Today's interview is with Yoga teacher Ron Katwijk. One of the primary tenets of yoga philosophy is that everything is energy. Your thoughts. Your feelings. Your pet. That banana you ate last Tuesday. Your toenails. Your dreams. Your grandma. Babies. Beethoven and Britney Spears. Air and stones. Trees and fire. Everything.

These days, with new age aphorisms gushing throughout the worldwide pool of information, the phrase "everything is energy" might easily fall into the mish-mashed abyss. It might be swiftly swept aside as a mystical aphorism that sounds nice but has little application to all of us folks leaping over the hurtles of the material plane. This is not so!

Why?

As humans, we experience the energy that we are through our body, thoughts, and emotions. If our energy is low, dull, or tense, we will feel weak, lethargic, depressed, or angry. If our energy is bright and full, we will feel strong, inspired, joyful, peaceful, or loving.

Everything we do affects our energetic state. The direction of our moment-to-moment awareness influences the state of our energy and that of our surroundings. Yoga is a tool for increasing the amount of energy we have, then harmonizing and refining its quality.

For me, yoga (which includes the positions, philosophy, and meditation) has been a lifeline that has helped me crawl out of my darker times and reinforce my connection with the emotional states of love, inspiration, and playfulness. The more I access those states, the more naturally everything else falls into place. It has helped me find the lessons in my miseries. It has given me the means to uplift myself so that I can wake up happy each day, rather than wake up dreading life as a burdensome drudgery as I used to.

Ron Katwijk is the founder of Magic Pond Yoga School in Seoul. Ron moved from the Netherlands to South Korea over twenty years ago and has since been teaching yoga there for a couple decades. I met Ron when I took his yoga course at Magic Pond a few years ago. In his approach, yoga is presented as a practical tool that can be tested and used to add more harmony and purpose to daily life. These questions share a glimpse into his perspective on yoga philosophy and how it applies to the everyday person trying to steer their flesh bag and balls of energy through this life.

Ben Jon Miller: If someone comes to you and says, “Ron! There is violence everywhere! The world is dying! Humanity is going down the toilet!”, how would you respond?

Ron Katwijk: We live in a world of duality, of good and bad. If your energy is down your thought patterns are down as well, meaning that you have tendencies to think negatively, to be pessimistic. Your eyes are drawn [downward] and all you can see is everything that is wrong in the world. When your energy has tendencies to be on higher levels of consciousness and you are vital in your ways, alive, you also have a tendency to be more positive and optimistic. Your eyes are drawn towards everything that is right in the world. You understand and don't deny that there is lots of bad and wrong in the world, but you acknowledge/understand that that is only human nature. You see that there is an opposing force, an enlightened force at work in the world that constantly tries to correct what is wrong. You also see that drawbacks in life, personal as well as global, are necessary to wake us up so that we realize again what it is all really about in life. When things go too well the comfort rocks us asleep and we take things for granted. Things go wrong because of that, so for conscious human beings that is a wakeup call to stay alert and stay engaged.

“You also see that drawbacks in life, personal as well as global, are necessary to wake us up so that we realize again what it is all really about in life. When things go too well the comfort rocks us asleep and we take things for granted. Things go wrong because of that, so for conscious human beings that is a wakeup call to stay alert and stay engaged.”

B: When talking about yoga philosophy, you often mentioned that you - and anyone else - can find happiness when you start to “be yourself”. Could you say more of what that means to you? And what can make it challenging for someone to “be themselves”?

R: Human beings have a tendency to identify with images sprouting from fantasy. Especially in the time we live in, we are bombarded by the media with such images. It is a human characteristic, especially when most of our energy is in the lower 3 chakras, to identify with created images, resulting in true disconnect with our real self. This disconnect is the cause of many if not most of the mental/psychological problems we find in societies around the world. The disconnect leads to depression, lack of happiness and fulfillment in life. The only way back to happiness and finding purpose in life again is to "just be your Self" again, whatever that may be. From there you start to develop in a very real way and you truly manifest what is deeply embedded inside you, your true characteristics, which is something most people simply have no idea of as they are drowning in the mist of their identifications.

