Yoga and Somatic Awareness

Louisa Raszyk

Yoga and somatic awareness is a somatic enquiry into the present moment – by cultivating our capacity to feel what is actually happening in the body through simple, accessible movements and shapes, the intelligence softens  and opens into a deeper consciousness. In doing so, we naturally become more intimate with life, more open to the present moment in all its diversity, more capable of intimacy with ourselves and others, and perhaps experience an easier acceptance of life’s constant changes.

Somatic Awareness (including developmental and fundamental movement) proposes  yoga posture practice as an enquiry into what is actually happening via a progressive sensitization of the body (vinyasa krama), going beyond superficial notions of strength-training and flexibility-training, like a sensation-lead movement enquiry.

MY  EXPERIENCE

I have been practicing yoga and movement awareness since 1989 and teaching since 1998. My yoga teaching has always been influenced by my investigations in butoh dance and shiatsu, both of which are deep journeys into somatic awareness. I also founded and worked at Red Earth Centre (Paris 2003 – 2019) a “centre for global body investigation” – somatic enquiry – revolving around a core of somatic yoga, somatic movement and shiatsu.

I began practicing yoga in India in 1989, from when I began a passionate daily self practice. Over the years, I’ve trained extensively in Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa, and Dynamic Yoga Training Method (I am a Senior Dynamic Yoga Training Method teacher with over 3000 hours training), but my teaching has always been rooted in sensitivity and embodied self-inquiry through self-practice.

Long before I encountered formal methods that aligned with this, my approach was grounded in listening deeply to the body — exploring yoga as a process of direct perception through sensation. I’ve continued to develop and teach from this place, shaped by decades of dedicated daily practice and study.

My work is guided by the understanding that true learning arises from within — that the body, in its immediacy and complexity, is the most honest teacher we have. Any method or form can support this, as long as it protects the body and respects its intelligence.

I continue to research and train in sensory-based movement techniques (Qi Gong, Feldenkrais, Alexander), avidly following the developments in our understanding of such groundbreaking areas as fascia, biotensegrity, I have recently completed a three year training with International Movement Somatics. Polyvagal theory and developmental movement. I weave these developments into my practice and into my movement classes to give me an increasingly broad palette from which to instruct, according to the needs of the student.

I specialise in teaching somatic awareness individually and supporting students in developing their self practice. I teach classes and retreats internationally (in person and online), mostly in Paris, and in Verrières -Le -Buisson (Parisian region), in Australia and in Bali, Indonesia. I am also a shiatsu practitioner, dancer, and mother to two children.

TESTIMONIAL

“I have been doing a bit of yoga on and off for more than 10 years now.  More often not practicing than practicing.  Since I have started with Louisa at the Red Earth Centre, two years ago, I love her style of teaching and find myself practicing regularly.  Louisa is not only technically well trained in how to rejuvenate and relax the body and mind, but she is also intuitive in her practice which brings a warm ambiance to her class.  I am always amazed by how I feel with even the slightest adjustments in my poses corrected by her. It opens up a whole other level of understanding my own body which I wouldn’t have discovered or felt.  I always walk out of her class feeling great!”  – Mitzi, Paris

Group Class times  from September 2024 (classes open to all levels from beginner to teacher) :

Mondays 19H30 – 20H45 (see “reservations” on the French version of this site for link and booking)

Wednesdays 9h30 – 10h45 at 12, rue des Couteaux, Verrières-Le-Buisson 91370, and via Zoom simultaneously (see “Reservations” on the French version of this site for booking and link)  ON-LINE

Private classes :  by appointment in Paris (Tuesdays and Thursdays), La Maisonette Verrières Le Buisson (Monday – Wednesdays) (80€/hour) , and by Skype/Zoom in French or English (€80/hour).

Contact : 06 10 89 76 04/   redearthcentre@gmail.com