Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda Yoga, after teachings of Swami Sivananda, is a non-proprietary form of hatha yoga in which the training focuses on preserving the health and wellness of the practitioner. Sivananda training revolves around frequent relaxation, and emphasises full, yogic breathing.
The Sivananda training system aims to retain the vitality of the body, retard the decaying process, and decrease chance of disease, by naturally cultivating the body. The system philosophies are summarised in 5 principles.
Five points of Yoga
- Proper breathing: Pranayama
- Exercise: Asanas
- Relaxation: Savasana
- Diet: Vegetarian. A yogic diet is encouraged, limited to sattvic foods (pure and wholesome), void of rajasic foods (salty and spicy) as well as tamasic (sluggish and stale) foods
- Positive thinking and meditation: Vedanta and Dhyana
A session of training typically starts with every practitioner resting in Savasana, and begin with Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma, preceding rounds of Sūrya namaskāra, before the standard program of the 12 basic asanas. A session averages 90 minutes, and the traditional program may be followed flexibly by the instructor, allowing for some variation.