Articles Archives - PranaShanti

Spring : Kapha Season

March 16, 2023March 16, 2023 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

"Spring is upon us. Winter’s accumulated snow and ice are beginning to melt. Gentle rains soak the land. The earth itself seems heavy with moisture—saturated with it—and the landscape is becoming a wellspring of life. Spring is a season of birth, new beginnings, renewal, and growth—a time for the earth to make manifest the latent potential within all things. Seeds are germinating, flowers budding, insects buzzing, leaves unfurling. And despite our growing separation from the natural world, we are deeply affected by this gentle stirring around us. Our physiology senses a natural opportunity for a fresh, clean start; our bodies are primed to lighten things up, cleanse ourselves of any accumulated imbalances, and rejuvenate our deepest tissues. As the natural world emerges from its long winter slumber, it is common to experience a renewed sense of joy and inspiration. But for many, the spring season is also associated with seasonal irritants, heaviness, and feelings of lethargy. Thankfully, an appropriate seasonal routine can help us...

Heart Health

February 21, 2023February 21, 2023 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

A Cardiologist Explains How Yoga Can Benefit Heart Health Kells McPhillips, February 7, 2022 "When you think of heart-healthy workouts, hardcore cardio sessions probably come to mind. (Burpees! Sprints! Squat jumps!) While it's true that going on a nice, long run or sweating your way through a HIIT class has noteworthy benefits for your ticker, there are also gentler ways to look out for your body's all-important organ. In fact, Kapil Parakh, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and medical lead for Fitbit, says that unrolling your yoga mat and breathing through pose after pose has plenty of heart-healthy benefits. First things first, Dr. Parakh wants to remind you that all exercise is good for your heart. Period, end of story. That said, yoga has its own list of perks to brag about. The physical aspect of yoga, called "asana," has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol, and even lower blood sugar in diabetics. Yogic breathwork practices, or "pranayama," have also been shown to improve...

Yoga of Sound

February 20, 2023February 21, 2023 by superadmin superadmin2 Comments

By Devinder Kaur Sound as a meditation technique has its origins in eras past. The original forms of this type of meditation date back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. The belief was that this type of practice could change a person’s wellness while improving their spirituality. Over the centuries, this technique has been used by various cultures around the world and is also a key part of different yoga and meditation practices. Through the practice, a person’s body is entirely engulfed by sound and vibrations. These minute movements can help shift a person’s mindset and allow them to enter a spiritual state. Sound bathing can include a range of instruments from singing bowls and drums to tuning forks and gongs. The instruments used depends on the type of session. There are many advantages–both physical and spiritual–that you can gain from this practice. Release emotionsMay help you manage painLower anxiety levelsChange your state of consciousnessElevate your spirit While there’s no single way to conduct a sound...

Winter: Kapha Season

December 29, 2022December 29, 2022 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

"Ayurveda recognizes winter as a kapha season with strong vata undertones. It is characterized by cold weather, a sense of heaviness, increased moisture (usually in the form of rain or snow), cloud-covered days, and the grounded, slow feeling that sends many animals into hibernation. These are all qualities shared by kapha dosha, which is why winter is considered—primarily—a kapha season. However, if your climate is exceptionally cold and dry, or if you tend to feel more isolated during the winter months, vata will also be a strong component of your winter season, and you will want to actively keep vata placated as well. How to Create a Supportive Winter Diet Winter is actually the season when the digestive fire is strongest. The body requires more fuel to stay warm and healthy in the winter months, and the cold weather forces the fire principle deep into the core of the body—igniting the digestive capacity. Our bodies, therefore, crave a more substantial, nutritive diet at this time of...

Yoga for Arthritis by Tracy Corneau

November 19, 2022April 17, 2023 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

Yoga For Arthritis (YFA) You have likely heard the phrase: “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga”. However, yoga also improves strength, balance, range of motion, and can lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression by contributing to better heart health and sleep. Yoga can be especially helpful for those living with a chronic illness. Background According to the Arthritis Society, 1 in 5 or 6 million Canadians are living with arthritis and as many as 25,000 children seek healthcare for arthritis. Women are more likely than men to have arthritis. It is Canada’s most common chronic disease for which there is currently no cure and by 2040, it is estimated that 50% more people will have arthritis. Leading Types of Arthritis The two leading forms of arthritis are Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoarthritis is traditionally viewed as wear and tear on the weight bearing joints such as the hips, spine and knees as well as in the hands, feet, ankles or neck. ...

