Yoga

What is Yoga

Yoga is a life-long practice that focuses not on goals and achievements, but rather on experiencing a journey towards inner peace and freedom. Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago with classical techniques dating back more than 5,000 years. It is a science that systematically creates harmony of the entire body, mind and spirit. “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit verb yuj, thus meaning to yoke or to unite. The practice of yoga brings union between one’s consciousness and the universal consciousness. Yoga combines physical movements with breathing and meditation techniques to bring forward physiological and psychological benefits.

Yoga provides improved health and longevity, as well as creates a heightened level of self-understanding and awareness.The yoga poses were designed to revitalize and bring balance to the musculoskeletal and glandular systems. The breathing techniques (pranayama) are based on the concept that breath is the source of life and energy (prana) in the body. By practicing Pranayama we combine our own vital force with the cosmic/universal force.. The integration of yoga poses and breathing techniques helps one attain a steady, quiet mind and a strong, open body. The yoga poses and breathing techniques are also vital for preparing the body and mind for periods of meditation. The combination of yoga poses, breathing, and meditation makes one more readily able to free oneself from daily pressures and stresses. Millions of people around the world are practicing yoga as part of their holistic, preventative health & lifestyle choices.

Benefits of regular yoga classes

Yoga is one of the most popular fitness disciplines in the country today, Yoga is now popular than ever being practised by both the young and old, corporate professionals, students and sport enthusiasts. Yoga has the ability to alleviate stress, promote balance, improve flexibility and boost feelings of well-being. Many people find yoga helps transform their body & mind in many beneficial ways.

Cardiovascular Health Not only does yoga improve your balance and flexibility, it also improves your heart health. Recent research by the Yale University School of Medicine found that practising yoga at least 3 times a week can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Yoga also helped improve the integrity of blood vessels in those that already suffered from heart disease
Reduced Stress Regular yoga practice has been shown in many research studies to reduced stress. This can then help normalize the stress response and reduce the extremes of anxiety & depression.
Better Lung Function Correct breathing techniques are important for all aspects of yoga. Researchers revealed that a 20-minute Yoga sequence improved respiratory capacity similar to that of aerobic exercise. The biggest impact on chest expansion was found on certain asanas (poses) including the tree posture, cat-cow pose, seated, half spinal twist & psychic union pose
Intimacy It appears that yoga improves sexual function in both men and women, and may even be helpful in preventing and treating poblems in this area. Yoga improves blood flow in ALL areas of the body, improves mood, reduces stress, and encouages relaxation,

Lower Blood Sugar Even though yoga is low impact it provides the same benefits of vigorous exercises. Researchers suggest that yoga may lower the risk of diabetes complications by reducing free radicals in the body that are implicated in oxidative stress and it’s damaging effects.
Back Pain A study published in 2011 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine showed that 12 weeks of yoga improved symptoms in people living with chronic back pain. Yoga can be modified to suit different body types and those suffering from various conditions. It is suggested you discuss this option with your health care professional.
Bone Strength If you would like to lower your risk of osteoporosis Practise yoga. According to a study in 2010 study called “Yoga for Osteoporosis”, you can prevent or slow, and in some cases even reverse the process of bone loss. It was also noted that yoga did not cause any serious injuries or fractures in this study.
Sharper Brain A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga can help the brain function better. Cognitive scores of the participants who did yoga were also higher than those who did aerobic exercise.
Positive Outlook Regular yoga classes can uplift mood and well-being. In a study from the Washington State University Cancer Care Northwest (US Oncology), in Spokane, they found that yoga improved the stress response of breast cancer survivors.

Practice yoga regularly at least 3 times a week if you can and you will notice a huge difference in the way you look but also in the way you feel.

Types of Yoga

Relax, unwind, stretch, breathe, balance …. be strong & resilient

New to Yoga?

Flexibility Not Needed … Just come as you are.

We love beginners at Oorja Wellness Centre. We bring you experienced yoga instructors in the perfect friendly atmosphere to begin your yoga journey. We offer a variety of styles of yoga, all in a comfortable, safe and supportive space in which to explore the mind and body.

Using traditional yoga teaching and equipment our teachers will get you on the right track no matter whether you are young or not so young, male or female, big or small, fit or unfit, stiff or flexible. We believe yoga is for everyone. There are no prerequisites for practising yoga at the Wellness Centre.

What are the benefits?

What makes yoga different from other exercise programs is that it has been proven to develop a strong connection between the body, breath and mind. This is particularly helpful for the following people:

Those experiencing stress or anxiety benefit from practicing long and smooth yoga breathing, which has been shown to normalise the nervous system.
Chronic disease sufferers, such as those with cancer benefit from significantly lower levels of pain, improved levels of relaxation and increased energy.
Those with joint conditions such as arthritis can benefit from lower pain levels and improved joint movement.
School & uni students can benefit from improvements in mental ability and longer attention spans.
Older people benefit from the increase in strength and balance, lower levels of depression and improved daytime functioning, improved mental & emotional states and better quality sleep.
Yoga is an ancient science that has now been validated by evidence based research and controlled scientific studies.
Feedback from our students is that they leave class deeply relaxed and “feel amazing”.
Yoga has changed the lives of millions of people for the better, why not find out how you can be one of them?

Gentle Yoga for everyone … and those wanting to take it easy

A safe and effective form of exercise for women & men 50+ at any fitness level to help maintain a vibrant & healthy lifestyle. These yoga classes help build strength & stability, improve balance and promotes relaxation

Is Yoga Appropriate for Seniors & those with health issues? In most cases, anyone can do yoga. Many busy people only find the time for activities such as yoga in retirement. Many become more sedentary however retirement is the perfect time to re-establish healthy exercise habits that will promote longer healthier & happier life. Attending a regular yoga classes at Oorja Wellness Centre several times a week will help in enjoying a sense of community with the teachers as well as fellow students.

