WHY Sivananda ?
The Sivananda practice is deeply rooted in classical yoga and a dharmic relationship that guides and motivates teachers and students to grow in their quest for awareness and knowledge of the universal, spiritual nature of Self. Ultimately, Self-realization comes through self-mastery based in practice.
In Sivananda Yoga, asana is always balanced with pranayama and relaxation, offering indirect control of the mind. A healthy vegetarian diet supports the practice. Finally, meditation coupled with positive thinking work directly to master the mind. Through these five principles, the practitioner comes to know and feel firsthand what is healthy, gives energy, reduces stress, focuses the mind, cultivates integrity, and connects to the flow of universal life.
Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda Open Class is a traditional, slow paced, meditative class that helps encourage proper breathing, flexibility, strength and vitality in the body while calming the mind. Because Yoga is a spiritual system with a physical component, this non-competitive approach helps the practitioner gain much more than just a healthy body.
The class includes pranayama (breathing exercises), warm-ups including Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar), 12 basic asanas (postures) and deep relaxation.
The focus is on mastering the basic asanas from which variations are then added to further deepen the practice. The asanas follow an exact order that not only allows for the systematic movement of every major part of the body in a balanced way but also enhances prana or life force energy, keeping the mind quiet and without the need to think beyond each individual pose or breath
Peter's style of Yoga is a synthesis of Sivananda Yoga and Vipassana Meditation
The Synthesis follows the teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Swami Sivananda, S.N. Goenka and Mansoor
This can be outlined by the following steps:
- Special emphasis is placed on the breath, both in the Asana practise but also more directly in Pranayama and Meditation. The name “Anasa” in Greek means breath as a life force, which more accurately describes what the Breath really is and how it is understood by Yogis. Full Yogic breath is employed and channelled using concentration
- Opening of the Chakras (energy centres) by using concentration and breath in the various Asanas
- Concentrating the mind internally on the breath and body sensations, bringing us into a state of Meditation
- Balancing the Nostrils (Ha-tha), this allows the Sushumna Nadi to be activated, awakening Kundalini energy
- Moving Prana to the higher Chakras and experiencing higher states of consciousness
- Mind concentration is helped by employing techniques to relax the mind, eliminating any expectations and not taking ourselves seriously, yes you will also have fun!
The synthesis of the above brings about effective healing at all levels, Body, Mind and Spirit.