PRACTICES & TEACHERS
SAMATHA & VIPASSANA
Buddhism addresses two major types of meditation, or different mental skills. In Pali, they are called Samatha and Vipassana.
Samatha can be translated as “concentration” or “calm abiding.” It is a state in which the mind is brought to rest, focused only on one item and not allowed to wander. When this is done, a deep calm pervades body and mind, a state of tranquility which must be experienced to be understood. Vipassana can be translated as “Special Insight,” a clear awareness of exactly what is happening as it happens. This insight comes naturally, when we become able to abide calmly, and allow our mind to look at itself.
Here at La Casa De Loto we teach you both techniques. When we practice this way, judgements begin to fall away and you learn how to break out of your mental prison, and find relief in an uncontrived, natural, spontaneous flow of pure awareness - also referred to as buddha-nature.
HATHA YOGA
Most types of yoga in the West can be classified as Hatha Yoga, which refers to the practice of physical postures.
The word "hatha" can be translated in two ways: as "Self-determined" or "Energetic," or the yoga of activity, and as "sun" (ha) and "moon" (tha), the yoga of balance. Hatha practices are designed to align and calm your body and mind as preparation for more advanced practices like meditation.
At La Casa De loto, we offer a two-hour guided Hatha Yoga practice every day, with a focus on observing breath and posture to become more aware of our body and mind and to create a flow of energy that helps release physical and mental blockages.
NOBLE SILENCE
In a world inundated with noise, Noble Silence emerges as a profound practice deeply rooted in many yogic traditions.
It is a conscious choice to abstain from all forms of verbal and non-verbal communication, offering a transformative path to self-discovery, essential within the sacred spaces of meditation retreats.
Noble Silence grounds us in the here and now, enriching our experience of life's fleeting moments. It can bring us clarity and insight, unveiling the intricate workings of our minds, and providing a vantage point from which to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment.
Therefore, we refrain from talking from 6pm to 8am every day to focus on our own minds and practice.
KARMA PEMA
Pema is a Meditation teacher and founder of La Casa De Loto. He mainly follows the Dzogchen lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Very early in his childhood, he lost both of his parents. Meanwhile, all the wealth they had left for him by will was stolen by others in his family while he was still young. As a teenager and into his mid-twenties, he struggled with this betrayal and loss while pursuing a career as a professional musician. Eventually, he developed an unsustainable lifestyle and major problems with depression, and he began to question if life has any inherent meaning at all.
One night, moments before jumping out of a seventh-floor window into a dingy, gray Berlin backyard, Pema had a profound experience with the nature of being and saw that "all good and evil thoughts and feelings are merely essence-less projections of the mind." This moment encouraged him to step away from the ledge and go on a full introspective journey. Before long, he gave away all of his belongings and went to study and practice with some great Buddhist masters and yogis around the world, until he figured out how to fully liberate the mind, and be able to share his experience with others.
YULY ESPITIA
Yuly is both a dedicated practitioner and a teacher of Meditation and Hatha Yoga. After working as a graphic designer for several years, she grappled with a profound sense of emptiness and sadness. Realizing the need for clarity, she embarked on a journey to participate in Vipassana Retreats and later lived in an ashram.
At the ashram, she wholeheartedly embraced the life of a Karma Yogi, diligently practicing daily meditation and yoga while adopting a heart-centered approach to service. During her stay, Yuly seized the opportunity to complete a rigorous 500-hour Hatha Yoga teacher training.
This transformative experience unveiled her deep-rooted connection to nature. Fueled by this realization, she embarked on a new chapter of life in the lush tropical forest of San Rafael. There, she resides in a small cabin, cultivating her own food, and continues her spiritual practice within a vibrant community that prioritizes permaculture, spiritual growth, the preservation of ancestral traditions, and eagerly shares her practice with others.
MARTA SORIANO
Marta is a highly experienced yoga teacher. Her journey into the world of yoga began when she integrated it into her physical conditioning routine as a professional theatre performer. Subsequently, while serving as a manager at a wellness center in Scotland, her connection with yoga deepened and led her to explore various yoga styles, enriching her understanding and practice.
Following an accident that resulted in a concussion, The transformative power of yoga caught Marta by surprise. She not only witnessed the enhancement of her physical well-being through yoga but also experienced a profound shift in her approach to life and problem-solving.
Marta is a Yoga Alliance E-RYT-500 teacher, conferred upon her by the yoga institute in Mumbai, specifically the revered Shri Yogendra J lineage. In her classes, Marta's focal point revolves around cultivating an environment of serenity, physical engagement, and well-being.
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