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Welcome

Yoga and Kabbalah

Yoga, meditation, exercise and prayer make me feel better.


Yoga and Jewish Studies bring me back to what is important in life; health, connections to family, community, peace of mind and spirit.


Yoga and Kabbalah help me in my daily life by bringing me balance and strength to live in the possibilities of now.  


"Hineini” in Hebrew means “Here I Am”                     

Judy weaves in the wisdom of Kabbalah and Jewish themes for health and well-being.

Temple Shaaray Tefila - Bedford Corners, NY


Taken at the Temple with Rabbi David Greenberg


Photos by ©Matt Borowick

About Kabbalah Yoga


The word Kabbalah comes from the Hebrew language meaning “Received” or “Revealed” and can also be understood to mean “Hidden Wisdom.” Kabbalah Yoga weaves the wisdom of the Kabbalah and Jewish themes for health and well-being. Drawing on the Jewish/Kabbalah connections for Kavannah - focused intention,  offers us an inspiring and powerful way to connect to Torah as a source of healing, wisdom and transformation. Jewish yoga practice is a Journey; it's a practice, not a perfect. Through a Kabbalah Yoga practice, we become empowered, renewed, and connect our body, mind, and soul. Yoga with Kabbalah study, is an art of movement connected to Jewish study.  We receive  a spiritual connection of Lech Lecha - go up to rise for the  journey, of knowing oneself and to find our own connection with our Spirituality, Adonai.


Yoga means union.  Our purpose is to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. The Jewish people are connected to feelings of spiritual oneness through the words of prayer:  Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Ehad - Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.


Kabbalah Tree of Life

Torah

Hebrew and Prayer

In Kabbalah Yoga classes we work to include our knowledge of the Kabbalah Tree of Life, Torah, Hebrew and Prayer, into our bodies for balance, strength, flexibility, vitality, and relaxation.  As we study Torah we connect to our spirituality through speaking with thoughtfulness, listening and finding peaceful qualities in silence, seeing and breathing with awareness, and moving with mindfulness and ease into yoga postures as a form of movement to express our modern interpretations of our ancient texts.

A regular Kabbalah Yoga practice will give you a feeling of stress release.  By working to bring a mindful awareness to the way we move and connect to our body and our thoughts we will learn to move more unified with a sense of balance and compassion for ourselves. We lift ourselves up to a higher sensibility. With simple movements for tension relief, we try to soften our hearts, bodies and souls. We want to feel open and free to let the Kabbalah study and the physical yoga experience affect us with great spirituality and give us sustenance for ease of movement and better feelings of health.









Kabbalah Yoga Class with Judy Fuhrer























It feels magnificent to stand firmly on the ground, in the Yoga pose of "Mountain" and say words of Torah out loud;

Anochi - “I am”

Anochi is a synonym for etzem, meaning “Essence”—the ultimate context and totality of Reality. Essence is no-thing and every-thing, and yet it is neither nothing nor everything.




We use the 10 attributes in Kabbalah known as 10 Sefirot.  
























The ultimate aim of yoga is the very same essence of the Shema --  To bind your-self to the deep spiritual awareness of Oneness, to become aware that everything is interconnected. 


























Kabbalah Yoga Class Structure


Class begins with a seated warm up, sun salutations, standing poses, and stretches especially for hips and shoulders.  


Classes include *discussions* of a Jewish/Kabbalah topic. We talk about the Hebrew Letters making Yoga shapes. For example; Downward Facing Dog is an upside down letter "Chaf".We move with twisting and turning to show our Tshuva - our returning of our Jewish mind and soul to our body adding " Adonai"  to our daily thoughts in life.


Classes end in a relaxing meditation called “a nidra”,  a wonderful way to get the sweet taste of Shabbat!


Here are some points to keep in mind for a stress relieving yoga class:

Move slowly in and out of the poses.  

Keep your breath smooth and even throughout the practice. If possible breathe in using your nostrils and breathe out using either your nose or your mouth.

Do not strain or force yourself beyond your current abilities.


*Discussions* Topics:


Wear anything that you’re comfortable to move in.  Layers are best. Kabbalah Yoga is intended for all ages. Modifications of yoga postures are suggested and encouraged to accommodate all levels of an individual’s fitness and mobility skills.


 







Jewish and Hebrew Education


Kabbalah Yoga Teaching Experience


1

Keter

Crown

Top Head

2

Chikhmah

Wisdom

Right Brain

3

Binah

Understanding

Left Brain

3a

Da'at

Knowledge, bridge between

mind & soul/body

Neck

4

Chesed

Kindness

Right Shoulder

5

Gevurah

Power

Left Shoulder

6

Tiferet

Beauty, Harmony

Center of Chest

7

Netzach

Endurance

Right Hip

8

Hod

Glory, Thankful

Left Hip

9

Yesod

Foundation, Creative

Lower Back & Pelvis