Svaroopa; the bliss of your being.
Your vital systems find their natural balance. Your mood changes; becoming happier and lighter, your mind becomes still. Then you experience svaroopa.
The goal
Svaroopa is a Sanskrit word found in the yoga text's that means: the experience of abiding in your own essential nature.
Svaroopa® yoga is a practice for opening your body (roopa) to find your Self (sva).
When practicing Svaroopa® yoga we delve into our body as if opening a precious gift carefully wrapped in many layers.
The process
This yoga practice uses precise alignment with a compassionate approach to cultivate 'Core Opening'. By releasing the tensions in the deepest layers of your body you live with ease, both in your body and in your deeper Self. This all happens without sweat or strain because Svaroopa® yoga is not exercise. This
practice is slower allowing time for the release and the integration of new openings.
Profund results
This powerfully transformative practice can be experienced with just a few poses. The poses (asana's) can seem quite simple but are amazingly effective.
Healing and personal transformation happen while opening you to an illuminative inner experience of your own divine essence.
Leslie (Bhakta) Johnson
Bhakta has practiced yoga & meditation since her early twenties. Upon her first introduction to Svaroopa® Yoga she was hooked! She continued to practice this yoga from that point on. Having suffered from back pain for many years this yoga not only addressed her pain but gave her a new level of comfort in her body along with an expanded awareness beyond the limitations of her body and mind. She began teaching Svaroopa® Yoga in 2002 after taking the Foundations course (she now travels nationally to teach this course). She received her training from Swami Nirmalananda, (formerly Rama Berch), the founding president of Yoga Alliance, master teacher and originator of Svaroopa® Yoga, founder of Master Yoga Foundation and Svaroopa Vidya® Ashram.
Embodies what she teaches
“There are many different styles of Hatha yoga (the practice of asana). I choose to teach Svaroopa® Yoga because it gave me (and continues to give me) the most profound change. Svaroopa® Yoga is practiced for the purpose of healing, transformation, and transcendent experience. By delving into and through your own body you can come to know your own True Self.”
Bhakta transitioned out of the photo business and has been teaching yoga full time since 2006. She has always been a spiritual seeker. This yoga tradition continues to inspire and deepen her spiritual development. She is dedicated to supporting others with their physical and spiritual fulfillment.
Advanced Yoga Teacher
Bhakta has over 3,000 hours of training through Master Yoga Teacher Institute and Svaroopa Vidya Ashram and continues to take training annually.
Her certifications include: Svaroopa® Vidya Meditation teacher, Embodyment® yoga Therapist, Vichara Therapist & Svaroopa® Yoga Therapist, Workshop & Retreat Leader.
She serves the yoga community as a Embodyment® Therapist Trainer, Foundations Teacher Trainer, Leading Teacher and DTS Mentor.