Our school represents the tradition of Yoga, founded by the great Guru Adinatha, Matsyendranath, Gorakshanath. This tradition is known for its practice of hatha yoga. Particularly striking is her representative Guru Gorakshanath. Gorakshanath and his disciples have developed methods of yoga, which are described in such famous works as Gorakshashataka, Vivekamartanda, Yoga-Bija, Gorakshavachana-sangraha, Amanaska yoga, Gherand Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shiva Samhita, etc. There are a lot of texts nath tradition, mostly they contain different practices in the form of Ashtanga Yoga (eight parts) and shadanga-yoga (six), which consists of: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Hatha yoga includes shat-karma (six purifying action) and Sukshma-viyayama (exercises for the emancipation of the muscles), asana (posture), governing the psychophysical state of a person and having a therapeutic effect on him, pranayama - control and increase of the life force (prana ) through breathing exercises. Also hatha yoga includes bandhas (special muscular locks) and mudras (bodily gestures). With the bandhas and mudras yogis evoke the spiritual and the vital force of Kundalini Shakti.
In the Natha-tradition kundalini-yoga is virtually synonymous with laya-yoga, connecting hatha-yoga and raja-yoga. Through hatha-yoga you learn to control the vital force (prana) and with the help of raja-yoga - to control Chitta (consciousness). Laya-yoga includes elements of work with prana and also with mind. In addition, the awakening of kundalini-shakti is possible through the mantra, traditionally the mantra should be passed by the Guru, then it could lead to the implementation of siddhi (yogic perfections).
So, in our school, in accordance with traditional Indian yoga of nathas, we teach primarily the methods of hatha-yoga, mantra-yoga later and then laya and raja-yoga. Of course, they are somehow interrelated, and each of the practices partially incorporates elements of others. Despite the fact that our tradition is focused on spiritual practice, however, under the doctrine of Gorakshanatha, work with the body plays a big role. Without a healthy, strong body and life energy it is very difficult to achieve success in meditation, so first of all we are working with the body. Natha tradition is not closed on one religion or deity, in it the truths of all religions are treated as manifestations of one truth, which cannot be expressed in any terms or concepts. Therefore, yoga is open to all people, it focuses on universal principles of goodness, the existence in harmony with nature and any society. In the tradition of Nath mantras in various languages (shabar-mantras)are used, not only in Sanskrit or Hindi; nathas can worship any gods or not worship, because faith is acquired in the process of self-study and practice. Yoga is first and foremost scientific and research approach, which is not contrary to spirituality.
Who is our teacher?
In the tradition of Nathas there may be more teachers, depending on what they teach. Our Diksha-guru of Russian descent is Yogi Shri Matsyendranth Maharaj, who was fully trained in India with his Guru Shri Mithleshnath Maharaj (line Dharma-panth) and took sannyasa from Yogi Shri Devnatha Maharaj (Ai-panth). Matsyendranath Maharaj received the right to transfer initiation and to spread Natha-Sampradaya in the west, he was the first russian-speakers who have received initiation into this tradition. Guru translated into Russian and published many valuable texts relating to the doctrine of Nathas. Our Guru teaches the traditional way, likewise he passed by the Indian masters of yogic practices through disciple's succession (parampara). In addition, he organizes the travels to India to his teachers and to the legendary places of nathas. Natha Sampradaya is mainly distributed in northern India, although there are 12 branches, called panths, which are represented in Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
One can say that all modern yoga, which is now practiced throughout the world, takes its origin from Nath tradition, and the first Guru, who is worshiped in our tradition, was and remains Mahayogi Guru Gorakshanath...