When one thinks of “yoga system” what comes to mind? For many here in the west it is a healthy lifestyle of eating right, classes of stretching, possibly intertwined with Hindu spirituality and having a guru. But truly yoga is more. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit and often is interpreted to mean “to yoke or join” with the Divine. Simply put it is a vehicle for the individual soul to steadily progress toward union of the God-soul; a merger for two to become one. Typically when one thinks of yoga they think of systems emerging from India as old as civilization itself, but “yoga” is in all cultures albeit called by different terms. It is put into practice slightly differently, but always with the same goals in mind. Traditionally one concludes that a yoga system, from India, has stretching exercises with cool interpretations of the Sanskrit, includes chants and kirtans, spiritual teachers called a guru, and highly fit- traditionally female here in the west- persons in tight fitting clothes doing what seem like impossible poses for the average American. Often these “traditions” have become commercial in limiting most yoga schools today here in the west to merely exercise-related approaches, and then only practiced regularly by the deeply committed practitioner. But what if there was a yoga system for the everyday common man and woman that were simple, adaptive, and effective in healing? One that had influences of “Old India”, but also incorporated Traditional Chinese Medicine, holistic healing theory, knowledge of western medicine, and yet was spiritual and not religious? What if this yoga was purely American; a new system of the blending of the old traditions? A melting pot of traditions used to reach new awareness and transdimensionality?  If such a thing existed, and it does, then it would be Shugendo Yoga www.shugendoyoga.com .  

Born out of the mind and implementation of a registered nurse with over 25 years experience in critical care, rehabilitation, and teaching; Christopher Bashaw combined traditional healing practices and theories from around the world.  Bashaw, a New Hampshire native, created Shugendo Yoga in hopes of promoting a practice where the individual actively participates in his or her own healing process. By combining practices used in tai chi, martial arts, yoga, and fitness training with the understanding of spiritual concepts Shugendo Yoga has taken flight. Bashaw states;  “The Shugendo Yoga classes are a mix of gentle exercises – a unification of gentle stretching, ancient energy cultivation exercises, self healing techniques and meditation accompanied by gentle breathing and relaxation techniques. It is designed as a spiritual aid to enhance all belief systems as well as a potent self-healing modality for the body, mind and spirit.”

To further understand Shugendo Yoga let’s look at the word Shugendo as used to identify this unique yoga system. Shugendo is a Japanese deep-rooted way of searching and knowing, and in turn understanding what Man and Nature are and are not. Shugendo originates from the ascetic spiritual practice of the JapaneseMountain priests known as the Yamabushi. 

Shugendo evolved as a blending or fusion between Buddhism and several other religious influences in Japan around the 7th century, including but not limited to Taoism and Shintoism. In modern times, Shugendo is practiced by the Yoshino Yamabushi of Dewa Sanzan (Tendai sect), Kinpusenji and Ishiyama-dera Shingon sects, but it retains an influence on modern Japanese religion and culture.

Shugendo literally means "the path of training and testing." It centers on an ascetic, mountain-dwelling lifestyle and incorporates teachings from other eastern philosophies. The focus or goal of Shugendo is the development of spiritual experience and power; some might even call this power magik. Some of the Japanese martial arts claim they are derived from the profound knowledge of Shugendo, but many of these arts no longer recognize and/or have forgotten this aspect of day to day training.

Keeping in mind that the word yoga is from the Sanskrit, meaning to ‘yoke God and man together’, Shugendo Yoga is designed to harness the esoteric, mystical practices which link man to the Divine Wisdom of Creation through Natural Law.

Shugendo Yoga is a practice which goes beyond what we typically think of as yoga here in the West. It is not mere stretching, nor Pilates, though those too have their merit; Shugendo Yoga takes prayer (talking to God), meditation (listening to God), energy cultivation exercises, asanas, and self healing techniques and blends them into one session that is practiced daily. These sessions typically last 45- 60 minutes, but can last longer or shorter depending upon the needs and time constraints of the individual. Though similar, no two sessions are alike. In fact each session is specific; often geared to help harmonize the body and defend against particular dis-ease. Results of a session can be as simple as immediate stress release, calmness and relaxation to, over-time, a deeper understanding or enlightenment, and eventually an eradication of dis-ease. The time practicing Shugendo Yoga is meant to be done silently; healing music is often played in the background or primordial noise during a session. During sessions only the instructor speaks, which is done as a manner to guide the student through the session itself. During the practice the student must listen, inwardly to the voice within, learning how to remove the mindless chatter from the message and in turn allow his body to respond through healing. The unique aspects of this yoga system are that it can, and is expected, to be adapted to all abilities of those who practice.  Each session is comprised of five separate, but inter-related portions as previously discussed, all geared to heal the body against a specific dis-ease process while promoting a spiritual and calming nature. Every session begins with a 108 mantra; vibrational sound geared toward harmonizing body, mind, and spirit beginning the individual’s essence for the harmony and balance to be restored from its dis-eased state. Each session’s mantra is selected to work on the dis-ease process identified. Then a specific self-healing modality is introduced to continue to climb towards the homeostasis that the mantra has initiated. These self-healing modalities can include, but are not limited to, shiatsu, mind-body medicine, jin shin jutsu, and esoteric energy and shamanic healing. The third step in the session appears more to what most would think of, here in the West, as typical yoga. The asana or yoga posture is introduced, and established in a manner where it is then adapted to meet the limits and abilities of each person participating. Typically three postures are introduced; once again with the specific mind-set of the dis-ease process at hand kept in the mind’s forefront. These postures are done gently with the intent of circulating and moving life force energy into harmony and balance, more than just simply used as a stretching routine. Once the postures have been done Qigong is introduced. Qigong or “chi kung” is also known as Chinese Yoga. These simple, but profound exercises cultivate the chi or life force energy in a manner to once again specifically work with the previous sessions while restoring balance to the body. The forum is then ended with meditation to allow the blending of the complete session to evolve and manifest wellness. Often by the end of the very first session individuals begin to experience relief of symptoms.  

