Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast Episode #67 – Yoga Is Just A Word – Yoga in Cuba with Michel Uranga Briñas

Welcome to Episode #67 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! This week, I welcome Michel Uranga Briñas onto the show.  My conversation with Michel Uranga Briñas, a yoga teacher from Cuba, was so vibrant as we took a deep dive into what Kundalini yoga is, and the history behind it. I hope that this conversation made you also curious about shiatsu massage and Thai massage, and how they are different and similar.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Cuba then this is the conversation for you.

Tell me more about Michel Uranga Briñas 

Michel Uranga Briñas is a yoga teacher from Cuba who mainly teaches Kundalini yoga, though he occasionally does teach haha yoga. He used to own a yoga studio in Havana, though since the pandemic, his work has been directed towards spiritual retreats on mountain beaches. He has been teaching yoga in Cuba for nine years. 

Michel began his studies in East Asian therapies and fell in love with Thai massage. He began studying yoga to understand the origin and nature of yogic massage.  A short time later, Michel joined a Kundalini Yoga Teach Training in Mexico and then a Hatha yoga teacher training course. In Cuba, as Michel obtained a university degree in Therapeutic Physical Culture. He has also studied Japanese medicine, the Matsunaga shiatsu method, for three years. He then founded AgataYoga, which involves some yoga teachers and therapists who work alongside Michel and offer spiritual retreats. 

What to expect in the Yoga In Cuba episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

On the podcast, we talked about what is Kundalini yoga, and why out of all the types of yoga out there, he chose to study Kundalini. Michel feels that Kundalini yoga offers the maximum amount of benefits in the shortest amount of time. Personally, Michel shared that he only practices 5-10 minutes of Kundalini yoga a day, and that is enough to provide the benefits he needs. As he said, “Yoga teachers have more secrets than yoga students— more knowledge.” These secrets help him to get the benefits he needs in mere minutes, just as he finds that his students need an hour or more to really soak up the magic of the practice.

Michel also talked with us about the differences between Shiatsu and Thai Yoga. Certified in both, Michel walked us through the similarities and differences, and expressed his gratitude to learn more about Japanese medicine from one of the few people left in the world who are deeply connected to the history, culture, and deeply rooted authentic practices of Japanese medicine.

I was also grateful that Michel shared with us what it is like to live in Cuba, and the difficulties that creates for him, as a yoga teacher, and for his country as a whole. He was very transparent about what the reality in Cuba is like, and he expressed excitement that yoga in Cuba has been slowly and steadily growing as more and more people are coming to the practice.

Ready to learn more about yoga in Cuba? Let’s go!

Favorite Quote From Michel Uranga Briñas

“Yoga is just a word that defines the art of life. 98% of people, more or less, don’t live their life with art. It’s because human beings suffer a lot. Then they stress and then have a lot of sickness. So if you understand that life is an art, you understand that yoga practice is a training about life. So if you train in real yoga, not fitness yoga, then you train yourself about life, and this is yoga for me— when you understand life and you can live the best way, in the best way.”

Connect with Michel

https://www.instagram.com/agatayogaretreat/

https://www.facebook.com/agatayogaretreat

https://www.agatayoga.com/

Support the podcast:

https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

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https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast Episode #67 – Yoga In Cuba with Michel Uranga Brinas Transcription 

[00:00:00] Lily Allen-Duenas: Namaste family and welcome back to the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast. I’m so excited today to welcome Michel Uranga Briñas onto the show today. He’s a yoga teacher from Cuba who mainly teaches Kundalini yoga, though he occasionally does teach Haha yoga as well. He’s been teaching yoga in Cuba for nine years. So thank you so much, Michel, for joining me on the show today. Just to get started, how did yoga first come into your life? How did you first find out about yoga? 

How did yoga come into your life?

[00:00:32] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yes. It’s a very interesting story because I found yoga, then discovered time massage, and I fell in love with this therapy. So I decided to discover everything about time massage, and in the story these therapies come from Chinese medicine. So I start my first classes in the heart of this system. At the same time, I follow the ability and the professional..between Thai massage and yoga teacher. 

[00:01:13] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh, amazing. I love that you became a time massage therapist at the same time, around the same time as a yoga teacher. I know you did your yoga teacher training in Kundalini in Mexico, is that right? 

[00:01:26] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yes. The school comes from Mexico. 

[00:01:29] Lily Allen-Duenas: [00:01:30] Okay. How was that? What was it llike to do the training?

