Mana Yoga: Discovering Your Yoga Nature

By Denby Sheather

Mana Yoga is more than a book about yoga; it is an authentic guide for living cleanly, consciously, and above all compassionately. Innovative, seasonal yoga practices and shamanic-inspired meditations invite you to discover, explore, and express your unique yogic nature and seek to harmonize all levels of yourself by aligning with the shifting vibrations of Mother Nature. Mana Yoga invites you to get out onto country, to open your heart and to create the space to receive the words of the wise one within - your inner indigenous teacher - so you may remember who you are, what your gifts are, and how you can best apply yourself to life. It invites you to walk your journey of transformation with courage, grace, and ease, and to utilize the wisdom of nature to help convert all past pain and wounding, into your own personal medicine. This book will call you to acknowledge and embody all that you are, all that you have been, and all that you are yet to become. Get ready to embrace your divine path and purpose and become a conscious co-creator of collective health and happiness on the planet!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: May 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781504316460

Denby Sheather

Denby Sheather is highly regarded within the well-being industry for her visionary approach to yoga and women’s health and her exceptional gifts with esoteric healing. She has practiced and pioneered energetic, seasonal and indigenous therapies for twenty years and continues to inspire others through her seamless work as an ocean conservationist, animal activist and campaigner for all things organic and sustainable. Everything Denby does is motivated by love, anchored in truth and integrity, and supported by Spirit. Her deepest desire is to ignite and empower the divine within every mind, body and soul and she wholeheartedly believes when we bring our hands and hearts together, we can create peace and unity for all, with every breath, every intention and every awakened action.

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Copyright © 2021 Denby Sheather.

Interior graphics/art credit: Manuela Tommasone

Interior photography: Stephen Murray and Jacqueline Andronicus

Photograph of Gillian Garland from ‘Yoga in Pictures’ by Roma Blair (1963): courtesy of her niece, Margo Robertson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com.au

AU TFN: 1 800 844 925 (Toll Free inside Australia)

AU Local: [phone] ([phone] from outside Australia)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-1645-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-1646-0 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 9/30/2021

Contents

Preface

Foreword

Dedication

Introduction

My Journey

The Lineage of Japanese Yoga

The Principles of Ki Yoga and Mana Yoga

The Yoga Sutras

The First Two Limbs: Yamas & Niyamas

The Gunas: The Three Principles of Nature

Creating Your Sacred Space

Breathing

Pranayama: Nadi Shodhana, Ujjayi & Viloma

Bandhas

Posture Groups: 10

Standing Poses

Backbends

Forward Bends

Seated Postures

Twists

Restorative

Inversions

Hara

Arm Balances

Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations)

Anatomy & Subtle Anatomy

Anatomy: The Spine

Spinal Curves

Abnormal Spinal Curves

Spinal Discs

Spinal Movements

Neutral Spine

The Nervous System

Muscles

Muscle Movements

Receptors & Reflexes

Fascia

Joints, Ligaments & Tendons

Wrists, Elbows, Shoulders, Neck, Knees, Ankles & The Pelvic Girdle

The Elusive Iliopsoas

The Pelvic Floor

Stretch or Stress?

Yin & Yang Tissues

Releases & Alignment

Yin & Yang Tissues

Releases & Alignment

Subtle Anatomy:

The Five Element Theory

The Create / Destroy Cycle

The Three Treasures: Qi, Jing & Shen

Yin / Yang

The Meridians

The Chinese Clock

Chakras & Crystals

Glands

5 Season Do-In

Earth

Elemental Invocation

Metal

Fire

Water

Wood

The Seasonal Sequences

Practice Prayer

Earth Sequence

Metal Sequence

Fire Sequence

Water Sequence

Wood Sequence

Stillness Postures

Mana Meditations

Four Chambered Heart Meditation

Spinal Meditation

Seasonal Yoga Nidra

Full Moon Meditation

Testimonials

Sat Nam

Glossary

References

I respectfully acknowledge the rightful indigenous owners and traditional elders of Country of both the Guringai and Darkinjung tribes and bow to all custodians, past, present and future upon whose land I live, work and write.

I acknowledge that this land was stolen and that sovereignty has never been ceded.

I recognise the loss of land, children, health and kin and the erosion of language, culture and lore that the Original Peoples have suffered at the hands of European colonisation.

Australia can only become a mature and conscious nation when the truth about the past is disclosed when the present is resolved and when the future is united through mutual respect, forgiveness and love.