Shugendo Yoga is designed to be simple but do not let its simplicity deter you to its effectiveness, anyone regardless of age or ability can modify Shugendo Yoga to meet their restrictions. People ages 17 – 70 have participated in treatments and classes and all have found profound benefits to the Shugendo Yoga practice. It is suggested that for a specific dis-ease (IE: carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, depression, insomnia, etc) in which regular practice includes class instruction along with continued training in the privacy of one’s home, the individual can radically change one’s life for the better in as little as thirty days or less once Shugendo Yoga has been implemented into their way of life.

Bashaw’s resume alone is impressive:

Rev. Christopher J. Bashaw, PhD/MA, DD, RN, Soke

World Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee as well as other Martial Arts halls of fame inductee; soke (founder) of Kosho Hoho Yooga and American eclectic martial art that blends martial, healing, and mysticism; holder of several black belt rankings the highest being an 8^th degree black belt and PhD/MA awarded by the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Bashaw is not only a RN but an experienced practitioner of several holistic healing systems. Holding a Doctorates in Divinity Bashaw is also an ordained Buddhist Priest and shamanic practitioner.  Bashaw is also a renowned psychic and medical intuitive as well as a founding member of both WaShin International and SYKI. And if that were not enough he is also a CNFT^{(Certified Natural Fitness Trainer).}

But it is the system of Shugendo Yoga itself that blends his accomplishments into a practical and positive yoga system that is available for any and all.

Bashaw introduced the practice of Shugendo Yoga was initially along the New Hampshire seacoast as well as the Monadnock region and it has spread in popularity down the New England coast to Providence, Rhode Island where Rick Wilmott, who is Certified in the Shugendo Yoga System, teaches classes.

Wilmott, also a martial artist and healer holding high black belt rankings in several martial arts, is an inductee in several martial arts hall of fame. He is a Certified Shiatsu Therapist and student of Toshiko Phipps, the first qualified Shiatsu Therapist to teach in the United States and founder of the Nippon Shiatsu Daigaku.

Together Bashaw and Wilmott formed the Shugendo Yoga Kai International (SYKI), an organization dedicated to promoting the system and educating and training others to teach the system. Bashaw and Wilmott have introduced Shugendo Yoga to martial artists and yoga enthusiasts around the world at various large gatherings and trainings with a reception of overwhelming appreciation for its simplicity and insightful nature.

SYKI has developed a teacher training program for individuals to become a Certified Shugendo Yoga instructor.  Certification is based on weekend training and correspondence. The course is designed to provide excellent instruction and support with the hopes of more Shugendo Yoga classes being conducted so that more people can benefit and experience the healing of dis-ease. SYKI has revolutionized it’s designed to take a novice or a yoga master through the steps to implement this powerful system of healing in 200 hours. Both Bashaw and Wilmott hope that current yoga instructors, martial arts school owners, rehabilitation centers (physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists, nurses, and doctors) and holistic healing arts practitioners will become trained Shugendo Yoga Instructors. Bashaw states, “This, (Shugendo Yoga) will add significantly to their individual repertoire of healing based modalities.”

Shugendo Yoga is the “lightning path” of yoga practice for healing and spiritual development.  Shugendo Yoga has been shared by Bashaw and Wilmott at such events as the SKSKI Gathering as well as other SKSKI events, Hoshin Ryu Kaizen, Washin International, and World Martial Arts Hall of Fame with martial artists with surprising response. Many participating in the workshops inquire on to how to incorporate Shugendo Yoga into their schools and practices upon finishing the introductory workshops hoping to bring a peaceful and balanced aspect back into the martial application by adding healing arts to their curriculums.  

Shugendo Yoga Instructor Certification begins in Providence. RI, April 2011

The only North American training currently scheduled

Those interested in Training or Certification visit www.ShugendoYoga.com

or contact Bashaw [email protected]  or Wilmott [email protected] to bring an introduction workshop of Shugendo Yoga to their school or organization.

Max Holton is a Shugendo Yoga practitioner and freelance writer in the New England area.

Photos provided by SYKI and credited to Kim Testa Photography