Courses
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Programs require pre-registration. Limited class sizes of 6 - 8 students ensures detailed instructions and personal attention. Classes are adjusted to suit students' individual needs.
Our Hatha yoga courses are designed to educate the body and mind through basic movement principles while developing the vital breath in preparation for the deeper methods of yoga practice. Based on a more traditional approach, emphasis is placed on the groundwork and preparation necessary before entering the practices of Asana (postures), Bandhas (locks), Mudras (seals) and Pranayama (control of the vital wind). These tools are then used as means of getting the body prepared for the even more advanced stages of Pratyahara (non-distraction of the senses), Dharana (concentration) and Dhyana (meditation) in order to acheive Laya (absorption). Method:INTRODUCTION TO SHADOW YOGA Course DescriptionsINTRODUCTION TO A SHADOW YOGA PRACTICEPrinciples of SHADOW STYLE HATHA YOGA will be introduced through dynamic preparatory movements known as ‘Dasa Chalana’ (ten churnings) along with basic stances. This simple yet challenging practice helps free up the joints in the body, releases muscular tension and encourages the proper flow of vital energy. The work has the specific purpose of correcting imbalances in the feet, legs and hips while reducing what is in excess in the body and mind. Students will be taught how to source their power in the feet, trigger it in the legs, control it through the waist, channel it through the spine and express it out the hands. This course acts as the introduction to and the first stage of entering Shadow Yoga forms. A must for all those new to this unique style of hatha yoga, regardless of prior experience, as it forms the basis for the next levels. It is for all beginners to yoga and highly suggested for students coming from other disciplines or styles. Pre-requisites: None Maximum participants: 8 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $75 REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES BALAKRAMA – STEPPING INTO STRENGTHShadow Yoga's first prelude is a demanding fixed sequence that directly works on the body’s skeletal and muscular systems. It builds physical strength and proper bone alignment. It develops power and endurance in both body and mind while regulating the breath to develop unobstructed rhythm and form. The results are the cultivation of courage, self-confidence, lightness, strength, flexibility, and integration, all of which are prerequisite to asana practice. Pre-requisites: Introduction to a Shadow Yoga Practice Course or a minimum of 1 year yoga experience. Maximum participants: 6 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $90 REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES CHAYA YODDHA SANCALANAM – CHURNING OF THE SHADOW WARRIORShadow Yoga's second prelude works on coordinating the lower limbs to their core through intricate hand and footwork. It develops skills in forward bending using fluid spiraling movements to help gain power in the legs and move it through the waist and inner organs. Narrow, tight stances and deep squats help free the pelvis and access the shins and feet while developing proper balance. It brings the practitioner inward with exhalation emphasis and soothes the mind. It builds self-acceptance and mental stability cultivating states of trust and surrender. Pre-requisites: Introduction to a Shadow Yoga Practice Course or a minimum of 2 years yoga experience. Maximum participants: 8 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $90 REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES KARTTIKEYA MANDALA – GARLAND OF LIGHTShadow Yoga's third prelude works on integrating the upper limbs to their core. Wide stances teach positioning and centering. Deep twists and spiral actions train the practitioner how to source their power in the feet, trigger it in the legs, control it through the waist, channel it through the spine and express it out the hands. It cultivates skills in twisting, coiling, sinking, rising, inverting and balancing. It strengthens mental stability while developing physical coordination, self-awareness, intuition and sharpness. Pre-requisites: Balakrama and Chaya Yoddha Sancalanam. Maximum participants: 6 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $108 REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES 2012 Schedule
Not all private class or massage times are shown. Please inquire for your booking interest.2012 COURSE DATES - 6 week sessions
REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES Private SessionsTraditionally yoga was taught one on one, teacher to student, so that the unique requirements and goals of the individual can be addressed directly. It is an effective method of teaching only if the student does the necessary work on their own between sessions. In order for any significant changes and progress to occur practice (sadhana) must be consistent. Single or 6 week customized programs are designed for local students. 6 day intensives can be booked for those who live out of town. By Appointment Only.