What can make it challenging to be yourself is the fact that being yourself is not what you are taught in school and it is not what your government (generally) wants from you. Being yourself unconditionally means doing what you want and what you feel regardless of what others think about that. It means that you have to stick out your head and make yourself vulnerable. It requires courage, lots of courage, but also lots of patience and perseverance and a deep belief that you will get where you want to be in life.

B: In yoga philosophy and in your class, there is a lot of mention of “opening the heart”. Could you describe, in practical, everyday terms, what it means to open the heart?

R: A human being consists out of energy balls (chakras) that contain various levels of our consciousness. The lowest 3 of those balls contain our lower emotions and desires which are designed to help us survive. The 4th and 5th chakra contain higher emotions and desires which are designed to express ourselves. The 6th chakra contains thought but also the possibility of the 3rd eye, which means deeper insight and understanding. The 7th chakra contains all of the higher characteristics a human being, in the right balance of circumstances, can manifest: wisdom, vision, truth, justice, intuition.

As a result of forces in the universe energy has a tendency to condense. In the higher chakras energy is lighter and less dense than in the lower chakras. Uncontrolled condensation of energy therefore leads to human beings manifesting at the lower levels of consciousness (below the diaphragm) in the 3 chakras that contain lower emotions, desires and instincts. When we take control of this process we counter the condensation process, leading to rising energy and the opening of the 4th chakra, which is the heart. Opening of the heart can be felt by increasing sensitivity, consciousness (especially of your fellow beings, humans and animals alike), and we naturally become compassionate and empathic. So opening of the heart truly happens and it has real transformation as a result.

B: As a continuation of the previous question: In your life, what personal obstacles made it challenging to open your heart? And conversely, what has helped you to open your heart over the years?

“There is the power/magic of wishing. My life is a chain of fulfilled wishes. Don’t get me wrong, in between those fulfillments are all the failures. But the failures each time confirm that... you must be patient, believe (in yourself and the higher powers), stick to your values and principles, regardless. ”

R: When we find ourselves in unstable, uncertain, unsafe circumstances our energy is pulled down to below the diaphragm in order to allow us to survive. As a result, energy cannot rise up and open the heart. To help open the heart we need stability, certainty and safety. To establish those elements we start by re-evaluating our lives to figure out what we really want and where we want to go. We need to be our true selves to start with. Furthermore, it is very important to build daily routine and as much calm as possible in life to establish the right circumstances. If you look at it, this is exactly what temples, institutes of learning, hospitals (mental and physical alike) [are for], but you also find this pursuit in prisons that have a humane starting point to rehabilitate the criminal that derailed (i.e. lost stability and safety in their life, leading to acts of survival that ended them up in the justice system).

B: There is the theory that knowledge is only useful if and when it is applied. One aspect of your class that I found to be significantly useful and interesting was that you would not only explain the tenets of yoga philosophy, but you would also describe stories from your life in which you applied those principles to specific instances. In that light, could you describe a recent or current obstacle? How are you approaching it from a creative, constructive standpoint?

R: There is the power/magic of wishing. My life is a chain of fulfilled wishes. Don't get me wrong, in between those fulfillments are all the failures. But the failures each time confirm that Yoga philosophy is correct, that you must be patient, believe (in yourself and the higher powers), stick to your values and principles, regardless. I started teaching Yoga 21 years ago as a freelancer with rich and famous people. Because of my deep wish to grow, I left that behind by settling in my own studio and spending all my time developing materials and focusing on real yoga, as opposed to exercise classes. I had to close the studio after 5 years because I couldn't manage it anymore and was then recruited to manage a yoga program in one of the biggest fitness centers in Korea. That gave me another 9 years of stability to further develop. It couldn't last and it was very scary. I ended up in another gym for 14 months and it didn't work out, followed by 7 months with the Korean Yoga Federation which also didn't work out. The misery I experienced taught me to not be afraid anymore as a lone stranger running a business in a foreign land with a difficult language and culture, whatever happens. So I settled down, renting a studio by the hour to keep my courses going in the weekends. I've never felt so relieved when I became independent again. My wish the past couple of years has been to be among the rich and famous again, not because they are rich and famous, but because I am free, independent, and it gives huge opportunities to spread real Yoga on a much larger scale since they are very well connected and all want to be part of and at the front of the new revolution, which at this moment is meditation and real yoga (I have for more than 20 years stuck to the belief that, in spite of the total distortion of yoga for commercial purpose, Magic Pond Yoga has the future ^^). In the past months I have been approached and started working with the biggest department store chain in Korea and I recently started private classes with a celebrity who is the CEO of the School of Life Korea. She is not only introducing me to others in her social circle but, also, the School of Life and Magic Pond have the same objective, namely, helping people with self-development, empowerment, and enlightenment.

