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| Benefits of Asana, Yoga Postures |
| Benefits of Savasana, complete relaxation |
| The Yogic Diet |
| Yogic Breathing, pranayama |
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PRIVATE YOGA INSTRUCTION WITH ANJALI
Whether you want to improve technique in specific asanas, relaxation, and meditation techniques, or if you are just beginning a yoga practice, private yoga instruction is a great way to advance and reach your goals. Anjali has taught private yoga lessons in Baltimore for the past three years within such institutions as the University of Maryland Medical System, St. Paul's School for Girls, Chase Braxton, Johns Hopkins (ayurveda conference) and more... and to individual athletes, professors, office workers, elderly, those suffering from chronic pains, and people in many walks of life who seek to tailor their yoga practices to serve their daily needs. She is focusing on in-studio private yoga lessons, where you will get the benefits of practicing in a satvic (clean, pure) environment of the yoga studio and can focus without the distractions of your home or office.
Call 410-662-8626 to schedule an appointment with Anjali.
Cost
Single private lesson 1 - 1.5 hours: $80 per session
Schedule 3 or more classes: $60 per session
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION |
Historical Texts on Yoga |
| "Intense discipline, self study, and devotion to God are the purifying actions which result in the attainment of yoga" - Yoga Sutra 11.1 |
| Yoga is a synthesis of theory and practice. Yoga means "joining" in the ancient language of Sanskrit. In India, this “joining” refers to the union of the individual consciousness with the Universal Conciousness. In Judeo-Christian and Western contexts, Yoga generally refers to the union of body, mind, and soul. |
The earliest references to yoga were in the ancient scriptures called the Vedas. In one part of the Vedas, the Upanishads, some verses speak of the yoga concepts - quieting the chattering mind, controlling senses, and experiencing the true Self. Other texts, the Ramayana and Mahabharata are foundations of Indian culture and religion, in which epic characters practice yoga and meditation before embarking upon challenging endeavors. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna outlines the Yoga of action (karma yoga), the Yoga of Knowledge (jnana yoga), the yoga of Devotion (bhakti yoga), and the yoga of controlling the mind (raja yoga). He teaches Arjuna, his devotee, to meditate, to realize the nature of the universe and the joining of the soul and Divinity. Circa 200-800 B.C. Patanjali compiled many of the earlier accounts into The Yoga Sutras. Since then, many have written on the subjects in these ancient texts. Now yoga is practiced worldwide, as human beings from around the world continue to search for their connection to the Divine and to each other.
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| The author of more than 200 books on yoga, Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj , is one of the world's most inspiring gurus. To learn more about this spiritual master and the teachings of traditional yoga, you can download some of his writings from http:// www.dlshq.org. Other recommended texts, written by his disciples, are: "The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga" by Swami Vishnu Devananda, "The Sivananda Companion to Yoga" by The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, "The Hatha Yoga Pradipika" by Swami Vishnu Devananda, and "Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha" by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, among others. |
Benefits of Asana, Yoga Postures |
Modern research has begun to show the many positive effects of yoga, namely:
heightened immune function
decreased blood pressure
better sleep
mental focus and clarity
increased flexibility and strength
relief from stress and body ache
easier digestion
and greater vitality.
This is because yoga asanas are a complete system of proper exercise geared for improving physical, mental, and emotional stability, and attaining perfect peace. |
Benefits of Savasana, complete relaxation |
In modern social societies, people relax by going to parties, bars, movies, or even working out at the gym while plugged into audio and TV systems—in short, relaxation is paradoxically equated with constant physical activity and mental stimulation. However, in order to regulate the functions of body and mind, it is best to economize the energy expended by allowing the mind and body to slow down, quiet, rejuvenate, and achieve balance.
The disciplined practice of savasana, proper relaxation, teaches the yoga student to become aware of the workings of the mind and of physical and mental habits that repress and/or waste energy. During complete relaxation, minimal energy is consumed to keep life flowing in the body, the remaining portion of vital energy, or "prana" is stored and conserved.
Much of the body's energy is used up in anxiety over work related challenges. It is well known that if one truly relaxes for a short portion of each day, there would be more energy for work itself. |
| The Yogic Diet is a lacto-vegetarian diet, rich in proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. The yogi carefully discriminates between qualities of food items by using the categories of the three gunas: Sattva (clean/pure), Rajas (stimulating, disturbing, active), and Tamas (sluggish.) For more information, visit www.sivananda.org |
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Yogic Breathing, pranayama |
| Breathing exercises are used to balance the mind, body, and emotions, and prepare the practitioner for meditation. The disciplined and faithful practice of pranayama allows one to control the prana, vital energy, which is essential in order to control the mind. |
| Full Yogic Breath is a three part breath, in which the abdominal, thoracic, and clavicular areas of the trunk expand as one inhales and contract as one exhales. Babies naturally breathe this way, as do most people when they are asleep. The breath itself is rhythmic, calming, and nourishing. |
| However, as we grow into adults, the fight or flight posture (hunched upper back and shoulders) solidifies in our bodies, our breath becomes shallower, and we use only the top portion of our lungs to breathe. Full Yogic Breath is an essential component of every yoga practice, because it engages the body in deep inhalation and exhalation techniques so that the blood is fully oxygenated, internal organ systems thoroughly cleansed, and the mind relaxed. Merely learning asanas (postures) without proper breathing is an incorrect way to practice of yoga, since all of the movements and postures should be integrated with the breath. |
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