Michael Lazano Yoga

Yoga Teacher facilitating teacher training courses, workshops, retreats, private and group classes,

02/05/2023

I’m extremely excited to announce that I’ll be hosting a yoga retreat at Vikasa this August.

Days will start with a long, juicy, complete yoga practice combining asana (with options for all levels), pranayama and meditation. Interesting workshops, restorative sessions and fun island experiences will follow. We’ll enjoy pristine beaches, jungle waterfalls, local temples and more 🙌🏽🥳

There will also be free time to relax, get a massage and just enjoy the beautiful location.

All of this whilst staying at the stunning Vikasa Yoga Retreat, the most beautiful venue with breath taking views, delicious food and wonderful people.

For more info, check out: https://vikasa.com/escape-retreat/ (link in bio)

Early sign ups get a discount 💃🏻

Join me in paradise 🤗

23/07/2021

ONE WEEK TO GO 🙌🏽🥳🎉

Our progress your practice retreat is just around the corner 🤸‍♀️🧘‍♀️😃

There is still one room available if anyone wants to join us 😘🤗☺️

An in depth immersion awaits 🧘‍♂️😇🙏🏽

02/07/2021

JUST 4 WEEKS TO GO 🥳🙌🏽🎉

It’s now less than a month before our progress your practice retreat in Wales 🧘‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😃

If you want to come but haven’t booked yet, then get yourself signed up ✨🌈🙏🏽

It’s going to be immersive, a ton of fun and transformative. Deep practice, interesting and fun workshops, mountains, lakes, valleys, delicious fresh food and a lovely group of people await. 🧘‍♀️🤸‍♂️⛰🍇👫

Join us!!! 🤗🤗🤗

Link in bio or send a DM to chat 🙏🏽☺️

PS. Mountain hiking is optional 😆 and will hopefully be done on a sunnier day 🌞🙏🏽😅

10/06/2021

“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.” Friedrich Nietzsche

There are many ways to reach the top of the mountain. Whilst climbing, there may be foliage obscuring our vision, leading us to believe we tread the only trail; on reaching the peak and gaining 360 vision, we find that there are in fact a multitude of ways to mount the summit.

Ignorance and ego can lead us to believe that our path is the only path or superior to others, potentially leading to judgement, intolerance, conflict and the act of pushing our beliefs on others. Such small mindedness is an obstacle that can appear on any path.

Our key task is finding what works best for us. Everyone is different; we each have our own unique nature and, having lived our own unique life, there is no one else exactly like us; as such, certain ways will work better for us than others. We should carve our own bespoke path. There are many ways to live and practice; it is up to us to decide our way.

Exploration of different systems is valuable in determining what resonates with us most, but at some point we must be decisive; in constantly jumping from path to path, we merely circle the mountain without ever reaching the top.

There is sometimes disdain amongst yogis to some of the “yogas” on offer today, such as beer yoga, dog yoga, naked yoga or the like. Of course these modalities are a long way from the original practice… even much of what is taught under the umbrella of “authentic yoga” is far removed from its essence, but to view things through the limited duality of good and bad is not wise. Everything that exists has some place. These modalities may appear shallow and misrepresentative, but could appeal to someone who under other conditions, would never have shown interest - it could stimulate their curiosity, causing them to explore deeper and find what they otherwise would not have found.

As soon as we judge, by default we make ourselves superior, thus falling into the trap of ego. We each have our own journey. The wisdom of tolerance and understanding should supersede judgment and remain in our heart always.

29/05/2021

A little about our upcoming ‘progress your practice’ retreat in Wales 🧘🏼‍♀️⛰🐏

We’re super excited for this training 🥳🥳🥳 Each day will begin with a juicy morning practice, free from any time limitations, allowing us to go deep in asana, pranayama, meditation and rounding it out with a long, deep relaxation 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️😇

After a yummy breakfast 🥗🍇🍉☕️ and some free time, we’ll dive into afternoon and evening workshops, covering a host of fun and interesting topics, allowing you to pick up valuable tips, while also having a great time, blending theory and practical application, to help you master your practice. There’ll be play with arm balances and inversions, an exploration of safe and effective modes of developing flexibility, and a delve into breathing techniques and meditation.

We’ll enjoy all of this and more immersed in beautiful nature, in the stunning Snowdonia national park. There will also be a midweek day off to climb Mount Snowdon 🧗‍♂️⛰ allowing us to fully enjoy the breath taking panoramic views of the surrounding area.

