Wesley practices Atma Yoga, which is the complete yoga system described in the ancient Vedic texts of India.  It is a synthesis of Hatha yoga, Raja yoga and Bhakti yoga, and emphasizes meditation, breath, chanting, and spiritual service & devotion.  In teaching, Wesley prefers to offer a slow, deep, meditative yoga experience, with discussion of Vedic philosophy such as that taught in the Bhagavad Gita.  Wesley enjoys incorporating transcendental music, poetry, stories, kirtan, mantra repetition, aromatherapy, cross-cultural elements, energy movement and sacred food (prasadam) into his classes, providing for a unique and heart-opening journey inward.  He is listed with the Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level.

If you are considering attending a class for the first time, there are a few things Wesley would first like to emphasize about yoga and his particular style of teaching.  Most importantly, yoga is much more than stretches and exercises.  Yoga is the science of freeing the true self from the influences of the mind and the body.  The word 'Yoga' means 'union' which implies the union of mind and body during asana practice (stretching).  However, since yoga is more than asana practice, it has a much bigger meaning: union of soul nature and material nature.

Since yoga attempts to free the 'true self' from outside (material) influences of mind and body, we come to understand the self as being neither the mind nor the body, but the eternal soul.  In other words, yoga speaks to that part in all of us that knows itself as 'I am'.  This consciousness is directly linked with divine consciousness.  With practice, yoga can help us to identify more directly with the soul, allowing us to gain control over material influences.  Therefore, Yoga creates union between the true self (divine soul) and the material nature - it is the practice of bringing our spiritual 'self' into our day-to-day lives.

The stretching practices we think of as 'yoga' came about relatively recently in the history of yoga, as a part of the ancient purification science of Hatha yoga.  These stretches were designed to supplement the complete practice of yoga (as we have defined it above) by providing strength and flexibility to ease the way for other practices such as meditation.  This is not to discount the value of yoga asana - it is a vital part of a complete yoga practice.  A modern practice of yoga asana can be an excellent form of exercise, relaxation and introspection. 

Wesley's class style, which he refers to as Sensory Yoga, explores a complete practice of yoga by combining asana practice with a spiritual mission.  Wesley uses the senses provided by the material body as a means of nourishing the soul - encouraging more soul engagement in this inevitable material existence.

Check out these excellent articles...

"Prophecy of a Golden Age" by Atmananda Das

"The Role of Vegetarianism in Yoga" by Gabriel Cousens

"Bhakti Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

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