Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast Episode #103 – Exploring the Mystical World of Shakti Yoga – Yoga in Finland with Katariina Hautsalo

Welcome to Episode #103 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Katariina Hautsalo, a yoga teacher from Finland, was so curious as we dove into Shakti Flow and Shakti Dance, a mystical type of yoga that involves the four elements, feminine energy, and energy work. I hope that this conversation made you curious about unique holistic offerings like quantum hypnosis, awareness training, and Body Mind Balancing treatment.

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

Tell me more about Katariina Hautsalo

Katariina Hautsalo, a yoga teacher from Finland, is the owner of Yoga School Shanti, a studio with over two decades of history in Finland. Specializing in Shakti Dance and Shakti Flow yoga, Katariina brings 20 years of diverse expertise, offering classes focused on spiritual and psychological growth through breath, movement, and energy work. With a background in education, sociology, and future sciences, Katariina’s passion lies in fostering self-compassion and exploring the wonders of life through yoga.

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

Katariina is not only a yoga teacher but also the owner of Yoga School Shanti, a studio with over two decades of history in Finland. In this podcast episode, we explore Katariina’s journey into yoga, the unique aspects of Shakti flow and dance, and the evolving yoga culture in Finland.

Katariina shares her initial encounter with yoga at 18, where a Hatha yoga class left her laughing but eventually led her to discover Ashtanga yoga at 19. Her yoga journey continued through a break due to health issues, exploration of Kundalini yoga, and the transformative experiences of Shakti dance. Katariina’s passion for yoga became a daily practice, especially focusing on Kundalini yoga for almost 20 years.

The discussion deepens into the unique practices of Shakti flow yoga and Shakti dance. Katariina explains that Shakti dance combines elements of yoga, dance, and energy work, offering a feminine and healing experience. The practice involves eight sequences, including flowing asanas, standing dance, free movement, and celestial communication. Shakti Flow, a quicker version without dancing, is also part of Katariina’s teachings.

Moreover, Katariina emphasizes the power of Shakti yoga and dance in facilitating inner work and shadow work. The practice allows practitioners to explore and heal their emotions and traumas through dance and breathwork. The integration of elements like fire, water, and earth creates a transformative and healing experience.

Katariina sheds light on the yoga community in Finland, noting the prevalence of gym yoga and the integration of yoga into various aspects of life, including schools and workplaces. Despite the perception of Finns as the “happiest people,” Katariina highlights the stress and work fatigue prevalent in Finnish society, making yoga and alternative therapies essential for overall well-being.

Beyond yoga, Katariina offers holistic services such as quantum hypnosis, awareness training, and body mind balancing treatments. Quantum hypnosis, a deep relaxation method, allows individuals to connect with their inner wisdom. Body mind balancing involves energy healing, while awareness training combines neuro-linguistic programming and shadow work coaching.

This podcast episode provides a glimpse into the evolving landscape of yoga in Finland, Katariina’s journey, and the transformative power of Shakti yoga and dance. As Finns seek holistic well-being amidst a busy lifestyle, the integration of yoga and alternative therapies becomes increasingly significant.

Favorite Quote From Katariina Hautsalo

“Through this yoga of dance, the emotions really you can see them and you can feel them and they come up and then you can heal them through the dance.

Connect with Katariina Hautsalo

https://instagram.com/joogakoulushanti

https://instagram.com/joogakoulushanti

www.jooga.fi

www.inkarnavalmennus.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 #103 – Yoga in Finland with Katariina Hautsalo Transcript

[00:00:00] Lily Allen-Duenas: Namaste family and welcome back to the Wild Yoga Tribe podcast. Today I am so excited to welcome Katariina Hautsalo onto the show today. She is a yoga teacher from Finland and is the owner of Yoga School Shanti, a studio with over two decades of history in Finland. Specializing in Shakti dance and Shakti flow yoga, Katariina brings 20 years of diverse experience, offering classes focused on spiritual and psychological growth through breath, movement, and energy work. She also has a background in education, sociology, and future sciences. So Katariina’s passion lies in fostering self compassion and exploring the wonders of life. through yoga. So thank you so much Katariina for being with me on the show today.

