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 primary teacher of
this "Science of Yoga" is Yoga Master David
Goulet.
He has been a certified international yoga teacher
since 1972. 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 whole yogic educational system.
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:
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 experienceing its effcts 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 has been a practitioner of yoga for
the past 20 years. In 1995 Marina began her study of
the Science of Yoga – Chakra System as taught
by, Yoga Master, David Goulet from the Chakra Yoga
Center, Victoria, Canada. These teachings originate
from India and were taught to David by Swami Gitananda
of Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry.
The past 9 years Marina
has been a principal instructor in the Chakra Yoga
Teacher’s Training. 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’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.
She is the lead singer of the Sacred Chant Circle in
Victoria , BC as well as recording artist of Mystical
Mantras Productions. For the past 10 years Marina has
researched & studied the power of sacred sound & sanskrit
mantras. In the yoga training she teaches the practice
and introductory history of Mantra Yoga. In the past
5 years she has had the pleasure of studying with such
artists as Ann Mortifee, Chloe Goodchild, Jerry Devoignes
and Russill Paul. In the yoga trainings Marina enjoys
leading the students through the experience of Classical
Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Pranayama Yoga, Osho Meditations,
Creative Dance Movement, Creative Visualization Techniques,
Vocal Training, Affirmations , Vowel Toning, Harmonic
Overtoning & Mantra Chanting. She believes that
the Art of Yoga in all its various forms is the key
to the joyful awakening of the Body, Mind & Spirit!
David and Marina are the founders
of the Chakra Yoga Center in Victoria, Canada. The center
gives weekly yoga classes, workshops, private sessions,
retreats, teacher's training and healing clinics.
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.
