Lotus Center

I still remember the first time I sat on a pad and started meditating. I was in the Buddhist monastery of Theravada Santacittarama tradition, in Sabina, on the outskirts of Rome, and it was the beginning of January 2011, just over nine years ago. Well, when I sat on the cushion for meditation and closed my eyes in silence, in the candlelit room with the monks and other practitioners, I began to scream inside me. Anger, pain, frustration, anguish, intolerance, soreness, loneliness, all of this slowly began to emerge from the depths of my mind that was striving in all ways to remain calm, immobile, quiet, calmed, comfortable and welcoming. In a word, in peace. Here, this did not happen. Today almost ten years have passed, and looking back on that moment I smile. I smile because after years of practice I finally learned to accept the me of that time, the me who clung ferociously and greedily to those certainties that today slowly, patiently, is dismantling. And she is dismantling them to give voice (and dignity perhaps) to the most authentic me, to the one who never had the courage to come out because she was denigrated, offended, mistreated, discredited, defamed, in short, not loved. And I was primarily responsible for it: I was the one who, first of all, had denigrated, offended, mistreated, discredited, defamed, basically not loved myself. The most intimate, most fragile, most vulnerable part, the clumsy and inadequate part, the imperfect and bankruptcy part. This dismantling was made possible thanks also to the teachings of Gastone, whom I have known for more than two years, and with whom the dynamics mentioned above have often been discussed. Gastone had the merit of teaching me to put into practice what for years was only a theoretical principle. When I first entered the Dojo Room in via Chiarelli I heard his calm, serene and soothing voice, soft but firm and distinct at the same time, which asked people in the room to "stop and listen", to "do space "and to" welcome ". But welcome what exactly? Well, I believe this can only be understood through practice, and there are no words or theory that make the extraordinary effectiveness of the act of sitting for a few moments and simply listening, accepting with extreme patience everything that arrives. This is what I learned during the year in which I had the opportunity to attend the Lotus Center (living abroad unfortunately it is no longer possible), and also in part to collaborate with Gastone in organizing a weekend of intensive practices at “Le Onde nel bosco” in Roccantica two years ago. Furthermore, I had the privilege of working with him privately, exploring what collective practice does not necessarily allow. The breathing and meditation exercises that he taught me during those few but intense meetings have become part of my daily practice. To conclude, I could say that Gastone's merit lies mainly, but not only, and I want to clarify it, in having given me this opportunity for an authentic encounter with myself. And this encounter, indeed these encounters are never painless, but for this they must be lived, as authentic. I will never stop thanking him for agreeing to work with me that day. But maybe I should say, and I think he agrees, that I should never stop thanking myself for offering it to him that day.

There is a moment in life when you realize that what is out there is no longer enough. Or rather, that it is only a reflection of what is happening deep inside us. Then there are two roads (even if the goal is probably only one): either let yourself be carried adrift by the storm of the surface waters (up to the inevitable landing place) or immerse yourself in that abyss from which the forces that ripple the surface originate. But investigating is difficult. We are confused. Our energies are dispersed in a thousand streams, in infinite blind attempts, the attention is constantly captured by the needs (more or less real) of life. We don't even have the cognitive and interpretative tools. So pausing for a moment, giving yourself a space for reflection together with other people who, although unlike you, share the same restless research can be a resource. And a guide can be a great gift. Someone who invites you to keep the rudder towards the goal, to constantly recalibrate the course. Master Gastone is a loving guide. In mindfulness, in meditation, in physical practices it accompanies us towards that encounter with ourselves, as we are, each in his own way, with his own times and his own specificity. It pushes us to an act of sincerity, to welcome what there is, whatever it is, thoughts, sensations, doubts, resistances. In simplicity, without judgments, without "esoteric" superstructures. But more. He invites us not to delay, not to indulge. To make room, which means creating a distance for observation. Observing means not identifying oneself with what happens to us, it means welcoming it into the wider space of one's being, which therefore always remains "further" than what happens. It is a goad to always ask non-trivial questions, unhinging acquired beliefs and mental habits. To question the "story of ourselves" that we continually tell ourselves. Because after all perhaps what we are, in our essence, is beyond the very depth of introspection.

