What we practise, and where it comes from
The teachings of Swami Sivananda
My practice is rooted in the teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, 1887 to 1963. He trained as a doctor and practised medicine for a decade before giving it up, reaching Rishikesh in 1924 and teaching there for the rest of his life.
He taught yoga as a way of living rather than as an hour of exercise. For him, yoga was expressed in how we think, speak and act as much as in anything done on a mat.
Asana Sequence
The physical practice begins with Surya Namaskara, preparing the body through movement, mobility, and breath before moving into the asana practice.
From there, we work through a sequence of 12 foundational postures, traditionally organized across eight groups of asana:
Inversions · Forward Bends · Backward Bends · Lateral Bends · Spinal Twists · Abdominal Poses · Relaxation · Meditative Poses
Swami Sivananda designed the asana sequence as a complete practice, moving the spine through its major directions while creating balance between opposing movements. What one posture contracts or compresses, the next helps release and restore, allowing the body to return to a state of balance rather than accumulating strain.
We work with these foundational postures through different variations, allowing everyone from complete beginners to experienced practitioners to explore the practice in a way that suits their needs and abilities.
What one hour holds
How We Practice
Our classes are conducted in guided, progressive batches, with each session building upon the previous one. We approach each posture step by step, establishing a strong foundation before gradually developing the mobility, strength, flexibility, and endurance needed to practice with greater ease.
The focus is not on rushing through postures, but on cultivating alignment, breath awareness, and steady progress over time.
There is no expectation to force the body into a particular shape. We meet you where you are. Practices are accessible to beginners while offering depth and progression for returning practitioners.
