Yoga can help you have the best possible pregnancy and delivery in many ways:
- Gives relaxation, centeredness and emotional balance: Yoga can empower you and give you a sense of your inner strength (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) which is invaluable during pregnancy and after baby arrives.
- May help common pregnancy complaints, such as lower back pain, varicose veins, leg cramps, sciatica, swelling, upper back and shoulder tightness, sleeplessness, fatigue, stress and anxiety.
- Improves body awareness and posture.
- Breath awareness and breathing exercises can improve effective use of breath and relaxation during labour.
- Strengthening and stretching of pelvic muscles can ease childbirth and postpartum recovery.
- Connect with your baby while it is still in the womb: Yoga practice may also stimulate the unborn baby’s sense of touch and body awareness.
- Nurture yourself and your child in a positive, uplifting environment: Meet and share with other mothers and mothers-to-be.
No previous experience of yoga is necessary. Women are welcome to join at any stage in their pregnancy. A five-session course meeting once a week.
$60 – Non-members / $50 – Members
Meet the Teacher
Saraswati is a long-time staff member and a direct disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, world reknowned master of hatha yoga and founder of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Organization. Saraswati is an experienced and compassionate teacher of yoga and meditation, and mother of two active children. She loves sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience with her students.
Practical hints
Please consult your doctor before attending the course. Arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to class. It is recommended not to eat one hour before class. Wear comfortable clothing.
Modern life and Spirituality – Bhagavad Gita
How do I balance my role in the society and my spiritual needs? How do I discover my purpose in life? How do I live my most meaningful and impactful life? What is Karma and why is it important for me to understand it? How do I choose food that supports not only my physical health but also my mental and spiritual well-being? What are the goals of life? What is death and how do I stop being scared of death?
Dates, Times, Cost
A four-session course meeting once a week.
$120 – Non-members / $95 – Members
How to Register
We are in the process of updating our online course registration system. In the meantime, please register for this course in person at the Centre, via email at toronto@sivananda.org or by telephone at (416) 966-9642.
Meet the teacher
Acharya (‘Professor’ in Sanskrit) Ram Vakkalanka is a well known Sanskrit expert, who studied Sanskrit from three scholars in India for more than 10 years. Ram conducted Sanskrit workshops at many Yoga studios in North America and is the translator of several works from Sanskrit to English, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For more about Ram, please visit www.aksharayoga.com
Sanskrit for beginners: Level 1
Sanskrit is described as divine language. It has healing and energizing sounds. It is also said to be the most ancient and structured language of the world. In fact, Sanskrit is Yoga in linguistic form, with pranayama and mantras built into it.
This course is a great opportunity to get to know the language while having fun and covers spoken Sanskrit, some energizing mantras, names of yoga postures and Sanskrit alphabet.
A five-session course in March or a six-session course in May.
$200 – Non-members / $160 – Members
Meet the teacher
Acharya (‘Professor’ in Sanskrit) Ram Vakkalanka is a well known Sanskrit expert, who studied Sanskrit from three scholars in India for more than 10 years. Ram conducted Sanskrit workshops at many Yoga studios in North America and is the translator of several works from Sanskrit to English, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For more about Ram, please visit www.aksharayoga.com.
Sanskrit for beginners: Level 2
Prerequisite: Sanskrit for beginners: Level 1 is a prerequisite for this course.
The participants will learn construction of simple sentences in Sanskrit, basics of Sanskrit grammar, meditative verses for different Deities (Suktams) and advanced names of Yoga postures.
This course is a great opportunity to get to know the language while having fun and covers spoken Sanskrit, some energizing Mantras, names of Yoga postures and Sanskrit alphabet.
A five-session course.
$200 – Non-members / $160 – Members
Meet the teacher
Acharya (‘Professor’ in Sanskrit) Ram Vakkalanka is a well known Sanskrit expert, who studied Sanskrit from three scholars in India for more than 10 years. Ram conducted Sanskrit workshops at many Yoga studios in North America and is the translator of several works from Sanskrit to English, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For more about Ram, please visit www.aksharayoga.com.
