Mastering Mind and Body Through Sadhu with Lena Litvyakova

Linda Orsini: 00:00:09

Are you someone on a spiritual journey, seeking to deepen your connection with your higher self? If you're eager to release fear, overcome self limiting beliefs and find relief from emotional stress and anxiety, then there is a call for love. And I'm your host, Linda Orsini, guiding you on your journey to awaken your inner healer by getting unstuck from old patterns through mindset, movement and meditation. Let's begin.

Linda Orsini: 00:00:40

Welcome a call for love listeners, I am so grateful you're here today we have such an interesting conversation and a new just experience that you may have never heard of, because I know I haven't. And I'm talking to Lena is a who's the owner of Goji Studio. located just at the border of Oakville and Burlington and Ontario, Canada. And she is celebrating her one year anniversary as a boutique yoga studio. And what that means is that it's an all inclusive experience, and she's going to share more about that. Really, why we're here talking to her today is that she has become a Sadhu master. You may not know what that is, but you will learn along with myself. She is a yoga teacher and a sound bath practitioner. And while continuing to explore the various healing modalities, Lena became fascinated with the Sudoku board standing practice from the very first step. After deepening her practice. First she became a sadhu master. So she first tried it. And now she is a master. And she will guide others through this transformational experience that nourishes not only your mind, but also your body, heart and soul. And so Lena, welcome to a call for love. I'm so glad you're here. I really want to learn about your journey, how you have opened your studio, what is going on in your studio, because I see a lot of fantastic offerings. And I want to learn more about Sadhu.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:02:21

Awesome, thank you so much, Linda, for, for having this conversation with me today. I'm very excited. And yes, it's been quite a journey with the yoga practice. When initially I took my yoga teacher training, I thought I was just doing it for myself to deepen my knowledge. And I didn't really see how the whole path will unfold for me where eventually I would open a studio and I there is a team of other yoga teachers that are there. And we just continue sharing that love and passion for yoga and wellness in general with others with the community. Yes, I

Linda Orsini: 00:03:10

have a couple of my friends or teachers at your studio. That's awesome. Yeah, I've been to it. It's very beautiful. And I noticed that you have all natural products there.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:03:22

Yes. So the idea is we will provide the cork mats cork blocks the cleaning, like the cleaning products that we're using, they're all organic and natural. So we want to be in alignment with being organic and natural. Yeah,

Linda Orsini: 00:03:50

the philosophy of yoga is really creating a deeper awareness. It's union it means to yoke. And so we want to be one with our planet one with the earth. Absolutely Honor the Earth. Yeah, I really love that you you do all that. But let's talk about subdue. Hmm. So I am sure because I had no idea what Sudoku is about. And I really love to hear from you what so do is

Lena Litvyakova: 00:04:19

yes, absolutely. So, Sadhu board standing practice. It's pretty much practice of standing on boards with nails. And it has come to us from ancient India, where there was a group of people that were called Sadhguru, which from Sanskrit means, monks holy man. They would practice standing on nails on the board with nails to strengthen their mind and body connection to become more resilient. Don't stress and it's also a spiritual experience.

Linda Orsini: 00:05:06

Yeah, there's so it's so interesting because you know, I've heard of walking on coals as a practice. And I suppose I've heard of walking on nails, but I really find it interesting how it develops. So you're saying that the monks who are called seduce they wanted to practice on nails because they were climbing mountains.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:05:31

Yes, climbing mountains or just preparing for pilgrimage. And it's it was a practice to do the pilgrimage, barefoot. So to prepare for that they would use those boards with nails to prepare themselves physically, emotionally, and just to build that stamina and resilience to stress.

Linda Orsini: 00:06:00

And why were they? I guess because this was a long time ago, they had to walk their pilgrimage on bare feet, or it wasn't a choice or it wasn't a part of their practice or wild in their bare feet.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:06:15

It's probably both. I don't have the exact answer to that question. It may be because the practice stem store to these days from like, a couple of 1000s years ago, so at that time, I would assume, like wearing Yeah, wearing footwear was not like a common thing. Especially if if it wasn't a person who was coming from a wealthy family.

