Past

The Importance of Breathing: Traditional Yoga

This class has passed
This class has passed

What’s it all about?

Many of us seek the physical benefits of yoga but are hesitant to explore the spiritual side of it. This class is a great introduction to those who have never tried it out before, or feel like they are not fit enough to do it. That’s because there’s no such thing. The best thing about yoga is that there’s no competition and no deadlines.

In this class will start at the very beginning – breathing. We are not always given to understand why breathing is so important. Together we will explore this fundamental bodily function and how to use it to maximise our energy and physical capacity while remaining calm and collected.

What we will cover?

Have you ever watched a baby breathe? In the first part of this class we will explore our breathing patterns, how we’ve been trained to change it, and how it changes based on our mood and activities. Once we understand this, it will help us gain control over it, and allow us to change our mood simply by changing our breath.

From there we move on to Prana, or the subtle energy of the vital breath. According to ancient Indian philosophy, control of the Prana, through control of the breath, leads to control of the mind. The second part of our class will explore some basic yogic breathing techniques and basic Pranayama – breathing exercises which increase vitality and mental clarity.

We will finish the class with an introduction to Surya Namaskar, a graceful sequence of twelve postures, each counteracting the next, stretching and strengthening the body. As we flow through the sequence, we will alternately expand and contract our chest to regulate our breathing. We will finish with a few short core, leg and arm strengthening exercise, and a conscious relaxation session that will leave you feeling invigorated and mentally prepared for what is to come.

Who will be teaching?

DivyaHailing from Goa, India, Divya was first introduced to yoga by her mother at age of 12, when she thought it was the least cool thing to do. She came back to it five years later to balance the effects of more rigorous sports, teaching herself the basics from a book, and later joining a class at the Sivananda School when she moved to New Delhi. In January 2015, after seven years of practicing yoga, she did her teacher training course at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India, and has since been teaching yoga to small groups of varied levels of experience. Divya came to Melbourne in July to begin her Master’s degree at Monash University, and is excited to share the joys and benefits of Hatha Yoga with the people she meets along the way.