Surya Namaskar (Salute to the Sun)

• It is a complete body workout that includes stretching, toning, and relaxation exercises. Surya namaskar’s postures are performed in a coordinated manner with the breath, and each posture is held for a few seconds before moving on to the next.
• Builds heat and sweat to detoxify the body and prepares it to stretch safely into deeper postures.
• Can be practiced by people of all ages and levels of fitness, and it is often included as a warm-up or cool-down routine in yoga classes.
• It has a direct vitalizing effect on the solar energy channels of the body which flow through the pingala nadi. Regular practice of Surya namaskar regulates the pingala nadi which leads to a balanced energy system on both physical and mental levels.

Benefits:

It provides numerous benefits as follows:
Improves concentration & focus, builds strength & flexibility, reduces tension, stiffness & stress and enhances mobility & circulation.

Asanas

Asanas are the first conscious steps on the path of yoga, creating a strong, healthy and detoxified body.
Asanas are classified into Meditative Postures, Dynamic Postures and Relaxative Postures.
Yoga asanas help to cultivate physical and psychological strength, thus building up one’s willpower to transcend physical and mental boundaries.

Meditation

It is an expansion of consciousness to focus your mind using mental and physical techniques. It involves focusing your attention on the present moment. Meditation is a way for nourishing and blossoming the divinity within you.

Benefits:

To relax and reduce anxiety and stress and to establish a connection with one’s deep inner self, resulting in improved concentration leading to self-realization.

Pranayama

Pranayama utilizes breathing to optimse the flow of prana in the nadis or energy channels of the body.

Benefits:

The life force or ‘Prana’ can be activated and regulated in order to go to a higher state of vibratory energy. This improves overall health as it increases the level of oxygen in the blood.

Mudras

‘Mudras’ is translated as ‘Gestures’. It is the combination of subtle physical movements which alter mood, attitude and perception.

Benefits:

• It deepens awareness and concentration to affect the flow of energy in the chakras of the body and rejuvenate the psychic centres and energy channels.
• It helps to empower the mind and stimulate the various elements of our body.

Kriyas: (Shatkarmas)

This consists of a group of six purification practices.

The six Shatkarmas are as follows:

1. Netti
2. Dhauti
3. Nauli
4. Basthi
5. Kapalbhati
6. Trataka

Benefits:

To create harmony between the two major Pranic flows, Ida & Pingala, thereby attaining physical and mental purification and balance.

Relaxation

These practices are aimed at bringing about a state of balance to all areas of one’s life.

Techniques:

• Wind down with music
• Meditation
• Yoga Nidra
• Relaxation
• Boosting mindfulness

The above are done to enhance the benefits of the dynamic, cleansing practice of yoga.

Chakras

Chakra means "wheel" or "ring" in Sanskrit and our personal chakras have energy coiled within them. They are the critical junctions which determine the state of the body and mind. Just as the brain controls physical, mental, and intellectual functions through the nerve cells or neurons, chakras tap the prana or cosmic energy which is within all living beings and transform it into spiritual energy. This is spread through the body by the nadis, or channels.

Benefits:

The practice of yoga is directed at awakening the divine energy within every human being. Asanas and pranayama cause the chakras to vibrate and enable them to generate divine energy, which is then circulated all over the body through the nadis. To achieve self-realization, a sincere student of yoga will, with persistent and rigorous practice, conquer the 6 main obstacles to happiness - desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride, and envy.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra, or Yogic sleep as it is commonly known, is an immensely powerful meditation technique, and one of the easiest yoga practices to adhere to. While the practitioner rests comfortably in Shavasana (corpse pose), this systematic meditation takes you through the pancha maya kosha (five layers of self), leaving you with a sense of wholeness.

Benefits:

Induces calmness and relaxation.

Stress Management

Yoga can help manage stress by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. It helps to balance the nervous system, stimulate the cells, relax tense muscles and improve circulation. It includes self-care, managing one’s response to stress, and making life changes to deal with stressful situations in life.

Techniques:

• Consultation
• Analysing the causes of stress
• Counselling
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• Practising yoga
• Relaxation techniques
• Optimal nutrition
• Adequate sleep
• Positive attitude
• Practice Me time

Food Habits & Dietary advice

“Food is medicine and Medicine is Food”
“No amount of exercise can compensate for a bad diet”

In Yoga, food is categorized into three types: Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic, based on the effect they have on the body and mind. The yogic diet is based on the yoga principles of purity (Sattva), Ahimsa and balanced living. It consists of foods with sattvic qualities, which increase energy and create balance in the mind and body.

Diet

• Optimal diet
• Quality not quantity
• Eat mindfully and to increase energy levels
• The ideal diet can help improve physical and mental health and promote emotional balance and spiritual well being.