Yaron Cohen founder of Stigidam (Yoga dance)

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Yaron Cohen is the Founder of 'Stigidam' a type of Yoga dance. He has led an interesting life, practising his way of life, learning at Buddhist monastaries and spreading good energy to others. He took some time to visit us at Phanganist to tell us more...

What is your Koh Phangan story?
16 years ago I was curious about the full moon party much like everyone else, I also heard there was a yoga scene from the owner of orion so in march this year I came to see. I was shocked at first. The Full moon scene and yoga are not so connected and I was surprised to see the two worlds so close to each other. I was living in Hong Kong at the time so after 10 days on Koh Phangan I went back. Then I decided to come back to Phangan to establish a yoga and meditation school and a yoga teachers course. I have been here one month.

When did you start yoga?
I started aged sixteen in 1989 when the scene was minor. My father bought a book on yoga, translated to Israeli so I started practising from the book. Not with the internet or anything, it was a totally different world.

Tell us about Stigidam / yoga dance?
Stigidam is a song of mine that went viral in israel, the name comes from the sounds of drumming, I am using this name at the moment to describe this type of yoga dance.
I took movements from yoga, Qi Gong and Tai Chi, and put them into a dance, so they must be synchronised with the rhythm. It is also a lesson in drumming as you drum with your legs all the time, then synchronise that also with the movements of the hands. It is a way to expose people to the world of yoga in a fun party way and also good form of excersise. The highlight for me is I have healed myself from an incurable disease. I was bored of long distance running, I wanted to add some spice and so this is how I came up with Stigidam.

What is the best thing you ever been involved with or done?
I had a kundalini awakening which is an energy that goes from the spine to the head, leading to mystical experiences. I always like to be grounded but this gave me exposure to god and the beyond or whatever name you want to call it.

Can you tell us a bit about your time in Zen & buddhist monastaries?
Mostly I have spent my time in Thai monastaries, the forest monistaries of Thailand. I was interested in meditation. The Zen monistaries are mostly in japan but also vietnam, they are a buddhist school but with a different approach. I learnt many practises that are not taught at normal ten day silence schools and discovered a wider field in this area. Meeting the teacher was also very powerful, he was the closest thing to a supernatural power I have come across, he could read you like an open book. Whether he feels energy or reads minds I don’t know but I felt transparent. In japan zen monistaries are a bit like being in an army, you never get a high rank though, you will follow the same schedule all of your life. There is electricity in the air saying we are here to wake up.

What do you do in your free time?
My practise is the best way to relax, Zen meditation, Yoga or Qi Gong. I am also a musician which is a great tool to calm the mind, if you make a mistake you know you have lost concerntration so you know to focus and come back, playing can be a pretty good form of meditation.

Where is your favourite place here?
I spend most of my time in Sri Thanu but I like many areas although I cannot say as I have not been here long.

What are your current projects?
Mostly teaching, whether it be classical meditation or yoga or dance versions, I try to develop these things.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
This is a classical pitfall of the mind or every human being in fact. Technically we can die today, statistically of course this is different but I have learnt to keep doing what I am doing then it will grow.

What is your life philosophy?
Love everyone as yourself.

When and where do you teach and how do people join these courses?
I do classes at 8am and 5pm for now, on the beach everyday in sri thanu, the first time you can just come and check it out to see if it is for you. You can also contact me through email or my facebook page.