원광디지털대 요가명상학과, 여름방학 ‘아쉬탕가빈야사요가 집중 워크숍’ 성료

The Yoga-Meditation Department of Wonkwang Digital University, led by President Kim Yoon-cheol, held a "Deep Dive Workshop on Ashtanga Vinaya Yoga" last July 22nd at the central gymnasium on the Seoul campus. The workshop aimed to provide hands-on training on the traditional training system of Ashtanga Vinaya Yoga, connecting breath, movement, and drishti (focused gaze) organically, and expanding it to contemplative insight.

The instruction was led by Min-gwan instructor, a representative of Mo-ksha Yoga and a specialist in Ashtanga Vinaya Yoga, who has engaged in training and education of the discipline. The morning session, themed "From Full Primacy to Calm Through Movement," focused on the traditional Ashtanga primary series, allowing participants to experience the integration of breath, movement, and drishti firsthand.

They also practiced swinging body scan meditation to experience the transition from dynamic movement to relaxation and stillness. In the afternoon, the workshop delved deeper into understanding and movement-based meditation, with a focus on "The Understanding of Vinaya and Moving Meditation." Participants studied the foundations of balance and the principles of after-gul, and practiced key Vinaya movements such as jump-back and jump-through, exploring how each movement connects with drishti, breath, and insight to transform yoga into "movement meditation."

Park Seung-tae, the dean of the Yoga-Meditation Department at Wonkwang Digital University, said, "This workshop was a meaningful time for students to experience the experience of noticing breath and sensation in the dynamic movements of Ashtanga Vinaya Yoga and understand that movement itself can expand into meditation." He added, "In the future, we will continue to offer various specialized education to help students deepen their theoretical understanding of yoga and meditation through practical practice and raise their expertise."

The department consistently runs specialized education and practice programs linked to the regular curriculum to enhance students' practical skills and expertise. In the future, they aim to provide diverse educational opportunities for students to extend their theoretical understanding of yoga and meditation into actual practice.