[00:01:33] Michel Uranga Briñas: I didn’t receive the training in Mexico. The Mexican teacher came to Cuba and they stay here for six months frequently. So for once a week in a month, we get a kind of retreat for training every day from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM. It was very hard and the rest of the month was study and make experience for the next visit. 

[00:02:07] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh yeah. That does sound more intense. 

[00:02:10] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yeah, it was very intense. 

What was studying Japanese medicine and Shiatsu like?

[00:02:13] Lily Allen-Duenas: You studied Japanese medicine and the shiatsu method. Where did you study that? 

[00:02:19] Michel Uranga Briñas: Here in Cuba. I think all my story about the knowledge is Unusual because in this case of China is about Japanese medicine. I discovered  this teacher who lives here and is therapist for 20, or 30 years. He was the child of the woman who was the walking cleaner for the hospital. At that time, a Japanese medicine from Japan to the, one of the most popular hospitals in Havana for training doctors here.[00:03:00] So finally, the only people who know Japanese medicine in Cuba, it was my teacher, and he’s not a doctor. Every doctor in Cuba doesn’t learn anything about it. He decided seven years ago, teach his knowledge and I have the very good luck to know about him. I received training for three years. 

[00:03:31] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh, that is great luck. There’s not many people left to know that type of medicine. Yes, for sure. So it’s such a gift to be able to study with someone who really knows 

[00:03:42] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yeah, the same. Yeah, you’re right. This system is very extensive in Chinese medicine. The system that I know is about acupuncture, mok chiropractic, and the Shasu massage is all about this. It’s about Japanese medicine. So I have a lot of different techniques in this kind of therapy. It’s very extensive. It’s amazing. 

[00:04:11] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yeah.. So for some of our listeners, who don’t know what the Shiatsu method is… do you want to define that or describe that for us? 

What is Shiatsu like?

[00:04:23] Michel Uranga Briñas: Shsu massage is very similar to Thai massage. The difference between shsu to Thai or [00:04:30] twink, maybe twink is the Chinese massage is the way the style. For example let me talk about Thai massage to explain. Thai massage is almost the same technique that comes from Chinese medicine. Trina and Thai have a dance in the style of the movement when you treat the people. The classic Thai massage is more stretching and manipulation, and less pressure and accupression.. It is the same technique with different protocol because Chinese medicine is making for different sick. It’s around 19% pressure, compression, and 10% manipulation and stretching. You don’t move, like dancing. When you do a time massage, you Manipura more in a more static way. So it is, it’s the way in csu, but it’s the same impression, the same Manipura, but change the protocol and change the style and the movement.

[00:05:47] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yeah. Is it more fast paced, Shiatsu ? 

Differences between Shiatsu and Thai Massage

[00:05:50] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yes. It’s faster, it’s more painful because thai shiatsu massage is about a little pain because  [00:06:00] the sensor who received the information in the mind reacts faster when you ion. More strong when just pressure is strong and faster. Change and go fast… and it means powerful fingers. So it’s about the fingers and compression with fingers. 

[00:06:27] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh, that’s interesting. I didn’t know that it translated to powerful fingers. That’s very cool.  I also know, Michel, that you teach Kundalini yoga. So some of our listeners might have tried that and some of them might not have ever tried Kundalini before. Can you tell us why you wanted to learn Kundalini? Like why that practice and what is Kundalini yoga?

What is Kundalini yoga?

[00:06:53] Michel Uranga Briñas: Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of knowledge. The conscience yoga is one of the first yoga and story. And Kundalini lost the secret and the real experience through the life, yoga was adapted with the new times and for the minds of people. Nowadays there is a lot of very nice yoga, that you can practice and you feel more relaxed and your body changes. Everything [00:07:30] about the mind and a lot about the body. So Kundalini Yoga doesn’t change at all. It is the inner of the heart, and it’s more about spirituality, energy, and the real object. Yoga was born because human beings were necessary to connect with the universe for life. Of course when you do yoga for this object you have to use the body and body change. So it is very good for the body, for illness. But the point of yoga is the conscience. So Kundalini yoga is the yoga of consciousness. The point of con your eyes is because you have to breathe in a particular way. In particular with a particular asanas in the exact angles and triangles. You really know what changes in your mind and your body. You don’t do yoga when you do Kundalini yoga. You never do yoga because you’re gonna feel more relaxed and you’re gonna make a better body when you do yoga. You know what you are. What exactly you change in your mind, your body. So you have a line in your life and you just know what you [00:09:00] have to get. The kriya is the way that you call in the efficient of exercise a particular organ, and you get something that you want.

