The Flowering of Awareness: An Introduction to Tantrik Yoga

with Christopher D. Wallis. The Foundation for Yoga; yogasthana.org

By Richard Rosen

Ever wonder where hatha yoga comes from and what makes it different from other schools of yoga? You'll be able to answer this question and others after watching this 94-minute lecture by Christopher D. Wallis, a Sanskrit scholar who regularly interprets ancient mantras for Yoga Journal.

According to this DVD, the Tantric movement emerged in India in the sixth century, and in a relatively short time, it had an enormous impact on Indian culture and spirituality. A few centuries down the road, it led to the development of hatha yoga. Wallis briskly covers Tantra's history, then goes through an overview of its central teachings and practices, its vision of the Self and the world, and its ultimate goal of Self-liberation. Wallis goes on to reveal that what sets Tantra apart from earlier yoga schools is its worship of the feminine principle, shakti, and its embrace of the physical world as a means to liberation.

Don't be fooled by Wallis's youthful appearance. He's been studying this material for more than half his life, has advanced degrees in religion and Sanskrit, and is himself an accomplished hatha practitioner. Wallis presents the material in everyday language with a heartfelt humility that belies his wealth of knowledge.

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