[00:00:53] Katariina Hautsalo: Thank you Lily, it’s very lovely to be here.

How did yoga first come into your life? 

[00:00:57] Lily Allen-Duenas: I’d love to start the show, Katariina, just asking you about how yoga first came into your life. How did you discover yoga?

[00:01:05] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah I think I was like 18 years old and I went to this hatha yoga class and then I just laughed because it was so silly. It wasn’t for me and it was quite embarrassing to laugh all the class through, so That’s my first memory of yoga. [00:01:30] And after that, I think I was 19, I found Ashtanga yoga. And then I started to go to the classes.

[00:01:40] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh, wow. It’s fun to hear that how you first found Hatha Yoga and you’re like, oop, not for me. And then you found Ashtanga and you’re like, okay, better fit.

But then what led you to become a yoga teacher? So if you had these experiences, when you were not even 20 years old, how did that path continue?

Yeah.

[00:01:56] Katariina Hautsalo: I took a break from yoga altogether for a couple of years because of my back, and then I got this autoimmune disease, and I started to feel pretty bad because of the disease, and I didn’t have a diagnose. Then yet, and I wanted to find something to cure me for myself. And then I discovered this kundalini yoga.

And that was very powerful experience for me. I was then, I think, 24 years old or something. I started to practice kundalini yoga very intensively for many years. But then my teacher changed. He moved abroad and I couldn’t get that feeling from kundalini yoga anymore, which I had before. And then I tried ashtanga yoga again and did it for a while and I [00:03:00] did this kundalini yoga and then ashtanga back and forth for several years.

And also yin yoga came in my life and it was very important to, I did it like in the evenings before bed. those three, ashtanga and kundalini yoga and yin yoga was the most important for me. Then kundalini yoga became a daily practice in some point and here I am. Kundalini yoga almost 20 years.

What is Shakti Flow Yoga and Shakti Dance 

[00:03:29] Lily Allen-Duenas: Clearly it just, it is part of you and part of your heart and part of your practice. I love that. And I know that you teach Shakti flow yoga and Shakti dance. Can you tell us more about what that is?

[00:03:42] Katariina Hautsalo: Shakti dance is like the yoga of dance and Sarah Altar discovered this Shakti dance. Shakti dance is a part or a path of Kundalini yoga and also. It has some hatha yoga aspects and it’s like it combines the yoga and dance and then energy work also. it’s like this very feminine yoga and I really find it curing.

And healing, because of the feminine flow in it, when there’s dance and free movement, and it’s very healing. As a woman, in this masculine world, it’s very healing.

[00:04:29] Lily Allen-Duenas: Oh, [00:04:30] beautiful. So is it more of of, a very fluid kind of water tai chi like dance through asanas is it more vinyasa flow i’m struggling to picture it.

[00:04:41] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah a part of it, yes, but there’s also this fire element, and also earth. Yes, we are. Moving all the elements in it, so it’s flowing through all the elements, yeah. So it’s sometimes it’s very wild also.

[00:04:58] Lily Allen-Duenas: Okay. And is it a, it’s not a set sequence, right? It would be generated by the teacher uniquely every time? Wow.

[00:05:06] Katariina Hautsalo: And it has eight sequences, and it’s like the class is very long, like three hours altogether, so there is this Shakti flow, flowing asanas sequence, and then the standing dance sequence, and then this free dance, free movement, and then we relax, and then there is this celestial communication, and tuning out, and yeah, first of course tuning in, and so you can spend the whole day in doing Shakti dance if you want to.

[00:05:46] Lily Allen-Duenas: So there’s eight separate classes or eight sequences are involved in every class, three hour class.

[00:05:51] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah, they are involved in every class, but when I teach Shakti Flow, then there is no dancing, so it’s more [00:06:00] quicker to practice.