~

Preface

By Katerina Cosgrove

I came to Denby Sheather’s book as a writer and reader, not as a current practitioner of yoga. If any teacher can bring me back on the path to regular yoga practice, it is her. Denby’s inimitable style of relating to her students as fully-realised humans, shines in each carefully placed word.

This is a powerful yet gentle book, resplendent with Denby’s intimate and at times humorous and irreverent voice. Synthesising the traditions of Ki yoga, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, it is both rigorously academic and disarmingly personal; full of depth and simplicity. She is not preaching from on high but entering into a journey with her readers. She elucidates her wisdom and knowledge, gained from years of life experience, but also lets them in to her own flaws and challenges, her beautifully cracked vessel of light.

Above all, this is a profoundly spiritual book. For me, it really isn’t about yoga or the other disciplines, at its heart. On close reading, it makes its way through Zen’s ‘gateless gate’ and acknowledges the many different paths that lead to one universal truth: compassion for all beings and an absolute openness to the present moment.

Anyone, from any spiritual or cultural tradition, can benefit from studying this book. At its core is the purest intention – that of love.

Katerina Cosgrove

Awarded author of two novels and one novella, including ‘Bone Ash Sky’ (Hardie Grant 2013)

Foreword

By Simon Borg-Olivier

There are many ways that people come to yoga.

Some are advised by their doctor, some are introduced by a friend, some fall into it by accident and others answer a deep yearning inside that calls them towards self discovery, better health and happiness.

It really doesn’t matter how you start or which style you prefer: when yoga speaks to your heart, it is the inner process, the journey that you embark upon once you have arrived and how you choose to weave it throughout your life, that defines yoga for you.

I know that it was originally injury that brought Denby to the mat; but I believe it is destiny that keeps her there.

I have known Denby since she began teaching over two decades ago and have witnessed and admired her development as a yogini, a single mother running a business, a respected leader within her community and as a gifted practitioner. She has an intuitive and potent affinity with energy and an inner knowing of what she is here to do; a belief that drives her with courage and passion, yet one that is also tempered and woven with love, gratitude and patience. She has grown in body, mind and heart, through personal experience and challenge and both consciously and unconsciously, opened the door of healing to many.

She also has a wise, gentle and humorous spirit that she openly and equally shares with her students and colleagues, qualities that endear her to us all and help spark and define our own authenticity and voice. Above all she is a humble warrior and willing to look at and learn from the shadows; attributes she now shares generously in this, her first wonderfully inspiring book. It is a book for living yoga, not just practicing it.

Within these pages, Denby pioneers a unique blend of traditional Indian yoga asana with the subtleties of Eastern Medicine, revealing the healing power of nature and the dance between the seasons, the five elements and universal energetic principles. By revealing this exciting new way of defining and refining our human nature, she shows how simple it is to locate and rebalance all levels of being that keep us in step with ourselves, each other and ultimately, with our planet.

The information and images included are thorough, concise and presented in an easy-to-read and understand format. It engages the reader not just intellectually, but visually and spiritually and as well as being beautifully designed, it explains a precise and holistic practice with many layers to its intention and application.

I have always been impressed with her enthusiasm and willingness to keep honing her craft, adding to her knowledge base, sharing her insights and endeavouring to make and strengthen bonds across the wider yoga family. Denby is all about awareness, connections and breaking free of boundaries and so it is in this spirit that I encourage you to read, absorb and apply the myriad of, not just yogic and practical wisdoms, but the scatterings of personal gems and heartfelt poetic musings that she offers in ‘Mana Yoga’. Let yourself be moved.

This book is a valuable text for student trainees and seasoned yogis from all traditions alike and a valid addition to any yoga library.

Namaste,

Simon Borg-Olivier

MSc BAppSc (Physiotherapy)

Course Coordinator/Lecturer

Masters of Wellness Degree RMIT University

Director Yoga Synergy PL

Dedication

To one of the special ones

This book is dedicated to my late aunt, the beautiful Gillian Garland; an original Roma Blair devotee and ‘sister’, yoga student, gifted teacher trainer and a mother to two beautiful children. Gilly passed when I was two, yet her peaceful presence has always been with me, inspiring the yogi within to rise and awakening magical familial gifts as I have grown from maiden to mother myself. She held space naturally and easily, humbly touching the hearts of everyone she met and leaving them feeling happier and lighter for the connection.

Gillian Garland was definitely one of the special ones.

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Introduction

Yoga touches each one of us differently.

