The Tea Room

Any of you practice Yoga? I am thinking of doing something that doesn't have much impact on the joints, helps stretch the muscles and gets chi flowing. Is Yoga the way to go? I was looking at the Prasara Yoga web-site and figured that might be the way to go. Any comments? Thanks

Scott K

• Prasara

I've practiced yoga in the Satyananda tradition for quite a few year, and also teach it. The Satyananda tradition is a lot like that of Sivananda, it is very gentle and meditative. Quite the opposite to Ashtanga or Power Yoga.

The asanas can be so simple as practices for specific joints; feet, hands, wrists, neck and so on, that can be done with awareness and without pressure or strain. They are called the Pawanmuktasana series (Antireumatic series)  I teach classes where 70 year old ladies attend, who can barely move at all at first!  Everybody have the chance to work at their own pace. Every excercise can be adapted to be very gentle or intense, depending on what one is after.  The excercises are often combined with pranayama and meditative focus in the more advanced classes.

We practice all the classic yoga poses, including the sun salute (which works the whole body, I love it)

I'm not sure if there are any centers in your area, but it might be good to check for.  The Sivananda tradition is quite similar, and very widespread on the US/Canada continent. I live in Europe where the Satyananda tradition seems to be more common.  We have 8-10 schools just in little Sweden.

I have not heard about Prasara before, but from what I can see on the webpage, it looks rather intense. :)

Good luck!

: Any of you practice Yoga? I am thinking of doing something that doesn't have much impact on the joints, helps stretch the muscles and gets chi flowing. Is Yoga the way to go? I was looking at the Prasara Yoga web-site and figured that might be the way to go. Any comments? Thanks

: Scott K