A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath
control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is
widely practised for health and relaxation.
"yoga classes" Yoga (Sanskrit: योग yoga pronunciation (help·info)) is the physical,
mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India
with a view to attain a state of permanent peace. The term yoga can be
derived from either of two roots, yujir yoga (to yoke) or yuj samādhau (to
concentrate).
According to Yoga-Yajnavalkya, Yoga is the union of the
individual psyche with the transcendental self. Yoga developed in the same ascetic circles as the early Sramana movements
(Buddhists, Jainas and Ajivikas), probably in around the sixth and fifth
centuries BCE.
In Hinduism, yoga was adopted as one of the six āstika schools
(accepts authority of Vedas) of Hindu philosophy. By the turn of the first millennium, hatha yoga emerged from tantra.
It, along with its many modern variations, is the style that many people
associate with the word yoga today.
Vajrayana Buddhism, founded by the Indian
Mahasiddhas, has a parallel series of asanas and pranayamas, such as
caṇḍālī and trul khor. Gurus from India later introduced yoga to the west, following the
succes of Swami Vivekananda in the late 19th and early 20th century.
In the
1980s, yoga became popular as a system of physical exercise across the Western
world. This form of yoga is often called Hatha yoga. Many studies have tried to
determine the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary intervention for cancer,
schizophrenia, asthma, and heart disease. In a national survey,
long-term yoga practitioners in the United States reported musculo–skeletal and
mental health improvements.
Portrait of Shanti yoga teacher "Emily"
She has been running private classes as well as charitably based Karma Yoga classes for a children's prison and other NGO's as a means of rehabilitation.
Emily developed her passion for Yoga whilst living in Mumbai in 2002, which inspired her to move deeper into her practice.
She took her first TTC in 2004 and has since completed many other courses in various styles making her classes fun,integral, therapeutic and dynamic.
Here are a few words from Emily about herself to give you a clearer idea...:
"I have been living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since September 2010,
teaching Yoga to a wide range of groups as well as conducting monthly
retreats.
I am also providing Karma Yoga classes on a weekly basis for the women’s
shelter (the safe house, a refuge for female victims of domestic violence) in
Addis Ababa, as part of their rehabilitation. I have also been organizing Karma
Yoga projects with international teachers in the local Children’s juvenile
detention center.
Whilst traveling through South East Asia, and attending various classes of
Yoga of all styles, I developed a keen interest in this art. After noticing the
benefits of my practice, I was inspired to take the practice deeper and more
seriously.
This took me to India, where I was trained intensively as an instructor in
the Sivananda Ashram, Kerala. It was here that I studied and discovered the
disciplines of Yoga and became fully connected to this timeless practice.
Since then I have been teaching in the U.K, Ireland, Dubai, Andalucia Spain and now in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Since then I have been teaching in the U.K, Ireland, Dubai, Andalucia Spain and now in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Since discovering this ancient art form I have been establishing classes
and sharing this knowledge with others so that they too can experience the
benefits of this art.
I have since completed further courses in Yogic instruction through the
school of Sivananda (Orleans, France), under the guidance of Swami Durgananda,
Swami Kaislananda and Swami Krishnananda.
I have also completed a basic Intensive training course with Karoline
Klebe, in Ashtanga, in Dubai a TTC with Guru Sivam Gi, at his Sidhartha School
of Integral Yoga, Dharamshalla, Northern India, a course of Transformational,
kundalini and mantra based Yoga with Swami Vidayanad (founder of the Sri Ma
international School of Yoga and have recently spent extensive time under the
guidance of Usha Devi at her studio in Ram Jhual, Rishikesh.
I have also completed Reiki levels 1 and 2 together with a basic course in
Ayurvedic massage and nutrition, which have both complimented my Yoga
experience.
My aim is to continue learning and expanding my knowledge and understating
of this discipline and to share it with as many people as possible so that they
too can enjoy the benefits of Yoga.
The effects are limitless because we are limitless. Om Shanti!"
Emily, 2013
