Questions . . .

About your yoga class . . . .

Arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow time to sign-in and prepare for your class.

Yoga is practiced in bare feet.  Please take off your shoes upon entering the Healing Arts Centre building.

For hygienic reasons, students are encouraged to bring their own mat.  If you are out of town, or forget your mat, you can rent one for a fee of $1.  the Healing Arts Centre  also sells mats.  Bring a towel if you are practicing “hot yoga” as we do not provide towels.

Wear comfortable, lightweight, flexible clothing such as shorts, T-shirts, leggings or work-out wear.  Dress in layers for when you warm up and cool down.  Wear a zipped jacket (without a hood) to remove when your body temperature begins to heat up.  Most important is that you are not constricted by your clothing.  If you have long hair, you may wish to pull it off your face with an elastic or clip.

Yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach.  We suggest you do not eat for about two hours before practicing.  Try to eat your meal earlier in the day or a light snack prior to your class.  Drink lots of water – it is good for your muscles!  

“Please”, for the comfort of others, and those with allergies, refrain from wearing perfume, scented hair spray or cologne.  As your body heat rises the scent will increase and can become more profound within the room.

Please turn off your cell phone before entering the yoga studio.

If you need to leave class early, let your teacher know before the class begins.  Try to rest for a few minutes at the end of your practice and leave before the rest of the class comes into Savasana (or relaxation).  Please try not to leave during Savasana as this can be disruptive, although if this is necessary please do so quietly.

Practicing Yoga . . .

Yoga is most beneficial when practiced regularly...
We encourage students to develop a personal practice even if it means only getting down on your mat for 10 minutes a day.  Chances are, that 10 minutes will turn into 30 minutes.  Working with a qualified teacher in a yoga class is meant to inspire the discipline of personal practice.  It also provides you with important personal feedback about posture, alignment, technique, function and sequencing which you can apply to your personal practice.

Yoga is non-competitive...
Be compassionate with yourself.  Stay connected to your inner teacher.  Stop whenever you need to take a break.  Listen to the messages your body is sending you as you practice.  Learn to recognize the difference between sensation or your sweet level of discomfort and “pain”.  You should never feel pain while practicing yoga.  Be prepared for your body to change within your own practice.  Your level of practice will differ in accordance to many different variables, such as the amount of sleep you’ve had, what you’ve eaten, the amount of stress your under and your fluid levels.  

I am overweight and out of shape, should I take yoga now? . . .

Yoga can be practiced by anyone regardless of their present physical condition or ability. Postures are modified and adjusted to meet the needs of the student. While students are encouraged to work at their own pace, they are encouraged to approach the classes with an open mind and to be patient with their progress. In yoga, progress is often slow but steady.

Everybody is unique  . . .
We encourage individuals to find a style of yoga that best suits their particular needs and interests.  Please don't hesitate to speak to us about what style of yoga might best suit your needs at this time in your life.  Yoga is not something that only some people can do.  There is a yoga for everyone.  Find a compatible instructor you feel comfortable and connected with, yet don’t be afraid to explore other styles.  This will only enable your practice to grow and strengthen.  Whomever you choose, ensure you inquire about their specific training and level of experience.

What type of yoga are you practicing . . .

Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is an ancient system of techniques used to free the body and mind from tension, stress, illness and disease. The practice combines the use of physical postures (yogasanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation (dyhana) to develop flexibility, strength and balance. It is essentially “a medical science”.

There are many different styles of hatha-yoga, each reflecting the teachings of a particular Master (Guru). Various types of hatha-yoga are Sivananda, Kripalu, Iyengar, Bikram, Kundalini and Atma Vikasa and Ashtanga, Viniyoga   (to name a few). Many people today are under the misconception that hatha-yoga is one form of yoga and ashtanga is another. Actually ashtanga is hatha-yoga.

Ashtanga ( “power yoga is basesd on Ashtanga yoga):
Ashtanga is a form of hatha-yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois. It is a practice of synchronized movements from one yoga posture to the next. The movements are called vinyasas. The practice is a structured series of postures and vinyasas, which uses ujjayi pranayama (method of breathing), drishtis (gazing points) and bandhas. Bandhas are locks or seals that create an internal and external heat. The intense heat purifies the muscles and organs by expelling toxins from the body, and the mind.