Please inquire for your booking interest. Email Radhasri or call 514-813-2660 Prices include GST and QST. NEW: Yoga Lecture Workshop Series - $70 for all 41st Saturday of the Month at 1:30pm 1. Sankhya Philosophy Workshop WORKSHOPSNew Year's 4 Day Intro Intensive January 4 Day Intro to Balakrama Intensive Cleansing and Yoga Lifestyle Workshop 6 Day Spring Cleanse and Shadow Yoga Intensive
SANKHYA PHILOSOPHY WORKSHOPSaturday, December 3, 2011 1:30 - 2:30pm The Sánkhya philosophy forms the basis for Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotisha, Vástu and other Indian classical sciences. Sán means truth and khya means to comprehend. It is a philosophy to know and understand the Truth of Life. It can also be translated as 'enumeration' based on the 25 principles of creation it denotes. It theorizes how the universe was manifested beginning with the dual components of Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha the unmanifested state stands for ‘Consciousness or Supreme Self’. Prakriti the manifested state stands for ‘Matter or Energy’ and gives birth to all of creation. Open to All.
Given in English. Pre-requisites: None Maximum participants: 15 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $18 (part of The Yoga Lecture Workshop Series - $70 for all 4) CULTIVATING A PERSONAL HOME YOGA PRACTICE WORKSHOPSaturday, January 7, 2012 1:30 - 2:30pm What motivates you to practice? Do you want more out of your yoga practice beyond occasionally taking a class? What stops you from doing what you want to do? What do you do instead of doing what you want to do? This workshop is for those who are or who desire to be independently driven towards self improvement. It is for those yoga students who despite their numerous attempts or heartfelt wishes of taking their practice to new levels just can't seem to do it. You will be given several tips on what is required to slowly develop a personal home yoga practice. You will be surprised how simple it could be! Open to All.
Given in English. Pre-requisites: None Maximum participants: 15 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $18 (part of The Yoga Lecture Workshop Series - $70 for all 4) New Year's! 4 DAY INTRODUCTION TO A SHADOW YOGA PRACTICE INTENSIVEMonday to Thursday: Jan 2 - 5, 2012 6:15pm - 7:15pm Intensives are powerful methods of learning where students can immerse themselves in a daily practice for a period of time. This heightens the focus and allows the content covered to sink in on deeper levels helping to cultivate permanent impressions. Practices and principles of SHADOW STYLE HATHA YOGA will be introduced, through a dynamic sequential form designed to free up the joints in the body in order to release muscular tension and encourage the proper flow of vital energy. The work is based on preparatory exercises (Dasa Chalana), which have the specific purpose of correcting imbalances in the feet, legs and hips while reducing what is in excess in the body and mind. Students will be taught how to source their power in the feet, trigger it in the legs, control it through the waist, channel it through the spine and express it out the hands. The workshop is open to all regardless of prior experience and acts as a necessary introduction to those who have never practiced Shadow Yoga before. Pre-requisites: None Maximum participants: 8 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $60 / $108 for both January intensives REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES 4 DAY INTRO TO BALAKRAMA INTENSIVEMonday to Thursday: Jan 9 - 12, 2012 6:15pm - 7:15pm Intensives are powerful methods of learning where students can immerse themselves in a daily practice for a period of time. This heightens the focus and allows the content covered to sink in on deeper levels helping to cultivate permanent impressions. Shadow Yoga's first prelude is a demanding fixed sequence that directly works on the body’s skeletal and muscular systems. It builds physical strength and proper bone alignment. It develops power and endurance in both body and mind while regulating the breath to develop unobstructed rhythm and form. The results are the cultivation of courage, self-confidence, lightness, strength, flexibility, and integration, all of which are prerequisite to asana practice. Pre-requisites: Introduction to Shadow Yoga or 5 Drop-in classes. Maximum participants: 6 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $60 / $108 for both January intensives REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES THE PHILOSOPHY OF HATHA YOGA WORKSHOPSaturday, February 4, 2012 1:30 - 2:45pm SriNivasaYogi in his yoga text Hatharatnavali states that without the practice of Hatha yoga, Raja yoga cannot be accomplished and without Raja yoga as an objective, Hatha yoga cannot be perfected. Hatha yoga, 'the forceful yoga', is a 6 fold system (sadanga yoga) aimed at arriving at a spontaneous cessation of breath leading the practitioner towards the more advanced stages of Raja Yoga. Raja yoga is a synonym for Samadhi, which is said to be the highest state of attainment in Yoga. Today's popular practice of Hatha Yoga has been derived from ancient literature based on specific philosophy. The texts outline methodical techniques to lead the aspirant towards the goal of liberation. One must have some theoretical knowledge to support the all important practical application. This workshop will introduce principles based on several Hatha texts in order to enrich the students' practice with essential theoretical information for the path that they are on. Open to All.