Depending on circumstance, we each identify with it in our own unique way, whether it is through the more obvious routes on the mat such as asana, chanting and meditation or through subtle channels like charity, welfare and community work when taking it practically, out into our worlds. It really doesn’t matter how you express your yogic nature because there is no right or wrong; as long as you are aware, present and searching for connection to your spirit and causing no harm to yourself and other beings along the way – including the planet – then you are practicing yoga. The desire to evolve, explore and contribute to making the world a better place for life in all its forms, is yoga.

The desire to live a more harmonious life with minimal negative impact on others, is yoga. Treading lightly and breathing deeply, is yoga. Looking after our bodies, minds, hearts and souls, wanting to be healthier on all levels and moving with conscious presence, is yoga. Cultivating patience, acceptance, respect and selflessness, is yoga.

Over time we begin to realise we are yoga.

As we learn to live in harmony within ourselves, we connect with our innate nature and desire for universal community, love and happiness, ultimately bringing us closer to a state of deep happiness and acceptance – ‘samadhi’, ‘nirvana’ or ‘buddha nature’ as it is so often called. In western terms you might like to equate it with ‘the secret to life’ and over generations – civilisations in fact – people have certainly obsessed about attaining it.

The irony of course is that we already ARE immortal, sovereign beings – we are BORN as such – and that everything we need, already lives, breathes and stirs within us.

The meaning of life is actually ridiculously simple, as outlined and advocated through yoga philosophy. When you remember that you are the love that you seek and trust in the universe to support you; all you deserve and desire, begins to manifest.

Whatever your beliefs or past life baggage, the philosophy and teachings of yoga are the same: there is NO separation and we are all ONE.

There is a beautiful Hindu myth that encapsulates the spirit of this book. I’d like to share my own variation of it with you here. Every time I read it, my heart smiles. Please note, I have used the word ‘Goddess’ instead of the original ‘God’, but as yoga is non-religious and non-denominational – and I am employing creative license – you may prefer Krishna, Jesus, The Divine Mother (Maa), Allah, Gaia or Creator Source. Basically, insert whatever or whomever speaks to your soul.

Apparently, the Goddess was getting tired of everyone always asking for things.

I want a new car!

I want a better house!

I need a new wardrobe, a new dress!

She tried to escape this continual barrage by hiding away from the world and not answering her calls; to no avail. The humans keep finding Her, their incessant prayers clogging up the ethers and adding weight to Her already saddened heart.

Exasperated – but in a devout and gentle manner as one would assume from such an esteemed deity – she decides to gather up all the other gods and goddesses to seek their counsel. It’s an eclectic and vibrant gathering as you would expect when multi-dimensional beings convene. There is lots of laughter and singing, inspirational music and the odd trumpeting and barking from various unidentified creatures in the background. It’s your standard celestial coven with all the usual suspects.

Shiva, the Divine Masculine, speaks first. Hide behind the moon, they’ll never reach into space!

But, the Goddess says, No, I don’t think that’s such a good spot. They’ve already landed there.

Vishnu says, Hide at the bottom of the ocean, they’ll never make it all the way down there!

The Goddess says, No, I don’t think that’s a good spot either.

Then. Sarasvati laughs out loud and suggests, Why don’t you hide in their HEARTS! They’ll NEVER think to look for you in there!

The Goddess smiled wryly and then did just that!

I love this story for its obvious simplicity and truth. We make life so much harder than it need be by perpetually searching for something that is already ours. ALL that we need is already inside our own hearts. All is waiting within us if we just have the courage to soften, seek and surrender.

It’s really that simple.

So welcome fellow traveller, to your yogic journey. You don’t need any luck, or even any lycra!

All you need is LOVE.

My Journey

DenbyBow.jpg

My journey with yoga began over two decades ago after a car accident ensured a six-month hiatus from working as a makeup artist in the hectic film and fashion industry.

Forced to pause and rest a damaged working wrist, I had no choice but to slow down and go within. I already knew that there are no such things as accidents or coincidences in life and that everything is divinely orchestrated, so I willingly accepted that there must be a deeper reason for this experience lurking in my subconscious somewhere. I knew surrender was the only way through and so I did. After a few weeks of inner reflection, regular rest and healing remedial massages, I slowly started mending and funnily enough, at the same time, my awareness started expanding too. My first set of blinkers fell off and I came to view life from a brand new perspective. I also suddenly realised that where I was, wasn’t actually where I had hoped to be at this age – and that was pretty confronting. I was pushing thirty and although I wasn’t particularly clucky and still had plenty of things on my bucket list to tick off, I didn’t think I had any specific life missions to complete either. At least that’s what I thought. Luckily my body and soul knew better and they were only too ready to tell me every day that I actually wasn’t a very happy camper and that I was not yet walking the path I was born for, the same one that would ultimately set me free. Sure I had a glamorous job working with the ‘beautiful people’ and travelling to some awesome locations, but something was missing and it took a sudden ‘gift’ from the universe in the form of a granny running her Honda into the backside of my Barina to get me to stop, look around and consider where I was going and who I wanted to be, once I got there.

