Welcome
Yoga Shemesh
What is Yoga
Shemesh?
Hello friends!
My name is Alosha Shemesh, I am a Hatha Yoga teacher.
I warmly invite you to join Hatha Yoga classes in a quiet and peaceful place located in the beautiful village of Amirim , in the Upper Galilee, North Israel.
Hatha Yoga is the mother and father of all modern Yogas, known under many names, such as: Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, Power, and many more…
The common thing in all these practices is working with the physical body, focusing on breathing and meditation.
The basis of everything we do in classe is the awareness of breathing which is developed through Pranayama - various breathing techniques, and to this are added various poses and transitions.
At the same time, I like to combine the practical aspect with the spiritual side of Yoga.
I will be glad to see you at a session of relaxation, breathing and self-analysis through the practice of Yoga.
My story
I was born in Chita, the town which is located to the east of Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, in Eastern Siberia. In 1998, when I was 14 years old, I immigrated to Israel with my family.
My spiritual journey began sometime back in 2012. Until then, I had no connection to the spiritual world, not through family, not through friends, and not through religion. Just nothing at all.
After several mystical experiences and a deep crisis that year, the spiritual journey had started. I discovered that values I grew up with were mostly untrue. I also came to a deep realization that as long as I continue to blame others for the problems that happen to me, I will never be able to truly take responsibility for my life. I had to take responsibility for everything: it is not her fault, it is not his fault, the outside world is just a reflection of me. The truth is that most of my life was one big physical and emotional suffering, especially in my childhood. This led me to ask the right questions, to which i received surprising answers.
Of course, I am deeply grateful for the experiences that I had to endure, because this brought me to where I am today.
Deep questions had been raised: what is life on this planet? What is the Universal truth? who am I, in all this?
Over the next three years I read several books that changed my way of thinking, and encouraged me to look for the answers from within, not from without. I delved deeper into various meditation practices.
In 2015, life took me to Australia, where I discovered the magic of Yoga, Vipassana meditation, and veganism.
I was very happy to receive gifts such as Vipassana and Yoga from the Universe, that immersed me in an inner exploration of my body and mind. In 2017, I returned to Israel as a different person. My family and my friends didn't recognize me, I didn't eat meat anymore, I didn't drink alcohol anymore, and I didn’t go parting with them anymore.
Almost everything changed in me, I was interested in complete freedom from suffering, Moksha. The meaning of the word Moksha is complete liberation from life endeavors.
Part of the spiritual journey towards Moksha, is sharing the knowledge and experience with other people. I chose to express my path through teaching Yoga.
Back to the story, in the years that followed, I devoted myself entirely to Sadhana - a deep spiritual practice.
My Sadhana included abstinence from any sexual activity, Water Fasting from 3 to 8 days once every two months, and a raw food diet consisted only on fresh fruits and vegetables. I devoted 3 hours a day for meditation, and 3 hours more for Hatha Yoga. The rest of my day i devoted to reading spiritual texts.
In 2018, I began teaching Yoga, while leading a strict monastic lifestyle. I received my Teachers Certification in 2020, completing a two-year (500-hour) Yoga Teachers Training Course with the wonderful Yael Ziv, a senior teacher of Hatha Raja Yoga.
At the beginning of the pandemic, life was very generous and invited me to live in a very special village called Amirim.
There I continued to evolve as a Yoga teacher.
There I am still evolving as a practitioner of Yoga.
And the path is endless.
Namaste 🙏
Classes
Studio Classes
During the week, i am offering group classes according to schedule, as well as private sessions for individuals, couples, or small groups (up to 6 people).
Throughout the year, classes take place in private and public locations around the village: Rom Amirim, Beit HaAm, and the Carmeli Hall.
Currently, we practice at Beit HaAm.
Each session flows through four stages:
Pranayama – breathing techniques to calm the mind and bring presence.
Gentle warm up and elongation – soft preparatory exercises for the muscles and joints.
Dynamic part – a flow of movement between postures.
Relaxation – lying stretches, deep rest, and turning inward.
Naturally, the class is a free flow, adjusting to the group’s energy and my connection with the participants.
Yoga in Nature
In the Amirim area, there are several magical spots for practicing Yoga in nature — among healing trees or with a wonderful view to Lake Kinneret.
Thanks to this beautiful opportunity, I love holding classes in nature — both group and private sessions — depending on the weather and by prior arrangement.
Meditation Classes
Meditation sessions are offered occasionally, based on demand – for individuals or groups – in the studio, in nature, or any other suitable place.
At the beginning of meditation i explain the essence of the practice and its connection to our day to day life. Next we enter into calmness, we do breathing exercises, to harmonize the mind and body.
