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Way has the biggest number of followers. The Diamond I understand your expertise is also Yoga. How do
Way is part of the Tibetan Karma Kagyu School, you combine Yoga with Buddhism?
headed by the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, and
introduced to the Western world by the Danish Lama My interest in Yoga began in the 1990s during the same
Ole Nydahl. The branch of Kagyu School first arrived in period when I started to explore Buddhism. Indian Yoga
Bulgaria in 1992, with a visit of its main teacher Lama and Tibetan Buddhism have always been like a sun and
Ole. There are more than 200 followers, with centers moon in my spiritual journey. They combine my love
in eight Bulgarian cities, in addition to several retreat of Indian and Tibetan culture and on a practical level
centers and a stupa, built in 2015 near the village of they give me a complex of knowledge and practice for
Plana. The oldest Tibetan School, the Nyingma tradition, physical and mental health and inner peace.
is represented mainly by the Palyul tradition. Palyul
Center in Bulgaria was founded by Pema Rinpoche in Can you tell us more about how you became
2011 and seven years later, His Holiness Karma Kuchen interested in teaching yoga to children?
Rinpoche, the 12th throne-holder of the Palyul lineage,
visited the country. I began my yoga training in Bulgaria in 1996 following
the tradition of Satyananda Yoga. In 2006, I completed
Japanese Zen Buddhism has also gained a group of a yoga teacher training course at the French Federation
followers, due to its relation to aikido. One of these “Tantra – Kundalini Yoga” and later completed teacher
communities is Tendokan dojo, established in 1990. training in Multystyle yoga and in Tantra at Kashish
The focus of this community is a unique combination of Yoga, India. I have been teaching different styles of yoga
martial arts practice with Zazen. Mokusho Zen House since 2006 and have given classes and workshops in
Bulgaria and Dayshin Zen Center are other Zen centers Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, UK, France, Norway, the
that have been functioning in Bulgaria, offering Zazen Netherlands, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. I love to share
practices. yoga with people and especially with children, because
it is a beautiful way to communicate on a deeper level
The development of the so-called “global” or – through body and heart. I prefer to practice yoga
“modern” Buddhism is one of many reasons for with people and love the moment of going beyond our
growing academic interest in Buddhism. Bulgaria is personality and reaching a state of oneness. Children
following this tendency even with a slower tempo. are full of energy, creativity, ideas and it is simply a joy
The Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures and to share yoga with them.
the Philosophy Department of the Sofia University
“St. Kliment Ohridski” are the places where students What was your inspiration for writing the book “Do
can receive systematic Buddhist knowledge. In 2021, You Want to Try? Yoga for Kids.”
Sofia University began a master’s degree program in
Buddhist studies. The program, “Buddhism: Languages, The inspiration was my boy, Kalsang Yeshe. As parents,
Literatures, and Cultures,” is the first academic program we naturally want to give the best we have to our kids.
in Bulgaria to offer a comprehensive exploration of the I created this book to share my love for yoga with
literary and cultural heritage of Buddhism, its religious my son and all the children with the hope that it will
and philosophical traditions, and the specifics of its inspire them to try the yogic postures with the help of
development in Asia, as well as its global spread and their parents or teachers and to explore the profound
reception in the West. I have a chance to teach subjects messages of yoga. The book was written and illustrated
in this program such as Buddhist Iconography and during the sad months of COVID-19 pandemic with
Contemporary Buddhism. We are hoping to make the dedication to the physical and mental health of all kids
program available to international students. in the world and with a hope that it will bring a light
and joy in their life.