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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Dry Brushing

Dry Brushing

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...
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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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Summer: Pitta Season

Summer: Pitta Season

The most striking characteristics of summer—the heat, the long days of bright sun, the sharp intensity, and the transformative nature of the season—are directly in line with pitta dosha, which is why summer is considered a pitta season. And, despite the fact that some climates are exceptionally humid this time of year, the cumulative effect of intense heat is to dry things out, so summer is also considered dry. On a more subtle level, summer is a time of expansion and mobility—traits more characteristic of vata dosha. While there is plenty to celebrate about summer’s unique personality, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. A summer seasonal routine is aimed at fostering diet and lifestyle habits that will help prevent the over-accumulation of summer qualities and allow you to enjoy the unique gifts that summertime has to offer. General Recommendations for Pitta Season Your primary focus through the summer months will be to keep pitta balanced by staying cool, mellowing intensity with relaxation,...
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Summertime Fun Savings is BACK!

Summertime Fun Savings is BACK!

Our annual Summertime Fun Savings is back! We're always so impressed how dedicated our yogis are through the Ottawa winter, that when it comes to summer, we want to help you maintain the benefits of a regular yoga practice for health and vibrancy through the warm months. That's why between NOW and August 31st, 2022, when you purchase a 10 or 20 class package, you'll receive some FREE yoga in the month of August. The class packages do not expire and the bonus classes are valid for use between August 1 to August 31st, 2022. Our Class Packages and the FREE August classes can be used for In-Person and Online Classes. When you purchase... A 10 class package = 5 free August classes. A 20 class package = 10 free August classes. You can purchase online or at the Centre, and your classes will be added to your account. It's a tremendous thing to get extra support in maintaining your practice! Yoga's a little like regular...
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Yoga in Our Park

Yoga in Our Park

Take IN-PERSON Yoga Classes OUTDOORS with your favourite PranaShanti Teachers!   Bring your yoga mat or beach towel and get ready to practice yoga outdoors in the summertime! All classes are OPEN to ALL levels, abilities and ages. Everyone is welcome.   Classes are offered 4 days per week - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.   Bring a yoga mat or beach towel and bottle of water with you. Days and Times:   Saturdays: 9 am to 10 amSundays: 10 am to 11 amTuesdays: 6 pm to 7 pmThursdays: 6 pm to 7 pm Location:   Our Park at 950 Gladstone Avenue! Our NEW Centre has a lovely grass and garden area to the left of our building. Bike racks available at the front and rear of building.   Cost: PranaShanti Drop-In Fee Class Package or Membership. Sign Up on the Class Schedule. Pre-registration required and space is limited to 24 participants.   Class Cancellation Policy: Due to limited spots for In-Person attendance,...
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Writing to Write by Jessie Carson

Writing to Write by Jessie Carson

Have you ever wanted to start (or re-start) a writing practice and just can’t seem to make it happen? Maybe you think you don’t have the time or you don’t think it’s productive or that there is no benefit unless you publish. Those roadblocks along with many other myths are just some of the excuses we tell ourselves to keep us from creating and reaping the benefits that come from a creative practice. Writing for no other purpose but ‘to write’ can be a helpful thing to do during times of uncertainty. It is a simple practice where writing for as short a time as three minutes can be beneficial after one session. While there are no guarantees, writing often helps people make sense of things going on in their lives. Writing can also help with processing and coping. No matter what ‘purpose’ we have for writing, many people know that writing can be settling and comforting. Franz Kafka, a writer of...
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Work Exchange and Scholarship Program

Work Exchange and Scholarship Program

We recognise that Yoga Teacher Training is a life commitment and that it can also present financial challenges. Since 2008, through the generosity of donations and believing in the concept of serving one’s community, we have been offering Work Exchange and Scholarship positions for our 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and 200-hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Programs. As of 2021, over 125 individuals have participated in this program. In the spirit of community and to support students becoming yoga teachers we welcome you to explore and share in these amazing opportunities. Work Exchange Program In exchange for working with the teacher trainers, this program offers the ability for a student to earn full certification at no monetary cost, (excluding the cost of textbooks, retreat accommodations, and food). Participation in this program requires full attendance on all weekends and the commitment of approximately 40 hours of seva or service hours. The work exchange program is available to students with an annual income of less than...
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