Shivaism, one of the six Shiva traditions. It is the oldest form of yoga practiced. Derived from the Vedas, the practice is based on metaphysical knowledge. The adepts balance their intrinsic energy system to anchor themselves in ‘Infinite Consciousness’. Deeply rooted fears and tensions are released. It is suddenly possible to express the true self from a place of love and freedom. One can perceive oneself and others as Divine beings. As a ‘side effect’ the body becomes stronger, more flexible and firmer, i.e. naturally healthier. “I can be active without exerting myself” becomes solid body knowledge that the mind can also implement in everyday situations.

A Tantric School

Durga ́s Tiger School is a Tantric school where a lot of dance, art, voice work, singing and Shamanistic approaches are integrated. It is important to build up a group energy that nourishes me: I can be completely with myself and still be part of the group. This makes me strong, relaxed and helps me to get involved in my own processes. In the four to ten weeks that the retreat lasts, I have enough opportunities to take over in proximity and distance. On all levels the three Tantric keys to liveliness are used: breath, voice, movement.

There are only a few rules: “Do what you want – but do it consciously and in love”.

What Does Yoga Have To Do With Sex?

“And what does Tantra Yoga have to do with sex”, is asked again, and again. It becomes clear that the separation between ‘sexual energy’ and ‘energy’ does not exist. What I learn in Tantra Yoga in breath and relaxation techniques will make my sexuality richer if I use these techniques. Deep and ‘Sacred’ sexuality has to do with meditation, with creativity and awareness, with communication – so that the common ecstasy only spreads in the body and allows me to experience the essence of my being: Sat, Cit, Ananda – soul, awareness and bliss.

Iris Disse is a Yoga teacher, journalist, theatre-radio director and filmmaker. She is the catalyst for Durga ́s Tiger School in Ecuador, a transformative energy composition of Yoga, Tantra, Arts and Shamanism. She is a teacher of Tantra Yoga and Sacred Sexuality at international festivals, universities and workshops, and is a renowned filmmaker. Her documentaries and films reflect the social reality of the indigenous people. Until 1995, Iris was a well-known German television and theatre actress. As a director, she performed in Berlin, Hamburg Zürich and Vienna; Mexico City; Buenos Aires; St. Petersburg; Budapest. She is also an award-winning sound artist. Until today she is producing radio-dramas for the RBB, Radio Berlin Brandenburg.

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