Yoga of Sound

Yoga of Sound

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...
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Yoga for Good Sleep

Yoga for Good Sleep

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...
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950 Gladstone Ave. Opens December 27!

950 Gladstone Ave. Opens December 27!

Announcing our OPENING DATE! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27! We’re happy to announce that PranaShanti Yoga Centre will open at 950 Gladstone Ave. on Sunday, December 27! As we wrap up construction and get ready to receive you, we will continue with our current Class Schedule and Wellness Appointments from our 45 Eccles Street location until December 23. We will be closed December 24, 25 and 26 for the holidays. December 27-30: We will offer our current Class Schedule of Interactive Live Stream Classes and In Person Classes plus Wellness Appointments all from 950 Gladstone Ave. December 31: Closed for New Year’s Eve. January 1: Open for 8 Specialty Classes to celebrate the New Year! January 2 and Onward: Open with our NEW and EXPANDED Class Schedule and wellness offerings. To learn more and stay up to date, keep an eye on our website and sign up for our newsletter at www.pranashanti.com ...
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My Ottawa Yoga Story: Yoga Instructor Anne Wanda Tessier

My Ottawa Yoga Story: Yoga Instructor Anne Wanda Tessier

How did you get started in Yoga? I started my yoga practice over 20 years ago.  At the time, my practice was more about increasing flexibility and building strength.  Over the years my practice has evolved. Although I still appreciate all of the benefits on the body, my practice is now about finding balance and being more mindful about what my body needs as well as exploring the benefits for the mind and soul. What does yoga mean to you in your life today? To me, yoga is the practice of meeting yourself on your mat.  Its a practice of mindfulness and its also a practice of awareness of your body, your breath and your thoughts.   When we take the time to slow down we can become aware of what we need, either in our practice, or in our lives. Whether we need to move and boost our energy levels, or if we need to be more mindful and take care of ourselves.  Its all about finding balance.  I find yoga a great...
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Beat the Winter Blues! 40-Day Yoga Challenge!

Beat the Winter Blues! 40-Day Yoga Challenge!

Beat the Winter Blues with the PranaShanti 40 Day Yoga Challenge!The Challenge runs from Friday, February 9, 2018 to Tuesday, March 20, 2018 The PranaShanti 40 Day Challenge is a commitment to attend yoga classes for 40 consecutive days. Yogic science confirms that it takes 40 days to fully develop a new life-promoting habit or to drop a current destructive habit. The PranaShanti 40 Day Challenge is a great way to strengthen the body, unburden the mind, and begin a daily commitment to yourself. In 40 days, you can create a whole new way of being. Start with any class on Friday, February 9! There are 3 optional group practice days! 1. Friday, February 9, 6 PM - 7:15 PM ~ Kick Off Classes Join us for our Kick Off classes. We’ll follow the classes with healthy snacks. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow participants so that you can encourage each other along the way. You’ll be seeing a lot...
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My Ottawa Yoga Story: Jeffrey McGuire

My Ottawa Yoga Story: Jeffrey McGuire

How did you get started in yoga? My intro to Yoga came with a curiosity about stretching. I used to run long distance and slowly began to explore different styles of stretching more deeply. Around this time a good friend introduced me to meditation. As a result, I was lead to Yoga asana and began reading books and watching videos and DVDs. Eventually I gave up running and began to focus more deeply on Yoga and meditation gradually developing a consistent practice over the past 17 years. What does yoga mean to you in your life today? Yoga to me is all about striving for sacred balance in all areas including mind, body and spirit. It's also about establishing and learning to maintain authentic connections to self and others. I'm a recovering addict working a lifelong program of recovery from active addiction; this life path and Yoga practice compliment one another beautifully. One of my spirit guides always reminds me that spiritual...
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