Vajrasati yoga was founded in 2000 by Buddhist-influenced Jim Tarran who has trained in Hatha and Iyengar Yoga. Vajrasati synthesises all these traditions, becoming more than the sum total of its parts.
Vajrasati uses the tools of yoga practice (asana, pranayama, mantra and meditation) safely and clearly, to reveal the essence of yoga and ultimately release the full potential of our humanity, an internal, local connection with ‘intuitive intelligence’ (Ishvara Pranidhana).
The name itself is composed from the two ancient Indian words ‘Vajra’ -thunderbolt/diamond (Sanskrit) and ‘Sati’-awareness (Pali). The meaning seems to keep revealing more depths, but generally it is taken to mean ‘unobstructed awareness’. That is, given the right relationship, experience will become illuminated by an inner light that can penetrate ever deeper without ever being absolutely limited. The name also reflects the more traditional terms ‘ha’ and ‘tha’ and their association with sun/moon union (Hatha yoga) – the sun being associated with the vajra and the moon with the sati.
It is a name for classical Indian yoga in the Astanga (eight branched) style as pointed out in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. And it is recognisable by its clarity, alignment and above all its direct no nonsense teaching of traditional yoga practise. The name is synonymous with the yoga teacher training program run by Jim where the graduates join a free association of yoga practitioners, who all benefit from shared knowledge and mutual support through sustained contact, and training events.