About
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Who am I?
What is Creation?
What is my relationship to Creation?
Who has not asked these questions?
To explore these fundamentals the Institute holds weekly presentations and discussions that draw upon the spiritual knowledge of different traditions, both from the East and from the West. We explore how the practical applications of these traditions can illuminate and enhance the quality of our daily working lives.
These studies include Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the Upanishads, and other texts. As well as the group discussions, practical work will be included such as meditation, breathing and mindfulness exercises. We explore how loving, considered and skilful actions can be naturally expressed in practice.
"Meditation can give you that which nothing else can give you. It introduces you to your own true self."
- Swami Rama
Meditation involves a type of inner attention that is quiet, concentrated, and at the same time relaxed. The word used in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is "Dhyana". It is defined as "the liberation of the mind from all disturbing and distracting emotions, thoughts and desires."
_________Swami Rama
Typically our mind is restless and confused, jumping from one thought to another making it difficult to find balance and rest. Meditation is a systematic and methodical practice that, even from the beginning, helps us find stability and calmness.
Meditation can give you the ability to improve your health, your relationships, and the skill and love with which you engage with life. Meditation is suitable for everyone.
With regular meditation you can realistically expect to find new levels of energy, relaxation, calmness, and relief from stress. Ultimately it will lead to realisation of one's true self.
Yoga means 'to yoke' or 'to join'. Through knowledge and skilful practice hatha yoga aims to harmoniously unify body, breath and mind in such a way that the body becomes an instrument for treading the path to enlightenment.
Hatha refers to the relationship between the differing energies in our body, breath and mind. Ha and tha are symbolic syllables used to indicate the flow of breath in the right and left nostrils. Hatha yoga exercises are designed to awaken and harmonise the energies of our internal states.
The term 'Hatha Yoga' is a generic one, and it covers all styles of physical yoga such as Astanga, Viniyoga, Iyengar, and Sivananda Yoga.
Here at the Himalayan Institute our teachers' backgrounds and approaches differ slightly, but they are all influenced by the Himalayan practice of Hatha Yoga as taught by Swami Rama.
Yoga postures are a remedy for the whole person. They promote health and energy. There is no achievement level or competition. Each person works within their own capacity, and it is for this reason that yoga is beneficial to all regardless of age, gender, body shape or previous experience.
Chigwell Retreat Centre
Every year the EYMPC runs a series of events and retreats. Some are one week in length, a weekend, a day or even half a day. All are welcome at these events.
Led by Rolf Sovik, President of the Himalayan Institute (US); long-time teacher and yoga practitioner in the Himalayan tradition, author of the award-winning “Yoga; Mastering the Basics” and “Moving Inward”; regular contributor to “Yoga International” magazine; clinical psychologist in private practice.