The first thing I was drawn to was energetic and psychic healing. I had always had an affinity with faeries, goddesses and all things supernatural so this was a no-brainer. Plus, I had begun working with a master healer – Caterina Pellegrino – who had ignited my own inner guru enough to make me want to explore the esoteric path further. An initial spiritual healing course lead to various others in massage, shiatsu, shamanism, kinesiology and crystal therapy – anything in fact that could satiate my growing curiosity and provide answers to everything I was suddenly able to perceive in the natural and preternatural worlds around me.

I also started going to yoga at the insistence of my physiotherapist during this time and fell in love instantly – with the yoga, not my physio – attending multiple classes a week and rejoicing in the calm and clarity it gave me plus, loving the strength that was gradually returning to my body.

Six months later – and when I couldn’t ignore any more booking calls – I found myself back on set and it was surreal, to say the least. Yes, I was happy to be doing what I loved again but I also felt an undercurrent of disconnect and disappointment, yet couldn’t work out why. I was also acutely aware of the pained stories of those around me and that was quite overwhelming because I was still learning to manage my own emotions and empathic abilities. It felt like I had been dumped on a foreign planet, one where nobody spoke my language or even noticed I was there, physically – and yet their energies were hounding me for help each way I turned. I persisted for another year until I reached the point where I knew I couldn’t sell my soul for any more hair or jeans commercials, no matter how good the money was and told my agency I was done. It was scary – really scary to be honest – surrendering all that I knew and embarking on a totally new career with a massive dip in pay and no client base to speak of, but my gut told me it was the right thing to do and I had learned how to trust it.

So. I had taken a giant leap of faith and now I had to wait and see what came. I knew the why, but as far as the how, I had no idea! My crystals got bruises from all the rubbing I gave them and I think I carved new grooves in my worry bead necklace for a while there, but in my heart, I was content. I had spent decades making people feel good about how they looked on the outside; now I wanted to focus on helping people feel good from the inside.

Life changed drastically, as you would imagine. I moved from cityscape to beachscape, landing in Avalon on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. I started practicing Reiki and working in a local café to make ends meet and it was around this time that I was introduced to Ki Yoga at the local studio Breathing Space by my then boyfriend – a scruffier, barefoot version of Kevin Bacon who unfortunately, also had the playboy reputation to match. I had never experienced anything like it and was so inspired by his teacher and the way the yoga affected me, that I spontaneously enrolled in the intensive two-year diploma course after only a couple of classes. It was a life-changing decision and I had finally found my calling.

It was no surprise that my relationship with Don (Juan) broke up during the span of the course but amid the natural heartache and loss, my relationship with the yoga grew stronger to sustain me beyond any personal pain and attachment. I was totally in my human-ness for the first time and not only surviving; I was thriving.

This initial training kick-started a thirst for all things yogic but like all beginner trainings, it left me with a collection of new questions burning for answers. My mercurial mind had easily grasped the theory but now and naturally, I needed experience in the field to play and explore and grow into myself. I went on to study traditional Hatha Yoga and be influenced by various philosophies over the next few years, working through the alphabet of styles and trying everything from Anusara to Kundalini to Purna Yoga and Power Yin, patiently building my skills, honing my practice and finding my teaching voice.

‘Ki Fusion’ was the first expression of my understanding of yoga and perfectly illustrated my unique approach as a holistic therapist combining the traditional principles of Hatha Yoga with the energetics of Chinese Medicine and the modalities I had been studying in regards to western, eastern and indigenous philosophies. By fusing elements of all my trainings and essentially allowing my intuition and natural affinity with energy to guide me, a potent signature blend emerged. I started making my own essential oil and activated crystalline mists and using them in my classes – which was an instant hit – and as my adjustments and overall approach from the mat kept morphing, I observed students accelerate their healing processes within the support of what I was creating. I regularly started attracting other yoga teachers as well as a regular crew of natural therapy practitioners who were keen to learn what this innovative system was all about.

