The practice of yoga dates back at least 1,000 years and continues to this day to be an experiential path to spiritual enlightenment.
Understanding the history and evolution of this practice can shed more light on its current iteration and allow us to explore its various aspects in more depth, as yoga was meant to be much more than exercise.
This training will explore central themes in some of the most significant historical texts on yoga and yoga practice such as the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in order to gain a better understanding of yoga’s beginnings and cultural roots.
We will examine in more detail the larger context of yoga practice beyond asana and pranayama, as well as the origins of the physical practice of yoga postures and its evolution as the central focus in the West’s adoption of yoga.
This training is designed for yoga teachers, yoga practitioners, and all those wanting to learn more about the origins of yoga, its historical and cultural context, and philosophical underpinnings.
Learning Objectives:
A better understanding of the cultural context of yoga’s origins and its overall aims.
A clearer picture of how yoga has evolved to what it is today, especially in the West.
How we can apply classical yoga philosophy concepts to modern-day practice to enrich our experience and that of our students.
Dates and Times:
Friday, May 3, 2024 to Sunday, May 5, 2024
Friday, May 3, 2024 - 6 pm ET to 9 pm ET;
Saturday, May 4, 2024 - 10 am ET to 5 pm ET;
Sunday, May 5, 2024 - 10 am ET to 5 pm ET.
Breaks will be provided.
Cost: SAVE $45.00 by registering on or before February 29, 2024, for $450.00 per person. $495.00 per person thereafter.
Fee includes the training, manual and certificate.
This course is open to the general public. 6 months to 1 year of regular yoga practice is recommended for participation.
For 200 Hour certified Yoga Teachers this course provides CEUs with Yoga Alliance. This course is also part of our Yoga Alliance 300 Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training.
MENOPAUSE is one of the most significant times in a woman/person's life. So why don’t we celebrate it?
Because no one talks about it! For many of us, we have been led to believe that menopause is something to fear, to dread, to be ashamed of, to ignore until “oh, there it is”!
Menopause can and should be a beautiful time in a woman/person’s life. No longer tied to children or family obligations. No longer burdened by periods or worried about getting pregnant. You have accumulated years of experience and wisdom that you now get to pass onto others. You are the revered Queen or Sovereign of goddesses!
This course is designed to bring awareness to this topic, practices that can help alleviate symptoms, and empower individuals in their own health and self-care journey.
We will also create a ritual space for people to talk openly about their experiences, share their wisdom, and to honour and celebrate each other in whatever phase you’re in. This will include a meditation practice to clear away the old you and step fiercely into the NEW YOU!
Topics include:
What is menopause and signs you might be there
Common conditions related to menopause such as stress, insomnia, brain fog, restless legs, and those dang hot flashes!
Not so common conditions such as formication (not what you think!) and joint issues
Pelvic floor health & my favourite core strengtheners
How Yoga can help
Other topics including lifestyle, sexuality, the importance of sisterhood and getting support from loved ones
Workshop Format:
Opening circle
Meditation & journaling exercise
Lecture
Discussion & Questions
Putting it all into practice
Please bring writing material such as journal/ notebook and pen.
This workshop is open to women and non-binary people - whether you’re not quite there or already past menopause. We all have something to learn and share with each other!
No previous yoga experience required. Variations and modifications will be offered for those with limited mobility.
This workshop is also beneficial for yoga teachers and anyone wanting to support others in their menopausal journey.
Cost: $95.00 per person. Maximum 15 in-person participants.
Location: PranaShanti Yoga Centre, 950 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, ON. Studio: Soul Room.
Note: This workshop is intended to open dialogue and bring awareness to menopause. In no way is it meant to diagnose, treat or act as medical advice. Each student is encouraged to consult with their health care provider and use their own discretion in deciding what part of the practices would be best for them.
Experience the holistic and restorative benefits of combining Yin Yoga with traditional Thai Massage.
Join yoga teacher and Thai Massage Therapist Eric Desjardins as he shares his extensive expertise, skilfully guiding you through restorative Yin while addressing your aches and pains with traditional Thai Massage.
By systematically holding Yin poses designed to generate internal pressure and stretching the body's deep tissues and fibers with the aid of gravity, and simultaneously applying traditional Thai acupressure techniques to release tension, we will unlock and enhance the body's innate capacity to heal—physically, mentally, and emotionally—resulting in a profound sense of relaxation and well-being.
Indulge yourself in this 90-minute session of rejuvenating Yin and traditional Thai Massage, set in the comforting and grounded energy of the warmly heated Body room.
This unique offering is truly not to be missed!
Cost: $65.00 per person in advance, $75.00 per person day of.
