What is Ishta Yoga?

I teach a style of yoga called Ishta Yoga, a breath and alignment-based practice, after studying in depth in NYC with my teachers Alan and Sarah Finger, Jean Koerner, Mona Anand, and Peter Ferko, among others. The meaning of Ishta is twofold. In Sanskrit Ishta means "that which resonates with the individual spirit", meaning there is no one right path; the practice can and should be tailored to the individual for that particular moment.  It is also an acronym: the Integrated Sciences of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda. These three components are the basis for the philosophy and techniques utilized in the Ishta practice.

Hatha: literally means “effort,” “force,” or “exertion,” in Sanskrit. This refers to an approach to Yoga which begins with exertion or physical effort.  Traditionally, we would start with most conspicuous effort (the postures, or asana in Sanskrit), then work toward more subtle practices, like breathwork, bandpass (muscular and energetic “locks” designed to guide the flow of energy) and mudras (hand positions), before finally moving to the more internal level of meditation. 

Tantra: One translation of tantra is ‘to weave’.  Many threads are woven together to make up a piece of fabric.  The fabric itself represents the universe with all its subtle energies and all the myriad permutations of consciousness. This shows us the interconnectedness of all aspects of the universe. Tantra is the expansion of our consciousness wherein these interconnections are intuitively and experientially understood… the inner experience that everything is intrinsically woven together and is ultimately one occurrence. In Tantra, there is a fundamental understanding that the Divine itself is ultimately realized through inclusion or holding of ALL that is.

Etymologically speaking, tantra comes from the root Sanskrit words tanoti meaning to stretch or expand and trayati meaning to liberate or free.  A tantric yogi works to expand the frontiers of awareness beyond the material into the more subtle realms of perception, and to free oneself of perceived limitations to embrace their inherent unbound potential.

Tantra embraces all aspects of living, considering that even worldly things (love, sexuality, social life, artistic pursuits, etc), when practiced mindfully, can become a vehicle  for spiritual evolution. 

Tantra gives us many tools to achieve the understanding of our true selves. In the ISHTA practice, we focus on asana, pranayama (breath work), kriya techniques, and visualization meditation as our primary tools.

Ayurveda: Meaning 'science of life' in Sanskrit, Ayurveda is considered a sister science to yoga. This ancient Indian tradition teaches that we each have a constitution, or prakriti, that is unique like our fingerprints. According to ayurvedic thought, the ideal practice begins with understanding the individual’s unique prakriti and their needs based on the interplay of that constitution with their current situation. For example, stress, injuries, or changes in life or work all impact what practice is ideal for you at a given moment. Ayurveda in the ISHTA practice encourages self-exploration and an awareness of the impact our circumstances have on our physical, emotional, and energetic states. When we learn how to find  balance in our lives, we learn how to continually show up as the best version of ourselves amidst all the shifts and changes life will bring.