After a few more years of evolution – and countless cathartic rites of passage – it eventually morphed into ‘Mana Yoga’, a preventative and sustainable practice dedicated to Mother Nature and in shamanic service to Great Spirit and the beauty and loving presence that I see in all sentient beings. A Mana Yoga class is so much more than posture and breathing and taming the monkey mind – it’s like bundling your osteopath, counselor and spiritual healer all into one – and its medicine will change your life, for the better.

Several years, a few overseas jaunts, copious teaching and mentoring hours, more diplomas and retreats and one child later, I had the opportunity to buy the beautiful studio where I had initially trained. When I walked back into the space with a teething baby on my hip and not the slightest intention of purchasing a new business, I couldn’t ignore the energy of the room. Since changing hands, the healing vibe had waned. It felt empty, even sad, so when the guides there cried HELP! to me, I knew that it was time for me to dive into the unknown again and create the spiritual sanctuary that I had always dreamed of; and the one that my community deserved.

As a new mum and yogini, I was naturally fixated with all things planet friendly and although there was only a smattering of organic products on the market back then (fourteen years ago), I was determined to honour the earth, maintain yogic integrity and ensure my students’ (and their babies’) health and safety. I sourced everything personally and within the month had birthed the first ‘green’ studio on the peninsula that promoted organic yoga equipment and used natural and recycled furniture, eco-printing and household/cleaning products. Breathing Space quickly became the leading oasis of healing, yoga and spiritual practices for communities along the Northern Beaches and beyond, but more importantly, the indigenous elders of the region (and the space), were happy again.

Yoga has saved me, many times. Yoga is created in every moment I surrender, whether I’m on my mat or not. When I catch myself playing out patterns, losing focus or having a ‘bad mummy moment’ and choose instead to breathe into the moment and shift my triggers into truths – out goes the ego and in comes the ‘ah, now everything makes sense’ dialogue. When I view my vulnerabilities as opportunities that show me the edge of my truth so I can choose to stay in my power, it has been a good day. I know I have yoga to thank for this – plus my dearest friend Francesco for the lifesaving mantra!

I don’t have a career; this is my calling. I can’t not, do this work. So, who am I?

I am a natural born healer, shamanic medical medium, multi-tasking mum, nature lover, writer, activist, animal communicator and whale whisperer. I specialise in prenatal yoga therapy including fertility and birth/spirit doula support, am a certified and registered Level 3 (senior) teacher (Hatha and Ki Yoga) and Reiki master (Usui and Seichim/Egyptian). I am a soul activator, which basically means I can intuitively find and rouse the dormant part of someone’s consciousness and then trigger it so they start remembering, embracing and expressing, their goddess-given natural powers. My energy can also accelerate another person’s energetic transformation by spontaneously stimulating and refining their luminous energy field (aura) when they are either near me or speaking to me. These abilities have taken me years to first of all, accept – because spooky things like this are not taught in mainstream schools nor (sadly) automatically believed or trusted by society. The patriarchal hierarchy is still very much alive and working to suppress the esoteric feminine (however and wherever) She reveals Herself; it’s an ancient dance that continues on although it is losing traction with each being and each generation that lights up (and stands up) against it.

After dropping my swords and surrendering to what was happening, I then made the choice to allow whatever was awakening within me, to birth completely. Then I took the time to patiently hone it. I have always known that my own destiny is intimately entwined with the destiny of others and that we are all reliant upon each other; that we are all connected to each other’s development in some way, but even so, it’s not easy, ‘coming out’ as a healer or as a yoga activist, shamanic healer or someone who decides (read: has no choice because of their dharma) to step outside of the box and stir the status quo. Regardless, I always stay strong and in humble service to the greater entities that choose to work with and through me, for I know I am ultimately a conduit for the Creator and that it’s not about me.

In 2009, I co-initiated the Japanese Yoga Teachers Association which united the three main branches of Japanese Yoga for the first time – Ki Yoga, Ryoho Yoga and Okido Yoga – connecting teachers across Australia and expanding our collective presence within the Australian Yoga industry. From this platform, TCM-inspired yogis around the world began tuning in and before long the lineage grew to be included on the list of most popular yoga lineages in this country alongside Ashtanga, Hatha, Iyengar, Jivamukti, Kundalini and Yin.

In 2014, my love for the ocean and all creatures in it, led to the creation of Living Ocean Yoga, a pioneering retreat initiative that combined yoga with ocean conservation, in support of Sea Shepherd Australia and the tireless work that they do protecting the whales and dolphins especially. Together with fellow mermaid and co-founder Kim Hubner, LOY quickly raised awareness within the yoga community about plastic pollution and the importance of protecting endangered species and through local projects such as Boomerang Bags and No Plastic Please – initiatives that have since gained global traction – we inspired others to embrace their inner activist to help take the principle of ahimsa, next level.

