What the DRT is all about

The Direct Realization Training is for people ready to learn a systematic methodology for self-realization by working directly with the mental/emotional and energetic bodies. This body of work is influenced by Trika Shaivism and draws upon the teachings of Tantrik Yoga. 

Participants are encouraged to work with a 40-Day Sādhanā during the Course. (Some participants go on to do 100+ day sādhanā, and even a 1000 Day sādhanā!)

What’s Involved

The DRT focuses on Upāya: the Skilful Means to Liberation. It includes:

  • Tantrik Yoga View teachings
  • Tantrik Yoga Philosophical teachings
  • Practice teachings
  • Transmission teachings
  • A methodology for digesting samskaras and vikalpas.

We’ll be paying particular attention to The Empowered Means, which is centered in heart-mind/ energy and on shedding mental constructs (aśuddha-vikalpas) that are not in alignment with reality. 

In essence, it’s about dissolving the false constructs that prevent us from engaging directly with reality. Students will learn how to work directly with heart-mind/energy through the power of Knowing and the process of cognition.

We’ll also pay some attention to The Embodied Means, which is centered in the body and includes practices like asana and pranayama. 

Through a combination of deep practice, reflection, inquiry, de-briefing, and checking in, each student will have the opportunity to clearly see the aśuddha-vikalpas running in their system, and using Tantric tools & technologies, learn how to identify these false constructs, disarm them, and uninstall them.

Engagement with this process eventually leads to immediate intuitive apprehension of Reality without the intervention of thinking mind.

It means going beyond conditioned mind and learning how to anchor in loving-awareness.

Who is the DRT for?

It is suitable for those people dedicated – or ready to dedicate – to the process of awakening and liberation. And it is for those who deeply desire to know the truth of who they are, beyond the conditioned mind. (See Testimonials down below.) It's particularly useful for people that have a yoga practice, and are ready to take their study and practice to the next level.

The Three Upāya • With a Focus on The Empowered Means

Upāya are the 'means to liberation', or the way in which we practice. On this Course you learn about all three main upāya with a focus on The Empowered Means. This framework will take you beyond asana and help you bring all aspects of your life on to the path, in a skilful manner. That's where the gold lies!

  • Ānava-upāya • The Individual Means

    This is the 'starting point' for most practitioners - those practices which work directly with the body, and can be observed. For example asana and pranayama. Most Western practitioners are familiar with these practices.

  • Śākta-upāya • The Empowered Means

    This is where practitioners start to work with purifying their mental and emotional constructs of reality and the self. It's about discerning what is true, and not true, and cultivating wisdom. This is about working directly with the heart-mind using cognition and awareness.

  • Śāmbhava-upāya • The Divine Means

    This is the most subtle of the Three Upāya - there are no practices as such at this level, but rather an ability to orientate to life from moment to moment in a way that leads to direct realization of truth. This begins to unfold naturally as one experiences the fruits of the other two upāya.

Included on the Direct Realization Training

  • Indepth Teachings on Ucchāra Practice, a core Tantrik Yoga Practice

  • Detailed Lectures from Kara-Leah on The Empowered Means

  • View Teachings • The curriculum is systematically laid out with video, audio and text teachings each week

  • Practices to work with the mental/emotional and energetic bodies

  • Audio Recordings from previous DRT Immersions

  • Telegram Group Support • Share or ask questions in the Community Telegram Group

Choose Your Pricing | 🇨🇦CAD$

Please choose your preferred pricing option. All purchases are made through Stripe, and instalment plans are automatically set up for a monthly payment.

💥 What People Say 💥

Testimonials from Direct Realization Training Graduates

I Am No Longer Afraid To Be Fully Me

Kylie Harris, New Zealand

"I have found a deeper appreciation for life and all of the emotions we experience, all of the ups and downs. Rather than avoiding or suppressing the sadness or grief I have let myself fully feel into it. If I feel fear or anxiety I let myself fully embrace it and get curious about what is behind it. I also feel like more of me is coming out. I am no longer afraid to be fully me and I feel much more love and acceptance for all of me."

A Practical Application for Aligning with Reality in an Accessible Way

Andrea Villarrubia, Mexico

"If you are seeking practical, real-life tools, practices, and teachings for spiritual awakening, you will find them with Kara-Leah. She has organized essential teachings from Classical Tantric Yoga along with her own embodied learnings and process, honed from years of experiential practice. The result is a practical application for aligning with reality in an accessible way, whatever your personal path in this lifetime."

