SHIVASHAKTILOKA is a place where the integration of stillness (Shiva) and movement ( Shakti) can be experienced. It symbolises the loving embrace of Shiva and Shakti who merge in the Heart.
Chinnamasta's logo shows a Heart lovingly embracing the Sri Yantra. This image reveals the polarity of Love with Spiritual Realization. "When Shiva and Shakti merge, Grace descends upon them, and the omipresence of The Divine Mother is both felt and known."
AYURVEDA, TANTRA and YOGA form the harmonious trinity of body, mind, and spirit that brings the mind back to it’s natural state of serenity. When this trinity is brought into harmony, these three forces manifest our experience of the Shiva - Shakti - Loka. From this naturally arising serenity the mind desires only what is beneficial and supports all others in this attainment. “The world exists for the dual purpose of sensory enjoyment and liberation of the Self” (Patanjali Yoga Sutra II-18, as interpreted by Mukunda Stiles).
Humans have three bodies. first is the physical body, second is the three dimensional subtle body composed of life force, thoughts and spiritual seeking. The third body is pure Spirit. Ayurveda seeks to sustain health of the first body. Tantra seeks to keep the subtle body radiant and vital. Yoga focuses on Spiritual Illumination and Realisation.
ABOUT CHINNAMASTA
Chinnamasta Stiles trained as an General Nurse & Intensive Care Pediatric Nurse for 12 years in a major University Hospital in Rotterdam, Holland from 1981-1993. She developed a personal interest for Ayurveda & Yoga when it became clear to her that living a healthy life, began with finding balance in her own personal and professional life. Experiencing the difficult process of suffering inspired her to seek a spiritual resolution to pain beyond the western medical view. This led to an ongoing awakening to Spirit even during the natural transition to life beyond death. She began to guide parents in how to deal with illness of their children and on how to gracefully embrace death when that was inevitable. These years of profound confrontation with death created the fertile soil for connection to the infinite Spiritual Heart. She received end of life counseling training with psychiatrist Michael Murphy, the founder of the hospice movement in New York.
She worked as the General Manager of the major Ayurvedic Spa in Holland from 1997-2000, where she started guiding people individually in returning to a healthy lifestyle with the principles of yoga and ayurveda. She finished a 700 hr. classical hatha yoga training program in Holland and graduated with a thesis on "Dealing on living, dealing with dying from Yogic perspective". She completed a thesis on Ayurveda and Chakra Psychology. After her graduation she decided to make a career change, by leaving her demanding position and focusing on Yoga & Ayurveda teaching for groups and individuals.
From 1999-2001 - untill he left his body, she received raja yoga teachings and guidance from Baba Kanhai Mishra, a Yogi and Vaidya in Holland. He used to say: " You should never worship me, the only one you should worship is God" His candid, deep teachings full of humor influenced Chinnamasta greatly on her Spirit Path. He was the first giving her Deeksha - Spiritual Blessings and Initiation.
By coincidence she met an ayurvedic doctor, Vaidya Baj Rathod, than 83, who introduced her to Kiran Vyas in France - director of Tapovan, the most famous Ayurvedic/Yogic Ashram retreat center in Europe. Their meeting and her first pancha karma retreat in Normandy - France led her to train with European and Indian Vaidyas under his mentorship for 7 years from 2000-2008, based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo. Kiran mentored her in secret Ayurvedic teachings where she was trained in the Indian tradition of transmitting teachings from guru to student. She was a trainer to interns and a team member offering personalized variations to traditional processes such as Kayakalpa, Rasayana, Marma Chikitsa and Pancha Karma for personal and group retreat programs.
During this period of discipleship she was also graced by special encounters with Vaidya Baba Biharilal. She had several experiences where she felt lifted out of her body, overcome by Grace. She was very fortunate to travel in India and sit next to these traditional Vaidyas who gave teachings accompanied by the blessings of their remarkable siddhis in intimate family scenes. These gurus have never left her and daily she feels grateful for their healing presence and guidance.
In 2005 Baba Biharilal introduced her to Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri, by giving her a very rare original edition of the book "The Voice of the Self" - even though at that time she was not realizing the kind of gem that had been offered to her, since Bhagavan had left his body 44 years previous.
She met Mukunda for the first time during a week of Structural Yoga Therapy Training in Switzerland in 2005, and as they looked each other in the eyes there was an instant recognition and knowing. Mukunda became her spiritual teacher and guide and a year later, she received initiation - Shaktipat into the lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda and Swami Muktananda of Ganeshpuri. Mukunda asked her whether she had a picture of Nityananda. It was only during a vivid dream that she realized the "treasure" book she had with the picture of Nityananda on the cover, waiting on the book shell "to be held close to the heart". That picture would literally come alive during devotional puja and resulted in personal guidance via tantric experiences.
She studied with Mukunda in Europe and the US for 3 years before becoming a certified Structural Yoga Therapist in 2007 and wrote a case study on "Structural Yoga Therapy & Whiplash injury". She taught Ayurvedic Yoga and Tantra to groups and individuals in Holland, France and Costa Rica, with his spiritual guidance and blessings. She guided many people in 1 to 1 sessions and retreats in their quest for a fulfilling life from Yogic, Ayurvedic and Tantric perspective.
Her spiritual practices in Tantric Yoga led her to a unique relationship with Mukunda, as they deepened their sadhana by becoming consorts. This evolution is a continuous transformative process through which Spirit provides guidance to them through the Divine Mother. Bhakti pulled her to the deeper wisdom teachings of the trinity of Classical Yoga, Ayurveda and Tantra. Chinnamasta was given her spiritual name, which is the embodiment of the Goddess benevolent attribute of transformation. She currently offers personalized and group retreats with Mukunda throughout the US, Europe and India.
“With great Respect and Love”
Chinnamasta Stiles
