Spring : Kapha Season

Spring : Kapha Season

"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...
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Heart Health

Heart Health

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...
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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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Winter: Kapha Season

Winter: Kapha Season

"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...
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Yoga for Arthritis by Tracy Corneau

Yoga for Arthritis by Tracy Corneau

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. ...
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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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Celebrating 10 Years!

Celebrating 10 Years!

Greetings! Saturday, October 6th, will be our 10 Year Anniversary! We have a fabulous day and evening of celebrations planned as we honour serving the Ottawa Community. Drop in for a class or pop by to take in some of the celebration activities. On Saturday, October 6 enjoy: - A draw for a special celebration gift prize in every class (PranaShanti Class Card or Drop In Fee) - Add your message or a small memento to our 10 Anniversary Time Capsule (to be opened on our 20 Year Anniversary!) - a complimentary henna tattoo! - 10% off our 10, 20 and Annual Unlimited Class Packages - 1 pm to 4 pm - complimentary delicious snacks, beverages & treats - 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm - Celestial Sound Immersion Celebration with David Hickey (tickets available online or at the Centre) It's been a decade of truly inspiring connections. Thank you! Let's celebrate together and kick off another fabulous 10 years! Be well, Devinder Kaur...
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Top Yoga Studio in the 2017 in Ottawa!

Top Yoga Studio in the 2017 in Ottawa!

PranaShanti Yoga Centre crowned Top Choice Award Winner for Top Yoga Studio in the 2017 Annual Top Choice Award Survey. Ottawa, Ontario, CA -- March 10th, 2017 -- Top Choice Awards has announced that PranaShanti Yoga Centre has been crowned the winner for Top Yoga Studio of 2017 in the city of Ottawa. PranaShanti Yoga Centre has set new standards for quality, service, image, value and professionalism. We have excelled in our category through hard work and complete dedication to our customers. This award is a testament to the skill, passion and vision of our company. We truly appreciate this recognition and the association with the exclusive Top Choice Award circle of winners in North America. Top Choice Awards is an International market research firm, focusing on the experience of the customers. Since 2005, winners are released annually to recognize and showcase the most trusted and appealing service organizations and businesses across North America; with the launch of their new social media voting platform;...
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Top Yoga Studio of 2017 in Ottawa!

Top Yoga Studio of 2017 in Ottawa!

PranaShanti Yoga Centre is Nominated as Top Yoga Studio of 2017 in Ottawa Vote for us! Voting is OPEN until January 6! Your vote is important. It helps Top Choice Awards discover new, noteworthy businesses, and helps other people in Ottawa enjoy better overall products and services. By voting you are also thanking those who proudly serve you and our community every day. Show your support and vote for us! Vote HERE!...
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