Maximum of 8 participants.
**BONUS**: Registered participants will receive a voucher for 15% off a private 1-on-1 60-minute Thai Yoga Massage appointment with Eric. Valid for 60-days.
Location: PranaShanti Yoga Centre, 950 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, ON. Studio: Body Room.
Join Lindsay & Nicole for a revitalizing journey to renewed energy and serenity.
This workshop blends the heating elements of Yang with the cooling energy of Yin poses. Lindsay will guide you through a nourishing and balanced practice for your whole body.
After a short introduction to reiki, we will start to move slowly, in the warmth of the Body Room studio, we build some heat through gentle flows and finally settle into supported Yin shapes.
During the longer holds, reiki practitioner Nicole Hagen will offer mini reiki treatments to help move stagnant energy and encourage deeper relaxation.
Leave feeling lighter, refreshed, and ready to create a blissful spring season!
Cost: $60.00 per person in advance, $65.00 per person day of.
Location: PranaShanti Yoga Centre, 950 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa. Studio: Body Room.
An introduction to the guiding principles of yoga therapy including a review of assessment models as well as how to assess specific client imbalances, identify contraindications and implement appropriate tools based on client assessments.
Learn general yoga therapy practices for common conditions such as: low back ailments, heart disease, respiratory/energetic imbalances, addiction, obesity/digestive ailments and relationship issues.
Students will gain knowledge of the risk factors that influence health behaviors and how yoga therapy intervention programs can be applied to improve health outcomes for specific conditions. In addition, students will be introduced to the basic principles of developing a therapeutic relationship as well as how to apply such principles in practice.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the theory behind and application of several primary models used in Yoga Therapy to build client relations, assess client goals and needs, and create yoga therapy programs that promote and support health and well-being.
Apply the various tools of yoga in the design of client-centered yoga therapy programs and understand the contraindications of these tools for specific conditions and circumstances.
Have a full understanding of the business of Yoga Therapy, in regards to any laws, regulations and guidelines.
Work with and seek out partnerships with other healthcare fields, peers and similar networks to help clients.
Understand the importance of personal growth, practice and continuous learning to maintain a evolving yoga therapy practice.
Small Group Exercises: Pairs and triads reporting back to full group.
Case Study.
Homework: Series of questions to be answered in writing.
Dates and Timings:
Friday, May 10, 2024 to Sunday, May 12, 2024
Friday: 6 pm ET - 9 pm ET
Saturday: 9 am ET - 6 pm ET
Sunday: 9 am ET - 6 pm ET
Cost: $550.00 per person SAVE $55.00 by registering before March 31, 2024 for $495.00.
Notes:
This course is open to ALL yoga students and teachers of all disciplines. For 200 hour certified Yoga Teachers this course provides CEUs with Yoga Alliance.
This course is part of our 800 Hour Yoga Therapy Training Program.
Using sound as a form of healing dates back to ancient cultures. Records of using gongs have surfaced from as early as ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times.
A Gong Meditation, is a form of sound healing designed to offer:
relaxation;
emotional release;
pain relief.
Participants lie down and get comfortable on their yoga mat in a yoga relaxation pose (savasana). As the teacher plays the gong or gongs, a disc-shaped percussion instrument, using a mallet, participants are invited to relax and to passively soak up the benefits of the sound and vibrations.
Cost: PranaShanti Drop-In Fee, Class Package or Membership.
This class is held in our warmly heated studio, the Body Room, with the lighting dimmed for a restful and restoring experience.
Yoga blocks, blankets and bolsters are available in the studio room. Please bring with you the additional props you require to rest comfortably for the 60 minute session. Dress comfortably.
Enjoy a nurturing and relaxing class incorporating Restorative Yoga to fully relax while receiving the healing benefits of massage using therapeutic essential oils. This is Bliss Yoga!
Suitable for all levels. This class is beneficial for conditions related to stress, illness and injury. Plus it makes a great gift for Mother's Day! (hint, hint!)
"When you relax, truly relax, then healing begins..." -Melissa
Cost: $55.00 per person in advance, $60.00 per person day of.
Please note that space is limited to 10 participants. It is highly recommended you sign up early to ensure a spot in this workshop.
If you just allow your body and mind to rest, the healing will come by itself”. Thich Nhat Hanh
Give yourself the gift of deep relaxation and open up to incredible healing, as you immerse yourself into the sound vibration of the Gong.
The Gong is an instrument of healing. It’s incredible vibration supports a deeper ability to relax, balances the nervous and glandular systems of the body, opens the Chakras to revitalize energy pathways, soothes emotional and physical pain, supports an overall emotional transformation AND it simply feels wonderful.