Atma Vikasa:
This system of hatha-yoga was developed by Yogacharya, V. Ventkatesha of Mysore, India. The method is a structured series of asanas (postures) that combines breathing and body alignment with concentration, and meditation. Unique to Venkatesh is the fact that he does not make any physcial adjustments to the student; instructions and guidance are given verbally and by demonstration. His approach is to allow the student to experience yoga from within. Atma Vikasa yoga is based on the Indian Culture and tradition of Yoga as a discipline for both the body and mind. It is Venkatesh's aim to teach yoga as more than a physical exercise, but as a spiritual practice.

Bikram
Bikram Choudhury's yoga is hot, hot, hot, so be prepared to sweat, sweat, sweat. In class, they crank the thermostat up high, then perform a series of 26 asanas designed to "scientifically" warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons. Founder Bikram Choudhury studied yoga with Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda.

Iyengar
Iyengar is one of the best-known yoga teachers and the creator of one of the most popular styles of yoga in the world. His style of yoga is noted for great attention to detail and the precise alignment of postures, as well as the use of props such as blocks and belts. Iyengar's teachers must complete a rigorous 2-5 year training program for certification.

Kripalu
Called the yoga of consciousness, Kripalu puts great emphasis on proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath and movement, and "honoring the wisdom of the body" -- you work according to the limits of your individual flexibility and strength. Alignment follows awareness. Students learn to focus on the physical and psychological reactions caused by various postures to develop their awareness of mind, body, emotion and spirit. There are three stages in Kripalu yoga. Stage One focuses on learning the postures and exploring your bodies abilities. Stage Two involves holding the postures for an extended time, developing concentration and inner awareness. Stage Three is like a meditation in motion in which the movement from one posture to another arises unconsciously and spontaneously.

Kundalini
Kundalini yoga in the tradition of Yogi Bhajan, who brought the style to the West in 1969, focuses on the controlled release of Kundalini energy. The practice involves classic poses, breath, coordination of breath and movement, meditation.

Sivananda
Sivananda is one of the world's largest schools of yoga. Developed by Vishnu-devananda and named for his teacher, Sivananda yoga follows a set structure that includes pranayama, classic asanas, and relaxation. Vishnu-devananda wrote one of the contemporary yoga classics, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga. First published in 1960, the book is still one of the best introductions to yoga available.

Viniyoga
Viniyoga is not so much a style as it is a methodology for developing practices for individual conditions and purposes. This is the approach developed by Sri. T. Krishnamacharya, teacher of well-known contemporary masters B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois and Indra Devi, and continued by his son, T.K.V. Desikachar. Key characteristic of the asana practice are the careful integration of the flow of breath with movement of the spine, with sequencing, adaptations and intensity dependent upon the overall context and goals. Function is stressed over form. Practices may also include pranayama, meditation, reflection, study and other classic elements. Personal practices are taught privately. Given the scope of practice, the inherent therapeutic applications and the heritage of the lineage, the training requirements for teacher certification

Although there are many styles of yoga, the differences are usually about emphasis, such as focusing on strict alignment of the body, coordination of breath and movement, holding the postures, or the flow from one posture to another. All of the styles share a common lineage. In fact, the founders of three major styles -- Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga -- were all students of Krishnamacharya, a famous teacher at the Yoga Institute at the Mysore Palace in India. Two other styles, Integral and Sivananda, were created by disciples of the famous guru Sivananda. No style is better than another; it's simply a matter of personal preference. More important than any style is the student-teacher relationship.

Tell us what you think . . .

We welcome your thoughts and suggestions.  Please feel free to email us. If you have any thoughts or concerns to share. thehealingartscentre@sympatico.ca

68 King Street East, Brockville, Ontario, CANADA (Rear Entrance)
Email: thehealingartscentre@sympatico.ca; Tel: (613) 345-7560

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