Linda Orsini: 00:06:48

Yeah, I guess that was I mean, they would be minimalist. Yes. You know, not attaching to material possessions. And so the Sadhu practice, I, as you're speaking, it kind of I created parallel between I'm, I had taken the guitar and then I haven't been playing it a couple years now. And I'm going to take it up again. And I the thought of, you know, building the calluses on my hand to press into the strings is quite painful at the beginning until you build the calluses that tougher skin. So is this what is required from Sadhu practices? Well,

Lena Litvyakova: 00:07:33

I would say it's more, more being able to handle it from mind body connection point of view. Because when I started initially, I would step on my nail board and the pain initially is there. So it feels overwhelming. And I just remember that I need to breathe and relax. Because when we breathe and relax, we just accept things as they are without giving a certain interpretations to, let's say uncomfortable sensations. So I thought it would never be easier for me to step on the board with nails. But with practice, it has changed and it has become more effortless. So I would say it's it's more of how you approach a practice and what you attach to that discomfort, especially the initial discomfort of stepping on boards with nails. Yeah, I

Linda Orsini: 00:08:45

would completely imagine it's a mind practice. Absolutely. Yeah. Now, this may be a silly question, but do you hurt yourself like disappears your

Lena Litvyakova: 00:08:59

skin? It doesn't. You can after like practicing for some time, you would see kind of like dimples on the soles of the feet which disappear within probably an hour not even an hour. It never punctures the skin because of even distribution of weight on on. on that board with nails. Yeah, I

Linda Orsini: 00:09:28

was wondering if you would like I feel like I would want to put one foot on and keep one foot on the ground and gradually put my weight on the foot. Yes,

Lena Litvyakova: 00:09:41

Linda, you're absolutely right. It's definitely a process that you wouldn't be rushing in. And so when I became a saddle master, the idea is that I'm able to guide others through that process. And my first experience was also with someone I was qualified to guide me, because there are different ways of starting. So there is a way of sitting on a chair slowly placing the feet on on the boards, and then gradually increasing the pressure where eventually a person is ready to fully step on, on those boards. Or if let's say we are doing it from the standing from standing, then there is a guide, who also is there to support you, and you can lean on on your guide, while doing one step at a time, like one foot at a time. Oh,

Linda Orsini: 00:10:40

yeah, I think I really liked the idea of being seated and slowly getting up. That seems very comfortable. And

Lena Litvyakova: 00:10:49

that's, that's something that is recommended, especially if a person is trying for the first time. Sometimes, just doing that, and not fully standing on nails is also enough for someone to go through the process because this practice is a process. And I intention plays a big role in this practice as well, just as with a yoga class. Yeah, absolutely.

Linda Orsini: 00:11:21

And how did you really find about it in Canada?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:11:28

I find it's so everything that is new is well forgotten all the practices, right, which we obviously see now that I, I started learning more about it, it is coming from India, is has become more popular in Europe in and in, for example, Kazakhstan, where I'm originally from, and one of my friends, good friends, she lives here, she introduced me to the practice after becoming a solder master as well. So for example, even the nail boards that I order, they are from Kazakhstan, because there is a master of who is producing those nail boards really beautiful. They are like, like a masterpiece. I can show it to you. And yeah, and he produces it for people around the world.

Linda Orsini: 00:12:25

Do you have one there that you could show us? Yes, absolutely. So if you are listening to a call for love, you will not notice or see it. But this is on YouTube as well. So take a look on YouTube, but I will describe it as best as I can. So she's gonna hold up and I believe there's two, one for each font, correct?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:12:47

Yes, so I actually have like two different ones. And this is the one that I started with. Because there is also such thing as the distance between the nails. And for someone who is practicing for the first time is recommended to go with eight millimeters between nails. So the smaller the distance, the easier it's supposed to be.

Linda Orsini: 00:13:14

So because the load is more evenly distributed. Yeah, so what she's holding up is a beautiful wooden board. And on the front, there is a beautiful lotus. And who is that? There's a

Lena Litvyakova: 00:13:28

it's a it's a lady with a third eye. Third Eye Chakra open. Yeah.

Linda Orsini: 00:13:34

Beautiful. And of course, the nails are quite close together. Are they a little dull at the top? Or are they very, very spiky?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:13:43

Um, I would say, I would say like medium, not extremely spiky hair. But they are also not. Yeah, they're also not. Not supposed to be dull. So I

Linda Orsini: 00:14:00

would imagine listeners who say, Oh, I am never like, that does not interest me at all. Some of the thing? Oh, you know, that would be interesting to see how my mind would react instinctive reaction to want to get off. It'd be very interesting. I know that I had seen you on social media post about it. And I said, Oh, that sounds great. Yeah, I'd love to try it because I always am so gung ho, and then when I thought about it a little bit more. I was like, Oh, I have to really be in the proper mindset.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:14:38

