Mark Togni is a Zen monk, advanced Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practitioner and teacher. In this geeky interview Mark shared with us his insights on intersection of great amount of different practices and traditions.

Differences in effects of Vipassana, Zen and Yogic chakra and Kundalini raising meditation techniques. Interdependent co-arising in Zen, self-inquiry approach of Advaita Vedanta and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra philosophy. Breathing waves, bandhas and energetic patterns of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga’s sequences. These are just a few things we discuss in this over an hour long interview with Mark Togni.

What makes this conversation so valuable is that his statements are based not on the book knowledge, but are coming from his first hand experience with different spiritual practices. Listen in!

Show notes

• Journey to India and meeting his teacher Sri H.W.L. Poonja (Poonjaj, Papaji)
• Thoughts on the selecting the Guru and how to reconcile different philosophical views of Yoga and Buddhism – interdependent co-arising, self-inquiry
• 10 Great Precepts and how does a Zen Monk end up practicing 4th Series of Ashtanga
• Unified mind, passive and active Samadhis and asana practice
• Intersection of 8 Limbs of Patanjali and Zen
• Difference in effects of Vipassana, Zen and Yogic Chakra / Kundalini raising meditation techniques
• Thoughts on selecting a Guru
• Reconciling Zen’s interdependent co-arising, Advaita’s self-inquiry and Patanjali’s philosophy
• Unraveling Samskaras through practice and Gestalt therapy
• Ida and Pingala, and thought son effects of meditation before and after asana practice
• Breathing waves and bandhas as form of response to the heaven and earth connection
• Effects of different Ashtanga sequences, energetic patterns and reasoning
• Finding a balance between Asana, Pranayama and Meditation
• Combining practices from different spiritual traditions
• Mark’s thoughts on Yoga and spiritual landscape of today

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