It is highly recommended to check with your health care professional before starting any new exercise program.

What Type of Yoga is best for me? There are many styles of yoga. What kind of yoga depends on your age, current level of fitness, physical ability, level of commitment and desired results. If you are starting a exercise program for the first time or after a long break you should start with a very gentle restorative style of yoga. The best way to gain the benefits of yoga exercises is through personalised instruction in a yoga class. This will allow you to get the most out of yoga with the least risk of injury.

The Benefits of Yoga The benefits of yoga for seniors are much the same as those for everyone: increased muscle tone, balance, strength, fitness and improved mood. The benefits of yoga have long been said to slow—or even help reverse the aging process. You can notice posture improving and you may even sleep better. If you experience a lot of stress, yoga can not only alleviate the effects but help build a confident frame of mind and improve resilience so stress full situations are better handled. Remember that these benefits will not come overnight after just one or two yoga classes. Regularly attending at least three classes a week will allow you to enjoy the best yoga can offer you. You too can discover that practicing yoga can restore mobility and vitality to your life. Recently an Indian researcher Dr. N. K. Patel found that yoga may even be the best all-around exercise for seniors. Yoga is not just about exercises (asanas) but a mutli dimentional experience that not only improves muscle tone and joint mobility but through breathing practices & meditation provides other tangible benefits for older people in that it can decrease their sense of loneliness and supply social experiences for isolated seniors.

Yoga & Arthritis

Recently at team at Johns Hopkins designed the largest known study on yoga’s wholistic health benefits in patients suffering from different types of arthritis. This study was published in 2015 in the Journal of Rheumatology, The study found that many patients with arthritis that practiced yoga for a period of 8 weeks found improvements in both their symptoms and feelings of wellbeing.

Ashtanga yoga at Oorja Wellness Centre involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of asanas (postures) aimed to encourage internal heat and purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. This combination results in improving circulation as well as developing a light and strong body with a calm mind.

Attention in Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is placed on the breath and the journey between the asanas rather than just on achieving correct body alignment in an asana which is emphasized in Hatha yoga.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (also known as Ashtanga Yoga) is a style of yoga deveolped and popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois. Pattabhi Jois began his yoga in 1927 (at 12) and by 1948 had established an institute for teaching the specific yoga practice known as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga named after the eight limbs of yoga mentioned in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Ashtanga yoga literally means “eight-limbed yoga,” as noted by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali states that the path of internal purification for revealing the Universal Self consists of the following 8 practices:

Yama (moral codes)
Niyama (self-purification and study)
Asana (posture)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (sense control)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (absorption into the Universal)

“Yet Yoga as a way of life and philosophy, can be practiced by anyone with an inclination to undertake it, for Yoga belongs to humanity as a whole. It is not the property of any one group or any one individual, but can be followed by any and all, in any corner of the globe, regardless of class, creed or religion”. Shri K Pattabhi Jois, Yoga Mala 1962

Forget about your chaos and begin to focus on yourself. Learn to have your attention in the present as your body and mind becomes stronger, calmer and more energised with yoga asanas and breathing techniques.

Often the best way to be introduced to yoga, Hatha are slow paced stretching classes teaching simple breathing exercises and often including some meditation. This is a good place to learn basic yoga postures, relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with yoga if you live or are visiting Oorja Wellness Center.

When people refer to “yoga” in general, this is actually Hatha yoga. Hatha yoga was introduced in the 15th century in India and it is the most popular yoga style. It can be thought of as the original yoga as many other styles have originated from Hatha yoga, The word “Hatha” is a Sanskrit word, “ha” meaning “sun”, and “tha” meaning “moon”.

Hatha Yoga Balances the Body and Mind

Through deep and intense stretches the body becomes more flexible. There is space between each pose and often the same pose will be done several times in a row with new instructions & explanations. The union of natural breath and movements relaxes the muscles and calms the mind, bringing you energy and harmony.

Hatha yoga classes are a good place to learn beginners’ poses, relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with yoga.

Now that you are pregnant …

do you want to know what are the best exercises for you and the baby
do want to be healthier and manage your weight gain
do you want to do safe exercises & stretches
you want to prepare physically, emotionally and socially

Regular pre-natal exercise will help

Strengthen your body, increase flexibility & endurance to prepare for labour
in learning to connect your breath with movement to help you relax during pregnancy & labour
decrease low back pain,
prevent urine leakage ( stress incontinence)
prevent tears & lacerations (increase blood supply & tone the birth canal)
reduce the likelihood of long term complications (prolapse)
a quicker & easier birth

Breath, re-energising and relax! Specialised pre-natal Yoga Classes are available throughout your pregnancy. A wealth of information on visualisation, vocalisation, breathing techniques and helpful hints to prepare you for the magnificent journey towards Birthing and Motherhood. The classes routines are to prepare you mentally, physically and emotionally towards natural Birth. You will gain confidence, learn how to tap into your natural abilities and develop bonding with your unborn baby. The classes will help you to experience your pregnancy in a very intimate and comfortable group learning setting. The journey is conducive to learn how to listen to your body, learn how to relax and nurture you and your baby.

Our experienced yoga teachers will lead you into traditional yoga postures, relaxation & breathing techniques to help you feel more confident. Joining classes where you can get feedback, adjustments and ask questions is far superior to general video options.