Absolutely. Linda, I agree with you. I always say that. If you see something and you feel that it resonates with you, it's worth exploring. But then at the same time, I wouldn't recommend someone going on a solder board just because of curiosity. Like curiosity is a An amazing thing, right? Like, it allows us to expand our horizons and try new things. There is more to this. So I would say it's, it's an intention. And it can be any intention from letting go of some of the things from the past that are holding a person from realizing their full potential. It's, it may be going after a particular dream. And when we have a very clear intention, and we step on nails, whatever comes up for us, in terms of our mind telling us, oh, you can't do that, or it's too painful, it's too uncomfortable, or whatever comes up for us in terms of the emotions. That's also an information about what may be holding us back from going after our dreams. Yeah,

Linda Orsini: 00:15:52

there's a quote that says, how you do one thing is often how you do many things. And that's what I noticed, actually, as you're talking, I noticed about meditation, you know, as you become the observer of your thoughts, and your, you know, your body sensations during a meditation, it's the inclination to push away or cling to pleasant thoughts, and really noticing that and, and not giving into it.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:16:24

Yes, yeah, it is, I would say it is a process of letting go of some level of control, and attachment to how it should be how it should feel. Because when you practice, you are definitely in the here and in the now, your mind would not take you to the past or to the future, because it's strong sensations. But then at the same time, letting go of that control and allowing yourself to accept what's coming at you in terms of uncomfortable sensations and emotions. And the interesting thing is that they do subside, it's usually I would say, the first five minutes, and I make sure that I deep breathe, like Breathe deeply. And they say to myself, it's five deep breaths is one minute. So it's five more times of those five deep breaths, and after that, it becomes easier. And it becomes we move from the physical sensations to some emotional release. And after that emotional release, there comes a point where you feel very comfortable standing on nails, like you wouldn't think that it's possible but you do feel very good after them.

Linda Orsini: 00:17:50

Well, how long have you actually stood on a sideboard?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:17:56

It it varies. So just for physical benefits because it's also on on the soles of the feet we have more than 70,000 neurons ending so just for the physical benefits and stimulate like lots of systems in the body metabolism, lymphatic system, blood circulation, even one minute is beneficial or five minutes. When it comes with working with intention, it is a different story because there there is a process to it. And when I when I'm working with intention, it can be anywhere from winning 25 minutes to one hour.

Linda Orsini: 00:18:40

Wow. That would be very intense. But as you said this sensation subside. They don't that's absolutely fascinating because of course you know I love pedicures. And because of all the sensations, the meridians, all the all the points on your feet. I never really considered that and it would be quite quite an experience. I would say that there would be emotional release do people cry? Yes,

Lena Litvyakova: 00:19:12

absolutely. Cry laugh my first my first practice with when I was doing it with another master i i use my voice a lot. And initially I may have been yelling but then after the discomfort subsides, I actually transitioned into like singing, singing, singing, yes. And I also very often by the end of the practice, I feel like dancing, it's because you're you get so comfortable and there is lots of processes going on in terms of the energy so you release some of the blocks for the energy you feel that energy is flow flowing freely. And I feel like I am coming back to myself when I practice.

Linda Orsini: 00:20:09

So it's what you're seeing it sounds euphoric. It sounds like transformational, like, you elevate your vibration, you elevate your sense. You become empowered, probably light hearted and like minded.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:20:23

100%

Linda Orsini: 00:20:27

Yeah, fascinating. It's really fascinating. And, you know, I often this is reminding me, we have a place up north, and we have a shoreline. And under shoreline, it there's often sand. But you know, due to the waves, we often get a lot of rocks. Mm hmm. And, you know, I will navigate around the rocks. And often I can't escape a rock, and it's on my feet. And I'm like, oh, you know, I, I sometimes tests myself now that we're talking about this, to see if I can actually walk across the rocks without feeling the pain. We're going to be way more mindful of that now.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:21:14

Yeah, isn't that interesting? Same for me, for example, I don't like being called at all like, winter is not my favorite season. And, like, I used to complain all the time. Oh, like, it's too cold. Oh, like the wind is blowing. And it's still freezing on my face, right. But since I started practicing sideboards ascending, now all of a sudden, I feel like, okay, I can tolerate it. So like your whole mindset changes, because that's the whole idea. Like, you're developing stamina and some of the stressful situations that may before would put you out of balance and trigger you. Once you practice it regularly, you learn how to deal with those uncomfortable situations. But

