Fall is both the dusk and the dawn of the seasons, a magical time, a time ripe for harvesting the fruits of our labor both physical and spiritual. The regular cycle of the seasons produces a regular cycle of movement and as fall approaches most beings prepare themselves for the slower movement and solitude that winter will bring. It is marked by thankfulness and gratitude for what we have and a request for strength for the hardships to come. Asana practice keeps the body warm, limber and receptive to subtly while the more introspective practices of pranayama, pratyahara, dharana and dhyana can prepare the practitioner to delve into inner space.

“You must be fueled with a burning desire to continuously study the Self, which is only available in the present moment, and to devote yourself wholly to this effort - these are the actions to be taken to attain Yoga."

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra II.1

As an alternative to our scheduled Jivamukti Asana and Introspection retreat this fall we’ve teamed up with Karina Kibsgård, Krissa Ludvigsen and Alexander Medin to give you a full program of Jivamukti Yoga, Dharma Yoga and Yoga Philosophy. Our focus will be on ‘yoga practices’ and how these practices can support us through challenging times and to overall live a sustainable and good life. We welcome you to come spend time in nature, peace and practice together.
Jivamukti Yoga -
The Jivamukti Method is grounded in the original meaning of the Sanskrit word asana as “seat, connection” – relationship to the Earth. Earth implies all of life. Citing the Yoga Sutra, which states that asana should be sthira and sukham, Jivamukti Yoga maintains that one’s relationship to others (asana) should be mutually beneficial and come from a consistent (sthira) place of joy and happiness (sukham). This is a radical idea that, when put into practice, can dismantle our present culture, which is based on the notion that the Earth and all other animals exist for our benefit and to be exploited for our own selfish purposes. So the practice of asana becomes more than mere physical exercise to keep one’s body fit or to increase strength or flexibility; it becomes a way to improve one’s relationship to all others and thus lead to enlightenment – the dissolution of the sense of separateness, the realization of the oneness of being, the discovery of lasting happiness. A Jivamukti Yoga class is spiritual, uplifting and physically challenging. It emphasizes the physical yogapractice (asana), practiced in a continuous flow with a playful approach. While also including elements of chanting, music, meditaiton and yoga philosophy. The method originated in the 1980s in New York City, founded by Sharon Gannon and David Life, students of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Swami Nirmalananda and Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati.

Dharma Yoga -
Dharma Yoga is a modern interpretation of classical Eight-limbed or Hatha-Raja Yoga, deeply rooted in ethical precepts that includes elements of flowing Vinyasa, inversions and held poses that will help you to discover concentration, meditation, abiding contentedness and deep healing relaxation. Dharma Yoga was created by Sri Dharma Mittra in 1975. The physical posture practice (Asana) tones and invigorates the body and mind, leading to enhanced flexibility, strength, balance and concentration. Breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditative techniques regulate the heartbeat, de-stress the nervous system and calm the mind. Guided deep healing relaxation or Yoga Nidra relieves stress, slows down the thoughts, calms the mind and recharges one’s physical body. A complete practice that will lead to radiant health, a peaceful life and, eventually self-realization. Dharma Yoga is traditional, yet contemporary — perfect for the fast-paced world of today.

About the teachers

Karina Kibsgård

Karina has taught yoga since 2008 and offers classes at several yoga studios in Oslo. Her background is mainly in dance, Asthanga Yoga and Jivamukti Yoga. She was introduced to yoga through her studies at the
Norwegian University College of Dance, 2003-2006. Today she is a 800- hour Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher. Her first encounter with Jivamukti Yoga was during the summer of 2010, when she traveled to New York for dance, inspiration and 'the big city experience'. In June 2012 she traveled to Blue Spirit - Costa Rica, for her 300+ Jivamukti Yoga teacher training and in 2014 she moved to NYC, to complete a 800- hour apprentice-ship program at the Jivamukti Yoga School New York. She has also completed a 200- hour yoga teacher training with R.Alexander Medin, based on Ashtanga Yoga and yoga-philosophy (2009). In her teaching, Karina emphasizes the holistic approach to yoga. The physical practice combined with the philosophical and mental perspective; devotion, consciousness and kindness. Her classes contains elements of chanting, music, playful, physically and challenging asana- sequences. She believes that it is not about performing or being "perfect" but rather be the best version of yourself, in every aspects of life. ON and OFF the mat.

Krissa Ludvigsen

Krissa is a 200HR and 500HR certified Dharma Yoga Teacher who comes from an international and multi-cultural background. Born in the U.S., she has a Filipino mother, Scottish father, and grew up in the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and the UK. She first discovered Dharma Yoga, of all places, in a tiny island in the Caribbean called St Lucia. 2 words immediately came to mind after she finished her first Dharma Yoga class: “Grace” and “Bliss”. This is what Dharma Yoga means to her, and what she always tries to impart on to her students. Krissa took her first teacher training in 2011, at the Dharma Yoga Headquarters in New York, and is forever grateful she got to practice and learn directly from Sri Dharma Mittra himself, one of the oldest living Yoga Masters of our lifetime. For the last 10 years, she has taught at various studios and festivals in London, Hong Kong and Oslo and is also the founder of The Dharma Approach (www.thedharmaapproach.com) - the platform she uses to promote classes, workshops and buckle-free, hassle-free yoga straps she invented after being inspired by her Dharma Teacher Trainings. When not practicing yoga, Krissa is mama to a cheeky, spirited little girl called, Maya; dreaming up the future with her hubby, Nicolas; and probably tinkering with one website or another (she is a secret tech nerd). For Krissa, the goal of teaching yoga is not to teach the hardest class, but to make it fun, accessible and inspiring for all.

Karina and Krissa met as colleagues and teachers of the same yoga studio in Oslo and found common ground in their style and method of Yoga. Both Jivamukti and Dharma Yoga origins from New York and are contemporary interpretations of the traditional teachings and practices. You can think of them as cousins from NYC and if you love Jivamukti you will also have a heart for Dharma Yoga.

Alexander Medin -
Alexander is the founder of Nösen Yoga and one of the foremost teachers on Yoga and Yoga Philosophy that we know of. He has been teaching Yoga around the world for over 20 years. In 2002, he became certified by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from Mysore, India. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009) developed the style of Vinyasa Yoga known as Ashtanga. Only 35 people worldwide have obtained the certification as Ashtanga teachers by Pattabhi Jois, Alexander being one of them.
With a Master’s degree in Sanskrit and Indian religions and spending many years studying in India, he regularly writes about Yoga and many of his articles have been published in leading, international journals about Yoga. He translated the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita to Norwegian.Running the foundation “Yoga for Life”, he has launched and continues running projects, such as “Gangster Yoga” and “Back in the ring”, helping people who have “fallen out” of society and giving them the opportunity to build themselves up again, through a solid Yoga practice, heightened sense of responsibility and social work.