Given in English. Pre-requisites: None Maximum participants: 15 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $20 (part of The Yoga Lecture Workshop Series - $70 for all 4) AYURVEDA AND YOGA WORKSHOPSaturday, March 3, 2012 1:30 - 3:00pm Ayurveda and Yoga are sister sciences based on the philosophy of Sánkhya and have traditionally been used in conjunction with one another. All yoga practitioners benefit greatly from having an understanding of Ayurveda. Regarded as the Science of Life, Ayurveda is concerned with promoting both physical and mental well-being with its highest goal being self-realization. Its wisdom is based on the elements that constitute our form and the imbalances they carry. Understanding one's Prakriti (one's individual constitutional make up) and the Vrkriti (the current imbalance) will help to adapt a supportive lifestyle for unique needs. Our Biological existence is a dance between doshas. The 3 doshas are Vata (air/ether), Pitta (fire/water) and Kapha (water/earth). The proportions of these elements within and around us have profound influences on how we experience our physical, psychological, and spiritual selves. Each need different cleanses, diets, yoga practices, jobs… This workshop will introduce principles of Ayurveda and display how simple knowledge of your constitution can help to understand, forgive and transform your habitual ways of eating and living that may be self-destructive. You will be given a handout as well as an Ayurvedic Dosha Questionnaire. Open to All.
Given in English. Pre-requisites: None Maximum participants: 15 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $30 (part of The Yoga Lecture Workshop Series - $70 for all 4) UDDIYANA BANDHA WORKSHOPSaturday, March 31, 2012 7:00 - 9:00am Uddiyana Bandha is one of hatha yoga's main techniques. It takes years of cultivation and it can be difficult to master it's subtleties. It organizes the body's center, stimulates digestive fire, tones the internal organs, integrates the limbs, brings firmness to joints, activates the other bandhas and helps push vayu into the posterior channel. 'The great bird (breath), by this process, is instantly forced up into the susumna and flies constantly therein only. Of all bandhas, this the best. The complete practice of this makes emancipation easy.' Gheranda Samhita. Contraindications: Uddiyana Bandha is NOT practiced when one suffers from abdominal or intestinal diseases, high or low blood pressure, eye disease, heart problems, general weakness, obesity or while women are pregnant or menstruating. *Bring your own yoga mat and blanket. Pre-requisites: minimum of 1 year yoga practice in any style. Participants must be in good health and come on a completely empty stomach. Eat lightly the night before and take no food the morning of class. A small cup of warm water can be ingested an hour before class if required. Maximum participants: 8 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $35 CLEANSING AND YOGA LIFESTYLE WORKSHOPFriday, April 20, 2012 6:30 - 8:30pm “When told what they need to do in order to heal, people who will heal say ‘is that all?’ People who will not heal say ‘I have to do all that?' " Carolyn Myss We are made of trillions of cells which have different functions who all rely on appropriate oxygenation, elimination, and nutrition to function effectively. Cellular health is an individual’s journey. To cleanse and nourish the cells may be the most important thing for long-term health. A balanced diet regulates blood, nervous and digestive systems. Not only is it about food but also anything that affects our work, our play, our relationships... The body performs a lot of the house cleaning while we sleep, centralizing most of the waste in the bladder and colon and some in the mouth and nose. Removing these wastes or toxins is the first priority of the day. This workshop will introduce simple self-healing routines based on yoga practices (dhautis) and ayurvedic principles. Open to All.