What started out as intimate beachside rituals in Sydney to honour the whales’ migratory pathways and dawn yoga events to raise funds for SS, evolved into a series of very successful eco-yoga retreats to Tonga where we swam and sang with the great humpback whales and helped people discover their purpose and power again. It was an incredible honour to facilitate and I still return each year with a small group, under the banner of Yoga Spirit Journeys now. YSJ offers people the chance to connect with wildlife, with country and the traditional elders, attune their hearts to sacred sites and support indigenous communities; all whilst soaking up some seriously potent healing vibrations for themselves along the way. As they immerse body, mind and spirit in the magic and majesty of Mother Nature, they quickly align their inner nature with Hers and inevitably remember their own special gifts. This series is definitely a labour of lunar love for me and an innate extension of what I offer on the yoga mat.

Mana Yoga is an innovative and corrective flow that I am obviously very passionate about, but in no way am I saying that my way is the only way or that this approach to yoga is going to save you or surpass any other practices you’ve been engaged in up till now. There are certainly many things about yoga that I am still learning myself. This offering is my integration of the yoga. The information about Chinese Medicine that I have included in this book reflects my personal interpretation of what is readily available, in texts modern and ancient, as well as through my own studies and observations. These principles have existed for centuries – I do not claim their wisdoms as my own nor do I take credit for any of the TCM or Ayurveda information contained, aside from my own specific adaptations, interpretations and experiences.

For two decades I have collated a strong teaching and healing portfolio, drawing upon and combining my own expressions and responses with those of my loyal students and clients, those I have mentored, my peers and how they all say their lives have been transformed by what I do. I trust in this system of yoga and so do they; it is simple, profound, thorough and immediate and I simply wish to share it with you.

Every day, every time I practice, every thought and every experience I have, just like you, I have to work at maintaining the right balance. I can’t do every single yoga posture, I can’t execute many of them in textbook style – I often fall flat on my face or my butt with a hearty laugh – but I do connect with the energy of each one and make them my own. And guess what, sometimes I don’t do any yoga at all and instead just sit on my asana watching the world go by! I think it’s important to allow ourselves to have random ‘lower-plane-of-consciousness’ days where we can relax the reins a bit and remind ourselves to not get too uptight or attached to this human journey and what we are trying to achieve – and if that means chips and chocolate and sitting on the computer for a little longer than you probably should – so be it. You can always balance yourself out later once you learn how and it possibly helps us stay in a more compassionate space for those who struggle with the illusion of Maya more than we do. We’re all students of life after all.

Shooting the images for these books was an interesting scenario – seeing yourself in posture and feeling yourself in it, are two very different things. I had to hold and sit in challenging positions for extended periods of time and really concentrate. I had to smile and radiate peace, plus look like I was comfortable when I totally wasn’t – perched on icy rocks, doing the same difficult pose for the tenth time to get it right and dodging the odd seagull – and in addition to this I had to focus on aligning my own personal nemesis, bendy elbows and a dodgy knee, to try and do the asana as much justice as possible.

I’m sure I execute postures differently to other teachers and that is fine, we all have our own methods and of course, body idiosyncrasies to work with. I have done my best with what I have. Like everyone, there are some I love and some I don’t and learning to love them all, well, this may take me the rest of my life (maybe even many more lifetimes) before it all comes together – ah, I can hear Shiva having a good chuckle now – but that’s the fun part; exploring, observing, evolving and laughing with a light heart at myself. Life passes us by too quickly otherwise and we are only here in this form for a short period of time; for a ‘galactic glimpse’ if you will.

With the reality of creating a book also come some very real, human doubts about whether I have actually managed to translate what is in my heart and soul, in such a way that honours my teachers and their teachers, the lineages of yoga and the shamanic traditions I have studied; plus, the truth and authenticity of my own continuing journey. I have always strived to move from my heart space and trusted completely in my own dreaming, so I guess I have to get out of my own way, release it all to the universe and trust in those of you who are reading its pages now.

There has never been a more appropriate time to release a book like this, given the current expansion of global consciousness, the undeniable threat to the environment, the shift in world ethics and dissolving of patriarchal paradigms, the growing interest with all things tribal and indigenous plus the awakening and rising of the Divine Feminine. There are also a multitude of magical planetary alignments that are manifesting to heal and re-grid and activate not just the earths’ electromagnetic fields, chakras, vortexes and energetic layers, but that are also weaving a divine tapestry with the greater cosmic matrix as well. This manuscript is not only a yogic guide – it also serves as a sustainable and spiritually-infused chaperon, one that supports the resurrection and attunement of all our higher frequencies in service to the evolution of humanity at this time. I sincerely believe we are all ready now to step up and into more of ourselves as mindful conduits and to offer deeper support to the planet and each other and Mana Yoga – along with the Yoga Spirit Journeys retreats – are my humble offerings to the collective adventure.

