Introducing: “Sivananda In-Style”
Sivananda Yoga comes from the lineage of Swami Sivananda, as brought to the west by his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda in the late 1950s, making this style of practice an important part of yoga’s first wave of popularity outside India.
Sivananda (1887-1963) was well-known in India in the 1930s, when he founded an ashram in Rishikesh. He had previously been a practicing doctor. Because he spoke English well and wrote many treatises in English, he was sought after by western students who wished to study yoga and Vedanta.
PHILOSOPHY
The Sivananda method is based upon five principles for optimal health and spiritual growth, as described by Vishnudevananda. They are:
- Proper exercise (Asana, focusing on twelve poses
- Proper breathing (Pranayama)
- Proper breathing (Pranayama)
- Proper relaxation (Savasana)
- Positive thinking (Vedanta) and meditation (Dhyana)
what to expect
A typical class begins with pranayama exercises. After warming up with sun salutations, the focus is on mastery of the twelve basic poses in the following order:
- Headstand
- Shoulderstand
- Plough
- Fish
- Seated Forward Bend
- Cobra
- Locust
- Bow
- Seated Spinal Twist
- Crow or Peacock
- Standing Forward Bend
- Triangle
Savasana closes the class. The 12 basic poses were carefully selected and include inversions, backbends, forward bends, twists, balances, and hamstring stretches. At little of everything, in other words. The poses are ideally done slowly and with control to stretch and strengthen the body as well as open the chakras. As students become proficient in the 12 basic poses, variations may be introduced.
about the sama-set yoga class style
Sama-Set is a radical experience combining breath, body, meditation and relaxation.
Each month we will introduce a NEW Hatha Yoga sequence that enable students in deepening their yoga inquiry & understanding of the relationships of the energetic and physical bodies working together. This dynamic class embraces the teachings of Hatha and Raja Yoga merged and can change your life. It encourages us to look at deepening our understanding of how we connect to ourselves and our environment, moves us physically to strengthen and reduce tension, mentally calms and clarifies and emotionally releases and cleanses.
Students new and advanced can expect to leave feeling centered, balanced, refreshed and open with new tools to tap into the true expression of who they really are.
Included in each class:
- monthly theme/yoga posture focus
- pranayama (yogic breathing exercises)
- guided mediation (seated or reclined | 5-10 min each class)
- yogic philosophy
Why this style?
We need foundations. Theory can help us to create intention in our practice and then our experience integrates into our understanding. This class will deepen any students understanding of the yoga practice.
