Ottawa Yoga Blog - PranaShanti Yoga Centre Ottawa

Calm Your Nerves With Yoga

March 17, 2017March 17, 2017 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Calm Your Nerves with Yoga By Devinder Kaur When we face a stressful situation (or a life-threatening one), a surge of hormones prepares us to fight or flee. Our heart rate goes up, our muscles tense, and we are on alert. This is a natural survival mechanism called “the stress response.” Depending on our circumstances, we might activate the fight or flight response many times during a day. Traffic, loud noises, work deadlines, frustrating thoughts, and other concerns bring on the stress response and activate the sympathetic nervous system. The repeated surge of hormones takes its toll on the body and, over time, this low-grade chronic stress leads to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and muscle tension. If your sympathetic nervous system repeatedly springs into action, there will be an imbalance. The relaxation response is meant to counter the stress response and the effects of stress. Blood flow is redirected to the digestive and reproductive organs, and to the endocrine...

Bring LoveYourBrain to Ottawa!

January 23, 2017February 14, 2021 by Devinder Kaur5 Comments

We believe that yoga has the potential to transform the well being of those living with traumatic brain injury by improving their ability to strengthen and reconnect their mind and body. Bring the LoveYourBrain Program to Ottawa! Join our LoveYourBrain Fundraiser Saturday, April 1, 2017 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm LoveYourBrain is a non profit organization that supports those affected by brain injury. LoveYourBrain is dedicated to connecting, educating, and empowering people to prevent brain injury, support brain injury recovery and most importantly promote a brain healthy lifestyle. The organization was born after Kevin Pearce, a former professional snowboarder, suffered a traumatic brain injury while training for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. His road to recovery has brought to light the severity of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and the need for everyone to love their brain. LoveYourBrain programs are designed to build community, foster resilience, and help people understand the importance of loving your brain. They enable people who have experienced a TBI and those...

Top Yoga Studio of 2017 in Ottawa!

December 30, 2016December 30, 2017 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

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!...

Winter Solstice Celebration

December 16, 2016December 21, 2016 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Tuesday, December 20, 2016 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Midwinter's day has been an important time for celebration throughout the ages. On this shortest day of the year, the sun is at its lowest and weakest, a pivot point from which the light will grow stronger and brighter. This is the turning point of the year. To celebrate this sacred time we will walk an incredible light-filled Labyrinth that is being created for us in the Spirit Room! The labyrinth is a metaphor for what is sacred in our lives. When we walk the path inward, we carry our burdens with us. When we meditate or pray in the center, we ask for grace, forgiveness, and understanding. When we walk the path outward, we are lighter, more joyful and ready yet again to take on life's challenges. Live music by the local musical group called Saturnfly and will enhance our sacred experience as we are guided along our walk with their ambient soundscapes and live...

Golden Milk: Healing Tonic for Vitality and Flexibility

December 14, 2016November 28, 2024 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Turmeric is the most healing root for the body. It comes from the root of a plant which is grown mainly in India but it has been used in many countries for thousands of years as a healing food. It is known to be beneficial to the inner organs, the spine and the joints. It is purifying to the blood and promotes general good health. It also has external healing properties and can be used in masks and baths for the skin. Golden Milk can help to repair damage to nerve centers caused by drug abuse. Drink it every day for 40 days. When used internally, it should be cooked rather than raw, so that the body can more easily assimilate its healing powers. It is an essential nutrient for women over the age of 28. Golden Milk is especially beneficial for stiff joints and provides a source of lubrication for the entire system. It includes both essential oils and turmeric, both vital...

Annual Unlimited Holiday Special!

November 29, 2016April 23, 2020 by Devinder Kaur4 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 80+ weekly drop in classes 10% off special events, workshops and trainings 10% off all boutique purchases and Infrared Sauna sessions 10 complimentary yoga class passes to bring friends to class with you! Free yoga mat rentals This special is available from December 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017, with the holiday special price of $1,275.00 (HST included) which includes all the goodies listed above for 365 days! A $300.00 savings just on the package price with more savings all year long! Sign Up!...

Get to know Michael Stone!

November 10, 2016October 31, 2017 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

We are delighted to welcome Michael Stone back to PranaShanti on December 9-11, 2016 for a Master Class Weekend on Embodying Practices. Before Michael's arrival you may like to listen in on some of his podcasts to get a feel for his teaching. The Dharma Talks podcast with Michael Stone is a library of talks on a wide-range of topics, including bringing mindfulness and meditation practice into daily life; personal and community issues regarding mental health; and social change. The podcasts are recorded at live events so you might hear coughing, airplanes, cars, sirens, laughter, and peoples’ questions—all part of the intimate experience. Michael Stone is often described as a cross between a spiritual teacher and public intellectual. His ability to integrate traditional contemplative teachings from his studies in yoga, Zen, and Vipassana, with the insights of Western psychology, gives him a unique voice for a new generation of students integrating mindfulness with the demands of their busy lives. He is the author...

Ajeet Kaur Workshop and Concert

October 26, 2016October 26, 2024 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Ajeet Kaur Album Release Tour Featuring music from Ajeet’s new album "Haseya" Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm In this breakthrough album, Haseya, Ajeet Kaur takes a bold path into the healing world of sacred song. Haseya (which means to “rise up” or “she rises”) is deeply integrated with the rhythms of nature, the wisdom of our ancestors and an awakening of healing space, unlike any other music from the wealth of kundalini yoga inspired recordings. With attention towards the emergence of the sacred feminine and indigenous cultures, Haseya is a journey with sound to heal with the earth. "Heal Yourself, Heal the World" Workshop 6:00 – 7:30 pm Join Ajeet Kaur and her band for an experience of Kundalini Yoga, live music and deep reflection to tap into the most genuine way for your soul to live as a healing presence. Come Home to Your Soul! Please bring a yoga mat and meditation cushion. Pre-Album Release Live Music Concert 8 pm to 9:30 pm - Featuring...

Join Our Autumn 40 Day Yoga Challenge!

October 11, 2016December 14, 2016 by Devinder KaurNo Comments

Our 8 Year Anniversary Celebrations continue with a 40 Day Yoga Challenge! The Challenge runs from Tuesday, November 1, 2016 to Saturday, December 10, 2016 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 Tuesday, November 1! There are 3 optional team gatherings! 1. Tuesday, November 1, 5:45 PM - 7:15 PM ~ Kick Off Classes Join us for our Kick Off classes. We’ll follow the class 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 of...

“As Above, Psoas Below” with Todd Norian

October 5, 2016October 31, 2017 by Devinder Kaur1 Comment

"Most yoga students are aware that the psoas is a central player in asana, even if the muscle’s deeper function and design seem a mystery. A primary connector between the torso and the leg, the psoas is also an important muscle off the mat: it affects posture, helps stabilize the spine, and, if it’s out of balance, can be a significant contributor to low back and pelvic pain. The way that we use the psoas in our yoga practice can either help keep it healthy, strong, and flexible, or, conversely, can perpetuate harmful imbalances. The psoas major is the biggest and strongest player in a group of muscles called the hip flexors: together they contract to pull the thigh and the torso toward each other. The hip flexors can become short and tight if you spend most of your waking hours sitting, or if you repeatedly work them in activities like sit-ups, bicycling, and certain weight-training exercises. A tight psoas can cause...