A Journey Into the Seven Stages of Practice

A Weekend Immersion with Rod Stryker

The complete flowering of Haṭha Tantra Yoga rests on a foundational insight: the focus of practice is as much energetic as it is physical, but it is necessarily also reflective and contemplative––meditative. As much as asana, the classical texts emphasize essential practices of self-inquiry as essential supports for yoga as a path to self mastery. Thus, one learns to love, live and thrive most fully in other words, truly embody yoga. Only then can āsana, prāṇa, bandha, mudrā, and meditation lead to greater steadiness, clarity, and alignment with all-pervading intelligence. Drawing from two key texts (Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā and the Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā) this immersion presents Haṭha Yoga as a complete and integrated path of awakening.

Drawing from his more than 45 years of practice, study, and teaching, Rod will guide you to where direct experience merges with the philosophical landscape of the tradition. Each session integrates āsana, prāṇāyāma, bandha, mudrā, and meditation. The emphasis throughout is a return to coherence: stabilizing the body, refining perception, and deepening contemplative awareness through systematic practice. Rod will highlight unique yama and niyama of the Haṭha tradition—distinct from the yoga’s 8-limbs––specifically, the powers of forgiveness, steadfastness, compassion, charity, reflection, and various forms of meditation.

Session 1 — Forgiveness, Fortitude, and the Ground of Steadiness

The Haṭha texts place forgiveness and steadfastness at the very heart of practice, recognizing that inner rigidity and unresolved emotional patterning obstruct the flow of prāṇa. This opening session emphasizes āsana and stabilizing prāṇāyāma practices, designed to cultivate resilience in body and mind. Explore how forgiveness softens reactivity while fortitude builds psychological and energetic stability. The result: a grounded nervous system and deeper capacity to remain steady in the midst of challenge—an essential prerequisite for all higher yogic practices.

Session 2 — Compassion, Sincerity, and the Intelligent Body

Compassion as energetic regulation, not merely ethical ideals. This session integrates āsana, prāṇāyāma, and foundational bandha practices to refine sensitivity to the body as a living field of intelligence. Through breath-led sequencing and contemplation, you will cultivate awareness and compassionate self-observation, as a support for clarity, vitality, and balanced prāṇa. The practice leads to coherence, integration, and embodied wisdom.

Session 3 —Reflection, Discernment, and the Inner Fire of Practice

Reflective discernment and generosity are essentials that transform practice into conscious evolution. This session introduces bandha, mudrā, and deeper prāṇāyāma. Guided self-inquiry through direct inner observation—examining emotional tendencies and habitual responses with clarity and steadiness. You will cultivate insight and the capacity to redirect energy toward growth and awakening.

Session 4 —Sacred Observance and the Path of Meditation

The culmination of Tantra Yoga is in the integration of disciplined practice with sacred orientation. This final session weaves practice into a unified experience. Emphasis is on stabilizing forces that harmonize body, breath, and mind. Experience how contemplative discipline naturally leads toward stillness, coherence, and awakening: a path where philosophy, energy, and direct experience converge into lived transformation.

About Rod Stryker

Rod Stryker is an author, teacher and speaker. A world-renowned meditation teacher and yoga educator, he is the founder of Tantra Yoga Alchemy, the author of two books, including: The Four Desires and the soon-to-be-released Enlightened Sleep. He developed one of the most comprehensive online yoga programs in the world as well as the meditation app, Sanctuary.

For more 45 years Rod has shared the fruits of his practice, knowledge and mastery. He has mentored hundreds of teachers and thousands of students worldwide. Rod is known for his ability to translate ancient wisdom and to make life-changing practices accessible for modern audiences. He is father to four amazing souls and currently lives in Idaho.