In this world of unprecedented change where we are bombarded with constant stress and uncertainty, often leading to isolation and disconnection from our true self; taking time to rejuvenate and heal ourselves in mind, body and soul is crucial.
During this 75-minute practice, participants will engage in a short breathing exercise (pranayama), prepare the body for rest with some gentle warmups, then lay down to rest and rejuvenate to the vibration of the Gong. The practice will end with a 7-11 Kundalini Yoga inspired meditation.
Cost: PranaShanti Drop-In, Class Package or Membership. All levels and abilities welcome.
Join Sophie Léger (Vani Devi) for an experience of chanting. Kirtan is a call and response style of singing, mainly in Sanskrit, that originated in India a long time ago. It is a part of Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of love and devotion).
Sophie sings from the heart and the warm, rich and healing power of her voice penetrates deep into the heart of others. She loves singing in community and wants nothing more than to create a safe space for others to explore the essence of who they are through the healing power of chanting.
She will accompany herself with the harmonium, guitar and djembe. Please bring your own percussion instruments if you wish (a few will be provided). Booklets with lyrics will also be provided.
Cost: $20.00 per person or PranaShanti Class Package or PranaShanti Membership.
Join Anne Wanda Tessier for an afternoon of connection, creativity, and rejuvenation this spring.
Together, we will reflect on intentions and opportunities for personal growth, we will enjoy a relaxing hot-stone restorative yoga practice with live music, and have the opportunity to create, connect and share with like-minded people.
Let’s celebrate the vibrant energy of spring! Our retreat is suitable for all levels of yoga practitioners, including those who are new to the practice.
This afternoon Retreat includes:
Gentle yoga;
Hot stone restorative yoga with live music;
Guided meditation and journaling;
Seasonal snacks and tea.
Cost: Early Bird Savings! Register by April 30,2024, and save $20.00 for $95.00 per person, $115.00 per person thereafter.
Maximum 18 participants.
Location: PranaShanti Education Centre, 45 Eccles Street, Ottawa, Ontario, (Chinatown).
Our 2,500 square foot Education Centre offers a large open concept training area with high ceilings and an abundance of natural light and excellent ventilation. There is a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, kettle and dishware. We have a dining/boardroom with conference table and chairs, 2 gender neutral bathrooms, reading room, mini Boutique and our Administration Office.
The full moon is a special time, especially for those who are following a yogic path, because it is an optimum time for clearing and balancing our mind and our energy.
The moon is deeply and intimately connected with our mind and our thoughts. Yoga, meditation and sound can help to cleanse feelings of agitation, and can even provide us with a great opportunity to let go of the mental or emotional baggage that has been weighing us down.
Practicing at the full moon also help us to unleash our creativity, whether we are focused on specific creative projects or we need new ways of thinking about the problems and issues we are facing. This practice can help us to release old, stuck, energy that no longer supports us.
During the class, we will clear our mind and balance our body’s chakras (energy centers) through a variety of yoga practices including postures (asana), breath work (pranayam), meditation, savasana (relaxation) and sound.
Cost: $40.00 per person in advance, $45.00 per person day of. Herbal tea and cookies included.
Location: PranaShanti Education Centre, 45 Eccles Street, Ottawa, Ontario, (Chinatown).
Our 2,500 square foot Education Centre offers a large open concept training area with high ceilings and an abundance of natural light and excellent ventilation. There is a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, kettle and dishware. We have a dining/boardroom with conference table and chairs, 2 gender neutral bathrooms, reading room, mini-Boutique and our Administration Office.
Note: Each teacher brings their unique gifts to the class which may include singing bowls and/or Gongs for the sound bath.
Join us for an enriching in-person workshop that will elevate your well-being through a carefully curated blend of activities. Begin your journey with a 30-minute gentle yoga class, meticulously designed to instill mindfulness through soothing stretches and poses, nurturing your body and calming your mind.
Following the yoga session, immerse yourself in an invigorating one-hour transformative experience titled "Soundbath for Letting Go and Allowing New." Indulge in the enchanting symphony of elemental sounds, including the calming ebb of water, grounding drum beats, celestial gong resonance, and delicate chimes. This immersive sonic adventure is crafted to encourage the release of old energies, paving the way for positive vibes and fresh perspectives.
Allow the harmonious blend of sounds to guide you towards rejuvenation, leaving you with a newfound sense of serenity. The combination of gentle yoga and the transformative sound experience promises a unique and revitalizing journey that will linger with you long after the workshop concludes.
Cost: $40.00 per person, $45.00 per person day of.