The Integration I've Found Has Been Amazing

April Waldman

"I am so grateful to Kara Leah for her guidance, presence, and teachings. I have been studying Kashmir Shaivism for about a decade but never got very far because it never made sense. The integration I've found through my work with Kara-Leah has been amazing. There is an ease in motherhood, my relationship with my husband, my work, my health, and a deep acceptance and gratitude of life. The grace that has opened from aligning with these teachings is so beautiful and profound. You truly don't want to miss this opportunity."

I Have Finally Come Home

Monique Macfarlane, New Zealand

Forty days ago, I stepped on to a Direct Realisation Tantra Immersion with Kara-Leah. Rooted in the classical path, my world was, blown open. The foundation that was built inside me, through those transformational six days, and the time since then, has given me an overflowing abundance of strength, power, compassion, peace, processing capabilities and most of all has allowed me to flourish... in the truth that I am love. I have finally come home."

Tuning into Essence Nature

Tania Lavcanski, Australia

"Learning Tantrik teachings has shifted things for me that were stuck. Having had lived experience with C-PTSD, I found it difficult to integrate all the philosophy I studied and practices I did on the mat into my daily life. Tantrik practices have shifted this immensely for me. I am finding myself integrating practice into life, tuning into Essence Nature, and allowing myself to fully feel every experience."

💥 Course Curriculum 💥

  • 1

    How to Engage with this Self-Directed Course

    • Welcome to the Direct Realization Training Self-Directed Course

    • Working with your Mentor

    • TASK: Introduce yourself to the Community
  • 2

    Week 0 • Ucchāra Practice & the Forty Day Sādhanā

    • WELCOME • Ucchāra Practice & the Forty Day Sādhanā

    • VIDEO • The Psychology of Daily Yoga Practice

    • VIDEO • What is Ucchāra Practice? Reflections from Practice (recorded for YT Feb 2023)

    • VIDEO • Complete Breakdown of Ucchāra Practice for Newbies

    • VIDEO • Ucchāra Practice + Six Separate Ucchāra Practice Audios

    • TEXT • Outline of all the Stages of Ucchāra Practice

    • AUDIO • The Prayer for Pure Motive & The Impure Motives

    • IMAGE • Ganesh the Elephant Headed God

    • BONUS VIDEO • How to Anchor your Daily Home Yoga Practice

    • BONUS VIDEO • Christopher Tompkins on Ucchara, Pranayama and the Divine Pose - Part One

    • BONUS VIDEO • Christopher Tompkins & Shiva Rea at Exhale • Introduction to Ucchāra Practice - Part One

    • BONUS AUDIO: Christopher Tompkins on Ucchara Practice and Application

    • BONUS VIDEO • Christopher Tompkins on The Ascent of Sound Current in the Subtle Body (AUM)

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 0
  • 3

    Week 1 • The Tantrik View of Reality

    • LECTURE: Shiva & Shakti • Orientation to Essence Nature

    • PRACTICE • Orientation to Essence Nature

    • PRACTICE • Open-Eyed Meditation

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 1
  • 4

    Week 2 • Upāya, Samskara, Vikalpas

    • LECTURE • The Empowered Means to Liberation, Samskaras & Vikalpa

    • PRACTICE • Partner Work • Deep Listening Practice

    • PRACTICE • The Golden Column

    • BONUS ARTICLES • Christopher Wallis on Samskāra Theory & Energy Healing

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 2
  • 5

    Week 3 • Life as Your Guru

    • LECTURE: Life as Your Guru • Immersing into Reality, Responding to What's Unfolding, Owning Your Reactivity

    • PRACTICE • Shiva/Shakti Embodiment

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 3
  • 6

    Week 4 • Desired Reality

    • LECTURE: Desired Reality • Bhoga & Moksha

    • PRACTICE: Review & Choose • Practices to Date

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 4

    • VIDEO • More on How to Choose Where You Are Internally
  • 7

    Week 5 • Statements of Intent

    • LECTURE • Vikalpas & Statements of Intent

    • LECTURE PART 2 • Installing a Statement of Intent

    • PRACTICE: Partner Work • Statements of Intent

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 5
  • 8

    Week 6 • Resource States and Demons of the Chakras

    • LECTURE: Resource States & Demons of Chakras

    • ARTICLE • Christopher Wallis on The Real Story of the Chakras

    • REVIEW • Learning Outcomes Week 6

    • LECTURE • Conclusion of DRT Immersion
  • 9

    BONUS MATERIAL & RESOURCES

    • LECTURE • Breakdown of the Guided Self-Inquiry Process

    • BONUS AUDIO • The Three Phases Of Awakening • Earth Beat March 2021

    • MUSIC • Mantra Magic Playlist on Spotify

    • PODCAST • For the Divine Mother of the Universe

    • PRACTICE • Four Pointed Awareness Meditation

    • ARTICLE • How to Resolve Trauma in Real Time with Tantrik Yoga Practices

💥 Tempted?💥

But you'd like to know more. Read on...