Linda Orsini: 00:22:07

yeah, it's very true. I when, as you're speaking, I'm thinking I have been to the Scandinavian spa up at Blue Mountain. I don't know if people are familiar. It's an Ontario, Canada. And they have the cold baths and the hot baths. And so for detox purposes, you're supposed to go in the cold boss. And whoa, it's, you know, it's, it takes courage. I gotta say, courage.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:22:37

I'm Olivia. And it's funny. It's interesting. You're mentioning that because when we did the group practice, at my studio, it was three more other ladies. Right after that, for some reasons. We started talking about the cold plunge, and this Canarian spy in Blue Mountain. And we said, Let's go for it. Let's try it. And we actually, like booked the trip. We're going there in April. So it's interesting how you're mentioning it. Now there is some synchronicity going on.

Linda Orsini: 00:23:12

Yeah, that is cool. I do challenge myself. But it isn't comfortable. And I noticed that, you know, it's, it is a mindset, are you going to take the challenge, I mean, you don't want to hurt yourself and doesn't hurt yourself, but it is a cold plunge. And also having a place up north, we call it the polar bear dip. Where you go into the water, you know, at New Year's especially, is very popular, and even in Oakville to go on the polar berry depth, and it is invigorating.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:23:51

I believe you're and this is something that I've been kind of like putting your side in terms of trying this experience because of my fear of being cold and very uncomfortable. So, but it's definitely on my list of things. So experience. Okay,

Linda Orsini: 00:24:11

so let's say somebody is interested in trying this experience with the sideboard. How can they prepare and what can they expect

Lena Litvyakova: 00:24:22

in terms of in terms of preparation, it is part of the process. So when we go through the whole experience, so we start with a very gentle warming up the body and making sure that our nervous system is ready for it or like on a physical level. I take time to work with intention and making sure that it meets some of the like, I don't want to say requirements. But yes, like to a certain degree. The intention needs to be strong enough for a person to go through that experience. So in terms of preparation, Linda, I would say, a person needs to ask herself or himself. Why do I want to do that? What is what is it that I want to change in my life, whether it's relationship, whether it's going after their dreams in terms of career or their own business? So it's is the question is the question of intention? Like, what what do I want to work with? Because sideboard is just a tool? So to be with yourself, and to understand yourself better, it's a tool for self exploration and personal growth.

Linda Orsini: 00:25:49

Yes, I feel like, you could think of it as a challenge, or you could think of it as like a release transformation.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:25:59

Yeah, it is both. Yeah, it

Linda Orsini: 00:26:02

is both. It takes courage, I would say it takes courage. And so how long because I know I had reached out to you, and you said, you know, to stand on the board to expect to stand on the board for 15 minutes. Mm hmm.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:26:19

I would say, if someone is trying it for the first time, it would be at least 15 minutes, I don't like to, to kind of like put a limit on on the time. Because I would be guided by the process. So like, the idea is initial discomfort subsides. And then there is something start start coming up for a person in terms of emotions, maybe some memories that they they need to release and let go off. So while things continue coming up for a person, it means that like, the process is still there. And it's not really advisable just to stop and go off the nail boards. And then, eventually, when they feel like yes, this is my intention, and I can actually feel my intention, I can breathe it, and I have that sensation, how I would feel once that intention materializes. So that would be a sign that the practice is complete.

Linda Orsini: 00:27:26

So would change for each person. Very,

Lena Litvyakova: 00:27:30

very different for every person. And it can be very different depending on an intention for the same person, depending on an intention. And

Linda Orsini: 00:27:40

that's really interesting. Now, do you do it? Solo? Is it like a solitary practice? Or do you do it on offered in groups? Like I'm sure you offer this and go Gee studio?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:27:55

Yes, I do both the individual session, I would say, very profound. And especially if someone is trying it for the first time, they may wants to go for individual session. At the same time group is interesting. There is a group dynamic going on. And it's almost like the energy is elevated, because there is a reason why a certain group of people gathered in one spot and the energy elevates you and support like is pretty much supporting each other, versus someone going through that experience individually. But in both scenarios, I'm there to guide

Linda Orsini: 00:28:38

now, would one person at a time go on the board and then wait to the next person? or would there be two people at a time on the boards?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:28:48

It's one person at a time because I'm there to support them and for them to step on the boards. And I'm just there for them for the first minute or so before I go and help another person?

