We are: DurgaDas (Regis Chapman) and Shakti (Leila Rai).
We believe in a philosophy of coaching and teaching that relies on the need to be practitioners first and teachers after. We walk our talk. Kindly see our Vision, Mission and Values statement for more about our philosophy.
We believe in a philosophy of coaching and teaching that relies on the need to be practitioners first and teachers after. We walk our talk. Kindly see our Vision, Mission and Values statement for more about our philosophy.
While on a long pilgrimage to her ancestral homeland, Leila became a certified Sivananda Yoga teacher taking her Teacher Training Course at the Sivananda Ashram in Netala, India on the banks of the sacred River Ganges. As a lifelong learner and spiritual seeker, she dedicates much of her time studying Eastern and Western philosophy and psychology, as well as many perspectives found in the field of human consciousness. Her devotion to a yogic practice stems from her deep connection to her Indian roots and her natural born tendency to integrate the mind, body and spirit in her approach to a contented life.
Leila believes that all human endeavors are an opportunity for growth and provide a person with valuable lessons and insights about one’s true nature. Whether a person pursues an interest in a spiritual life, the arts, academics or technology, in athletics and recreation, in the service of others or the environment, in business or simply in bettering oneself, Leila sees all outward expressions as an inner journey towards a wholeness of being. Leila’s purpose as a yoga teacher is to help each person uncover his/her highest potential as a balanced human. She approaches teaching from the perspective of a facilitator.
Leila's outward expression of her inner journey was reflected in her years as an elite world-class athlete.
Her successes as a swimmer were intrinsically linked to her ability to integrate the boundless power of the body, mind and spirit.
Highlights of Leila’s athletic career include:
* 1984 Olympic Games Bronze Medal
* 1983 Pan Am Games Silver Medal
* 1986 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal
* Induction into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame
* University of Victoria Legacy Award recipient
* Prime Minister of Canada’s Award of Champions
* University of Victoria Female Athlete of the Year
* City of Victoria Athlete of the Year
In the years following her swimming career, Leila spent many years learning and reflecting on the world's great traditions. She awakened the beauty and wisdom of the East which stirred deep within her being from childhood. She also spent time coaching young aspiring athletes for many years and still continues to mentor young swimmers on a volunteer basis. She believes that participation in sport can address the whole person and not simply regard the athlete as being their performances.
Later, Leila turned her energies and talents towards a career in Education. Leila has 14 years experience as a highly respected Special Education, English and Media Studies high school teacher whose impact on students has been regarded as profound. In her teaching, she combines both Eastern and Western approaches to her work with students. She possesses a degree in Sociology from the University of Victoria, B.C., and a degree in Education from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C.
Leila’s life purpose of encouraging world peace through the discovery of inner peace has been her impetus to make yoga a way of life and to teach yogic methods to attain this.
Regis took his Teacher Training Course at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California, USA. After practicing yoga and meditation at another nearby spiritual center, Regis made the courageous decision and committed to a permanent residency at the ashram.
While living a monastic life at the ashram from 2005-2008, he devoted his time to his yogic path and to the service of others. In addition to his disciplined spiritual practice, and primary computer technician duties, Regis spent much of this time as head Hatha Yoga teacher. He was responsible for assisting new yoga teachers in-training and recent graduates refine their skills, as well as mentoring and guiding new spiritual aspirants in work study and other residency programs.
It was during his first year at the ashram that Regis developed the Yoga & Balance program. This program attempts to explain, both in spiritual and physical terms, many of the concerns he was hearing from his yoga students, ashram program attendees and teachers in training.
Regis’ passion for personal excellence and self-discovery was ignited in 1989 which led him on a journey to bicycle across America. His love for cycling grew into a serious endeavor, both as a coach and participant in the sport. As a cyclist, he excelled in many races at an elite level including clinching the title of Florida State Time Trial Champion in 1990. As a coach for 20 years, most of which he dedicated his time voluntarily, he worked long-term with many well-known elite cyclists who have gone onto successful professional careers.
As a practicing life coach, Regis' unique approach has become highly sought after in this time when people are seeking a deeper inquiry into the mind, body and spirit connection. His in-depth experiences, plus the multitude of skills needed to assist people with various physical, mental and spiritual challenges which naturally arise in life, have led him to integrate Eastern philosophical teachings with modern physical and psychological methods for attaining a sense of peace and well-being.