Location: PranaShanti Yoga Centre, 950 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, ON. Studio: Soul Room.
Secure your spot for "Harmonic Renewal" now and embark on a holistic wellness experience that will refresh your body, mind, and spirit.
At the intersection of Yin Yoga and Gong Meditation is a sweet spot where mind and body are totally relaxed and totally aligned. The Yin Yoga practice lengthens and opens the physical body, massaging deep connective tissue in a most relaxing way.
The gong’s warm vibrations envelop your entire being in wave after wave of preternatural sound that will affect you at the cellular level. Chances are you’ll feel pretty good after this practice.
Come share this experience, every third Saturday at 3:00 pm.
Cost: PranaShanti Drop-In Fee, Class Package or Membership.
This class is held in our warmly heated studio, the Body Room, with the lighting dimmed for a restful and restoring experience.
Yoga blocks, blankets and bolsters are available in the studio room. Please bring with you the additional props you require to rest comfortably for the 60 minute session. Dress comfortably.
It is the nature of this world to share its burden with you.
And it is my nature to remove it from your back.
Hafiz
In this 2 hour immersive experience, we will explore the rich tradition of Bhakti, the yoga of love and devotion, and uncover how poetry serves as a profound vehicle for spiritual practice. In our time together, we'll delve into the timeless wisdom of poet saints like Mirabai, Rumi, and Hafiz, exploring how their verses offer a sanctuary from the stresses of modern life, offering solace and connection in today's fast-paced world.
In this workshop, you will:
discover poetry as a yoga practice
rest into the loving essence of a sacred poem through a guided meditation
move through a rejuvenating yoga practice, infused with the spirit of poetry
receive guidance to source and create your own poem from the depths of your practice
Whether you're a seasoned yogi or new to the practice, this workshop offers a sacred space to explore the transformative power of poetry and its profound impact on your yoga journey. No experience or knowledge required.
Join us as we embark on a voyage of self-discovery, guided by the luminous words of the poet saints, and emerge with rekindled hearts.
Please bring a mat, a notebook, and a writing utensil.
In addition, you will receive:
strategies to integrate your experience into daily life
list of recommended books and poets to take home and continue your practice
Cost: $60.00 per person in advance, $70.00 per person day of.
It is the nature of this world to share its burden with you.
And it is my nature to remove it from your back.
Hafiz
In this 2 hour immersive experience, we will explore the rich tradition of Bhakti, the yoga of love and devotion, and uncover how poetry serves as a profound vehicle for spiritual practice. In our time together, we'll delve into the timeless wisdom of poet saints like Mirabai, Rumi, and Hafiz, exploring how their verses offer a sanctuary from the stresses of modern life, offering solace and connection in today's fast-paced world.
In this workshop, you will:
discover poetry as a yoga practice
rest into the loving essence of a sacred poem through a guided meditation
move through a rejuvenating yoga practice, infused with the spirit of poetry
receive guidance to source and create your own poem from the depths of your practice
Whether you're a seasoned yogi or new to the practice, this workshop offers a sacred space to explore the transformative power of poetry and its profound impact on your yoga journey. No experience or knowledge required.
Join us as we embark on a voyage of self-discovery, guided by the luminous words of the poet saints, and emerge with rekindled hearts.
Please bring a mat, a notebook, and a writing utensil.
In addition, you will receive:
strategies to integrate your experience into daily life
list of recommended books and poets to take home and continue your practice
Cost: $60.00 per person in advance, $70.00 per person day of.
Join Valentina for a post-race yoga class designed specifically for runners to celebrate the accomplishment of those 5, 10, 21 or 42 Kms together.
Yoga is the perfect recovery activity after a race through conscious movement and the selection of postures that invite us to stretch the muscles and relieve the stress produced by running. The recovery always becomes much faster and more effective when you move.
Valentina, who is also a runner and will be part of the Half Marathon, will be leading the practice based on her own experience as an athlete and yoga teacher.
We will take good care of you!
Bring your medal! Let's celebrate!
Enjoy this class with a fellow race buddy, friend, family member, partner, loved one or come on your own for some restorative time.
Cost: PranaShanti Class Package, Membership or Drop-In Fee.
Location: 950 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, ON. Studio: Body Room. Weather permitting outdoors in our Garden.
Monday, May 27th to Monday, June 17th, 5:30pm - 6:45pm
In-Person Workshop Series
18% of Canadians under 65 are not getting enough sleep, which can lead to a variety of health and lifestyle issues (statcan).
This 4-week series will help improve your sleep using tools based on yogic teachings.