The meditation itself can be guided or independent; it may focus on an internal or external object, or be a more subtle process of turning inward to observe our mental content, connecting with the higher self.
Just like with Yoga classes, here too, the approach is flexible, and flows authentically with each person or group.
Suitable for All
Weekly meetings
Held at Amirim village
Sunday 9:00 - 10:30
Tuesday 9:00 - 10:30
Tuesday 18:00 - 19:30
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00
Friday 9:30 - 11:00
Price List
One-time Class
60 nis
Ten Classes
500 nis
Private Class
300 nis
Private Class
for a Couple
380 nis
Privet Class for
a Small Group
500 nis
Privet Meditation
Class
250 nis
Duration of the Class
1.5 hrs.
The path of Yoga
In this section I simplify Yogic terms and the way of life according to Yoga.
What is Yoga?
In translation from Sanskrit, Yoga means union.
The highest intention is unity with all creation.
But we live on Earth in a dual world through which the soul develops. In order to pass this adventurous school, it is highly desirable to move from a state of consciousness of separation and fear, to a state in which we see and feel the divine spark in everything, in every person. By doing so, we allow ourselves to shift from a perspective of separation and fear, into a world of unity, that is Love and Kindness, despite everything that happens to us on this planet.
Four types of Yoga:
Jnana Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Raja Yoga
Karma Yoga
All these types of Yoga are associated with a specific area of the human body. Let’s explore a few principles and their spiritual meaning:
Jnana Yoga
This is the Yoga of intelligence, knowledge. Jnana Yoga is expressed through meditation, through self-examination and looking inwards, at the subtle layers hidden from the ordinary eye. The main question of inquiry is; Who am I? There are several other questions that support this process, such as: Am I the thoughts that come and go? Am I the emotions that appear and disappear? Am I the physical sensations? etc.
At the beginning of the inquiry our attention is on the root feeling of the self (naked i am), what happens before all our usual definitions; I am a man or a woman, I am a an actress or a nurse, I am a politician or a basketball player ... Putting it simply, Jnana Yoga is observation, and this observation is accessible to everyone.
The area of the body attributed to this Yoga is the head
Bhakti Yoga
Yoga of Unconditional Love
In India, people usually perform ceremonies, chant mantras, support each other, volunteer in ashrams and much more...
At the highest levels of Bhakti Yoga, a person approaches the ability to see and remember God in any manifestation; in every person, every animal, every tree, in all life circumstances. That is, to learn to be in love and harmony, in the most unpleasant life circumstances and in the most wonderful moments, as well as everything that is in between these two points, which, in my opinion, is the most challenging of all that can be. Bhakti Yoga is for the brave, who are not afraid to lose their ego.
The area of the body associated with Bhakti is the chest and the Heart chakra.
Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga is the Yoga of purification of the physical and energetic body, performed through various practices such as:
Asanas - poses
Pranayama - various breathing techniques
Shatkarmas - special techniques for cleansing the body
Bandas - physical and energy locks in the human body
Mudras - various hand and finger gestures.
The purpose of these practices is to cleanse and rejuvenate the physical body. As one progresses, it is also possible to approach the practice of Raja Yoga, which focuses on purifying a more subtle layer, the energetic layer. Hatha Yoga is a part of Raja Yoga, in which we practice techniques and engage in the physical activation of the body.
Hatha Yoga refer to the abdominal area, since Hatha Yoga is physical work with the body, and the abdomen is also the place where physical processes of assembly and disassembly take place in the human body.
Raja Yoga is the area of the solar plexus.
Karma Yoga
The meaning of the word Karma is action, and the result of action. Every action in our life has a consequence, whether it appears immediately or unfolds later in unexpected and mysterious ways. You've probably heard the expression “good karma” or “bad karma”; our lives revolve around and are shaped by the collection of our Karma.
The essence of the practice is rooted in mindful action, a movement that arises without expectation of reward. It is to give simply for the joy of giving, not for what may return. In other words, it is to act in the world with a sense of deep connection, where I am an integral part of all that unfolds around me, without concern for my own gain. In addition to this, we try to see that every action of ours is not really ours, but the action of God through us. Liberation from the entanglements of Karma comes through right action, right perception, and right effort.
Now, it’s clear that in modern society, it’s less accessible to taste this practice. So, often, those who wish to experience it must travel to unique ashrams and meet special teachers. At first glance, it may seem like something hidden and lofty, but in reality, each of us, whether we want to or not, has a part in it — even in our everyday lives. Anyone can begin with simple actions, untangling the karmic knots and connections in our lives.
This is how one begins the path of Karma Yoga, until it becomes a way of life.
The area associated with it is the pelvis, the region of the sexual organs.
All the pictures in this website are genuine.
All the people in the photos are real individuals.
All of them are practicing true Yoga.
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