Yoga video tutorial for shoulderstand & plough poses

After the headstand comes Sarvangasana (Sanskrit: सर्वाङ्गासन), the Sanskrit name for the shoulderstand, comes from the word “sarva”, meaning whole. This asana strengthens your entire body; it gives many of the benefits of the Headstand, but here the circulation is directed to your thyroid gland instead of the head and it gives a great stimulation to your metabolism. It’s an inverted pose, with your body resting on your shoulders.

Check out the step by step asana on this page.

=> Check out this short tutorial video of Sarvangasana followed by Halasana:

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

A new yoga asana tutorial video available on my YouTube channel

Slowly, but surely I’m taking the time to add voiceover to my yoga videos. Today I’ve uploaded a new asana: Matsyasana or fish pose.

You’ll find more info about the pose on the dedicated page.

The yoga video tutorial:

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

 

Ambika Yoga newsletter #30 is out now

Dear yoga community, hereby a link to my 30th newsletter. Thank you for your continued support. Feel free to subscribe to my newsletter, and share the yoga love with your friends, or add your comments.

• Link to the newsletter with a vegan recipe, a yoga asana and more yoga info.

Teaching yoga tonight, 11 July 2016

Dear yogins, if you are around in Brussels today, feel free to join me for a 90 minute yoga class in the Sampoorna Yoga Studio at 6PM.

We’ll do a full Sivananda yoga class including headstand, so come if you want to practice your postures and start the week well with yoga.

 Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

New yoga class on Saturdays

As from Saturday 6 February 2016 my weekly yoga class at Sampoorna Yoga Studio starts at 11:30AM, it’s a 60 minute hatha yoga class, Sivananda style, all levels.

Looking forward to welcoming you in class.

• Place: Rue du Houblon-Hopstraat 40, 1000 Brussels
• More info on schedule & tariffs

Join me on Sunday 17 January for the 11AM class

Tomorrow morning (Sunday 17 January) at 11AM, I’m replacing Eknath in the Sampoorna Yoga Studio in the center of Brussels.

Join me for 60 minutes of relaxation, asanas and Pranayama. A great way to start your Sunday.

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Practice yoga using this blog

Maybe you browsed this blog already and know that the entire Sivananda yoga class is described for your use and benefit.

In order to share the teachings of Gurudev Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda even more, I’m posting a daily reference to a full 90′ class on the Facebook page to encourage practitioners to come to the blog and discover the entire sequence with its benefits and step-by-step guidance per exercise or pose.

Start your class with Savasana, followed by 3 “Om’s,  Pranayama (Kabalabathi & Anuloma Viloma), then warming up the body with Surya Namaskara and leg lifts, on to the asana sequence:

1. Sirshasana
2. Sarvangasana
3. Halasana
4. Matsyasana
5. Paschimotanasana
   1. Purvotanasana
6. Bhujangasana
7. Salabhasana
8. Dhanurasana
9. Ardha Matsyendrasana
10. Kakasana
11. Pada Hastasana
12. Trikonasana

You end your class with a nice long Savasana and then 3 “Om”s.

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres on Google Cultural Institute

Yoga is such an important legacy to leave to the next generations.

I’m a lifetime student of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres and am very happy to see that some of the main teachings of Swami Sivananda are now included on the Google Cultural Institute in order for many more people to become familiar with yoga.

Please have a look at three of the main topics:

The 12 Basic Postures shown by Swami Vishudevananda in his young days.

 

 

 

The four paths of Yoga : the basis of traditional yoga teachings and was widely propagated by Swami Sivananda.

 

 

 

The five points of Yoga: formulated by Swami Vishnudevananda and form the basis of our teachings across the world.

 

 

There’ll be more content online soon. Enjoy reading and practicing.

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Awesome offer on yoga passes in Sampoorna Yoga Studio

It’s December… and Sampoorna Yoga Studio in Brussels will brighten your day with a nice special offer: Commit now to a healthy New Year, and receive a month of yoga practice for free !

>>> Buy an unlimited yoga pass of 6 months or 12 months for 2016 at a reduced rate (student rate for everyone), and receive December 2015 for free!  (offer valid during December 2015, for passes starting 1 January 2016). <<<

They are also introducing a new validity period for yoga passes: All 10- and 20-lesson passes are now valid for 4 months, so you need not worry about losing classes if you are away on holidays or business.

Don’t wait any longer, come by, join a class & buy your yoga pass (there are classes every day, but the studio closes between 24 December & 1 January included, all passes are extended with 1 week).

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Practice yoga at home with this video

If for some reason you can’t go to a yoga class, find hereby a full Sivananda hatha yoga class including beginning & final prayers. Enjoy & bookmark!

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Workshop: Anatomy for yoga

Exploring the impact of skeletal variations on your hatha yoga practice.

In this anatomy-oriented workshop you will learn more about how different body structures can affect our asana practice, and how you can take your unique shape into account to grow and develop safely in your personal practice.

The workshop has a practical approach rather than a theoretical one. We will explore our own bodies in specific asanas, compare and embrace our unique ranges of motion, learn to recognise the difference between tension and compression, and how this knowledge can deepen our yoga practice.

The workshop is led by Eknath, Certified Sampoorna Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500). Eknath studied with anatomy expert Paul Grilley (USA) during his Yin Yoga Teacher Training in 2011 – 2012 and 2013.

Location: Sampoorna Yoga Studio, rue du Houblon 40, 1000 Brussels
Date & time: Saturday 24/10/2015 from 3-6PM.
Price: 45€ (or 35€ unemployed/ student)
Registration online

Yoga in the park – Ixelles

My friend and fellow yoga teacher Katariina will teach the last yoga class in a series of 3: on Sunday 13 September in the Abbaye de la Cambre in Ixelles (Brussels).

Join his hatha yoga class (suitable for all levels) at 12:30 PM (until 1:45PM).

Bring your own yoga mat or towel and enjoy the sun on your face while you practice.

• Register via the Facebook event.
• Price: 5€ (or more) per person

Yoga in the park – Jette

My friend and fellow yoga teacher Ramdas (known from Sampoorna) will teach the first class in a series of 3, this Sunday 30 August in the Roi Baudoin park in Jette (Brussels). Join his hatha yoga class (suitable for all levels) at 12:30 PM (until 1:45PM). Bring your own yoga mat or towel and enjoy the sun on your face while you practice.

• Register via the Facebook event (on my page).
• Price: 5€ (or more) per person

5 day early morning yoga challenge at Sampoorna Yoga Studio (Brussels)

Get up early and start your day with yoga and a nourishing vegan breakfast!

Let this week be your inspiration to a daily morning practice!

On five consecutive mornings we meet up before work and duties for a full practice of

Sampoorna Yoga. There’s no better way to start the day!

Read more about the benefits of starting your day with yoga.

Dates: 1-5 June 2015
Teachers: Eknath, Ramdas & Ambika (on Thursday and standby on Wednesday & Friday)

Price: 50€ for the 5 classes (or you can use your regular pass). Free vegan breakfast.

Place: Sampoorna Yoga Studio, 40 rue du houblonstraat, 1000 Brussels.

Sivananda yoga class – 12 asanas sequence

This is a typical sequence (in fast forward) of the 12 basic asanas (steady poses) in a Sivananda yoga class. Obviously this is the fast forward version, a class typically lasts 90 minutes including the initial relaxation, chanting, Pranayama, Sun Salutations, leg raising exercises, 12 asanas, final relaxation.