In this center you breathe the perfect atmosphere to get in touch with the true essence of Yoga. Beyond the simple "asanas" the master Gastone guides you with humility and experience in a spiritual path of breathing techniques and meditation through yoga and Thai chi. A teaching aimed at "living" yoga and bringing this wonderful philosophy into everyday life, in the "outside" world, not just on the mat. For me for over a year, a more than positive experience that has helped me to experience intense moments of inner calm and greater internal lucidity. I recommend it strongly!

We arrived at the center of the Lotus after having done a path of energy treatments done with deep breaths and deep meditations that changed my life for me and my husband, we loved that we wanted to continue to take this meditative and deep breath ... seeing on the internet we were very impressed with Gastone's resume and personally we went to look for him ... now we are following a splendid individual work with him of qi gong, meditation and deep breathing, also participating in the splendid events of the Center which we find it very welcoming with qualified and very kind people .. and we are knowing Gastone a really deep, kind person and being with him is really a pleasure. Roberta and Roberto

I met Maestro Gastone a little by chance, even if in life I don't think the case exists that much. In a short time, we set up a work on myself that I would hardly have started in other ways. Through listening and an exchange of points of view, Maestro Gastone introduced me to some practices and techniques that are useful for the research of our being and above all, useful for dealing with the countless stimuli we receive during the day in our daily life. The practices used by Maestro Gastone are designed to activate the various parts of our essence such as breathing techniques, yoga practices to regain awareness of one's body, mindfulness, meditation and external group activities. The first time I came I didn't know what to expect, in reality I didn't do research on the center and on the Master just to avoid creating expectations. Already after a couple of times we met, some words, some practices, entered my daily life and started to show me things from a different point of view. I think this health situation forced us to spend more time with ourselves and consequently to face problems that we had put aside. I believe that this is the right time to dedicate to us and take care of the infinite knowledge of our essence and the Lotus Center and the Master Gastone are an excellent starting point for this research.

Jay Gurudev I am Dora I returned to the lotus center after 6 years, to ask for information about the room, I met Gastone who explained to me well that it was a service he gave, and since I immediately felt that the energy had improved and that vibrated more with me I asked what practices were being done, Gastone explained to me that he did a form of Kryia yoga, breathing, meditation, Tai Chi, Qui Gong, in a single lesson and to prove to her that on Tuesday and Thursday there was he. At first I didn't want to start practicing, but Gastone managed to involve me with his availability and kindness and with his way of communicating in an assertive way. I started practicing from January 19th first weekly then twice a week. Practicing in the Sangha at the Dojo I immediately felt the benefits I was able to relax the body and gradually to be more fluid in the movements. I had difficulty in meditating while standing and in pranayama, as I suffered from sleep apnea, I woke up in apnea and with a sense of suffocation, to date the quality of sleep vegia is good. For the posture during the practice, the sadhana, even she has improved, I can stay in an easy and fingered position without moving, wasting time, passing from the stool to the bench to the pillow. I did not know Tai chi and Qui Gong as a practice, only in theory, it was not easy to move and discipline energy and thought in the movement I felt strange, not at ease, then one day practicing a whole lesson of Qui Gong is advent one very strong exchange between the inside and the outside, like an opening that managed the two worlds, uniting them from the Hara, from the center and moving more rooted centered in the various movements that Gastone asked for, I did not feel fake, but present to myself to others. Practicing with constancy there was an awakening of the sacred and sexual feminine energy which, due to a strong trauma and abuse, had remained blocked, making me live blocked and with a strong sense of rejection. Speaking with Gastone he told me that he facilitates these aspects in individual sessions and if I wanted we could try to deal with them. I must say that the experience was very strong, the work continues, because the trauma is very deep but it was treated with delicacy and competence, giving space to the feeling and flow of what emerged from the body in a profound dialogue of forgotten parts of me that they lead to knowing parts of me, which if you Flow or bring to the awakening of important energies that help us to welcome the Non-Self, which welcomes everything since it is the state of our realization, which for me is Realizing God, from every session, even if demanding or I went out more and more grateful and elevated in mind, body and spirit. In fact, having been initiated into Atma Kryia yoga, I practice my sadhana ed at home. Here, too, I feel more rooted, centered, the quality has improved, I can practice for longer. I thank Gastone for welcoming me, also taking us outdoors in the Secret Wood of Villa Talenti, where concentrating and not getting distracted is more complex but where you feel one with so much beauty, and feel like nature, birds and cicadas there. they respond with joy during the practice making us feel grateful and welcomed Entering the Dojo therefore I felt welcomed by Gastone from all points of view, esteem and mutual respect was created that goes beyond the relationship teacher Master student, but man woman, sometimes the dialogue is between souls, I believe that Gastone knows for the skills he has to focus on what we need with simplicity allows and manages to make us do peace within ourselves to make all parts of us emerge and flow, making us work in priis on ourselves, and certainly the aspect of Gastone that most mi pace is its simplicity humanity knowing how to create a boulevard but relaxed energy, my soul thanks. Thanks Gastone for everything you do for us, and for the neighborhood. Shanti Shanti Shanti.

