Meditation, across the great contemplative traditions, is a discipline of inner exploration and self-knowledge that leads from the stabilization of attention toward a deeper and more open dimension of consciousness. Through concentration, breath, mantra and contemplation, the mind gradually becomes more stable, clear and quiet, opening the possibility of an inner experience of union. It is in this sense that the word Yoga, from the root yuj, signifies union — a reconnection with a deep, spiritual dimension of being.
In my teaching, I draw on practices from different contemplative traditions, bringing them into dialogue with the practice of Yoga, the breath, and the study of the Yoga Sūtras.
Mindfulness
Contemporary mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist contemplative traditions, where practices of attention and awareness were developed to directly observe the body, sensations, mental states and phenomena. Today, the modern term encompasses different approaches, some of which have been adapted to secular and clinical contexts.
In our approach, awareness is not an isolated practice: it is a quality of the entire experience of Yoga. Observing the body, breath, thoughts and reactions allows us to recognise what is happening without immediately being carried away by it. It is an essential foundation for working with vairāgya and svādhyāya, and supports both daily practice and study and retreats.
Vishoka Meditation
The term viśoka appears in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, where it is associated with a luminous dimension that is free from suffering. Meditation on this quality of mind is presented by Patañjali as one of the methods capable of leading the mind towards greater stability and clarity.
Contemporary Vishoka Meditation belongs to the Himalayan tradition and integrates teachings from Yoga and Tantra, organised into a structured system of meditation. It has been systematised for the contemporary practitioner by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, within the continuity of the Himalayan Institute tradition and the teachings of Swami Rama.
In the Vishoka approach, attention is not simply observed: it is trained and directed. The mind is brought into relationship with specific qualities and, through sustained concentration and meditation, can progressively assimilate them. In this sense, meditation does not simply observe what is already present, but becomes an intentional process of transforming the mind and experience.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra literally means “yogic sleep”. Its roots can be found in the traditions of Yoga and Tantra, while various modern forms were systematised during the 20th century. Contemporary practice has developed through different teaching lineages, including those of Swami Satyananda Saraswati and the Himalayan tradition.
In our approach, Yoga Nidra is also taught through the teachings of Rolf Sovik of the Himalayan Institute, within the tradition of Swami Rama and Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. The body is progressively relaxed while awareness remains alert and receptive, exploring the relationship between relaxation, attention and states of consciousness.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) originated in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, where Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Stress Reduction Clinic. The program was developed as a structured approach to bringing mindfulness and meditation practices, together with mindful Hatha Yoga, into a medical setting accessible to people experiencing stress, pain and illness.
Today, MBSR is an eight-week protocol taught in many contexts around the world. The program integrates formal practice, body awareness and the application of mindfulness to everyday life, requiring continuity and personal practice between sessions.
How to Practise
VISHOKA MEDITATION
A progressive meditation program based on the tradition of Yoga, incorporating concentration, meditation, Prāṇāyāma and mantra.
YOGA NIDRA
A guided practice of deep relaxation and awareness, in which the body relaxes while attention remains alert and receptive.
MINDFULNESS
A mindfulness-based practice for developing presence, balance and continuity in everyday life.
From Practice to Everyday Life
Meditation is not separate from life. The stability of attention, the ability to observe the mind and the quality of presence cultivated through practice can become tools for meeting what happens with greater clarity, both within ourselves and in the world around us.