[00:06:02] Lily Allen-Duenas: Okay. Okay. And so a Shakti flow would be a one hour class just, and it’s a part of yoga dance. So they’re very intertwined.

[00:06:10] Katariina Hautsalo: Yes.

 How did you discover Shakti yoga and Shakti dance?

[00:06:10] Lily Allen-Duenas: Very cool. And how did you discover Shakti yoga and Shakti dance? Like how did that first, how did it become on your radar? Cause it’s something I’ve never heard of. 

[00:06:19] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah I’ve done dance classes for all my life almost, and also this kundalini yoga is very dear to me. And then some day, it was like during COVID, I think, I didn’t have my dance classes and then I asked the universe, how could I find this dance and yoga thing, which would be exactly for me, because then the dance classes were too you are just copying the teacher.

It’s not creative enough for me then. And I wished I could find this some something which would be more creative?

then I saw this ad about shakti dance, I’ve never heard about it before. And then I saw the ad and I started to cry and it was so powerful because I saw that someone has brought dance and yoga together. So it really touched me and I was like, this is for me. And then I just, I signed [00:07:30] in to the teacher training right ahead and I haven’t even tried Shakti dance class.

Then, of course, then I went to, but it’s quite mystical thing, how I found it.

What do you think is one of the most powerful gifts that this Shakti yoga and Shakti dance bring to you?

[00:07:43] Lily Allen-Duenas: That’s incredible. And I was wondering, what do you think is one of the most powerful gifts that this Shakti yoga and Shakti dance, brings for you? Is there a powerful gift or a lesson that it teaches or what is draws you in and connects you to it so much?

[00:08:01] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah, it’s something about this inner work I don’t know if you have heard about shadow work which is this inner work where you Really try to get to know your not so nice things inside of you. And sometimes even traumas and then all the emotions which are we keep in our bodies, like they are stuck in there.

Through this yoga of dance, The emotions really you can see them and you can feel them and they come up and then you can heal them through the dance. And also breathing. Breathing is very big part of the Shakti dance. 

Shadow work and yoga 

[00:08:42] Lily Allen-Duenas: I imagine with all that feminine energy also that you mentioned about how you can heal some of the parts of you and definitely shadow work is something that I think is becoming more and more aware of, hopefully universally, just acknowledging all parts of ourselves and getting to know [00:09:00] not just the, Parts that maybe present themselves with, brightness and glowy and fun but some of those wounds and traumas or the fears or the stories that we carry that are heavy.

[00:09:13] Katariina Hautsalo: get to know that part of yourself also. And be the healer for yourself.

[00:09:19] Lily Allen-Duenas: It’s a powerful thing to be able to heal yourself. To self soothe, to take care, and to take action to feel more well and better. And I think that’s incredible that Shakti Flow and Shakti Dance has given that to you and that you’re bringing that to your community. That’s what you’re offering to the students in Finland.

[00:09:41] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah. 

What is yoga in Finland like?

[00:09:42] Lily Allen-Duenas: So what is the community of yoga practitioners in Finland like? I know that your yoga studio has been around for 20 years, is it more popular today than it was 10 years ago, or 20 years ago? Could you tell us more about that: history elements of yoga in Finland?

[00:10:00] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah. I think there are many different yoga types in Finland and most of them I think is like this gym yoga where anyone can go and then we also have this I think it’s Christian yoga or something. Which is quite funny, but if someone likes it, it’s okay. Why not? I think that yoga has started to be integrated into many other forms [00:10:30] of exercise or even in workplaces or in schools for kids.

fOr example children are taught like this mindfulness kind of things or breathing exercises with sound bowls and relaxation. And I think this is great because yoga is also these things and not just asanas and and I think it’s great because then yoga is also becoming a part of people’s everyday lives and not just this hobby or a class to go and like once a week and more and more people are also choosing to do yoga also online.

Especially after COVID and it’s no longer necessary to go to a yoga studio or some yoga trip to India to get good quality yoga instruction or teaching.