Linda Orsini: 00:29:01

Yeah, I was in an experience where we did rapid, which is so long story, but we were in a circle. And you know, watching everybody do the practice before it reached you. It creates a level of anticipation and I have to say their anxiety but it's very interesting and then supporting other people because community as we say in yoga Sangha community is so important and it's so powerful. I think I would let us with another person just to have that, like that moral support and that feeling of you know, camaraderie.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:29:52

Yes, yeah, absolutely. It is very, very beautiful and powerful. Oh, well, this was just That's the way the yoga class, right? When it's done in person, we feel the energy of the whole group.

Linda Orsini: 00:30:07

It's true. And that's why, as a meditation guide, people struggle practicing meditation on their own. But when they come together in a group in a class that I will lead, then they feel this support, they find it much easier to practice meditation. And even if you're practicing anything at home, you know, having that motivation and that persistence, that helps, you know, going to a class and being surrounded by those who are like minded and with the same intention.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:30:44

Absolutely. Yeah, that's the that's the idea. Now,

Linda Orsini: 00:30:48

I just have what a couple more questions, how long did it take you to become a Saudi master.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:30:54

So as with anything, when it comes to experience, I would say it's important to develop your own practice, like a strong practice. And that for me took about half a year, working with different intentions, trying different things, sometimes it is with the music, sometimes it is without the music and in the nature or when I'm traveling. So it's through the experience, you develop the skills that complements the knowledge. So in terms of the practice, I've been practicing for eight months now, and to become a guide, to be able to guide others, it's been eight weeks of intensive training and working with, with other masters from the school. So the school is in Bali, actually. Sorry, the school is located in Bali, and they it's an online, online school with the young with online learning. But of course, we have the calls where it's life. Life questions and answers and workshops.

Linda Orsini: 00:32:20

Excellent. Now, I have a question. I know you are married. Does your husband practice? I do?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:32:28

Um, I haven't convinced him yet.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:32:35

I've tried. And, yeah, sometimes it's easier to work with people who are not related to you versus your loved ones, your relatives. So my son who is 13 years old, he tried for, for 30 seconds or so just out of curiosity. And recently, actually, my brother decided, and he let me guide you through his experience. And he did 45 minutes of standing on.

Linda Orsini: 00:33:06

Wow, was that his first time? First time? Yeah, oh, my goodness. You know, here I am standing recording this and I'm thinking, you know, I shipped on one leg and I shifted the other wouldn't want to do that on a sideboard actually would be very grounding, because you would have to place both feet on the ground, and even to stand in any solitary and static position for 45 minutes. That's a long time.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:33:34

Yeah, it's interesting that it sounds a lot. But in the process, it doesn't feel like it. So

Linda Orsini: 00:33:41

that is very cool. Okay, well, I am planting the seed in my mind to try practicing Saju and I tell you, if I was going to practice with somebody would be you, I feel that you are very, you honor the practice and you really feel the benefits of it mentally and emotionally. And that's something to really admire. So I do admire that.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:34:08

Thank you in them, your words mean a lot. Just this opportunity to share about the experience because I feel like people just can become a little bit happier. Through adopting something like this.

Linda Orsini: 00:34:25

It will really show you your personal power like you know, how your mind reacts to it.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:34:35

Believing in yourself knowing that you can do it and going through it. There is lots though on the practice lots of aspects. So

Linda Orsini: 00:34:47

how about I practice walking on the rocks by my shoreline?

Lena Litvyakova: 00:34:57

Yeah, sounds sounds like a blast.

Linda Orsini: 00:35:01

Okay, well, then I'm so grateful that you shared with a call for love listeners about this practice because I hadn't heard of it. It sounds really interesting. And I feel like there are many physical benefits as well as mental benefits. That is something to consider for sure.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:35:22

Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you, Linda. And

Linda Orsini: 00:35:26

we will place all your links and how to contact you in the show notes. But I really appreciate you coming on to a call for love and sharing your passion.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:35:37

My pleasure and thank you for having me. Today. It's, it's my honor. Thank you.

Linda Orsini: 00:35:45

Okay, so thank you everybody for joining a call for love. You will find all her links in the show notes and have a great day.

Lena Litvyakova: 00:35:54

You as well.

Linda Orsini: 00:35:59

Thank you for listening. It would mean so much to me. If you could share this episode with someone you feel could benefit from its message and subscribe to a call for love podcast. To receive new weekly episodes every Tuesday. Head over to global wellness education.com to learn more.