DRAGA IS SCANDINAVIAN by Tyr Neilsen

Draga is not Yoga, wich is deeply rooted in Hinduism, and is inherently tied to this religion. Many of the mantras and chants used in yoga, come from Hindu and Buddhist traditions, which can make it problematic for people who practice different religions, or have no religious affiliation at all.

It's important to note that while both draga and yoga involve physical movement, they have different origins, philosophies, and practices. Draga was developed in Scandinavia. It is not tied to a religion, it is simply a form of natural balance in movement techniques, that have a close connection to nature.

The roots of draga are Scandinavian, and draga is Norwegian, created by a person who spent much of his life out in Norwegian nature. Draga’s philosophy focuses on developing the mind, body, and spirit, with emphasis on the interconnectedness of our relation to nature and natural movement.

By emphasizing natural movement and focusing on unity of mind, body, and spirit, draga offers a path to physical and spiritual wellness, with no religious dogma.

all photographs here are from areas in norway i have practiced draga - tyr neilsen

Draga is a great choice for those who are seeking a spiritual practice that is more aligned with their personal beliefs.

There are many paths to spiritual wellness, and draga offers a refreshing natural alternative.

DRAGA FOR MIND BODY AND SPIRIT by Tyr Neilsen

Movement is essential for the overall growth and well-being of an individual, and Draga is a perfect example of how movement can enhance mental, physical and spiritual growth.

Draga, which in Old Norse, means ‘to draw’, ‘pull’ and ‘win’, is a form of exercise that involves smooth continual movements, which when connected fluidly, create a larger and greater whole.

Draga is not just an exercise routine, but a way of moving that expands consciousness, heals the spirit, generates and channels energy, and helps to find personal balance. The ultimate goal of draga is liberation and freedom, for the body, mind and spirit.

As human beings, we are constantly moving and changing, and draga exercises help us connect with our core self and positive energy, to find or create balance within ourselves, and with the world around us.

Draga motivates a person on various levels. Practicing draga energizes and stimulates happiness and health. It helps nurture a strong body, mind and spirit, which was an integral part of the Norse people's culture.

all photos are from places in norway i have practiced draga - tyr neilsen

For the Scandinavian people of the Viking Age, spirituality was an essential part of their existence. They believed that everything in nature had a spirit, and that it was crucial to cultivate their own strong spirit.

Understanding individual movement in draga is essential, and this understanding comes from within. Through draga, we can nourish our body, mind and spirit.

DRAGA: A PATH TO PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL BALANCE by Tyr Neilsen

The people of Viking Age Scandinavia understood that there was a balance in nature, and that it was essential to cultivate their own balance of mind, body and spirit. This could not be done by being static, but through movement, which produces growth.

Movement is essential to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Draga is a practice that embodies this idea by connecting physical movements with mental and spiritual awareness. It is through movement that we can create balance in our lives and enhance our development.

Draga is a form of exercise that involves performing a series of movements in a fluid and continual manner, and connecting them to create a larger and more significant whole. These movements create balance of the body and mind, and promote growth in all aspects of one's being.

A meaningful benefit of draga is its ability to expand consciousness and heal the spirit, especially when practiced out in nature. It is a powerful tool for generating and channeling energy for personal balance.

all photos are from places in norway i have practiced draga - tyr neilsen

Understanding comes from doing, not from theory, and draga motivates practitioners to connect with their core selves through natural movement. Through draga, we can cultivate a healthy balance of mind, body and spirit, which is essential for overall well-being.

If you are looking for a way to enhance your well-being, this practice can be a valuable addition to your life.

DRAGA MOVEMENT and BALANCE by Tyr Neilsen

Movement is essential to our physical, mental, and spiritual balance. It is through movement that we create and understand balance.

Draga is balance in movement. It is a practice that connects physical movements with mental and spiritual awareness. By performing a series of movements in a fluid manner, we become awake and aware to the miniscule changes in our balance, that create the larger movements. With practice, we begin to master balance in movement.

One meaning of draga in Old Norse is ‘to draw out’. Through draga movement, we can "draw out" a balance from within ourselves.

Understanding comes from within. Without doing, there is no understanding, just theory, which is why draga is so fundamental to understanding and implementing balance. Through finding our physical balance, our mind focuses on balance, ultimately bringing balance within and without.

all photog are from places in norway i have practiced draga - tyr neilsen

Draga movements are designed to enhance balance in all aspects of one's being. If the mind, body and spirit are not in balance, there is unrest. Through draga practice, we can achieve continual balance within ourselves, and become happier and healthier individuals.