[00:09:14] Lily Allen-Duenas: So why, out of all of the yogas, did you choose Kundalini? 

Why did you choose Kundalini Yoga?

[00:09:21] Michel Uranga Briñas: I choose Kundalini because knowing all of this that I explain you. I think the necessity of humanity right now in this time of the story in this century is that people need less time so that you can get more benefits in less time. Can I say that. 

[00:09:46] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yeah, so there’s maximum benefits, the most benefits in a shorter amount of time. 

[00:09:54] Michel Uranga Briñas: Exactly. Thanks. You have the perfect words.

[00:09:59] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yes. No, English is my first language, so it’s a little easier for me, you’re doing great Michel

[00:10:04] Michel Uranga Briñas: Sometimes it’s very difficult to explain with the correct Francis in English. Yeah, no problem. So you’re right. So for example, when I wake up sometimes, I don’t need more than five or ten minutes to get what I need for my day and every day in my life. In the limit, with correct energy at top of my [00:10:30] mind and with my body in a perfect heal.

[00:10:34] Lily Allen-Duenas: So you’re saying you just need five to 10 minutes some mornings with Kundalini yoga to feel ready for your day, to feel like you got what you needed out of your yoga practice? 

Only needing 10 minutes of yoga to get the benefits

[00:10:46] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yes, and of course this is because I’m a yoga teacher and I have more secrets than the rest of my students. For example, because I receive training,  I have more information. I’m more experienced. When I teach Kundalini yoga, my classes are about one hour. I know a lot of yoga teachers that have two hours or two and a half hours. But for me, one hour is too much. But when I teach less than one hour, it’s not possible. But for myself, five, 10 minutes is enough. I don’t need more, but I do it every day. 

[00:11:33] Lily Allen-Duenas: Very interesting that you think when you teach, you have to teach more than an hour for your students to really receive the benefits, but that you, yourself, you only need five to ten minutes. 

[00:11:46] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yes. I try to teach my students in one hour to teach them that they have the experience in themself and [00:12:00] similar to myself. Because 1, 2, 3 sections in a week is very good. It’s more than nothing. But if people out to the classes practice every day for themselves, five, ten minutes. They’re going to receive the benefits, the maximum experience. 

What is your definition of yoga?

[00:12:20] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yeah. So also, Michel, what is your definition of yoga? I know that there’s a lot of sutures, a lot of texts, a lot of definitions out there for us to read and to learn and to know. But what is your definition of yoga? 

[00:12:37] Michel Uranga Briñas: My definition of yoga is more simple than books and videos and whatever. I think yoga is just a word that define the art of life. 98% more or less don’t live their life with art, so it’s because human beings suffer a lot and they stress a lot. Then to stress they have a lot of sickness. So if you understand that life is it’s an art, you understand that yoga practice is a training about life. So if you train real yoga, not fitness yoga. You [00:13:30] train yourself about life, and this is yoga for me, when you understand life and you can live the best way, in the best way. 

[00:13:42] Lily Allen-Duenas: So Michel, also, I would love to hear about yoga in Cuba. What is yoga like over there? 

What is yoga in Cuba like?

[00:13:51] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yoga in Cuba existed around 30 years ago, but it wasn’t too popular. So most of the people, in general, didn’t know about the existence of yoga in Cuba. So when I started to practice yoga it wasn’t a little difficult because I know. Some people know about yoga, but a lot of friends of mine and people who are on the street or in any places nowadays. Doesn’t know anything about yoga they don’t have to your existing Cuba. My work here and I feel very good with my work because nowadays yoga and Cuba is a little more popular, thanks to a new teacher. John Tisha. Who inserts yoga in social media in Cuba.  Nowadays more people know about the existence of yoga and Cuba, but for [00:15:00] a lot of time it wasn’t too popular. 

[00:15:04] Lily Allen-Duenas: Okay. Are there a lot of yoga studios in Cuba? 

Are there a lot of yoga studios in cuba?

[00:15:10] Michel Uranga Briñas: No, there isn’t. So, even in my case, I don’t have a yoga studio right now. I haven’t for five years. But it’s very stressful because of the politics here in Cuba. It’s not easy. So it’s very difficult to rent space or take your own space for a yoga studio. So right now there exists 1, 2, 3 Yoga studios in Havana. Maybe in another city in Cuba, two or three studios, but no. It’s very difficult to find a Yoga studio in Cuba. 

