by Naima Evans
I arrived at Dzamling Gar the day before the training began, feeling tired and slightly out of balance after the long journey from New Zealand. From the moment I arrived, however, something softened. The flowers, the scents, the birds, and the gentle presence of the community, created an immediate sense of being welcomed and held.
The following day we commenced at 9am in the Gönpa. A great energy was present, full of enthusiasm. Honza and Maxim opened their first Yantra Yoga Teacher Training with approximately 30 participants. From the very beginning, the tone was clear: a balance of precision and lightness. There was care in every instruction, yet also humor, which allowed us to relax. We were guided to trust in our own breath, to remain in Guruyoga, and to allow the breath to guide the movement.
Participants had come from many parts of the world, including China, South Africa, and Argentina, to study the teachings of Yantra Yoga. It was moving to be part of such a diverse group, all gathered with a shared intention. Together we explored the relationship between breath, movement, and rhythm. The first days were demanding, requiring sustained attention to the detail and coordination of each movement. My mother, who had traveled over to stay with me during the training, booked a series of Ku Nye massages with Madegma, which supported me greatly.
Fabio attended on the second day to highlight the importance of ‘pure intention’ in relation to practicing and teaching Yantra Yoga. We explored the importance of fluid breathing and focused on the nature of the breath holds.
On the third day, the ‘calima’(a hot, dust-laden wind from the Sahara desert) arrived, bringing an intense, enveloping heat. The air became heavy, and the practice of Tsigjong required an additional level of strength and presence. At times it felt confronting, yet it also revealed something about the depth of the method – how breath and awareness can remain steady even when conditions are not.
As the days passed and the ‘calima’ subsided, there was a subtle but tangible shift. The practice began to feel less like something I was doing and more like something I was entering into. The movements connected more naturally, and the breath deepened without force. At a certain point, there was a sense of practicing as if for the first time – simple, direct, and unexpectedly fluid.
By the fifth day, I noticed a lightness and clarity that stayed with me beyond the practice session itself. Walking out of the Gönpa, everything felt more open and at ease.
During the training, Dr. Dagmar Rungen, a Doctor and Yantra Yoga teacher, offered a presentation on the anatomy and physiology of breathing. This added a valuable perspective, grounding the experience in a different kind of understanding. We studied how movement affects the lungs and how different breath holds recruit different muscle groups. Dr. Rungen highlighted that through practices including breath retention, we begin to expand not only our physical capacity, but also our relationship with our mind and our emotions, including the ability to reduce the perception of pain.
As we moved into the first and second Yantra series, this understanding supported a more integrated experience of the practice. There was a growing sense that the body, breath, and mind were not separate elements to coordinate, but aspects of a single process gradually coming into harmony.
Toward the end of the course, each session felt increasingly precious. There was a quiet awareness of how rare it is to encounter these teachings in such a direct way, and to receive them within a supportive environment. Practicing together, guided by experienced and attentive teachers, created a sense of connection that went beyond words.
Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo visited us towards the end of the training. Her contribution added another important dimension. Through her explanation of the body in terms of the elements, she brought a deeper understanding of how Yantra Yoga functions in relation to our overall balance and health. Using the analogy of the body as a system of pathways, she emphasized how Yantra Yoga supports the flow of energy in a practical and tangible way, helping to restore a natural state of equilibrium. It was fascinating to learn how the different ‘holds’ work on our digestive and energetic systems. That evening I had my last Kun Ye massage with Madegma, her hands were like a magic. She helped to release some old patterns of tension that had shifted through the practices. I felt a deep sense of gratitude and liberation.
As a group we really came together, and by the second-to-last day we realized how quickly the time had passed, we had learnt and shared so much and discovered the joy of practicing in a group with a shared intention. We had taken it in turns to lead practices and be led, learnt through each other’s mistakes and strengths. We laughed a lot, and when it came to the end, there were a few silent tears. We decided to go down as a group to La Roca Negra for sunset food and drink. It was a truly spectacular evening – it felt like the elements were aligned and there was an air of triumph and victory!
I am now integrating the precious teachings as I prepare to return to my family in New Zealand, who have been the true yogis along this journey – balancing the household without Mama!!!
