Macedonian born Kundalini teacher Maya Fiennes - the sister-in-law of actors Joseph and Ralph - combines her career as a classical pianist with a career as a yoga teacher. Maya tells Yoga Abode about her passion for yoga and music.
What brought you to Kundalini?
My search for peace of mind manifested itself in a human form in a person I met who was so excited about Kundalini Yoga. It made me want to try and see for myself - search started and finished at the same time.
What do you like so much about Kundalini?
Kundalini Yoga is a very direct way of reaching peace. Even after one class you feel the change in body and mind. It combines breath, movement and chanting, releasing the Kundalini Energy throughout the body. We work on slowing down the aging process by gently warming up the spine, releasing the spinal fluid and balancing the hormones in the body. The chanting opens the door to meditation in order to make a connection to ourselves.
Where did you train?
I learnt under Shiv Charan Singh at the Karam Kriya School in London for the obligatory 12 months. The name given to me at the naming ceremony is Har Bhajan, which means praise the name of God, Divinity & Infinity, through Sound and Mantra. I therefore feel destined to teach Kundalini with the help of my musical background.
How do you juggle your career as a musician with your yoga teaching?
As I use my music in all my yoga teaching. I use my original music in my classes and am able to combine the two and make progress in both simultaneously. For example I am currently working on a book of the 7 Chakras and I have composed and selected a mantra for each Chakra.
How do you combine your music and your yoga?
I realise that my skills as a concert pianist help me to connect to the music/mantras of Kundalini Yoga. Through my musical skills I become the median/link between the mantras and my students. Through my music, I enable my students to use their own sound to open their chakras.
How many music CDs have you made? Do you have any plans for more?
So far I have made three CDs; the last one is Mayaspace - a fusion of yoga mantras and world music. It features guest spots from friends and peers such as Deepak Chopra. As I mentioned earlier I have been working on mantras for the 7 Chakras; this may well be part of my next CD.