“Misery is not happening just to make us drown in misery, but to teach us that something is wrong. It is through experiencing misery consciously that we discover our real Self, for example. Every time we stray off ‘our’ path we experience disappointment, failure, pain, and misery. If we don’t see the cause we just suffer and will not develop. However, if we have the courage to be bluntly honest with ourselves and see what causes our misery, we come closer and closer to our core Self.”

Another very important element of Yoga philosophy in daily life practice is the idea that misery is not happening just to make us drown in misery, but to teach us that something is wrong. It is through experiencing misery consciously that we discover our real Self, for example. Every time we stray off "our" path we experience disappointment, failure, pain, and misery. If we don't see the cause we just suffer and will not develop. However, if we have the courage to be bluntly honest with ourselves and see what causes our misery, we come closer and closer to our core Self. Yoga also teaches us that it is useless to blame outside factors as it is not constructive and helpful. Of course other people can do wrong, but karma takes care of that. We only look at ourselves and our part in the misery so that we can move on and grow and come closer to the goal of Self manifestation. So guilt, blame and regret are only emotions to tell that something is wrong, not to make us miserable. If we can see what is wrong and why, these emotions have fulfilled their purpose.

B: The practice of playfulness as a tool for personal growth was a recurring aspect in your classes. If you can imagine someone who has difficulty being playful, what might you suggest to them or ask them? How could playfulness be useful to them?

R: Everything is energy. When we play we are bursting with energy. As a result, we function better on all levels of consciousness. When we stop playing, and most adults do, our energy is blocked, our energy levels plummet and our spirit dies and we lose connection. Being playful stimulates energy circulation. Feeling enthusiasm, passion, happiness are all crucial for spiritual development. People who claim to be spiritual but do not show such qualities must not be trusted. Energy tells all. Of course it can be very difficult for an adult who has grown up learning to oppress everything they feel and experience to express themselves. Start by just being yourself when you are alone at home. Play music and dance; act funny with your pet; but also try to not be offended by what others say; go along with jokes people make instead of taking it personally. To be yourself, it is also important to surround yourself with likeminded people whom you can trust.

B: A lot of people aren’t always able to find a way to constructively process distressing obstacles and inner pain. We end up adopting habits that temporarily decrease our awareness of the pain, but which ultimately prolong and worsen the pain. This could be alcohol, drugs, overeating, internet addiction, or any habit that is used to pacify our pain but which doesn’t really resolve the wound at its root. Not that those things are inherently bad, but if they become excessive then perhaps we could benefit from looking at them. If one decides that they would like to let go of a detrimental habit, but they don’t know what to do about it, how might you suggest they begin that healing process?

R: The key to rid ourselves of harmful behavior is to start undergoing it consciously. If you harm yourself with alcohol or drugs, from now on try to first of all enjoy the substance more consciously, but more importantly undergo the harmful effects of this behavior consciously. The power in becoming conscious is that every human being automatically will want to get rid of something as soon as they become conscious of its harmfulness. Of course this is not easy and it can sometimes take many years to get rid of an addiction or other harmful behavior. However, from the moment you undergo it consciously you start to see an up-going line in development. You slowly develop control, leading to less [of the behavior] and eventually to its end. Of course, it can help to find professional support if you feel you can't handle it on your own.

B: Is there a website or link you'd like to give people to contact you or find your work?