I hope you find as much joy in discovering your yoga nature and your own beautiful and blessed connection to Mother Earth within these pages, as I have in creating and sharing it with you.

Remember to breathe deeply, tread lightly and keep dreaming yourself awake.

Jai Maa,

Denby

The Lineage of Japanese Yoga

MASAHIRO OKI

(1919 – 1985)

Masahiro Oki was apparently an intense and charismatic personality, gifted and inspired and passionately dedicated to the healing and evolution of others.

Like many master teachers, Oki’s life was a challenging one, fraught with health issues, family responsibilities and personal and professional danger. He was born prematurely at six months to Japanese parents in Korea in November 1919 and battled tuberculosis and weakened immunity from a young age.

Around eight years old he found inspiration in the words of U Ottama Daisojo, a Buddhist monk and the father of Burmese independence. Ottama answered Oki’s questions about some of the great spiritual figures – Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed – and explained to the curious young boy that all three practiced something called ‘yoga’, an ancient practice that developed compassion and self-mastery. He told Oki he could learn more about it as he grew older.

It was a conversation that would inspire the inquisitive Oki to study medicine and explore the healing arts. During the course of his life he would study numerous modalities as well as master 34 dans (levels of expertise) in various Japanese martial arts.

At the age of fifteen his father died, leaving the family in financial trouble and placing the burden of responsibility on young Oki’s shoulders. It was almost too much for the frail teen to deal with but, instead of collapsing, he found the mental discipline and courage to continue, deepening his practice and studies in medicine, so that by the age of 18, he was teaching body and mind mastery techniques to the Japanese military to support his family.

In 1939 he joined the secret service and spent the next few years infiltrating Arabia, Persia and Iran as a spy, narrowly escaping death several times. In preparation for his undercover work he studied at the Osaka University of Foreign Languages, where he also received special training in his beloved field of medicine, both western and eastern.

His travels took him to Tibet, Mongolia, China and Arabia, where he learnt Arabic and studied Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Lamaism as well as classic Indian (Ayurveda) alongside Arabic medicine. Life was to change radically however after his arrest while on assignment contacting Muslim revolutionaries in Persia. He was thrown into prison with a death sentence, (complete with ball and chain tethering apparently), to share a cell with an older man facing a similar fate.

Despite his gloomy situation, this man appeared calm, peaceful and all-accepting and although Oki grew scared about his own impending execution, he was intrigued by this man and the presence he exuded and so asked to become his pupil. He spent several years learning sacred chants and meditative practices with this teacher, enabling him to find the inner peace to keep going.

Later when both men were freed by guerillas liberating the jail, Oki discovered the identity of his first teacher and Master: Hoseini-shi, father of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the original spiritual leader of the Iranian Muslim community. After their rescue they never saw each other again.

When WW2 ended in 1945, a disillusioned Oki turned his focus to fighting for human rights on behalf of war prisoners across the globe and advocating the preservation of peace. Met more often than not with complacency or bureaucratic red tape, he temporarily lost faith and sought refuge in a monastery for a couple of years. One story has him working as a doctor and operating a profitable smuggling business between Japan, Korea and Taiwan on the side during this time as well. Whatever the reality, the truth is he was an adaptable, resourceful and determined soul.

In alignment with his humanitarian beliefs, he trained to become a Zen monk and was invited to lecture for peace in India and Pakistan on behalf of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). Here he worked alongside local communities, helping them develop skills in food production and housing, sharing his teachings and knowledge freely. At this time, he stayed at the ashram of Mahatma Gandhi where he began to connect more deeply with the concept of yoga and studied with the Master directly. This signaled another turning point in his life and he went to fast and meditate in the Indian forests at length.

It is believed that during this time in solitude he realised he had been practicing yoga from the wrong motivation: instead of serving others for his own sake and desire for personal enlightenment and learning, he should instead put the needs of others, above his own and devote himself and his life entirely to service.

Oki chose to see his own sufferings as opportunities to research and inquire more deeply. He learnt to live with his symptoms and sacrificed his own comfort so he could continue to treat his patients with unconditional care and dedication; the sign of a true master.