Bharata Natyam Course: Classical Indian Dance
Bharata Natyam is one the most ancient and most popular dance style of India. A distinctive feature of this dance is the use of expressive hand gestures as a way of communication. The two aspects of this dance are nritta or pure dance,is the movements of hands and feet on rhythm and speed and Abhinaya or expression.
Learning Bharata Natyam builds endurance, stamina, relieves stress and keeps the body agile. The course is designed for beginners.
An eight week course meeting once a week.
- The course includes:
- Nritta or dance movements
- Mudras or hand gestures
- Abhinaya or expression
$125 – Non-members / $100 – Members
Please contact us for more information and dates.
Meet the Teacher
Uma Vasudevan is the tenth generation in her family to dance Bharata Natyam. She is a dedicated performer, choereographer and teacher. For more information please visit: www.umavasudevan.com
Practical hints
Please arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to class. It is recommended not to eat one hour before class. Wear comfortable clothing.
ADAPTED THAI YOGA MASSAGE COURSE ON THE TABLE 1 & 2
Thai Yoga Massage is an ancient spiritual healing art which combines the postures and breath work of hatha yoga with the pressure application techniques of Traditional Thai Massage.
In these 2 workshops which will be of interest to massage therapists, the dynamic style of Thai Yoga massage will be adapted by taking it from the floor where it is traditionally practiced and bringing it up onto the massage table. Practitioners will learn to guide recipients through a series of applied yoga postures while gently stimulating the body’s energy lines and pressure points.
There are no prerequisites although it it recommended to complete level 1 before taking level 2. Each of these two 12 hour courses will give students the skills to give a 60 minute Adapted Thai Yoga massage. Students will be able to draw from both courses to create either a 60 or 90 minute customized massage.
Please note: a 48-hour cancellation policy applies to the Thai Yoga Massage Courses. Kindly give us 48 hours notice if you intend to cancel. Otherwise a cancellation fee is charged, which is 100% of the course fee. Students may be asked to bring their own massage tables.
Thai Yoga Massage on the Table Level 1
- Learning applied diaphragmatic breathing and how it relates to the flow of the massage.
- Learning touch application techniques that emphasize the use of the practitioners’ body movement and weight to administer pressure.
- An introduction to the art of mindfulness in motion that brings a constant awareness of both bodies throughout the massage.
- Learning specific massage techniques for a client’s feet, legs, back, shoulders, arms and neck.
| Saturday Apr 6: | 12:30 – 7:00pm |
| Sunday Apr 7: | 10:00am – 4:30pm |
$230 – Non-members / $207 – Members
Thai Yoga Massage on the Table Level 2
- A brief introduction to the energy lines in the body and where they are located.
- Learning pressure application techniques using hands and thumbs to balance & stimulate some of these energy lines.
- Learning specific points that when pressed will assist the body in recuperating from certain physical issues.
- Learning additional massage techniques for the various parts of the body.
| Date TBD: | 12:30 – 7:00pm |
| Date TBD: | 10:00am – 4:30pm |
$230 – Non-members / $207 – Members
Meet the teacher
Albert Swiercz (Krishna) is a Quebec certified massage therapist who has been teaching Thai Yoga massage internationally since 2005. He is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider. For more information about Albert, please visit www.anahatayogatherapy.com.
Certification
A Certificate of Completion for 12 CE hours will be issued at the conclusion of the workshop. This course is recognized for 6 CEU’s by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).
Get a Thai Yoga Massage and Relax!!Receive a relaxing and rejuvenating Thai Yoga Massage from Omkar, who has been training with Lotus Palm since 2009.Thai Yoga Massage is a Centuries old dynamic bodywork therapy based on yoga and Ayurveda. The practitioner guides the recipient through a series of yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy (“Sen”) lines and pressures points. Together these actions result in a comprehensive full body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system and balances the body energetically.Thai Yoga Massage is performed fully clothed on a mat without oils or creams. It combines massage with deep stretching and is excellent for relieving muscular tension.
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows movement.
Cost: $60 (60 min massage) and $90 (90 min massage)
Book in advance
Dates & Times:
1:00 pm
2:15 pm
3:30 pm
Book by phone 416-966-9642 or at the centre