  • How much time does this Course require?

    This is an estimate of how much time you may need to commit to this Course. I would suggest making it your #1 education priority over the seven-week period. It's preferable to make this your ONLY Course over this period. Estimated Time Commitment: • Completing the Curriculum Lessons (2-3 hour a week) • Daily Practice (ideally 30-60 minutes a day) • Journalling/contemplating/doing exercises (2 hours a week) In total, expect to spend a minimum of five hours a week watching, listening, reading, and doing exercises, plus doing daily practice. It is a self-directed course, so you can take more time to do each week's material. It's possible to spend two hours a week, plus your daily practice.

  • Do I need to be a Yoga Teacher or have studied yoga before?

    No, you don’t need to be a yoga teacher. It is beneficial if you've done some yoga practice before, as this course builds on asana practice and goes more into the mental/emotional and energetic practices, but it's also not required.

  • Tantra is about sex right?

    Nope, it’s not. Tantra is is a path of self-realization or liberation. Tantra is inclusive of all aspects of living, including working, parenting, relationships and sex. And there were (VERY complex) rituals aimed at merging with unity consciousness that included sexual practices. However, this has nothing to do with modern sexual techniques, or conscious sexuality, which is often (erroneously) taught under the name of Tantra. There are no sexual practices in this Course.

  • Can I pay in instalments?

    Yes, you can pay over three months. Make sure you click the Sign-Up button for Instalment plans.

  • Do you offer scholarships?

    Sometimes - email me using the link below my profile to make a request.

  • Can I email you my questions?

    Yes, you can. Use the email link under my bio below.

Ready to take your spiritual path beyond asana & off the mat?

This Direct Realization Training provides the foundations you need!

  • Realize the Self

    Who are you? Really? Underneath it all? Discover how to use your direct experience to investigate the nature of who and what you are. This isn't something you learn, but something you discover, feel and know. This is the process of self-realization and is the foundation for this path.

  • Resolve your Shit

    When we don't have the capacity to fully feel whatever is happening to us, imprints and residues are stored in our energetic, mental/emotional and physical bodies. Learn practices that support the digestion and dissolving of this conditioning so that you experience yourself as integrated and whole again.

  • Rejoice in Daily Life

    We often think that WHEN that happens, THEN I'll feel this. We operate from a place of conditioned joy - dependent upon circumstances. This path emphasises practices and tools to recognise and access the inherent joy available to us in every moment, no matter what is happening.

  • Learn View Teachings

    These are the most critical aspect of any spiritual path, and often the most overlooked. Learn HOW to perceive reality and the nature of Self in order to maximise the potential of realizing directly WHO you are, whilst also resolving trauma and patterns. Learn the difference between Absolute View and Relative View and how to navigate life skilfully through application of View.

  • Receive Practices

    Students will learn a variety of Practices including Ucchāra Practice, Orientation to Awareness, Open-Eyed Meditation, Deep Listening, Shiva/Shakti Embodiment, The Equality of All Phenomena and More. Recordings of these practices will be supplied to all students. Students will also learn the difference between formal and integrated practice, and how to create the conditions for daily practice.

  • Join a Community

    Join a nationwide (global!) community of practitioners supporting each other to self-realise, resolve shit and rejoice in the beauty of daily householder life. Our community connects via the Telegram messaging app. Community members support each other to 'do the work', show up to practice, and celebrate the wins.

Choose Your Pricing | 🇨🇦CAD$

Please choose your preferred pricing option. All purchases are made through Stripe and instalment plans are automatically set up for a monthly payment. You'll get immediate access to the Course.

Meet your Teacher & Guide on the Path

Direct Realization Yoga Teacher & Mentor

Kara-Leah Grant

Kara-Leah is a much-loved Direct Realization Yoga Teacher & Mentor. Her path with yoga began in the late 1990s, and she started teaching in 2006. She trained with Shiva Rea, completing her 200HR TT with Shiva in 2011. Kara-Leah has impacted millions of people over the last decade through her articles, books, videos and teaching. She practices and guides people in an integrated householder path of spirituality that has emerged from her decades of practice, study and self-study. This path is primarily influenced by Trika Shaivism. Kara-Leah's path focuses on knowing the self, resolving trauma and patterns, and rejoicing in daily life. She lives in Canada, with her teenage son, and is the author of three books.
  • Classical Tantra Ucchara Practice
  • Classical Tantra Teacher
  • Classical Tantra Teacher

Residential Direct Realization Training, June 2021 • Photos by Tamara Josephine