Journey Junkie takes the dusty road down the Rio Grande to Santa Fe… Spurs included! And an Ennio Morricone soundtrack looming over the vastest sky in the South West.
If you’re into art, stunning rugged scenery and the healing arts, Santa Fe offers a broad welcoming smile that fills your heart + soul.
I’ve been coming to SF for the last 4 yrs… and why that is you ask yourself?…So id like to share a little about my awesome teachers. Coming here the first time changed my life! So I continue to grow, here I’m a student again, recharge my batteries and get inspired.
Read on to see what I’ve discovered here in this exciting hub of wellness.
Tias and Surya Little lovingly own Prajna Yoga where I’ve done pretty much almost all of my yoga training.
Im so greatful to have them as my teachers, they weave in different systems and beliefs and walk the talk! They show vunerability, truth and wisdom. Weaving in many traditions their teachings embody whats really in the core in all their sessions: to serve humanity and this all comes from a place of love. This is so apparent and abundant in all of their sessions. Leaving I’ve connected with people from all over the world, untied some knots in my heart that where wearing me down and physically stretched and turned upside down.
Tias has a unique and skillful teaching style, enabling students to find greater depth of understanding and awareness in their practice. his approach is inter-disciplinary, passionate, intelligent and insightful. Tias synthesises years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist Studies, Somatic practices, anatomy, massage and trauma healing. Tias began studying the work of B.K.S Iyengar in 1984 and lived in Mysore India. In 1989 studying Ashtanga with Pattabhi Jois. His teaching includes precision of alignment, anatomical detail and meditative awareness.
Tias is a licensed massage therapist and his somatic studies include in-depth training in cranial-sacral therapy. He is influenced by the work of Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais and Thomas Hanna. Tias is a long time student of the meditative arts and Buddhist studies beginning with Vipassana and continuing in Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. His teaching style is unique, weaving together poetic metaphor, clear instruction, compassion and humor. Tias earned a Master’s degree in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College Santa Fe in 1998.
Tias lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he directs his school, Prajna Yoga, with his wife Surya and is the author of three books, The Thread of Breath, Meditations on a Dewdrop and Yoga of the Subtle Body (Shambhala Press). He is the founder of SATYA, Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga, a somatic practice that complements yoga. In addition to leading yoga workshops and teacher trainings throughout the US and around the world, Tias currently offers on-line classes through YogaGlo.
Surya’s training is in both Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. These two traditions inform her teaching, resulting in dynamic, contemplative classes that are creatively and intelligently sequenced, internally focused and deeply inspiring to both beginning and advanced students. Cofounder of Prajna Yoga with her husband, Tias. Surya specializes in women’s health in yoga, nutrition and therapeutic yoga. Her classes inspire a greater compassion for the Self, while cultivating a strong mental and physical practice. Surya teaches from an intuitive and highly developed understanding of the energetics of the body.
She has studied with K. Pattabhi Jois, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Karin Stephan, and Aadil Palkhivala. She continues to study under the guidance of Master Zhenzan Dao and Patricia Walden. Her expertise in yoga therapeutics along with her vast nutritional knowledge—which combines Ayurveda, Macrobiotics, and the MogaDao Five-Element theory—enables her students to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery.
Im so honoured to have these two experienced and kindhearted individuals as major influences in my life.
Tias and Surya will be in London at The Life Centre in April and it is with great reverence ill be assisting them on a number of their courses this year.
If thats not enough to fill your boots… heres some more whilst you’re here:
Meditation is what its about at the Mountain Cloud Zen Centre and fellow Brit Henry Shukman who runs the centre and makes Santa Fe his home.
Upaya runs retreats, talks and meditations curated by Roshi Joan Halifax.
Kakowa dilectable artisanal chocolate, my fave is dried chilli covered in caramel and chocolate and hot chocolate elixirs served in the cutest Mexican hand painted cups!
10000 Waves is one of my fave places to go and bubble away in Japanese inspired open air hot tubs with friends. Theres various outdoor tubs you can hire privately or mens and womens and a mixed tub, meditation room, world class treatments to pummel away your knots and restaurant attached. You can even stay there at their hotel for absolute decadence.
Weekly offerings from The Railyard include African dance, to farmers markets, to vintage and world art.
Miao Wolf is THE best exhibition I’ve ever experienced in my life!!!What a gem!!
The ultra friendly and laidback vibe here is enough to saddle up, set up camp and forget time. Under the canopy of Santa Fe's deep Native history and true wisdom enveloped in the age old rock faces.
Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture your heart.
Native Proverb