We will explore:
Why we sleep
Different levels of relaxation
Stress and how it affects your sleep
Simple exercises and practices for falling asleep and staying asleep,
Bedtime routines
The workshop series is open to everyone looking to improve their sleep. No yoga experience necessary.
Dates and Times:
Mondays, May 27, 2024 to June 17, 2024
5:30 pm ET to 6:45 pm pm ET
Cost:SAVE when you register early! $185.00 per person for the 4-week series before April 30, 2024, $210.00 per person thereafter.
Dress in comfortable clothes that you can move in easily. Although there are many props at PranaShanti, if you have some favourite ones at home, please bring them with you. This may include a yoga mat, blocks, a blanket or cushion.
Location: PranaShanti Yoga Centre, 950 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, ON. Studio: Mind Room.
"Mental peace, absence of worry, fear, anxiety, and responsibilities in life, and freedom from disease contributes to sound and dreamless sleep. He who knows the science of relaxation, gets sound sleep the moment he lies down in his bed.”
200-Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training FREE Info. Session
Monday, May 27th, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Online Info. Session
Interested in deepening your yoga practice on and off the mat? Interested in taking your experience to the next level by becoming a Yoga Teacher?
To find out more about our upcoming Hatha Yoga Teacher Training, please join us and bring your questions!
This will be an online session. In advance of the session, everyone signed up will be emailed the meeting link and access code.
PranaShanti Yoga Centre offers internationally recognized Yoga Teacher Training programs in Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. We are an approved 200-hour and 300-hour Registered Yoga School (RYS) through Yoga Alliance.
Sound healing uses a variety of instruments, including crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, soft drumming, chimes and other acoustic instruments to create a relaxing soundscape where your body falls into a state of deep rest and, thus, your mind quiets down substantially. Several gentle and supportive yoga postures are woven through the experience to further relax the body and calm the nervous system.
Come to this 90 minute sound healing session ready to be guided into deep rest and rejuvenation. Wear comfortable clothing and bring along a shawl or blanket.
Cost: $45.00 per person.
Note: Please bring your yoga mat and any additional props you require to rest comfortably. We are providing bolsters, blocks, and blankets. You may like to bring an eye pillow and meditation cushion.
Chair Yoga adapts traditional yoga poses so that they can be done with a chair for support, making yoga more accessible for all people.
Our society is aging and there are many people unable to practice a standard yoga class. Chair yoga also provides a gentle but effective practice for those with mobility or disability issues.
The chair takes the place of the yoga mat, and poses are seated or supported by the chair. You get a warm-up, stretching and strengthening, whether you're coming off a sports injury, challenged by the physical limits of aging, or have been sitting for too many hours at your desk.
Program Outline:
This program will offer you the tools to help you and/or your students build strength, awareness and confidence as well as to increase well-being both physically and mentally.
Learn how to work with this ever growing group who can get so much benefit from the practice of yoga with the assistance of a chair!
This program is Yoga Alliance recognized and consists of 15 hours of contact teaching.
Topics covered include:
Teaching a 30-60 min chair yoga class
Teaching to a group living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Teaching a group with Multiple Sclerosis and other causes of limited mobility
Teaching chair yoga for office workers
Working with other common issues that make a chair necessary
How to set up the class and how to teach from a chair
Practicum – Students will have the opportunity to practice teach
Anatomy of aging
Mental aspects of aging
Yoga Philosophy and aging
Meditation and Mantras
Storytelling and other ways to share the yogic philosophy
How to find work as a chair yoga instructor
Volunteer opportunities
Dates and Timings:
Friday, May 31, 2024 to Sunday, June 2, 2024
Friday – 6 pm ET to 9 pm ET (Chair Yoga Class experience)
Saturday – 10 am ET to 4 pm ET
Sunday – 10 am ET to 4 pm ET
Cost and Registration:
SAVE $45.00 by registering on or before March 31, 2024, for $450.00 per person. $495.00 per person thereafter.
Fee includes the training, manual and certificate.
If you live away from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and would like printed training materials to be sent to you, please ensure you sign up at least 10 days before the course start date in order for us to ship the materials to you. Otherwise e-documents will be provided, where possible.
Note: This course is open to the general public. 6 months to 1 year of regular yoga practice is recommended for participation.
300 Hour Program - Elective Module - 15 Hours
Location: PranaShanti Education Centre, 45 Eccles Street, Ottawa, Ontario, (Chinatown).
Our 2,500 square foot Education Centre offers a large open concept training area with high ceilings and an abundance of natural light and excellent ventilation. There is a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, kettle and dishware. We have a dining/boardroom with conference table and chairs, 2 gender neutral bathrooms, reading room, mini Boutique and our Administration Office.