And I really hope that yoga and its wisdom will continue to spread into people’s everyday lives. bUt I also hope that people also will continue to go to yoga studios to a yoga class with other people because this practice, practicing in a group really has its own magic compared to doing it solo.

Yeah. But I think yoga is quite popular and [00:12:00] everyone knows something about yoga here in Finland. 

[00:12:03] Lily Allen-Duenas: That’s great that everybody knows something about yoga. It’s something that the whole community can understand if you bump into somebody in the street Oh, yeah, I teach yoga and no one’s oh, what is that? I think that we do have to thank for sure technology The internet, social media, YouTube, yeah, for gaining that awareness.

Do you think it was because of the internet and YouTube as you mentioned and online classes that it did gain more recognition? Or do you feel like it was something else?

[00:12:30] Katariina Hautsalo: I think social media has a big part of it, yes.

What is the progression been like over the last 20 years of yoga practitioners in Finland?

[00:12:34] Lily Allen-Duenas: And in Finland, since your studio has been there for 20 years, what is the progression been like over the last 20 years of practitioners? Is there a lot of young people, old people, women, men? People are seeking more yin practices in the past and now more asanga, like what have you noticed?

[00:12:54] Katariina Hautsalo: In here, in Shanti, we have this Hatha yoga, which is the most popular one. And then also yin yoga. And most of our customers are women. Most of them are over 50 years old, and of course we have some young people too, which is great. But yeah, most of them are 50 to 60 years old women, 

[00:13:23] Lily Allen-Duenas: Okay. And so beyond yoga, I know that you teach and offer quantum hypnosis, [00:13:30] awareness training, and body mind balancing treatment. Could you tell us more about these offerings? I’m sure some of our listeners have never heard about them. 

What is Quantum hypnosis?

[00:13:38] Katariina Hautsalo: Quantum hypnosis It’s like a deep relaxation method, where your inner wisdom is the guidance, and it differs from hypnotherapy quite a lot, but I think quantum hypnosis is something. It’s very unique and it’s also very healing because then your conscious mind goes to the background and then your inner wisdom and intuition can come up actually we can discuss with your inner wisdom through the session.

So it’s very healing and it’s very healing. Magical also, and my customers say after the session wow, what happened? It’s quite new here in Finland. I know Dolores Cannon discovered it. It’s Very important to also get to know your unconscious side if you want to get to know yourself better. 

[00:14:43] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yeah. And to have more tools to do that. This is a tool I’ve never heard of before, the quantum hypnosis. So, you offer it at Shanti?

[00:14:52] Katariina Hautsalo: and also online.

[00:14:53] Lily Allen-Duenas: Okay. Both. Great. And what about awareness training and body mind balancing treatment? What [00:15:00] are those?

What are awareness training and body mind balancing treatment?

[00:15:00] Katariina Hautsalo: bOdy mind balancing is like energy healing. It doesn’t differ from reiki healing that much. And then this awareness coaching, It’s like I do this neuro linguistic practice, I think, NLP. NLP is neuro linguistic programming. Then I offer also this shadow work coaching, and it’s like combining different things I have learned in my life. Thank you. And in my work, in that coaching I offer.

[00:15:44] Lily Allen-Duenas: It sounds like you do have a lot of different modalities and offerings, and I appreciate you explaining what some of those are for us. Something I do ask Katariina for, to every guest who comes on the show, is what is your personal definition of yoga? I know that we have, texts and quotes and sutras, but I’m just wondering, what does yoga mean for you? 

[00:16:07] Katariina Hautsalo: yoga brings my body and my spirit and my soul together. 

Does Finland need yoga? 

[00:16:13] Lily Allen-Duenas: Yoga brings spirit and soul and body together, and it’s beautiful. And what do you feel like is your community or your culture’s response to yoga? Do you feel like In Finland, they really need it because of stress or do you feel like it’s not a practice that they lean [00:16:30] towards as much because they’re always, they sleep great and they don’t have stress. You know, is There something a little bit deeper that we could go into?