Dry Brushing

November 16, 2022November 16, 2022 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

Dry brushing the skin is a comparatively new trend, though its roots lie in ancient times. It’s common in Ayurvedic medicine and is an ancient Kriya yoga practice but many cultures, including the ancient Greeks and Japanese, have used skin brushing to cleanse the skin. It’s done at day spas but you can do it yourself too! It’s called “dry” brushing because you aren’t scrubbing up while you bathe or shower; instead, a firm, bristled brush is swept across the skin, from toe to head. Both the skin and brush are completely dry. Dry brushing has gained traction for a reason. The benefits include: Detoxifying the skin - Dry brushing unclogs pores in the exfoliation process. It also helps detoxify your skin by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph flow/drainage. By unclogging pores, it’s easier for the body to sweat and eliminate toxins in your system.Stimulating the nervous system - Dry brushing can stimulate the nervous system. It can also leave you feeling invigorated like a massage often does.Giving...

Yoga for Good Sleep

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

By Devinder Kaur, Owner and Director of PranaShanti Yoga Centre Sleep is the time for the body and mind to rest, reset, detoxify, and rejuvenate. However, sometimes life interferes with our internal biological rhythms, which can result in too little sleep or not very good sleep. A balanced sleep cycle is important for our health and well-being on a number of levels. Good sleep improves our brain performance, mood, and health. Not getting enough quality sleep regularly raises the risk of many diseases and disorders and can affect our ability to concentrate, to think clearly and process memories. Yoga is a gentle and restorative way to help wind down at the end of the day. These three yoga poses relieve tension and stress to help prepare for sleep. The more that you practice the poses, the more they can help in a good night’s sleep. Practice these poses before bedtime and stay in them about 3 to 5 minutes each. 1. Wide-Knee Child’s Pose...

Fall: Vata Season

October 8, 2022October 8, 2022 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

Ayurveda considers a seasonal routine an important cornerstone of health year-round. Balancing the nature of your local climate with lifestyle choices that offset the potential for seasonally-induced imbalances is one of the simplest ways that you can protect your well-being. But keep in mind that the seasons vary widely from one place to another, as do the qualities that they engender. Vata season is whatever time of year most embodies the attributes that characterize vata dosha: dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear (or empty). Autumn is the classic vata season. However, depending on where you live, the dry and expansive qualities of vata may be the principal components of your environment in other seasons too—showing as early as summer, and if autumn is followed by a very drying, cold, isolating, or windy winter. Beginning to observe your environment from this qualitative perspective empowers you to respond to both daily and seasonal changes in your local climate. The truth is that many of...

Make a Difference in the Lives of Children

January 25, 2020November 9, 2020 by Devinder Kaur2 Comments

Make a Difference in Lives of Children! – The Awesome World of Kids Yoga. By Victoria Lynes After teaching my first couple of Yoga classes to kids almost a decade ago, and watching them close their eyes and practice calming breath work - that was it - I was hooked! I knew there was a gap here that I wanted to fill. “Namaste Miss Victoria!” Bright, smiling eyes. Tight knee and belly hugs from the kinders. High 5's from the older kids. This is the reception I often receive when I arrive each week to teach at one of my public or private schools. I adore teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to children,whether they are classes for toddlers or young teens. Children need these tools now more than ever,especially in this world of hyper connectivity and “on-line, all the time” culture that they are being raised in. Many people ask me how to get started with kids yoga. There are many different approaches. But if there...

10 Great Reasons to do Teacher Training at PranaShanti!

August 27, 2019August 27, 2019 by Devinder Kaur2 Comments

10 GREAT reasons to do your Teacher Training at PranaShanti! 10. A Spacious Centre Our Centre has four practice Studios, which means that Teacher Training is always in the largest space reserved just for trainings. The consistency and preparation of a space makes training a comfortable experience! You'll always have the kitchen available to you so you can bring your own food to prepare, and there's no moving around to other spaces to accommodate classes. 9. We're Well Equipped We're really equipped because of the diversity of trainings and classes we host! Whether you want to teach Hot Yoga or Restorative Yoga in the future, your Teacher Training will have many yoga props so you can be supported in your training and learn the full spectrum of how to support yoga students. 8. In A Great Neighbourhood Enjoy free parking evenings and weekends, so if you're not locking your bike up outside, you don't need to fuss with parking tickets. There are two vegan restaurants, two...