The Chakra Yoga Center, was founded
in 1996 as the Valhalla Yoga Center by David Goulet
and Marina Halleran.
The original name "Valhalla"
came from the mountains across the Slocan Vallley
where the center began. Because of the strong
emphasis on understanding the energy world of the chakras,
a rather unique emphasis for the Western world, the
center has been renamed the Chakra Yoga Center
David Goulet.
The Principal Teacher of this "Science of Yoga - Chakra System, as taught at the Pyramid Yoga Center in Thailand is Yoga Master David Goulet.
David has been a certified , international yoga teacher since 1972. In that year he graduated from Ananda Ashram in India, under the tutelage of the late , Dr. Swami Gitananda . David began his studies of Yoga in 1969, motivated by a curiosity in psychology. On his way to India he stopped in Japan and lived in Kyoto for a few months studying Buddhism. This greatly helped him realize the role of Mind and consciousness in spiritual development. In India he studied with Dr. Swami Gitananda for two years, to receive an in-depth understanding of the Science of Yoga - Chakra System.
David's principal teacher, Dr. Swami Gitananda, was a medical doctor and Yogi who taught the integrated forms of Yoga from a medical perspective inclusive with the traditional teachings of The Science of Yoga. This system of Yoga brings an in-depth understanding of the physiology and psychology as it applies to the mind/body connection - the Chakras. Dr. Swami Gitananda departed from the world in 1993. His ashram in India is now facilitated by his wife, Meenakshi and son, Dr. Ananda.
After India, David continued his research of the Chakra System as he explored the Mayan culture in Mexico and Guatemala. Years later he researched the same phenomenon in the ancient Egyptian culture, as he traveled through Egypt studying the old temples and sites. During his third journey to India David spent a couple of months looking into the methods and teachings of Osho in Poona.
From his Yogic practices and inner visions, David has painted colorful geometric mandalas of the Chakra energy centers. These are used for concentration techniques in Raja Yoga to lead one into a meditational state . They are also used in certain healing techniques that are related to sacred geometry & color therapy. As well, David , practices Quantum Sound Therapy . Sound was regarded as a very powerful healing modality in the ancient cultures, especially in Egypt. After years of experiencing its effects David designed a vibrational sound table which he uses in his Quantum Sound Therapy sessions. These sessions balance the energy centers and relieve stress from the nerves, and tension from the body.
With the assistance from his teaching partner, Marina as well as other alternative , health care practitioners, he has held two week intensive, chronic healing clinics in Victoria, helping people overcome illnesses such as cancer.
David and Marina are also in the process of writing two books on this Chakra Yoga & Yantra Yoga System, one of which will be offered in the Chakra Yoga Teacher’s Training Program.
In collaboration with Marina Halleran, David is one of the co-founders of the Pyramid Yoga Center in Thailand as well as the Chakra Yoga Center in Victoria , Canada (1998-2005).
He is currently residing in the Philippines and teaches in Thailand 6-8 months out of the year.
David has invested many years into the study of Yantra Yoga as his specialty, and from this mystic symbolism of the ancient cultures he is developing both the website and a book:
In India David
studied for two years with Dr. Swami Gitananda, a medical
doctor and Yogi who taught integrated forms of Yoga
from a medical perspective, but with very traditional
techniques. This system of Yoga brings an in-depth understanding
of the physiology and psychology as it applies to the
mind/body connection - the Chakras.
Swami Gitananda departed from this material world in 1993.
His wife Meenakshi and his son Ananda still run the teacher trainng at Ananda Ashram near Pondicherry in South India.
After India, David
continued his research of the Chakra system as he explored
the Mayan culture in Mexico and Guatemala. Years
later he researched the same phenomenon in the ancient
Egyptian culture, as he traveled through Egypt studying
the old temples and sites. During his third journey
to India David spent a couple of months looking into
the methods and teachings of Osho in Poona.
From his Yoga practices and inner visions, David has
painted colorful geometric mandalas of the Chakra energy
centers. These are used for concentration techniques
in Raja Yoga to lead into meditation, and are also used
in certain healing procedures that are related to color
therapy. Another therapy developed and applied by David
is Sound therapy. Sound was regarded
as very powerful by all the ancient cultures, especially
the Egyptian, and after years of experiencing its effects he designed a vibrational sound table
which he uses in his Quantum Sound Therapy sessions.
