Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Center

By Yoga Teacher, tony eason On February 26, 2010 Under YOGA NEWS As part of my 2010 AIDSLifecycle training, I have been enriching my personal yoga practice and yoga teaching skills by visiting various yoga classes, yoga teachers, and yoga studios in the San Francisco Bay Area.



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At 10:30am., Sunday, 21 February 2010, I revisited the Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Center of San Francisco for the morning hatha yoga class. (After my last experience, I walked with lightness & "I laughed all the way home").

Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Center
1200 Arguello Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 681-2731 [map]

Being familiar with the traditional Sivananda Yoga Sequence, I sat patiently in Virasana. Yet minutes later, I noticed that I was not as familiar as "I though I was ....." Unlike the Iyengar Tradition, I should have been resting patiently in Savasana.

Check out the sequence.

• Savasana
• *Pranayama = kapalabhati then anuloma viloma
• Savasana
• Surya Namaskar B
• Supta Padangusthasana & Double Leg Lifts
• Sirasana Cycle
• Savasana
• Salamba Sarvangasana Cycle
• Halasana (followed by Setu Banda Sarvangasana etc)
• Matsyasana
• Savasana
• Paschimottanasana
• Incline plane
• Relax on abdomen
• Bhujangasana
• Salabhasana
• Urdhva Dhanurasana
• Ardha Matsyendrasana
• Bakasana / Sirsasana II / Pincha Mayurasana
• Uttanasana
• Utthita Trikonasana
• Savasana - final realxation

Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda, one of the Yoga masters of the 20th century, is the inspiration behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.

"Born in 1887 in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, South India, Swami Sivananda whose name was then Kuppuswami, was a brilliant boy at studying as well as gymnastics and naturally inclined toward spiritual and religious practices. His parents were very devoted to Lord Siva and Kuppuswami was eager to join them twice daily for worship (Puja) and Kirtan (Mantra chanting)" - Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Center

The Sivananda Yoga Sequence can be approached on different levels therefore, everyone can benefit from their efforts. The postures have some variations which differ from the Iyengar tradition. Yet, after class, I felt simply "GREAT." It was a workout AND a spiritual experience.

Definitely a worthwhile experience.

I WILL BE BACK!

• International Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Centers
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• Yoga Studios - Berlin
• Yoga Teacher - Melissa MacDonald
• Yoga Classes - San Francisco