Given in English. Pre-requisites: None. Mandatory for those participating in the 6 Day Cleanse and Yoga Intensive. Maximum participants: 15 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $35 6 DAY SPRING CLEANSE AND SHADOW YOGA INTENSIVEApril 23 - 28, 2012 Monday - Saturday Spring time is most conducive to making changes to diet and lifestyle as the nature of the season supports the birth of new habits. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika emphasizes the importance of practicing the Yama of Mitahara, the appropriate intake of food, as determining success in Yoga practice. The practitioner should only consume those foods that are conducive to easy digestion and in quantities that can keep the body and mind clear and light. The focus of this Intensive is to facilitate the release of deeply held toxins and habitual patterns that may keep us stuck in destructive behaviors, not allowing us to recognize clarity or to experience the depth of our potential energy. Cleansing works on many different levels. Toxins occur in the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the emotions we harbor. Cleansing our cells must be our biggest priority for long-term health. This intensive is for those interested in understanding the cycle of illness and dis-ease, motivated to heal themselves through diet changes and physical practice of yoga. Basic eating principles from Ayurveda and a restricted diet will be utilized along with Shadow Yoga movement. Bring your own yoga mat and blanket. "By controlling the palate one gains control over the body and the mind, - Zhander Remete Pre-requisites: Introduction to Shadow Yoga or 5 Drop In classes. Mandatory attendance at the Cleansing and Yoga Lifestyle Workshop (additional cost). Uddiyana Bandha Workshop helpful but not mandatory. Maximum participants: 6 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $108 WEEKEND WORKSHOP - Introduction to Chaya Yoddha SancalanamJune 15, 16, 17 Friday 6:30 - 8:00pm Shadow Yoga's second prelude works on coordinating the lower limbs to their core through intricate hand and footwork. It develops skills in forward bending using fluid spiraling movements to help gain power in the legs and move it through the waist and inner organs. Narrow, tight stances and deep squats help free the pelvis and access the shins and feet while developing proper balance. It brings the practitioner inward with exhalation emphasis and soothes the mind. It builds self-acceptance and mental stability cultivating states of trust and surrender. Pre-requisites: Introduction to Shadow Yoga or minimum of 1 year yoga practice in any style. Maximum participants: 8 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $85 REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES 5 DAY INTENSIVE - Chaya Yoddha Sancalanam Full FormJune 18 - 22, 2012 Monday - Friday Intensives are powerful methods of learning where students can immerse themselves in a daily practice for a period of time. This heightens the focus and allows the content covered to sink in on deeper levels helping to cultivate permanent impressions. Shadow Yoga's second prelude works on coordinating the lower limbs to their core through intricate hand and footwork. It develops skills in forward bending using fluid spiraling movements to help gain power in the legs and move it through the waist and inner organs. Narrow, tight stances and deep squats help free the pelvis and access the shins and feet while developing proper balance. It brings the practitioner inward with exhalation emphasis and soothes the mind. It builds self-acceptance and mental stability cultivating states of trust and surrender. Pre-requisites: Introduction to a Shadow Yoga Practice Course, Introduction to Chaya Yoddha Sancalanam workshop or a minimum of 2 years yoga experience. Maximum participants: 8 Location: Hatha Yoga Shala Fee: $95 / $160 for both the weekend Intro workshop and intensive. REGISTER HERE and view the PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES "Yoga is a system of education that imparts the secrets of controlling the complex energy fields of the human form. Through the dissolving and merging of these opposing energies into one whole, the body is made fit for the journey of life. It is not a fancy exercise programme dressed in spiritual clothes, as many of its present day practitioners view it. Yoga is a spiritual science of practical living. It is imparted by teachers who have encountered this wisdom. Their love of this knowledge provides the spark that lights the torch of wisdom for the student.
The mastery of yoga has always been achieved through the combination of three sciences. From the knowledge of Marma sthana (the 108 vital points of the body), one gains control over the bodily functions through the practice of asanas (bodily positions). Mastery of the science of Nadis (subtle channels) gives rise to inner light through the practice of pranayama (breath control). The science of Vayus (internal currents of wind) enables the practitioner to hear the quiet whispers from within that teach the secret names of the one who is the source and support of everything in this world.
These three sciences have, since time immemorial, been revealed to students through a series of uncomplicated body movements. Their simplicity allows the natural responses of the body's hidden intelligence to surface without the excitement triggered by excessive muscular effort. Excessive muscular action induces vata (disturbed wind), a condition that manifests as structural and psycho-emotional instability. This leads to kapha (mucus) which causes heaviness and depression. This in turn will disturb the element of fire, giving rise to obsessive and ultimately destructive behaviour.
Unless the sciences of marmas, nadis and vayus have been communicated well by the teacher and correctly applied, the student will start off in the wrong direction and move inexorably towards a state of profound disharmony. The outcome of correct practice is harmony, which is the true state of wisdom called Yoga.
The teacher only exists to prepare the student so that the steady light of the student's own wisdom will illuminate his own path. There are no guides to the path of life and the same path can never be walked twice since it is personal and unique. The laws of this journey are that each step is unrepeatable and unforeseen. One has no option but to respond to the demands of this real adventure. Everything is constantly moving and changing as one stage dissolves into the next to reveal new configurations, climates and landscapes."© Zhander Remete, founder of Shadow Yoga
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