These sessions balance the energy centers and relieve
stress from the nerves, and tension from the body.
With the assistance from his partner Marina and other
alternative health care practitioners, David has held two
week intensive, chronic healing clinics in Victoria,
helping people overcome illnesses such as cancer. He
is currently writing two books on the Science of Yoga
Chakra System. One of these is used in the Teacher Training
Program.
Together with Marina, David is co-founder
of the Chakra Yoga Center.
Our Vision and Ideals
To enhance and evolve our basic approach
to health, through understanding energy
To help revolutionize our
thoughts about the mind-body relationship.
To create awareness around
the importance of oxygen, nutrition, & exercise
in keeping us vibrant and healthy.
To empower individuals through
Yoga techniques to become "Independently Healthy"
To bring people's emotions
up to a level of bliss
To develop the mind to an
effectively creative level of being
To expand the view of Yoga
into the whole Science that it is
Modern medicine is slowly opening its doors to what
Eastern medicine has to offer. The conservative New
York medical establishment is listening to what the
Dalai Lama has to say about the influence of mind and
meditation. (New York Magazine May 11\98 issue).
Deepak Chopra has been lecturing for years, to millions
of interested people, on the superior healing methods
of the Yogic & Ayurvedic systems. Sound therapy
as old as the Egyptian civilization is being re-discovered
and introduced in England by medical professionals such
as Dr. Peter Guy Manners, and it is proving very effective
in helping to heal a large variety of illnesses. Dr.
Candace Pert has recently published amazing results
of her research in the field of mind and body chemistry
- clearly showing that the mind/body relation is a very
real part of our physiology.
Marina Rosalyn Halleran
The Chakra Yoga Center, Victoria, BC
(Co-Founder) Instructor of Chakra Yoga Teacher Training
Marina Halleran, is a Co- Principal Teacher in this Science of Yoga – Chakra Teacher’s Training Program with Yoga Master, David Goulet.
Marina Halleran has been a practitioner of yoga for the past 20 years. In 1995 Marina began her studies with David in The Science of Yoga – Chakra System in BC, Canada and graduated from the teacher’s training program 1997. The teachings of this integrated yogic system came from India and were taught to David by Swami Gitananda of Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry, India 1971 & 72.
For the past 14 years Marina, with David Goulet, has assisted and taught in 16 Chakra Yoga Teacher’s Training programs. In co-creation with David, Marina was the Co-Founder of the Chakra Yoga Center in Victoria, Canada from 1998- 2005 as well as the co-founder of the Pyramid Yoga Center , in southern, Thailand 2001.
In India Marina studied classical Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, the Philosophy of the Science of Yoga as well as Indian classical Voice & Tampura. Marina has also apprenticed, for several years, with Hatha yoga teachers, Tiffany Loney and Elizabeth Mary Peckham of Canada. Marina’s background in physical movement includes Hatha Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong as well as various forms of improvisational , creative dance (Jazz, Ballet, African & Belly Dance).
Marina is also a classically trained vocalist and was the lead singer of the Sacred Chant Circle in Victoria , BC from 1999 – 2005. She is the recording artist on the Mystical Mantras CD released in 2002. www.mysticalmantras.com In the last 10 years Marina has had the pleasure of studying with such recording artists and mantra singers; Ann Mortifee, Chloe Goodchild, Jerry Devoignes, Jill Purce, and Russill Paul. For the past 14 years Marina has researched & studied the power of sacred sound & sanskrit mantras. In the yoga training she teaches voice as well as the introductory history and pratice of the Science of Mantra Yoga. She leads Kirtan Chanting in the Sound Dome at the Pyramid Yoga Center in Thailand.
In the yoga trainings Marina enjoys leading the students through the experience of Classical Hatha Yoga, the Psychology of the Chakras, Pranayama Yoga, Creative Dance Movement, Creative Visualization Techniques, Vocal Training, Affirmations , Vowel Toning, Harmonic Overtoning & Mantra Chanting.
Marina resides in Victoria, BC , Canada and teaches in Thailand during the winter months.
During her visit to India Marina studied classical Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, the Philosopy of the Science of Yoga as well as Indian classical Voice & Tanpura.
Marina has the voice of a Nitingale and with it she leads the chanting and teaches the mantras. She is sometimes referred to as Saraswati by her students.
