A style or school of hatha yoga that teaches a five-point philosophy, including breath, relaxation, diet, exercise and positive thinking. The classes follow a standard format based on a routine of breathing exercises, sun salutations, a series of 12 classic yoga postures and relaxation.
A relaxed and gentle yoga that encourages a healthy lifestyle: proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet, and positive thinking with meditation. This style of yoga was founded by Swami Vishnudevananda, who published one of the classics of yogic literature, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga.
is based on the philosophies and teachings of Swami Sivananda. He rarely left the little town of Rishikesh (with only 2 India tours and no visits abroad) Swami Sivananda's teachings spread quickly throughout our entire planet. He personally wrote - by hand, no computers at the time :-) - more than 200 books on topics connected to Yoga and Philosophy. He wrote in a style that is very direct and bursting with dynamic, spiritual energy. As a result many who read his books felt their lives deeply touched and transformed and so came from all of India, all of the world, to learn from him directly, and to bask in his holy presence. The teachings of Master Sivananda are summarized in these 6 words: "Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize". In 1957, Swami Sivananda sent his devoted and industrious disciple, Swami Vishnudevananda to the West where he then established the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.
An enormous amount of energy is stored in the body's solar plexus. Sivananda yoga is designed to connect with this energy source through postures, breathing, dietary restrictions, chanting and meditation. This one is for the serious yogi.
Relaxed and gentle yoga that encourages a healthy lifestyle: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking with meditation.
Sivananda Yoga, after teachings of Swami Sivananda, is a non-proprietary form of hatha yoga in which the training focuses on preserving the health and wellness of the practitioner. Sivananda Yoga teachers are all graduates of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course, and students widely range in age and degrees of ability. Unlike Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga's more athletic program involving Bandhas, Sivananda training revolves around frequent relaxation, and emphasizes full, yogic breathing.