DRAGA

Draga in Old Norse means ‘to draw’, ‘drag’, ‘pull’ and ‘win’. It is the name Odd Svendsen gave to slowly performing movements that are found in Glima, old Nordic warming-up exercises, and natural movements that enhance the physique, the intellect, and the human spirit.

When draga techniques are done very slowly, these movement not only help with balance, but they help the body and mind understand at a deep level, all the transitional, in-between movements, resulting in much improved coordination.

Draga movements are not complex, but do require a level of control and harmony. When movements are performed slowly, the body has time to focus on the various muscle groups used in the movement. This deep focus helps the body understand how each muscle group works together and how to achieve the desired outcome.

These slow draga movements are great for improving a combination of strength and balance. In life, balance is crucial, and by practicing movements slowly, the body has time to adjust to the subtle shifts in weight distribution that occur during each movement. This internal undertstanding naturally converts to other aspects of daily life.

In addition to physical benefits, slow draga movements can also help the mind. By practicing slow, deliberate movements, the mind can focus on the present moment, leading to a meditative state. This meditative state can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall mental health.

Practicing draga, as a daily or weekly routine, has many health benefits. Draga helps the body and the mind harmonize, and each movement leads to a richer wholeness.

ODD SVENDSEN - MASTER of BALANCE by Tyr Neilsen

Odd Svendsen traveled around Norway performing feats of balance and balance in movement. In theaters all over the country, Odd executed  amazing strength and balance movements on his own, with a partner and in a group. These movements were all done with great technique. Each movement was part of a series of small adjustments in balance, leading to an incredibly impressive whole. He was a master of balance in movement.

As an older man, Odd used Draga as a way of keeping in shape and staying strong and flexible. Long after retirement, Odd was muscular and could perform impressive feats of strength and balance. 

Odd was very interested in keeping alive Viking and Norse culture, and his Norwegian male name comes from the Old Norse Oddr,  which means ‘sharp end of an arrow’ or ‘edge of blade’. 

Odd introduced me to Glima and draga. He showed me how use draga as a physical, mental and spiritual exercise, as a way to understand larger themes. When I performed a movement or series of movements, Odd adjusted my movement and balance, so that I understood draga at a very deep level.

When I said that draga reminded me of Yoga and Thai Chi, Odd told me that the origins of modern Yoga also lay in Scandinavia. This was quite a shock to me, but in later years I found other sources that confirmed this, including my work with glima instructors and through the writings of Yoga historian and Yoga teacher Mark Singleton.

SCANDINAVIAN ROOTS OF MODERN YOGA by Tyr Neilsen

The roots of modern yoga are not just Indian, they are also Scandinavian. What we now call yoga goes back a little over 100 years, and is a mix of Indian yoga and Scandinavian gymnastics / physical training techniques that were employed as British military exercise drills.

The original Scandinavian source for modern yoga exercises come from Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839), founder of the Swedish gymnastic system. Following on from Ling's work, Niels Bukh (1880–1950) from Denmark, developed a system called Primitive Gymnastics, which “emphasized continuity of movement, rhythmic exercise, and intensive stretching to seek elasticity, flexibility, and freedom”.

Bukh’s system became part of the official British army training program in 1906, and via the British Army, found it's way to India, where it came to occupy a central position in the Indian physical education scene in the early 1900s. 

Until the late 1800s, yoga in India was primarily a philosophical and spiritual discipline, which emphasized meditation, breathing exercises and purification methods. Apart from sitting meditation positions, there is no evidence that body positions we currently associate with Indian yoga were key elements of Indian yoga tradition.

During the Hindu cultural renaissance in the late 1800s, Swami Vivekandanda (1863-1902), included physical yoga in his philosophy. The innovative yoga teacher Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) and his successors were influential in integrating Scandinavian / British- gymnastics exercises into Indian yoga. A few decades later, this new form of Indian/Scandinavian/British yoga won a foothold in the West.

As Løse-tak Glima was part of the Swedish/Norwegian military, and part of the basis for the Indian/Scandinavian/British yoga, now practiced in Europe and America, the similarities to Draga are not so unusual.