We have a website but it is not really active: www.magicpond.co.kr (English link here)
People can contact me at yoga@magicpond.co.kr
We are also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogainseoul/

Very important: if you are looking for change in your life you must look for a very systematical approach. If you look at most yoga classes around the world they do not offer that. A professional course that is systematic in its build up is a very powerful way to take control and develop.

Ron teaches two five-month yoga courses every year in Seoul, South Korea. The next one begins in August 2018. Before each course begins, he also offers some free introductory classes about this approach to yoga. If you are in South Korea and curious, I highly recommend checking it out! I loved the course so much that I moved to South Korea a second time so that I could take the advanced course. I found it extremely practical, accessible, and downright life-changing. Really! Check out Magic Pond's site or Facebook page for details.

On my blog, you can find more writings on art and alchemical thinking, interviews about creativity, psychologically-oriented reflections on tarot, and more. You can check out past posts in the categorized list below.

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Art
- Dec 19, 2016 Wakey Wakey, Inner Kiddo
- Dec 28, 2016 How to Make Magical Oranges
- Aug 17, 2017 Put the Potatoes on Your Face
- Sep 14, 2017 Art is a Portal
- Dec 1, 2017 Why the Tutu?
- Apr 3, 2018 Public Alchemy: Notes on Street Performance
- Jun 22, 2018 The Freedom and Fear of Being Yourself (Notes on Performance and Life)
- Jul 2, 2018 About the Folks Who Think You Stink (Notes on Performance and Life)
Interviews
- Feb 21, 2018 Artist Interview: Samantha Blumenfeld
- Mar 1, 2018 Artist Interview: Lawrence Blackman
- Apr 23, 2018 Interview: Yogi Ron Katwijk
- Jun 4, 2018 Artist Interview: Sally Nicholson
- Jul 18, 2018 Artist Interview: Kayle Karbowski
Magical Thinking
- Dec 28, 2016 How to Make Magical Oranges
- Jan 15, 2017 Following Fear
- Feb 19, 2017 Why Does Heartache Happen?
- Jul 6, 2017 Nerves and Tutus
- Aug 7, 2017 Three Reasons to Destroy Yourself (Or Not)
- Sep 14, 2017 Art is a Portal
- Dec 1, 2017 Why the Tutu?
- Jan 5, 2018 Chaos' Playground: Finding Gold in the Shitstorm
- Apr 3, 2018 Public Alchemy: Notes on Street Performance
- Apr 16, 2018 Questions for Limitations
- Jun 22, 2018 The Freedom and Fear of Being Yourself (Notes on Performance and Life)
- Jul 2, 2018 About the Folks Who Think You Stink (Notes on Performance and Life)
- Aug 23, 2018 Melting a Snowball of Misery
- Jun 21, 2019 White Peacocks, Constipation, and Emotional Liberation
- Aug 5, 2019 Celebrating Your Misery
- Dec 4, 2020 The Healing Voice: Wounds, Addiction, and Purgation
- May 18, 2023 Magick is a Sentient Entity: Using the Imagination to Co-Create with Magick
- Jun 21, 2023 Magick for Reshaping Life and Transmuting Trauma
Tarot
- Aug 26, 2017 Tarot as a Tool for Reality Construction
- Feb 28, 2018 Today's Tarot: The World is in the Seed
- Jun 27, 2019 Today's Tarot: Snot, Beauty, and Tea for Pain
- Aug 12, 2019 Today's Tarot: The Moon of Self-Loathing
- Aug 13, 2019 Today's Tarot: The Golden Devils Inside You
- Aug 18, 2019 Today's Tarot: Shifting Pain by Surrendering to It
- Aug 25, 2019 TAROT QUESTION #1: Why is the Present Moment So Much All the Time?
- Sep 3, 2019 TAROT QUESTION #2: Do abusers know they're being abusive, or is that just their sense of reality?
- Sep 25, 2019 TAROT QUESTION #3: Why can't I find more hours in a day?
- Oct 11, 2019 TAROT QUESTION #4: How long will it be until I have a new job?
- Oct 24, 2019 TAROT QUESTION #5: Why does my skin crawl with wonder and fascination as such important relationships in my life are connected by the eyes?