Practical Awakenings: A Life Changing Course

Practical Awakenings…what exactly is that?  I call it a “life-changing course.”  I say this speaking from my experience both as a student and teacher of this exceptional program that has been running for about 15 years.

Satkiana

This course was developed by spiritual teacher Bhuvaneswari Devi.  I met her in September of 2000.  She had placed a small add in Tone magazine advertising “Bioenergetics and Shamanic Studies.”  “Hmmm,” I thought, “I’ve always wanted to learn about Shamanism.  I called her at her Ottawa number and she answered.  I could hear the sound of a loud parrot squawking in the background.  I told her I had seen her ad in Tone and was interested in learning about Shamanism.  I had just returned from 3 years in Toronto, where I had studied to become a certified Spiritual Psychotherapist and was eager to keep learning and growing in self-awareness.  “It is not an intellectual course,” the woman at the end of the phone replied curtly.  “Well, could you tell me a bit about it,” I asked.  “It is an experiential group program,” she responded.  “Could you send me a brochure?” I asked.

Two weeks went by and I had yet to receive a brochure.  I decided to call this rather unfriendly lady back.  “Come for an interview this Saturday,” was all she said when I explained the situation.  So, I did.  I remember showing-up at her door, the most colourful door on the entire street.  I was wearing  an Indian print, wrap-around skirt with elephants on it.  I had a satchel bag that was made in Ecuador slung over my shoulder and across my chest to rest on my left hip.  Yes, I was a modern day hippie questing to know the truth of who I am.

I don’t remember much from the interview, but a few things do stand-out very clearly.  One was her home, rich with life, great energy and the colourful touches of a South American artist, (which she is).  I also recall telling her that the reason I was there was to gain more self-confidence and improve my digestive problems.  She asked me a question, very straight and clear, and the memory of that moment and the tone of her voice has remained clearly in my mind like a short scene from a movie that imprints you deeply.  She asked me, “Can you accept me as your teacher?”  At the time, the question puzzled me.  My mind was responding, “I’m just taking a course with you…it’s no big deal.”  However, my soul was being struck by something much deeper.  My soul was able to hear the subtlety of that poignant question.  It hit me deeply and I felt confused, not yet able to understand the profound nature of what she was asking me.  I responded, “Sure…I guess so…” my voice trailing off at the end to meet a trance-like state of dull silence.

I started my first class a few weeks later.  The course has gone through many modifications, additions and changes over the years.  The basis is still the same though.  Practical Awakenings is geared at providing students with a solid foundation that will support them to meet there truest self, to hear the longings of your own soul!

How does Practical Awakenings offer this?   Practical Awakenings provides you with knowledge, tools, support and inspiration to build a strong foundation for cultivating self-awareness and personal and spiritual expansion.  The foundation of Practical Awakenings is based in the wisdom of Ayurveda.  Ayurveda literally means “science of life,” and is the system of natural health that stems from India.

At the core of Ayurveda are the 5 elements found in nature, Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space.  We can observe nature all around us, going through cycles of change and transformation.  We are also made-up of the dance of the 5 elements.  Space is like the container where the interaction of the elements takes place.  Air enables the action, the movement of the elements, enabling our heart to beat and our eyes to blink.  Fire provides heat and warmth and is the great pit of gastric juices that break down our food for digestion and assimilation.  Water gives us moisture, lubrication and lustre to keep our cells and tissues supple and alive.  Earth is our solid matter, our bones and physical structure.  We have all of the elements within us in different proportions.  One person might be more of an “air” person, whereas another might be more “earth.”

These 5 elements combine to form 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, (these are the mind/body types in Ayurveda).  Vata is made-up of Air and Space; Pitta is a combination of fire and water and Kapha is a mixture of Earth and Water.  We are born with a particular elemental combination, (Prakruti).  This combination, that is unique to us, supports our natural state of health and well-being.  However, due to environmental factors, food choices, lifestyle habits, etc., our elements become imbalanced and the result is disharmony within.  For example, it could start off as an imbalance of air, leaving the person feeling spacey, ungrounded and fearful and, if left uncorrected, could lead to headaches and nervous twitches.

In Practical Awakenings, we determine your Ayurvedic mind/body type and address any imbalances that are present, (we call the state of imbalance your Vikruti).  You will be supported through lifestyle tips, food guidelines, body therapies and group sharing.  Over the span of the course, you will be taught an active breathing practice that is the absolute gold of this course.  This is the same practice that I learned 13 years ago with my teacher.  I used to be extremely emotionally sensitive, anxious and tired most of the time.  Learning to breathe deeply and use the breath to discharge emotions, calm the mind and energize all of the cells in my body has brought me so much freedom in my life.  I am no longer living on an emotional roller-coaster of draining drama.  Anxiety has dropped and what has surfaced is a deep inner calm and clarity as to who I really am and why I am here.

My teacher is also an expert in energy anatomy, the Chakras and the Earth Bodies.  I am grateful to share my understanding of these teachings with students in Practical Awakenings to provide a broader scope of the vastness of your being and your interconnectedness to all beings.  We are not just affected by the physical food that we eat, we also eat prana, the life-force energy that gives us the vitality to shine to our fullest potential.  Our chakras feed on this spiritual food, so it is vital for our chakras to be strong and healthy in order to receive it and send it through the appropriate channels to nourish our bodies.

If you are ready to awaken to your own inner truth, vitality and wisdom, this is the course for you.  If you, like I was, want to feel more confident about yourself, comfortable in your own skin, less driven by the chaos in your mind or the turbulence of your emotions, this is the course for you.  If you are a “head” oriented person and want to open more to hearing the whisperings of your heart and the calling of your soul, this is the course for you.

I am eternally thankful that I stumbled across that “unfriendly lady’s” Tone ad 13 years ago.  She remains my spiritual teacher to this day.  A few years ago, I was recounting the story of our first phone conversation and she responded, “If I had been overly nice to you, you wouldn’t have respected me.”  I paused and reflected on this and replied, “Yes, that’s true, I wouldn’t have.”  A teacher speaks to our soul.  Is your soul ready to wake-up and remember the truth of who you are?

Satkiana offers Practical Awakenings courses on Thursday evenings at IHC.  See advert for more details or website: www.satkiana.com