His own struggle with duodenal/intestinal cancer, (which he diagnosed himself), remained a secret: he never mentioned his own suffering until some eighteen years later when he had cured it completely through his unique healing system of corrective yoga, macrobiotics and unwavering spiritual practice.

Further work in America during the 1960s with the father of Macrobiotics, George Osawa, helped lay the foundational roots of the Okido yoga system. Eventually when he returned to Japan in 1967, he founded the first yoga ‘dojo’ in Mishima, that he aptly named ‘The Society for Searching Truth through Practice.’

Before his passing in 1985 he had treated thousands of people over the decades – ordinary citizens, noted politicians, scholars of various modalities, ministers, even members of the royal family – and penned a number of books on healing and meditation. Oki always treated everyone the same in his humble search for the Truth, tirelessly giving his time to those in need and traveling the world to wherever he was called.

There are some who have criticised Oki for his rigorous and sometimes punishing teaching sessions and his use of the traditional ‘training stick’, synonymous with the oldest traditions and practices of Zen. However, his success with students, his humility and dedication to his craft and his uncompromising attitude to teaching and living, rank him as a kind of Japanese *‘Gurdjieff’.

*G.I. Gurdjieff was a Greco-Armenian spiritual master who lived during the mid 20th century, traveling the world and advocating peace, self study, sacred practices and the search for Truth.

Towards the end of his life he was awarded honorary degrees in Medicine (Switzerland) and Philosophy (India) and today his teachings continue to inspire people across the globe. He passed away in July 1985 near Pesaro in Italy, the country he called home during the last years of his life.

Oki’s three main principles for beginning a yoga practice are:

1.  To bring ourselves to true humanity


2.  To awaken the mind of service, and

3.  To prepare the body and mind for meditation.

Today Oki’s legacy continues through many centres scattered around the globe – the Okido way – a simple, practical and appropriate guide to living, engaging and being.

*source: ‘Meditation Yoga’, Masahiro Oki 2001 (Nederland)

It is with the deepest respect and gratitude that I pay homage to the memory, wisdom and spirit of Oki sensei and the imprint his inspired teachings have made upon my soul.

There are many ways of purifying the mind and body and opening the eye of the mind. What you must do is, firstly, laugh and have the mind of gratitude, and secondly, give up all ideas about yourself. (Masahiro Oki)

Principles of Ki Yoga & Mana Yoga

I would like to share three fundamental principles within the Ki Yoga system, derived from Oki’s teachings and ones that I was initially taught many years ago.

They are the basic tenets that underpin the whole approach to this style of yoga, reflecting the wisdom of Oriental Medicine and its philosophy. For me, this way of thinking, living and doing, stems from common sense fused with a deep love and respect for the natural laws of nature and the universe.

1.  There is a reason and an explanation for everything

2.  You create your reality

3.  Life is constant change.

Of course, you can choose to embrace or resist these concepts. From the perspective of Mana Yoga, every aspect of our being, our physical and emotional bodies, spiritual self and psyche, has meaning, a higher purpose, in alignment with these credos. Every breath, stretch and movement, strength and weakness, ache, pain or pleasurable sensation, tells us something about why we are the way we are. Life is explainable. There is a biological and energetic reason for everything. We co-create our reality every day – in every moment, in every breath – and everything is governed by Spirit, by Creator Source.

This style of yoga aims to draw attention to your natural ability for self-healing and self-responsibility, therefore giving you the power to face and solve your particular stories. It is a holistic, sustainable yoga practice, both personally and communally, one that nourishes you as an individual so you can then move out into the world to nourish the earth that supports you.

Every sequence infuses flavours of the spirit-based Japanese Okido lineage derived from the combination of Japanese and Chinese diagnostic arts including Shiatsu, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Macrobiotics.

I have also woven many other teachings that have influenced my own yogic journey over the years to create quite an eclectic blend. From the platform of Hatha Yoga I have combined techniques from several modalities such as Bowen therapy, kinesiology, somatic bodywork and Reiki along with many elements of energetic ritual, shamanic lore and magic.

All these essences complement the postures and intentions of yoga beautifully, creating a unique and holistic series of potent seasonal practices that are unlike anything you will have ever tried on the mat. It is a pioneer style, one that will quickly and profoundly transform your life.

Mana yoga explains you to YOU.

This book is a yogic toolkit, a valuable resource that will help you recreate your reality and build personal power so you can more fluidly navigate the journey of life.

"All forms of dis-ease arise in the way people create their lifestyle. Yoga teaches a point of view, ‘You get