It had been for some time that I had been inquiring about the practice of meditation and yoga, when I came across the Lotus Center and Master Gaston. With kindness and professionalism, she listened to my needs to start a Yogic and spiritual journey together. He was also struck by the fact that a boy my age was approaching this world so deeply, with so much interest. The environment of the center, almost like that of a temple, conveys peace, serenity and security. The same sensations that the master is able to transmit to you. First of all, through mindfullness techniques, it manages to put you totally in contact with your body, to let you identify your psychological blocks, to know how to welcome all kinds of thoughts. Then we move on to Yoga, the real one, to then get to the meditative part, which overlooks the world of zazen a lot. During all these practices, the master always manages to keep you in contact with every fiber of the body, soul and everything around you. As a boxing athlete I have found a lot of benefit, both on a physical level, but above all on a psychological level. Not only that, but also my quality of life has improved a lot, since I entered the center, and the merit is all of the master Gastone. I advise you to rely totally on him, he will know how to make you reach your goals and an inner calm never felt before. ??

I already knew the Lotus center, the master Gastone and the activities they carry out. With the arrival of the pandemic, everything stopped. After almost two years I returned, it is not easy to explain how and why. One thing is certain, I arrived straight here with a clear awareness and decision, that of having the courage to meet and get to know me as if it were for the first time. What I didn't know is what and how I was going to do it, but it didn't matter, I knew something important had to happen. I could say many things, few things, written well or badly, all of them would not be able to be exhaustive and well described. But maybe they don't have to be. As in a trip to a place, you can often describe what you saw, how you felt, describe its beauty or what you didn't like and what it leaves you. And to come here to the center on my individual journey is to meet myself, me with all my baggage. Each time I don't know what will happen, what I will see or what part of me I will come across. It is still worth going in the meantime. Gastone takes me by the hand and begins the journey. His communication, empathic, emotional and sensorial skills have taught me and allowed me not to escape from what disappoints me, hurts me or anguishes me. I have learned to accept pain, suffering, sadness with patience and sincerity or simply enjoy a joyful moment. All with gratitude. It gave me the opportunity to feel inside myself, to feel and listen. Listening to my body. Listening while breathing, sitting next to unpleasant sensations, talking to them, considering them as something that is next to us and that comes to find us whatever the reason and that we often ignore thinking only that it will pass. I sit there with my eyes closed, my body calm and relaxed and with the guidance of the teacher I enter a pure and sincere place, sometimes tiring but which is only mine. Memories, tears, smiles and chills. You keep flashbacks that bring you back to living or reliving things of the moment or of the past. Sensations and images that you can see and feel, that take shape and color, substances that flow and block, that take other directions and then transform again. I know emotions, I live with emotions, my heart has the rudder, but I also thought I knew how to manage them and know how to feel them to the full, but no. Negative emotions, those I just did not accept, blocked me and I experienced them as an obstacle. Fear, anxiety, lack of self-confidence, knock every now and then and make me fragile. They do not appear only as sensations but also through words, in my stories when I talk about something. Gastone, as in a photograph, makes me review, hear my words as they reach him and how he perceived them. Listening to those words is a way to hear them from the outside in a different way and to grasp another meaning. While we speak unconsciously we reinforce certainties or insecurities and a part of us automatically goes into alarm often without us noticing it. The possibility of signifying and re-signifying events in this path has allowed me an inner and spiritual growth that has made me humanly better, greatly improving the quality of my daily life. It is the most important, free and beautiful space for sharing with myself that I have ever lived. Whether it's nostalgia, sadness, tiredness, memories, words and images, I get out of there and I'm better, sometimes light, sometimes thoughtful and a little heavier, but I take the bundle and go. I go out and as soon as the air touches my face I feel alive, more and more and a general well-being envelops me. And if every time there is something unpleasant and suffering that I encounter, there is always every time, even for a few moments, something beautiful and good that pervades me.