out of the mud I bloomed
a new study of vinyasa yoga
- Lalla
Black Lotus Yoga is a ritual of breath and movement—a place where tradition meets exploration, and the body becomes a site of revelation. It is a hymn to the wisdom of the Hatha tradition—a song hummed in praise, a prayer spoken through the body, a garland of blossoms, strung on a thread of breath, offered in reverence to the sublime source from which all yoga springs.
What is black lotus yoga?
Black Lotus Yoga is a ritual of breath and movement, where tradition meets improvisation and the body becomes a site of revelation. Rooted in old Hatha principles, the practice works with opposing movements of breath and invites them to align—so the body opens, sensation unfolds, and consciousness begins to breathe. It is practiced in the Mysore style, where each yogi follows the thread of her breath while moving together with others, in a quietly awakening community. Black Lotus Yoga loves to share space with Ashtanga, its older cousin, who turns on the same energetic principles.
The system unfolds through six sequences, each with its own energetic signature. The first sequence grounds the body and steadies the mind; the second churns the heart and tones the nerves; the third reveals the balance of opposing forces. From there, the practice continues to open, inviting deeper resonance and subtlety with each layer.
practice online
There are six series in Black Lotus Yoga, and each leaves its own unique imprint on the body. To each level, there are three variants or shades—white, gray and black.
the online studio
I created this space to share my passion for yoga with you. This is our space to practice, learn, converse and explore. Here you will find over 400 hours of guided asana practices, workshops, talks, meditations, reference materials as well as the full curriculum of Black Lotus Yoga and an expanding library of Black Lotus classes.
Membership gives you access to all but the special courses (and you can add those as you wish), for $30/month. There is no fine print, and you can cancel at any time.
Symbolism of the black lotus
In mythological terms, the black lotus is a sign of deep creative power, rising from the primordial waters to show us the beauty of the darkness that lies beneath. Unlike other lotus flowers that announce their distinction with vibrant color, the black lotus draws its darkness up from the muck and spreads it across its petals, raising them gloriously to the sun. It reminds us that darkness is part of our beauty, part of our mystery, and part of the unfathomable depth of our being. It reminds us, more importantly, that darkness is not something to evade. Only when we embrace all sides of ourselves, including our thorny and tangled sides, the sides most difficult to engage, can we come into full bloom.
The black lotus thus represents an earthy, embodied spirituality—one that does not seek distance from the natural movement of life, but embraces it with a wide open heart, joining its mesmerizing dance of darkness and light. As a symbol of our own psychological potential, it assures us that we belong here as children of the earth, and that each of us must blossom out of the mud, in our own singular way.
ghost in the machine
A journal of philosophical rants—delivered to your inbox at sporadic intervals
Expect rogue reflections about the meaning of yoga, the confusions of spiritual seeking, the nausea of insight, and other related themes.
I will keep writing to you—damn near every month—like an old friend whose contact you can’t shake. You will sigh when you see my messages, because you know that you have to read. I will be the friend whose rants make your eyes roll, but whose words stay with you, and haunt you, even as you sleep. The ghost in your machine. That’s me.