Regis is dedicated to combining his life coaching skills and his experience of yoga practice into an integrated system towards a balanced life. His compassionate and patient nature is admired by his clients from all walks of life. He is devoted to help others along their path of optimal health, personal excellence and self-realization. Combine that with a healthy dose of humor and you have a truly gifted teacher.
We specialize in integral programs and services centered on our shared yogic lifestyle. We coach athletes, businesspeople and yoga teachers, and teach yoga classes to all.
We celebrate the timeless and ancient wisdom and seek to combine it’s timeless nature with that of modern methods. It’s remarkable how much is gained from putting modern science and psychology, for example, into the context offered by Yoga.
Yoga means union. That means that Yoga is for all. People of all ages, body types and backgrounds can do yoga to it's fullest. Yoga is not religion!
“One can practice Yoga without violating any sincere faith.” -Swami Sivananda
Here at Silent Motion, we combine East with West, old with new, modern with ancient. We take the best of all available tools and outlooks and combine them into a cohesive whole, which is the true nature of Yoga.
Yoga is not merely postures, but a full practical method of living life. Because the wisdom and truths about the body, mind and spirit are universal and timeless and not merely from India, Yoga is able to shed light on the lifestyle of the modern person.
What we learned in Classical traditions of Yoga from Swami Sivananda, Swami Vishnu-devananda, Swami Dayananda and other classical teachers- we pass on to you. Our in depth study of anatomy, physiology, psychology, non-violent communication, listening and questioning skills are used to your benefit.
The word asana means (a) without and (sana) motion. We chose the name, Silent Motion, for our yoga "business" because it points to what can be missing from modern yoga, and this is the sense of silence in the body and the mind. Balance of the mindbody comes largely from this stillness.
Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha- “Yoga is the suspension of the modifications of the mind.” - Sage Patanjali
This context is most important to grasp why one would practice yoga at all, and yet this has often been lost, or turned into something "new agey". Without context, one cannot grasp the deeper meanings behind why one practices yoga at all.
Classical Yoga has an amazing ability to properly "contextualize" any spiritual perspective. This is why yoga is universal and non-sectarian and is not even religious, even though it's often closely associated with Hinduism. Yoga focuses more on the practical methods behind all spiritual traditions, on what all traditions have in common rather than anything that divides us.
Leila and Regis are both initiated into the Saraswati lineage via Swami Vishnu-devananda and Swami Sivananda, the great saint of India. In addition to the devotion to our lineage, we are open to the evolution of human consciousness and teachers of human potential. The perspective offered by our lineage is generally in line with what is known as Smartism.
Having said this, Vedantic thinking is a little different than that and still further are the thoughts of Krishnamurti, Osho (formerly Shree Bhagawan Rajneesh), Swami Dayananda and others. Wisdom is sought continuously, whether it be from Christian thinking (which Swami Sivananda himself integrated), Buddhism, or Taoism. Very inspiring are the works of Western-perspective authors Marshall Rosenberg, Daniel Goleman, Alfie Kohn, Stephen R. Covey, Robert Bly, John Lee, and J. Keith Miller.
Ancient wisdom and modern scientific thought about the three bodies- physical, mental and spiritual- are addressed by us here at Silent Motion Yoga & Coaching.
Check out our blog for up to the minute musings on the yoga lifestyle we live every day.
Get a balanced viewpoint on life with Silent Motion Yoga & Coaching.
Om Namo Narayanaya, DurgaDas (Regis Chapman) & Shakti (Leila Rai)
Founders
Having said this, Vedantic thinking is a little different than that and still further are the thoughts of Krishnamurti, Osho (formerly Shree Bhagawan Rajneesh), Swami Dayananda and others. Wisdom is sought continuously, whether it be from Christian thinking (which Swami Sivananda himself integrated), Buddhism, or Taoism. Very inspiring are the works of Western-perspective authors Marshall Rosenberg, Daniel Goleman, Alfie Kohn, Stephen R. Covey, Robert Bly, John Lee, and J. Keith Miller.
Ancient wisdom and modern scientific thought about the three bodies- physical, mental and spiritual- are addressed by us here at Silent Motion Yoga & Coaching.
Check out our blog for up to the minute musings on the yoga lifestyle we live every day.
Get a balanced viewpoint on life with Silent Motion Yoga & Coaching.
Om Namo Narayanaya, DurgaDas (Regis Chapman) & Shakti (Leila Rai)
Founders
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