International Institute of
Yoga and Ayurveda
“Spiritual practice does not come from physical action, rather, it is a mode of living and understanding amidst any physical action.”
-YAC Shivaji Mizner, from Aphorisms on Spiritual Practice.
The system of yoga taught at the Institute is known as Raja Yoga, or Ashtanga Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga is a technical name given to this system of Yoga by its codifier, Maharishi Patanjali, about 2600 years ago. The name comes from two sanskrit roots, Astau- eight, and Anga- limb.
Astanga Yoga is an eight limbed, or eight part, system which incompases all aspects of life and spiritual practice. The reason one puts into practice these eight limbs is so that Yoga may be attained. Yoga is a sanskrit word which means- to unite, combine, or integrate. One who practices these eight limbs as a matter of living, will surely reach a deeper state of integration on all levels of their being. A yogi’s body, mind, and soul function as one organism, without conflict, separation, or obscurity.
Yoga is the cessation of fluctuations in ones consciousness -sutra 2
As Patanjali explains in the second yoga sutra, one experiences integration once the continous fluctuations, or disturbances, in ones stream of awareness, the consciousness, have been brought to rest. In this state of conscious stillness, known as meditation, one becomes aware, without disturbance, of reality as it is taking place from one moment to the next.
-Yogacharya Shivaji Mizner
Yogacharya Shivaji Mizner, the Institutes Guru, Founder, and Director, began his yogic journey with the study of Kundalini Yoga and Chi Gung as a teenager. He was later ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk in Thailand, during which time he experienced a series of awakenings that led him to rememberance of his previous lives as a yogi, and renewed his purpose as a spiritual teacher. Disheartened by the Buddhist view of rejection of the body and soul, he de-robed and set out to re-learn the ancient system of Yoga he once knew so well.
He studied Hatha, Iyengar, Hot, and Ashtanga Vinyasa styles, and soon after completed a teacher training in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. He then moved to India, studying with Sri K. Patabhi Jois, Sharath Rangaswamy, Saraswati Jois, was certified to teach Pranayama and Kundalini Yoga by B.N.S. Iyengar, and Sri Shashadri.
He completed his Ayurvedic Practitioner degree from the Mumuksha School of Traditional Ayurvedic Medicine, and Studied Sanskrit with Dr. M.A. Jayashree, Sanskrit professor of the Maharaja’s Government Sanskrit College in Mysore, and Dr. Lakshmish Barath who gave him his Name.
He also studied Naturopathy, Nutrition, Sports Injury Rehabilitation, Excercise Therapy, Remedial Therapies, and Herbal Medicine at the Australasian College of Natural Therapies in Sydney, Australia. Shivaji also completed a short internship at the J.S.S Ayurvedic Hospital in Mysore, India, under the tutilage of his Ayurveda Guruji Dr. B. Gurubasavaraja, principle of the hospital and J.S.S Ayurvedic Medical College, Mysore.
He has travelled throughout the United States, India, Thailand, and Australia teaching the method of Yoga and Meditation which he developed.
The method of Yoga Asana (postures) he teaches is called Vinyasa Kriya, which means the act of uniting ones breath with movement. This ancient system of Yoga comes from an ancient text on yoga called the “Yoga Korunta” which means the master yoga.
The Vinyasa Kriyas are powerful postures and movements designed to bring about the deepest clearing of the energy channels (nadis) possible, whilst developing a vibrant state of health of all organs and muscles.
The Kundalini Kriyas he teaches he developed from his own meditation experience, and are designed to purify the mind, bring about insight, and offer a direct, scientific path from the first stages of concentration to the deepest levels of samadhi.
He teaches all eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, utilizing his own experience in the field of Yoga to share complete healing of the body, mind, and spirit with all whom are willing to take his instruction.
Shivaji takes his inspiration from Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, and his Guru, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya.
-Photos of sri t. krishnamacharya,
guru of yogacharya shivaji mizner