[00:16:38] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah I think in Finland we are very stressed. And although there is this saying that Finnish people are the most happiest people in the earth, but we also laugh to that quote, and because finnish people work so much and their life is always accomplishing something, so it’s very stressful. 

[00:17:08] Lily Allen-Duenas: So they’re always really busy and they are feeling ambitious and drive and things that would at work that kind of would cause, that would cause them to be stressed.

[00:17:18] Katariina Hautsalo: and then we also, of course in Finland we have a lot of abundance and in a materialic sense, and many things are possible. Here in Finland for everyone, but then there’s also this a lot of this work fatigue in Finland and many young people also are not well, like mental issues, like depression and anxiety are very pervasive. And also these old people are very lonely. So I believe that there is a need for yoga for everyone and as well as many [00:18:00] other alternative therapies and lifestyles from more holistic well being and I think nowadays and also in the future. Yes. 

[00:18:11] Lily Allen-Duenas: It’s good to know. It’s good to know. Because yeah, people do assume that Finland is very stress free and everyone’s happy, as you mentioned. Scandinavia is always known for having such a high quality of happiness and I think that’s good to know that there is the word fatigue, there’s burnout, there’s stress and it’s. Everywhere. So it’s another reason where everyone needs yoga, right? 

[00:18:36] Katariina Hautsalo: that’s correct.

[00:18:37] Lily Allen-Duenas: So just to go a little bit more into Finland too, for some of our listeners who have never You know, really googled Finland or visited or know very much about it. Could you tell us about your country? Tell us about what Finland is like to live or, where it is in the world? What language you speak?

Just some of the basics for our listeners to get a better sense of what Finland is and what it’s like.

What is Finland like?

[00:19:01] Katariina Hautsalo: Yeah. Finland is in North Next to Sweden and next to Russia and we have four seasons here and right now it is winter and it’s very cold like minus 10 degrees of Celsius, and . We also have snow here right now, and even the story goes that Santa Claus is from Finland, from Lapland, and I think Finland is quite [00:19:30] advanced in technology, and we have this democratic welfare state, and, yeah, I think that’s the reason why everyone says that Finns are the happiest people in the world, because we have this beautiful nature, we have forests and lakes, and the nature and water is pure, and the air is pure, and finnish people are very honest and hardworking, they are not easy to get to know people. Because they are so honest, so they first they discover who you are and can I trust you, and then you get a lifetime friends from Finnish people. 

How to get in touch with Katariina and learn more about yoga in Finland

[00:20:13] Lily Allen-Duenas: I want to say, Katariina, I’m so grateful that we were able to have this conversation together and we were able to dive a little bit more into what shakti yoga is and what shakti flow and dance is. And I’m grateful that you took time to explain that mystical elements of it and then some of the other some of the other unique holistic offerings you do offer to your community.

So if any of our listeners wanted to get in touch with you, wanted to reach out, I will link your Instagram account and your websites on the show notes. So anyone can just scroll down, click buttons and automatically be linked and routed to connect with you. But would you like to say here on the podcast itself, what’s the best way to get in touch?

[00:20:58] Katariina Hautsalo: Oh yeah, through Instagram [00:21:00] or email, yeah, those are the best.

[00:21:03] Lily Allen-Duenas: Thank you, Katariina, so much for being with me on the show today. I really have loved speaking with you.

[00:21:09] Katariina Hautsalo: The pleasure was mine. Thank you. 

Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast Outro

[00:21:12] Lily Allen-Duenas: Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe podcast. My conversation with Katariina Hautsalo, a yoga teacher from Finland, was so curious as we dove into what Shakti flow and Shakti dance is, a mystical type of yoga that involves the four elements, feminine energy, and shadow work. I hope that this conversation made you curious about unique holistic offerings like quantum hypnosis, awareness training, and body mind balancing treatments. So if you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Finland, then this is the conversation for you. Thank you for listening to the wild yoga tribe podcast. Be well. 

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