[00:15:50] Lily Allen-Duenas: Okay. So it’s very important the work you’re doing! Yeah. Having more people know what yoga is and introducing more people to the practice. Now, is it a lot of young people who are coming to classes?

[00:16:01] Michel Uranga Briñas:  I have a lot of different people in my classes coming. A lot of young people, women and men are not common. But in my classes, I have a lot of friends who come in with practice with me. I don’t have a yoga studio, but I use my country’s Caribbean place. So we have a beautiful place in front of the sea in a natural place.  I teach a lot outside. 

[00:16:29] Lily Allen-Duenas: Nothing’s better [00:16:30] than beach and mountain yoga. That’s amazing. 

[00:16:32] Michel Uranga Briñas: Nowadays, for my experience I would like to take a yoga studio, but I love it more to teach in a natural place. I love it and my students love it more than me. 

What is Cuba like? What is it like to live in Cuba?

[00:16:48] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh, that’s wonderful. For some of our listeners who don’t know much about Cuba, can you tell us more about your country? 

[00:16:56] Michel Uranga Briñas: Cuba is a difficult country. I have to say it has a lot of difficult things, bad things. I think because it’s a difficult country, what nothing happens is a place to train the spirit. People in Cuba are not happy. A lot of people we have in a time that everybody is leaving from Cuba right now. A lot of young people live from Cuba, live in other countries, the United States, in Europe, Spain, Italy, France….Whatever place, because living here is not is not an option for young people because we don’t have expectations to develop, to grow professionally. Everything is about politics. We have had a bad government for 60, or 62 [00:18:00] years, and nowadays everybody has woken up about this reality. The country and the people do things to change our reality. But it’s very difficult because the country is controlled by the military. So it’s very difficult to change things if you don’t have the items for change, to do different things. If they control everything they control. 

They control everything about Cuba, everything. Even the project they own, projects the people who work for themself. For example, like me, I don’t work for the government. But I can work because they are not interested in me because yeah, if they’re interested in me, I don’t work. So they control everything about it.

It is very difficult to be here. If someone does something special in this country is because this person is very big in their heart and if in their mind, because nothing happen, nothing coming I don’t know what more to say. 

[00:19:21] Lily Allen-Duenas: It sounds very difficult, especially with the politics, and with the limitations being so restricted. That must be very [00:19:30] hard. 

[00:19:31] Michel Uranga Briñas: Yeah, it’s very hard. In my case, like the yoga teacher who tries to experience of the spirit and the mind. Really is not too hard for me, but I understand the reality of the rest of the people, the common people, and it’s very hard.

How to get in touch with Michel

[00:19:52] Lily Allen-Duenas: So Michel, I think some of our listeners today probably were really interested in what you’re talking about and maybe have a question or want to learn more about you. I’m definitely going to link your Instagram, your Facebook, and your website in the show notes here. If anyone’s listening to this podcast just open the show notes and you can click on Michel’s links. You can go to my website, wild yoga tribe.com/yoga in Cuba, and you can find tons more information about Michel as well. So Michel, do you want to say anything about how people can get in touch with you? 

[00:20:30] Michel Uranga Briñas: They have Instagram and Facebook and we make them the website but it’s in process. But the Instagram page is Agatha Yoga Retreat and on Facebook is Agatha Yoga. The logo is violet. Violet represents the tones of Agata. Agata is an energetic tone. In this [00:21:00] page, we are gonna put in the near future, the new social media, the website YouTube page. We have been working on Thai massage course online for six years. I teach Thai. face to face, and we try to work in this context, but nowadays we don’t have anything finished. I think this year we have more new information, and a page for people who are interested in following me and following my project. Make a lot of retreat in the city and in the mountains. We are opening to receive people to other country also who we do it with some American people and spend people sometimes, but we working more with Cuban. 

[00:21:57] Lily Allen-Duenas: Amazing. That’s very exciting to know. Having another place to think about, to go for a yoga retreat is always a good thing. So thank you so much, Michel, for joining me on the show today. It’s been a joy to be with you. 

[00:22:11] Michel Uranga Briñas: Thank you. It’s what’s been a pleasure to share with you. 

Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast Outro

[00:22:16] Lily Allen-Duenas: Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast. My conversation with Michel Uranga Brinas, a yoga teacher from Cuba was so vibrant as we took a deep [00:22:30] dive into what Kundalini Yoga is and the history behind it. I hope that this conversation also made you curious about Shiatsu massage and Thai massage and how those two are different and similar. If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that’s all about yoga in Cuba, then this is the conversation for you. Thank you for listening to the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast. Be well. 

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