We can’t wait to see you soon 🤗🥰

If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them 😜

17/05/2021

ATTACHMENT

Eastern philosophy puts forth that we suffer due to attachment to that which feels good and aversion to that which is unpleasant. The previous post dealt with unpleasantness, but what about the pleasures of life? Surely these can only being enjoyment, things such as wealth, success, food, s*x, relationships, everything we crave in the external world.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying any fruits of the world, but problems arise when we become attached to them, when we NEED them to feel happy and content. If this is the case, we are dependent and will suffer if our sources of good feeling are taken away or change; before that, we may even suffer from fear of loss; it could be money, a partner, status, anything… for most of us, it’s multiple things. Being as change is the one guarantee of the impermanent material world, if we are attached, suffering is inevitable. We become slaves to our objects of attachment, they become our master, dictating our actions and therefore our life.

Most of us run away from pain and towards pleasure, it is wired into our biology; in counter to this, eastern schools of philosophy, much like the stoics of ancient Greece, promote steadiness in between the polarities of pleasure and pain, reducing the power of either over us. Moderation is recommended in an effort to reduce the power of pleasure. The ascetics practice complete self denial, which has a place for some, but is often counter productive; greater desire can be ignited, like at the end of a strict diet when one wants to eat everything. On the other side of the coin, having no self control is equally destructive. Complete fulfilment of desire is like throwing wood onto a fire, desire only expands. A balanced approach is generally optimal, not complete self denial or over indulgence.

More important than how we conduct ourselves, is our internal state. Actions are driven by the thoughts and emotions at the root of them. When we stop seeking fulfilment in the external world and instead, journey inwards, we may access something beyond outer pleasures, finding absolute peace and bliss, the natural state of our deepest self, hence attachments simply dissolve.

30/04/2021

ACCEPTANCE

“Do you want to know what my secret is? I don’t mind what happens.”

Simple but sublime wisdom from Jiddu Krishnamurtu, essentially stating that we can overcome suffering by merely accepting the natural unfolding of life, working with what happens, instead of against it. Our mental resistance to reality is what gives birth to suffering, not (what we define as) the object of suffering itself; on release of this resistance, we may find a state of equanimity, a state unaffected by circumstance, hence being imbued with peace and serenity.

Some perceive acceptance as resignation. Such is not the case, we simply acknowledge that which we cannot control, marking a key hurdle to overcome, namely the drive to control. We have limited control over the outer world; in spite of this, many of us seek to control everything, striving to mould the world to fit our parameters of pleasantness; experience shows this to be impossible. Within our span of control, obviously we may take appropriate action, but changes to the external world are always secondary to inner evolution. The external is fleeting, ever changing and vastly beyond our control, but the inner state is ours to sculpt, if we only pick up the chisel. The inner dictates our experience of the outer.

A great way to begin practicing acceptance is by, when feeling resistance, simply slowing the breath, consciously using exhales to breath out tension, relax and soften; as we do so, our mind and reactions also relax and soften. Then we can recognise that resisting, and thereby allowing something to affect us, will not change anything about a situation, serving no purpose but to steal our peace. We may then consciously accept what is and cannot be changed, not being resigned, but simply acknowledging reality, hence working with it, instead of being in opposition to it.

When our inner world reaches a certain point of evolution and wisdom, the external world ceases to hold power over us. We become the master of our inner experience.

“The foundations of peace and bliss are not about attending to the external realities of your life, but in accessing and organising the inner nature of your being.” Sadhguru

20/04/2021

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT

and I are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting 2 yoga immersions this summer. They will be held in Wales, in the stunning Snowdonia national park.

PROGRESS YOUR PRACTICE (July 30 - August 6)
A 1 week intensive full of juicy practices and workshops, designed for the yogi seeking to take the next step in their practice… giving an understanding and roadmap, both of the progressions themselves and how to get there, from any starting point.
For more information, see: www.michaellazanoyoga.com/progressyourpractice

HIKE AND YOGA (August 23 - 29)
A yoga retreat paired with the nourishment of nature. Aside from varied energising morning practices and blissful evening restoration, we will take hikes to stunning spots in the area, climbing Mount Snowdon, visiting Aber Falls and walking the Anglesey coastline, enjoying our yoga practice with a side of adventure and rugged beauty.
For more information, see: www.michaellazanoyoga.com/hikeandyoga

If you would like any further information, send us an email or DM 🙏🏽☺️