Though most of us think of yoga as a very physical practice, there's so much more to yogic tradition. One of these "mores" is yantra--a sacred geometrical symbol from the Tantrics of ancient India. They're used for meditation, and each one correlates to a planet or deity and a particular mantra, or sound.

If you followed that far, you might want to check out Sarah Tomlinson's yantra painting workshop this weekend at Jivamukti. It sounds very cool. You'll spend the day choosing, drawing, and painting your yantra--and then meditating on it.

Each symbol represents "a quality you would like to enhance within yourself," Sarah told me in an email. "i.e., devotion/courage/strength/passion etc." She'll also show you the matching mantra for your Tantra-inspired yantra (though you won't have to say that three times fast), to really drive home the quality you've chosen to focus on.

The idea is that meditating on these symbols will help you feel more centered and "awaken dormant energy." Sarah, who recently published the book, "Nine Designs For Inner Peace," calls it "visual yoga." She provides the paint and paper, you bring pencil, eraser, compass, ruler, and paintbrushes.

It sounds like a nice, crafty, yogic way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The Planet Yantra Painting Workshop is this Saturday June 7, from 10:00 am to 6:00pm, for $125. You'll need to pre-register: Jivamuktiyoga.com or call 212-353-0214 ext 0.

For more info on or to contact Sarah Tomlinson: Yantratecture.com

For more info on yantras: Sanatansociety.com

Do you have any experience with yantras?