Κέντρο Φωνητικών Τεχνών – Εργαστήριο Φωνητικής ΈρευναςΣπύρος Σακκάς, Νατάσσα Ζούκα, Ταξιάρχης Χάνος
1 April 2023Η Τέχνη του ΜανέΓιάννης Διονυσίου
25 March 2023Meditation in Movement and in Stillness
Coordination: Yorgos Fotiadis, Marianna Astraka, Thimios Atzakas
Duration: 30 hours
Language: Greek, English
18 - 24 August
(18.8 arrival date / 24.8 departure date)
Age of participants: over 18 years old
This year's workshop will draw ideas, yogic practices and philosophical issues for discussion from one of the most interesting works in the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. It concerns the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra treatise, which was written between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. It consists of 163 verses (śloka) in the form of extremely dense and coherent aphorisms, similar to the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.
The work presents 112 methods (yukti) of meditation and concentration (dhāraṇā). It contains many references to the inner essence of sound (nāda), ancient Indian elemental philosophy, meditation on inner silence, as well as timeless asanas and pranayamas that continue to be relevant in yogic practice today, captivating practitioners with their symbolism and potency.
The three presenters will select some characteristic excerpts and present them both in the form of psychosomatic and respiratory practices, as well as in the form of philosophical and self-reflective inquiries.
Yorgos Fortiadis
Yorgos Fotiadis has been an instructor of Satyananda Yoga since 2000. He has been trained in the Ashtanga Yoga teachers' seminar with Jean Claude Garnier, has attended seminars on hatha and laya yoga, and has been initiated into the teachings of the Buddhist tradition of the Vajrayana path. He has learned pranic healing from Choa Kok Sui, sound therapy from Peter Hess, Marma Massage (pressure on energy channels), and has participated in seminars on psychology and body therapy.
Marianna Astraka
Marianna Astraka is an instructor of Satyananda Yoga, Yogacampus Pregnancy Yoga Teacher, and has been trained in Hatha Yoga with Anusara principles. She has been initiated into the teachings of the Buddhist Vajrayana tradition, has learned Marma Massage (pressure on energy channels), sound massage therapy from Peter Hess, attended seminars in other yoga traditions such as Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson, and participated in seminars on psychology and body therapy. Besides her expertise in yoga, her studies extend to journalism and documentary filmmaking, where she has been active in the past. Her personal work includes documentaries on spiritual search such as:
The documentary "Candomblé," completed in 2006 (Participation in the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival)
https://youtu.be/T4EB9T2Ulv0?si=7JYiDvB5OsNAa_mV
In 2009, her book of the same name was published by Magiko Kouti Editions
https://youtu.be/FQI6pW6WX4I?si=3JvJGWDLtOlWF-zY
The documentary Capoeira Playing in Greece was created in 2008, Spirto productions
https://vimeo.com/81259180
Together with Yorgos Fotiadis, they have created:
The documentary "Satsang-Companionship with the truth" in 2011 (Audience Award at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Screening on ERT), Dangerous productions, Fractal productions
https://youtu.be/dNYTtHI9bsE?si=X815XN7jCe7QKWj2
The documentary "Pilgrims" in 2015 (Thessaloniki Documentary Festival), Fractal productions/To Avgo, International Music Community
https://youtu.be/M-r3wuADx5M
Thimios Atzakas
Thimios Atzakas, born in Thessaloniki, Greece, is a renowned musician, producer and yoga instructor. He is an alumnus of the Contemporary Conservatory of Thessaloniki, the Cologne Music Academy, the Leipzig Academy of Music and Theatre, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of the Aegean in Cultural Anthropology.
Thimios has earned recognition as a performer in international competitions and festivals up until 1996, after which he focused on exploring various stringed instruments, particularly the oud, and its place within contemporary composition, improvisation, and musical orality. He has appeared, either as a soloist or as part of musical ensembles, at international festivals and projects in Greece, Cyprus, Japan, India, Romania, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Spain, Portugal, England, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Lithuania, Morocco, and Syria. Additionally, he has recorded and filmed for Greek national radio and television, WDR, Deutsche Welle, MDR and RADIO 3 FRANCE.
As an educator, Thimios has been a professor at the University of Macedonia (Department of Music Science & Art) since 2004, where he enriches students with innovative practices like "Listening to Depth," inspired by Nada Yoga and ongoing research into psycho-somatic synergies between sound, meditation, and silence.
He is a key figure in the Greek music community, co-founding significant music projects like the Music Village Festival (since 2006) and the artistic forum "the egg" in Thessaloniki, reflecting his commitment to collaborative and educational endeavors in music. His solo album "Udopia" (2016) was critically acclaimed, marking a milestone in his career with its innovative cross-genre appeal.
Thimios is deeply involved in yoga, practicing since 2007 and focusing on Nada Yoga and Kashmiri Tantric yoga. He has been active as a yoga instructor, merging his musical and yogic practices in innovative ways.