Style

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda Yoga is the style of hatha yoga within the lineage of Sivananda Saraswati. It is for the student seeking inner tranquility and centeredness. In a Sivananda class, after warming up the joints, we do the sun salutation, a cardio-vascular exercise, to warm up the whole body and awaken vital energy. This is followed by 12 core postures and their variations to channel and concentrate that vital energy. Between each posture, the student relaxes for a short time which allows for the vital energy to be reabsorbed. After the postural sequence, we practice yogic breathing exercises to tune ourselves inward. This is followed by a long guided relaxation and brief seated meditation. This sequence brings about the overall sense of harmony and well-being one feels after class. Regardless of whether a student comes into class tired or stressed, the balanced nature of the Sivananda sequence renders that student calm and lucid. More details