Yoga Archives - PranaShanti

Annual Unlimited Holiday Special! Make a commitment to YOURSELF!

November 15, 2023November 15, 2023 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Make a commitment to yourself! This package is truly UNLIMITED! With the PranaShanti Annual Unlimited Package Holiday Special you will enjoy: No limit to the number of classes you practice Choose from over 65+ weekly drop in classes (online and in-person) 10% off events, workshops and trainings 10% off boutique purchases 1 60-minute therapeutic massage 5 drop-in guest yoga passes FREE yoga mat and towel rentals This special is available from NOW to January 31, 2024, with the holiday special price of $1,495.00 (HST included) which includes all the goodies listed above for 365 days! A $200.00 savings just on the package price with more savings all year long! Buy Online ...

Our 15 Year Anniversary

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Greetings and Happy Anniversary! Being part of this fantastic community has been an honour and a blessing. But without YOU, there would be no PranaShanti. So many of you have been with us from the very start, and so many more of you have found us somewhere along your own yoga journey. It seems like yesterday that we opened our doors, and here we are 15 years later, saying “where did the time go?” We've offered thousands of classes, hundreds of workshops, and trainings and have hosted many incredible facilitators we now feel blessed to call friends. Everyone has inspired us to keep going and continue supporting us with their energy, time, and love. For this year's festivities, you will see we have some fun prizes, giveaways and Class Package savings. We also have some surprises too! Join us for class or drop by, enjoy some organic tea, and browse the Centre and PranaShanti boutique. As we celebrate 15 remarkable years together, we're grateful...

The Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Reflections

September 15, 2023September 15, 2023 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

By Brittany Webster, owner of Consciously Curated Home As an expectant mother, I found that the focus of maternity seemed to be on preparing for childbirth and creating a beautiful nursery room for my baby. I could find books, guides, blogs and advice on morning sickness, birthing techniques, baby equipment and decorating - but those post-birth weeks when a mother is at her most vulnerable, when days are filled with feeding, changing, naps (and if you’re lucky you sneak in a shower) are shrouded in mystery. We don’t talk about the Fourth Trimester. Only a few select girlfriends imparted some honest words of wisdom having recently struggled through this time themselves. In the Western world, by and large, we’re encouraged to get back to routine, work, our ‘pre-baby’ body. These impossible standards, glorified in the media, on social, even by friends and family, are ridiculous. “You can’t even tell she had a baby!” “So when are you heading back to work?” In reality, we should be...

Prenatal Yoga Benefits

August 15, 2023August 15, 2023 by superadmin superadmin2 Comments

Pregnancy is a unique and transformative journey that brings many changes to both body and mind. Prenatal yoga is a practice that offers incredible benefits to anyone expecting a child. Here's why prenatal yoga is a fantastic choice for all parents-to-be: 1. Physical Comfort and Flexibility: Prenatal yoga focuses on gentle stretches and poses that promote flexibility and ease physical discomfort. This can help alleviate common pregnancy-related issues like muscle tension and back pain. 2. Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Prenatal yoga teaches relaxation techniques, deep breathing, and meditation that can help manage these feelings, promoting a sense of calmness and balance. 3. Connection with Baby: Prenatal yoga provides a space for building a strong bond with the unborn baby, fostering emotional connection and mindfulness during this transformative period. 4. Improved Strength and Stamina: Preparing for childbirth requires strength and stamina. Prenatal yoga includes exercises that help build strength, improve posture, and enhance overall physical endurance. 5. Preparation for Labor and Childbirth: Prenatal yoga equips you with valuable tools for labour and...

Discovering the Path to Teaching

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

Being a yoga teacher is more than poses. It's about guiding and inspiring others on their transformative journey. If you aspire to be a yoga teacher, here are some essential qualities to cultivate: 1️⃣ Dedication: Commit to personal practice. Continuously deepen your knowledge and refine your skills to provide authentic guidance to students. 2️⃣ Authenticity: Let your teaching reflect your genuine passion for yoga and create a space where students can connect with your authenticity. 3️⃣ Compassion: Create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. 4️⃣ Communication: Develop communication skills to clearly articulate instructions, provide meaningful feedback, and create dialogue. 5️⃣ Adaptability: Be open to different needs and abilities. Adjust your teaching to the challenges of the class to create an inclusive and accessible practice. 6️⃣ Continuous Learning: Never stop learning. Explore diverse yoga styles, attend workshops and trainings to expand your knowledge and keep your teaching fresh. 7️⃣ Mindfulness: Cultivate presence and mindfulness. Lead...

Summer: Pitta Season

June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 by superadmin superadminNo Comments

"Because summer is pitta season, your primary focus in the summer months will naturally be to keep pitta under control, but you’ll want to have a close eye on supporting healthy vata by countering excessive lightness, dryness, sharp intensity, subtlety, and mobility as well. Foods to Favor Focus on eating summer foods that are good for both vata and pitta: apples, coconut, dates, figs, melons, prunes and soaked raisins, asparagus, cucumbers, green beans, cooked leeks, okra, parsnips, sweet potatoes, summer squash, zucchini, kidney beans, mung beans, soft cheeses, cottage cheese, cow’s or goat’s milk, yogurt, amaranth, cooked oats, quinoa, white rice, and wheat. If you enjoy salad or raw vegetables, consider a lightly sautéed salad, blanched vegetables, and lubricate your greens with a generous amount of olive oil, sunflower oil, or ghee. Also consider some mild spices like fresh ginger, cardamom, clove, coriander, cumin, and turmeric to keep your digestive fire healthy. Acceptable Seasonal Indulgences Sweets are cooling, nourishing, and calming to both vata and pitta, so...

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. ...