Yoga, Sex + DeathTM
Samarasa's signature course is a profoundly transformative journey designed to bring you back to the truth of your heart, experiencing the depthĀ + intimacy you seek within yourselfĀ + your relationships.
Choose the format that's right for you:Ā YSD Basics Online, YSD 6-Week Course, or YSD Intensive Retreat. YSD Level 2 is for YSD grads wanting to go deeper.
Take a peek inside the YSD world.
YSD Overview:
Yoga, Sex + Death™ is a study on the relationship between yoga, sacred sexuality, and death through a deeper examination of the two main themes that connect them:
Intimacy + Letting Go
Yoga, Sex + DeathTM offers tantrik hatha yoga, meditation, self-inquiry, shadow work, and death practices to guide you deeper into your heart.
Lectures, embodiment practices, and group ritual are combined to allow you to discover the deepest parts of yourself as the authentic expression of intimacy, presence, and love that you already are.
PART 1
YOGA
We ground the basic foundation of the course in yogic philosophy as we move beyond the physical body towards a deeper understanding of the subtle body. We’ll dive deeply into the chakra system – by first studying a brief overview from the more classical traditions to the new age Jungian concept of the chakra system and its relationship to yoga postures (asana). We’ll apply this knowledge to practice for releasing blockages/tensions (granthis) and purifying subtle impressions (samskaras) in the energy body for more freedom, ease, peace, lightness, clarity, an intimacy with life and a total acceptance/openness to whatever arises.
PART 2
SEX
Continuing to build on the knowledge and practices of the subtle body we learn in part 1, we begin to focus more deeply on the vital energy of sexuality and it’s 3 forces – eros, sex and love. We will closely examine our own relationship to each to discover where we’re blocked and experience how these blockages of sexual energy directly relate to all other aspects of our lives. We’ll free up this vital energy so it can begin to flow freely and life can expand beyond measure as a deep sense of connectedness to others emerges.
PART 3
DEATH
When most of us think about death (or the groundlessness of life itself), we feel sadness or anxiety in the face of such profound insecurity. In this course, we begin to see that those very feelings are the fertile ground in which we can become more courageous, wise, and compassionate towards ourselves and others. We’ll continue to build on what we’ve learned in Part 1 and 2 to learn about what sacredness means and how to attune ourselves to experience it every day, so that when death comes, it can be a vehicle for fully merging with this limitless wisdom.
Yoga, Sex + Death TM
BASICS - A Self-Paced Online Course
YSD Basics is the perfect introduction to the foundational principles of the course. It's the place to start if you want to dip your toe in before taking the deep dive into the YSD Intensive Retreat - although it's a complete and powerful journey on its own. Completion of YSD Basics qualifies you for membership as well as for Level 2.
You’ll enjoy:
- 12 Pre-recorded, on-demand video lessons that break down course material including: How Yoga Works, Polarity of Energy, Sex + Spirituality, Spiritual Support For the Dying, and so many more
- 12 90-minute practice sessions that include Tantrik Hatha, Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, + Meditation
- Supplemental reading materials to support you in your journey
- Reflective homework assignments, journal prompts, and assessments to support your integration of the material
- A self-paced format that allows you to absorb the material on your own timing
- A private online community forum exclusively for course participants to connect and receive support
Why Should You Do It?
Let our past participants tell you.
Meet Your Facilitator
Susan Marrufo
MA, E-RYT 500
Left the United States and a job in advertising in 2008 to travel internationally and experience life beyond the confines of her cultural conditioning. She received her first 500-hr yoga certification in Thailand in 2009, where she began her studies of the classical yogic scriptures and delved deeply into esoteric tantric philosophy.
After 2 years of teaching month-long tantric based courses on the banks of the Ganges in India and the Pacific coastal towns of Mexico, Susan returned to the US to begin a residential internship with the Kripalu School of Yoga, where she taught in and project managed several Kripalu yoga teacher trainings as well as received her 2nd 500-hr teacher training certification from the Kripalu School of Yoga.
She has since split her time between India, Thailand, and the US, facilitating trauma-informed group courses in the inquiry of yoga, meditation, intimacy, and shadow work.
She is the founder of Samarasa Center.
MEET
Susan Marrufo
What people are saying...
"I am a yoga teacher and student and have attended many workshops over the years, but I have to say that this one was, by far, the most rewarding... It gave those of us who attended an opportunity to get to know each other while submerging ourselves in the teachings so that we gained a momentum that had us all glowing, inspired and more wholehearted. None of us wanted it to end… I learned so much without ever feeling overwhelmed and always left each session feeling happy, inspired, and deeply grateful. The whole experience was life changing!"
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Amy Foreman, USA
"Yoga, Sex + Death™ was a beautiful spiritual gift. I am a 67 year-old practicing Catholic and somewhat progressive. I have some experience with yoga but I am basically a novice. I signed up because I wanted to take a fresh look at my life… It opened my eyes to so many things about myself and the world around me. Susan is amazing. She has an exceptional ability to take a ton of information and make it digestible so that it became something that we could embrace and understand. I felt like we “hung” on every word waiting for the next tidbit. As a bonus, I got to know a group of beautiful women and now I have a new yoga family. Many thanks to Susan for making it possible. Overall, a fantastic experience!!"
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Athena Chavez, USA
"Words do not encapsulate how much I benefited from the Yoga, Sex + Death™ course I participated in with Susan. My perspective on life has changed in every aspect for the better. I am more aware of who I am as opposed to flying through life as a chain of reactions to my environment. I had some reservations on time commitment due to my job and family, but I am so thankful I overcame my excuses to participate in this course. I ended the course renewed, enlightened and rich with friendship. I feel as though this class should be a prerequisite to life."
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Roxanne Benatar, USA
