Meet Maria Sirriya, creator and instructor of Hip Hop Tantra Yoga ™. Maria lives and teaches in San Diego, California. For class location and schedule, visit her website here.
What is Hip Hop Tantra Yoga?
Hip Hop Tantra Yoga ™ is a high-energy unique fusion of Dance, Vinyasa Flow Yoga and Tantra Yoga that is intelligently designed to awaken the spiritual power of each individual in a very fun way. This calorie-burning workout increases muscle tone and flexibility, while teaching the students to tune into their energetic body, actually feel their Chakras, and raise their vibration at will. In short, it’s a life transformational science in fun motion.
How did you get into Tantra Yoga?
Not too long ago, I had a successful corporate career, a fiancé, lived half a block from the beach and was teaching yoga part-time…and I could not believe how unhappy I was. I couldn’t explain the feeling that something was definitely missing, so I started to make changes where I could.
I started a class called “Chakra Flow” because I could sense that a lot more was going on in each yoga posture than what was currently being taught in America.
My work was at an all time high, although my relationship with my fiancé was declining fast. One Friday evening in January 2009 we addressed our issues and decided it would be best to part ways. Of course, my heart was broken, and I had to wake up in 5 hours to teach an inspiring Saturday morning yoga class. One of my regular students that I’ve known for years came to class, which immediately put me at ease.
After class he approached me and said, “What’s going on?” He could obviously tell that something was different so I explained that my fiancé and I broke up the night before. My student looked me in the eyes, and said smiling, “Well, me and Michael are going to India… wanna come?” My mouth dropped and right then and there I made the decision to go.
Two weeks later I was gone. For 8 months I traveled to India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali and Jordan, and found the many pieces of me that were forgotten – poetry, people, dance and dense spirituality.
Initially I was traveling with my 2 yoga students, who both had been to my Chakra Flow class. As we traveled throughout India we had the funny sexy thought of, “Yeah man, let’s find a Tantra School” so the Tantra School found us.
We listened to the Master Teacher talk about what we can expect to learn and experience, and all 3 of us were in shock. We looked at each other and my 2 students almost simultaneously whispered to me, “Yo they are teaching your Chakra Flow.” I KNOW!
So I’m there, THERE, about to learn scientifically what I was already intuitively teaching.
I studied Tantra Yoga and Mystical Bellydance in India for 3 months, then I continued studying Tantra Yoga at the main Agama Yoga school in Thailand for 3 additional months completing the advanced 500 hour Teacher Training Program that focuses on the Chakra-based Technology of Tantra Yoga from the 3 original Classic Yogic Texts that still survive.
Right after that, I went to Bali and studied along side Enlightened Bioenergy Master, Ratu Bagus, for one month day and night. Result…I could take a pen and checkoff the imaginary box that read, “Blow my circuits and reorganize energetic blueprint to another level.”
What is Tantra Yoga?
There are many ways to define Tantra Yoga. For our purposes, Tantra Yoga is a body-oriented, earth-grounded, practical esoteric ancient system of self-liberation (not a religion) that usually comes in the path of those who have reached a certain level of expanded understanding and are ready to receive it. It welcomes all spirituality and houses all yoga systems under one umbrella.
It is one the few (maybe only) spiritual practices that emphasizes the importance of the feminine principle, Sakti, and thus acknowledges totally equality between the two sexes.
As a practice, it can be defined as a combination, of Hatha, Kundalini and Laya Yoga. Some of its scientific mechanisms and intentions include:
1. Balancing feminine and masculine energy
2. Unifying the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (you) as a tangible experience in your body
3. Alchemically transforming feelings of confusion, jealousy, fear, doubt, greed, depression, into creative focus, endless vitality, courage, confidence, insight, clarity.
| Widespread Yoga | Tantra Yoga |
| - Main focus is on the physical body | - Main focus is on the energetic body |
| - The breath used as the vehicle for mental focus | - Chakras are used as the vehicle for mental focus |
| - You hear things like, “Yoga is preparation for Meditation” | - Yoga = meditation. We meditate in the yoga posture because the 2 aren’t separate |
| - Not always spiritual…and that’s okay | - A spiritual shot in the arm |
As a teacher, Tantra Yoga allows me to provide the students with a roadmap so they can dive deep and access their inner truth and answers from within.
How did you come up with Hip Hop Tantra Yoga?
I created Hip Hop Tantra Yoga ™ by accident. When I returned from India, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after everything I had seen and experienced. To add to the confusion, I didn’t know which type of yoga or dance I wanted to do now that I learned so much new stuff.
So to fight off the stress and get clear, I would blast Hip Hop music and cut loose. Naturally the format evolved into Dance, then Vinyasa, then Tantra, and I was surprised how much deeper my warrior poses and lunges where, excited by how I would just drop into arm balances from the momentum of the dance, blown away by how much more I could feel my chakras, and how much I needed dope music to get me to stop what I was doing, and get motivated to be on the yoga mat. After a year of this I realized, “I need to teach this!”
Mostly, what drove me to teach Hip Hop Tantra Yoga was noticing that my 2 favorite things were missing from my yoga classes when I taught in studios – my friends and deep practically integrated spirituality.
What drives me to teach this today is:
1. The privilege in preserving the lost practice of Tantra Yoga via community proliferation
2. The drive to upgrade the path of Yoga in the west in a way that integrates into a person’s everyday life and leverages their inner power into the new-paradigm of business
3. The results I watch my students gain in a short time as they improve their overall wellbeing and take control of their life transforming it into what they always wanted it to be.
On May 5th we will be celebrating Hip Hop Tantra Yoga’s 1 Year Anniversary and the benefits have been mind-blowing! We expected weight loss and a measurable increases in physical wellness, attractiveness, confidence, focus and courage, and a few unexpected trends quickly became obvious.
After only a few classes, students stop smoking, drinking, eating meat, and not because of any social influences, simply because they don’t feel like it anymore.
Those who felt stuck in non-beneficial relationships started to face the pain of addressing the situation and kept pushing through until their whole situation shifted to a higher ground of peace and happiness.
Many felt so anchored in their inner knowing that they quit their job and not even a month later they land their dream job, which sometimes included travel!
What brings me the most satisfaction, is watching everyone who felt a little different than everyone around them, and felt like they didn’t know where to turn and who to talk too about some deep stuff, actually feel at home in my classroom amongst more awesome, creative, daring, loving, chill people.
All you have to do is show up and have fun. Together we set your life free!
If you can already sense that this class and vibe is for you, I would love to meet you!
Many students come for the first time, and many are experienced. Either way, we all have fun together.
Hip Hop Tantra Yoga is every Friday in Pt. Loma San Diego from 6pm to 8pm.
The first class is $15 and the 2nd class is Free!
Check out more info here, and RSVP Today!
Check out what some of her students have to say:
Amazing class…genius concept…I felt alive and sexy. Julie H. – Musical Talent Manager
The women are gorgeous. I came away refreshed, energized, inspired and ready to take on the world! Still on a natural high from Hip Hop Tantra Yoga. Nick Z - Masterful Musician & Promoter
Maria Sirriya is an extremely passionate instructor, waiting to fill your mind with knowledge you can carry throughout your life. The dancing is nothing to fear! The room is full of genuine people who have created a comfortable environment for everyone. Come join us! Amber W. – Speaker & Model
I enjoy the energy! Upon walking in I immediately felt the vibrancy warmth, excitement and smiles. It’s impossible to resist. You immediately want to come back for more. Portia S. – Marine Biology Instructor
I love Maria's class! If you are in San Diego, you should really give it a go!