The Spirit of Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda Yoga Background: In 1957, Swami Vishnu Devanadan, a direct disciple of Sivananda, left India & arrived on the west coast of the United States to share yoga and his guru's philosophy. After closely observing the lifestyles of people in the west, Vishnu Devananda observed how stressed, tense, and overly busy everyone was in the US. Taking Sivananda's teachings and some of his own, he began to share how the ancient wisdom of yoga could be synthesized into five basic principles & easily incorporated into western lifestyles to provide the foundation for healthy living. The foundation included: Proper Exercise, Proper Breathing (pranayama), Proper Diet, Positive Thinking, Proper Relaxation. 

The Spirit of Sivananda Yoga: 

This practice begins with an extended guided relaxation to get you out of your head, into your body, and in a receptive and relaxed state of mind. Following the initial relaxation are the Dhyāna Slokas - or sanskrit prayers that give thanks to our teachers as well as Sivananda & Vishnu Devananda. After the opening sanskrit prayers, we will lead into breathing techniques (pranayama) that energize and balance the body and mind. After, we begin to open and warm the body in all directions with 6 rounds of surya namaskar (Sun Salutations) that lead into the 12 asanas (postures) that are sequenced in a very specific and intentional way. Ultimately, we find ourselves in a divine guided Savasana, or final relaxation and close class with one final sanskrit prayer. 

Sivananda yoga is an experience like no other! The practice is powerful, yet blissful; challenging, yet gratifying; energizing, yet deeply relaxing.