YOGA CLASSES

"Fifteen million Americans include some form of yoga in their fitness
regimen-twice as many as did five years ago." Time Magazine

"The bottom line is that yoga is an exercise that is food for the heart." Dr. Noel Bairey Merz; Medical Director Cardiac Center at Cedars Sanai Medical Center, Los Angeles

New! An article entitled: Motion and Stillness February 14th, 2007 Click here

We teach a type of Yoga called Hatha Yoga, the original traditional form of Yoga. This style of Yoga is done with awareness; we respect our capacities while stretching, breathing deeply, and deepening the postures gradually, without struggle or too much exertion. We have also included some Somatic exercises in our classes. The somatic exercises are subtle movements that re-educate the body and mind, increasing flexibility, mobility and balance.

We emphasise the importance of deep breathing during the classes. For more details on the importance of deep breathing, click here

WHY YOGA?

Yoga has profound healing effects on our entire body yet at the same time it is a great preventative. The Yoga postures are a natural way to slow down and live with greater awareness. Yoga is an ancient proven tradition that exists for thousands of years. Even at the workplace, Yoga has become extremely popular in many companies, world-wide. The advantages of Yoga are numerous:

* Best stress reduction benefits
* Low cost of implementation
* Helps quiet down your mind and body,
* Low impact
* Strength and flexibility
* Builds concentration
* Eradicates fatigue
* Generates energy
* Increases productivity and morale
* Can be modified for different skill levels and abilities
* Perfect for the office environment

The practice of Yoga, even if done only once a week, will help develop physical strength and flexibility. It is also an excellent preventative practice, helping us to avoid future pain or disease. The slow motions of Yoga enables us to feel in harmony with ourselves, to learn to respect our own body’s limitations while improving our general physical and psychological states. The traditional Yoga postures emphasise flexibility, stimulate blood circulation and align the vertebrae naturally. Deep breathing during the postures will generate a revitalising massage to the inner organs and to our whole system. The Yoga postures will simply make us feel at ease, rejuvenated and in good shape, simultaneously!

Core to Yoga is the principle of Non-violence.

To understand the complete philosophy behind Yoga it is recommended to study the Yog Sûtras. Yoga is all about consideration for our environment, respect for the life of animals (see vegetarianism) and for our fellow human beings. Yoga is not only the postures usually known and practised. Rather, the school of Yoga is a rich philosophical system which considers body, emotions, mind and awareness. In our Yoga classes, we discuss some of those principles, though briefly. For a deeper understanding of the Yoga philosophy, we recommand that you look into the 2-hour rejuvenation classes, or the Meditation classes (see schedule).

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Some of the benefits of the Yoga postures:

Many yogis believe that both a well-rounded yoga practice and specific aasanaas (yoga postures) support the endocrine glands in maintaining an optimal balance of hormones in the body. According to the teachings of yoga teacher Iyengar, inversions are the body’s best friend. A number of critical glands- the pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, and thymus- are all located in the head, neck and chest. Simply getting your feet over your head is thought to improve circulation to these glands, which can then work better. According to yogis, the chin lock squeezes blood from the area; then, as you release the lock, fresh oxygenated blood circulates more freely in and around these organs. Yogis also believe that forward bends tend to lower blood pressure and pacify the adrenals and other components of the sympathetic nervous system that are engaged in the fight-or-flight response.

Since stress taxes the immune system, meditation, relaxing and restorative poses such as the immortal pose (Shavaasan) can play an important role in immune system health. Along with supporting lymph flow throughout the body, yoga can help stimulate the lymph nodes. These specialized glands, central to the prevention of disease, manufacture lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and filter wastes and other unwanted matter from lymph fluid. The largest clusters of lymph nodes in the body are located in the armpits, adjacent to the breasts. One great way to stimulate lymph flow all through the body is with a vigorous Soorya Namaskar (Sun Salutations).

More specifically, many yoga poses directly contract and stretch the muscles of the chest, arms, and shoulders, massaging the nearby lymph nodes and encouraging lymph flow through the area.

From the Yoga Journal – October 2001 -- by Joanna Colwell

For our schedule click here

Contact us for more information at info@kaivalya.ca

Motion and stillness

“Without full awareness of breathing, there can be no development of meditation, stability and understanding.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Traditional yoga principles are a perfect mix of motion and stillness, of being and doing. Yoga postures are meant to be intuitive and responsive, allowing the body to become stronger, more flexible and more balanced. It is said that each posture reflect a mental attitude, whether one of surrender, as in a forward bend, or the strengthening of the will, through the warrior pose, or focus and peace through the physical stillness of the meditation posture. Their ultimate objective, however, is to help us stay in meditation for longer periods of time and with greater ease. The Yog Sûtras explain that Yoga is all about living an integral life, taking care of our body and mind, and experiencing the freedom that resides within.

"Regulate the breathing, and thereby control the mind." B.K.S. Iyengar

The regulation of breath is based on a science that works with Praan, our Life Force Energy. We all know that breathing is necessary for life. However, not everyone is aware of the fact that the way we breathe affects our overall health and well being. Breath control is an ancient yogic technique that increases energy, creates balance and calmness, improves health and, with time, enables us to regulate our emotions. Deep breathing is profoundly relaxing. It purifies the nervous system and provides the brain, blood, organs, and every cell of the body with much needed oxygen. After breathing deeply, people feel healthier, calmer and more balanced.

Deep breathing exercises consist of three processes:

(1) Deep inhalation
(2) Retention of the breath and
(3) Exhalation or emptying the lungs completely

In addition to its physical health benefits, deep breathing is an indispensable tool for meditation. There exist various traditional breathing exercises used in the context of meditation. Breath is life, and the very energy with which we inhale is called Praan. Focusing on the breath leads us to its source: pure energy, or Praan. In the perfect state of breath control, or Praanaayaam, the mind becomes pure, focused and insightful. In this state, the experience of our essential Self, the very Witness-Self arises. When the Witness-Self is fully realized, the sense of duality or ego-mind dissolves into a sense of Oneness.

To purify both the body and the mind—and since the two are entirely connected, it is essential to work on both—we need to use yoga postures, breathing techniques and a regular practice of meditation. The yoga postures are powerful and transformative as they help release tensions that may otherwise become a permanent part of our lives. Deep breathing is relaxing, healthy and has a purifying effect on both body and mind.

"The world presents itself according to the viewpoint of each person. Whatever kind of person one is, one will see that kind of world; whatever kind of mindset one has, one will derive that kind of conclusion." Fo Yin, Buddhist monk

According to the Yog Sûtras of Patanjali, we are not helpless or enslaved by our present situation, by our present body and by our state of mind. Purifying the body and the mind using yoga, breathing and meditation, we can replace our current weaknesses—whatever they may be—with more positive, healthy characteristics that will help instead of hinder us. For example, a scattered mind sees life through a veil of confusion. With its chaotic perspectives and viewpoints, such a mind will inevitably generate worry, unease and tension. Once the mind has been purified, it becomes peaceful, sees with clarity and presents a vastly different perspective than its anxious counterpart. And only when it is clear will the mind be able perceive and sustain the Truth of Oneness.

For schedule of yoga and meditation classes click here

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