What is Kemetic Yoga?
What is Kemetic Yoga?
Return to Kemet Co-founder, Sarah Wes practices the pose of MAAT at Saqqara in Egypt
Kemetic Yoga is a healing and regenerative yoga system based on the principles, philosophy and science of ancient Egypt. Kemetic yoga is characterized by a series of geometrically progressive postures, a rule of four breath and tongue connection. The pyramidal energy and sacred geometry in the Kemetic yoga postures aligns the spinal column, helps to correct defects in the skeletal muscular system, improves blood circulation, increases the flow of internal life force energy (RA life force) and cerebral spinal fluid throughout the body and allows nutrient and oxygen supply to flow more efficiently and abundantly to vital body systems. By cultivating nature’s application of geometry and physics into yogic forms, we access higher consciousness and awaken divine spiritual wisdom.
It is a practice that encourages us to appreciate the precious gift of living in the human body. It is a practice of alchemical immensity capable of transforming our subconscious. It is a practice of self-mastery and discovery.
Through tapping into the collective African unconscious, modern Kemetic yoga forms have been adpoted and adapted from the ancient Meter Meter (MDW NTR) records (Egyptian hieroglyphic scripts). The contributions of researchers to the existing knowledge of this ancient system have helped shape and define the modern Kemetic yoga practice that is used today.
Foundations of Kemetic Yoga
Rule of Four Breathing: We Inhale; Hold the Breath, Exhale; Hold the Breath. This style of breathing is in complete alignment with the way that energy moves in the body. The power in the practice of Yoga is rooted in the movement of energy, Ra life-force, Ankh, Shu, etc., through the energy channels of the body. This is the most important part of the practice.
Return to Kemet Co-Founder Tony Khepera-Heru practices with our retreat guest, Elena, during the April 2019 Sacred Soul Awakening Kemetic Yoga Retreat in Egypt
Geometric Progression: We practice Geometric Progression in alignment with breath control in order to be in harmony with the natural way the body/mind/spirit complex of our BEING is constructed. The Ancient Egyptians created geometrically perfect structures and portrayed themselves in the MDW NTR in perfect geometric alignment. All of these poses are pictured on the walls of temples and in the hieroglyphics. Energy flows best when the geometry of shape and form is precise. Our bodies are pyramids. Our Kemetic Yoga Postures are based upon pyramidal energy. The pyramids are aligned with the cosmos. When we align ourselves in geometric precision, we are also aligning ourselves with the cosmos, our Creator (Neter), our Gods, our Goddesses (Neteru) and our ancestral helping Spirits/guides (Ancestors) (Shepsu). All things in creation operate on the principle of Sacred Geometry.
Tongue Connection: Is the secret science of Moving energy through the body. Placement of the tongue at one of the three energy points that run across the roof of the mouth while practicing Yoga movements, during breathing exercises and meditation helps to insure a much more powerful experience from your practice. During Kemetic Yoga we keep the tongue connected at all times when possible. Right behind the front teeth is the wind point. It connects to the hollow spaces/pockets within the body where air accumulates from the joints, to organs such as throat and colon.
Origins of Kemetic Yoga
The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization or the Indus Sarasvati civilization flourished from 3300 BC to 1800 BC. This territory extended from Baluchistan on the Iranian border of Pakistan beyond New Delhi, India and from Afghanistan and the Himalayan Mountains to Mumbai.
Present day studies and research suggest that the Indus Valley was home to the indigenous Dravidians and Sanskrit speaking Aryans where are great cultural and spiritual fusion took place. Historical record suggests that the Dravidian race migrated out of north-eastern Africa where Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia are presently located and eventually settled in the valley of the Indus River. The Dravidians of southern and central India are known to be some of the earliest practitioners of yoga. One of the oldest records found is a famous seal with that of male figure seated in lotus position.
It is the intercultural relationships between ancient Indian and Nile Valley civilization that are relevant to the discussion of the Kemetic imprint on the ancient science of yoga. Dr. Edward Bruce Bynum, a clinical psychologist and director or behavioral medicine at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Author of 5 books ranging in topics from spiritual evolution, consciousness and kundalini yoga, studied ancient migrations eastward and northward from the Nile Valley. His research traces Nile Valley cultural exchanges and the Nile Valley African populations migration that ultimately led to their merging with the inhabitants of the Indus valley.
Images depicting positions resembling common modern-day yoga and meditation asanas have been recovered in the Nile Valley that date back to an earlier period that the Indus Valley records. These images have been acknowledged as precursors to modern-day yoga practice.
Kemetic Yoga Lineage
Kemetic yoga ‘wheel pose’ on the temples walls
We received our African Shamanic Kemetic Yoga Teacher certification from South African Shaman and Traditional Healer, Ursula Macheke van Graan in Luxor, Egypt. Her training took us in depth about the five pillars of the Cosmology and Philosophy of the Kemetic Sciences, the Nef Ankh breathing of the Tree of Life, Nu Shu Ra martial arts, sacred sexual meditation and much more while learning and training under her guidance.
Another popular style of Kemetic yoga is the YogaSkills method of Kemetic Yoga that was rediscovered by Master Yirser Ra Hotep in the 1970s. Yirser Ra Hotep is a master instructor of Yoga and is the most senior instructor of Kemetic Yoga in the United States with over 30 years of experience practicing and teaching. Yirser was involved with the original research and documentation of Kemetic Yoga along with master Instructor Dr. Asar Ha-pi in the 1970s.
Return to Kemet Co-Founder Tony Khepera-Heru practices with our retreat guest, Elena, during the April 2019 Sacred Soul Awakening Kemetic Yoga Retreat in Egypt
Kemetic yoga ‘wheel pose’ on the temples walls
For a more in-depth experience, check out our Kemetic Yoga Retreats here.
Our retreats are designed to dive into our deepest selves, uncover hidden truths within us and unlock the unconditional love of self that we deserve. As the ancient practice of Kemetic Yoga intends - this is a journey towards self-mastery and discovery.