Programs

Intensive Asana Class with Mayavan

February 8th, Sunday, 8 am-11 am; $55

*(Intensive asana classes are offered once a month. To register for a package of 3 and receive 20% discount please click HERE)

Deepen your practice with an engaging three-hour class that combines practice and theory, taught by special visiting teacher Mayavan. Suitable for intermediate students, this class is an opportunity to challenge yourself and go further in your practice. And don’t worry: the time flies by! You will leave feeling uplifted and full of energy.

This class will allow you to:

• Fine-tune your practice, through personalized corrections
• Strengthen the legs, open the hips and mobilize the spine
• Tap in to more energy through the practice of Sun Salutations and dynamic asanas
• Increase overall strength and stability through standing poses
• Achieve steadiness and comfort in classical asanas
• Gain practical knowledge about the yoga practice and yogic lifestyle

Teacher: Mayavan has devoted his life to learning and teaching the art and science behind yogic practices. He has spent the past three decades in dedicated practice and service to his community. He holds a Masters in Yoga Therapy from Annamalai University in India and has earned the prestigious designations of Yoga Siromani, Yoga Acharya and Yoga Baskara. Mayavan is the director of Yogasalai, a yoga centre in Scarborough.

Introduction to Meditation

February 13th to March  13rh ;  6.30pm-7.45pm , $120

Meditation is an invaluable tool for emotional balance and peace of mind. This course will provide step-by-step guidance for starting a meditation practice. It is helpful for those who are just starting  as well as those who would like to renew their commitment to this practice.

Topics covered  include:

-What is meditation and what are the benefits?

-How to start a meditation practice: The three fundamentals.

– Meditation for beginners and tips for those who are returning practitioners

-Mechanics of the mind: How the mind works and how meditation helps

-Mantras as tools for meditation

Sivaratri Puja, Friday , February 13th, 8pm

Sivaratri is one of the most sacred and auspicious nights in the Yogic calendar.

It is a dedication to Lord Siva, part of the Hindu Trinity. It is Siva’s energy that helps destroy the old and the lower nature in order to make room for the new and for positive growth.

We will celebrate with a puja, stories, chanting and prasad.

All are welcome to join us! Donations of flowers or fruit/sweets (prasad) welcome.

5Day Morning Pranayama practice

February 16th – 20th, 6am-7am, $55 (online)

Here are some of the benefits of pranayama:
-Optimal gas exchange (O2 and CO2)
-Oxygenation of tissues thanks to breath retention
-Harmonization of metabolic rates and chemical balance of the body
-Clearness of mind and stimulation of the parasympathetic system
-Improvement of digestion and fortification of the immune system

In order to benefit from this program, it is important to participate in all 5 sessions.

Teacher: Mayavan has been a dedicated yoga practitioner since childhood. He holds a Master’s degree in yoga therapy and is the director of Yoga Salai, a community-based yoga center in Scarborough.

Bhagavad Gita Course with Maheswari (ONLINE)

February 17th -March 17th; Tuesdays 7pm- 8pm $120

Explore the profound wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, a foundational scripture of Vedanta philosophy, and embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. Together, we will discuss selected verses, drawing inspiration to apply their timeless teachings on life, duty, devotion, and self-realization in our daily experiences. All levels are welcome to enrich their understanding of Yoga as a holistic way of life, finding clarity, purpose, and inner peace. Join us as ancient wisdom meets modern life, unveiling timeless truths for a more fulfilling existence.

Participants will receive the Zoom link a few days before the course.

Teacher: Maheswari has been teaching yoga and philosophy at the Sivananda Yoga Center and ashram for over twenty years . She is an experienced and compassionate teacher who connects with students of all levels.

February 19th – March 19h,  Thursdays, 5 pm $120

This course builds on the foundation laid in our Yoga 1 course and gives the opportunity to build up a solid practice, including all the basic postures and breathing exercises.

Emphasis is placed on holding postures longer and making smooth transitions between postures. You will also discover some variations of the basic Yoga postures.

This is an ideal refresher course for those who have lapsed in their practice. It is also suitable for experienced practitioners who are new to Sivananda Yoga Center.

Raja Yoga Sutras

March 7th – 28th, Saturdays 1pm-2.30pm; $85

Raja Yoga is a branch of yoga often referred to as the psychology of yoga.  In this course, we will discuss selected verses from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, a foundational text of classical Yoga philosophy. Topics of study will include the nature and functions of the mind, the five categories of mental modifications (vrttis), the sources of suffering (kleshas), and the eightfold path of Yoga (ashtanga yoga).

Some familiarity with Yoga philosophy is helpful, but the course is designed to be welcoming and accessible to beginners

Teacher: Saraswati

Meditation level 2

March 20th-April 17th; Fridasys 6:30pm – 7:45pm;  $120

Meditation is considered the most important of all the Yoga techniques and is an invaluable tool for emotional balance and peace of mind.

In this course you will continue to be guided in your meditation practice and in creating a lifestyle conducive for successful meditation. You will thus be encouraged to bring your meditation practice in more areas of your life in order to build greater resilience, inner peace and focus, specially in these challenging times.

With Meditation 2:

• Learn how to better integrate meditation into your life
• Deepen your understanding of the nature of mind and thoughts
• Discover and overcome the various obstacles to meditation
• Mantra practice and how to find suitable mantra for personal practice

Suitable for students who have completed our Introduction to Meditation, or who are intermediate meditation practitioners.

March 21st – April 18th, Saturdays 1:00pm – 2:30pm, $120

This course builds on the foundation laid in our Yoga 1 course and gives the opportunity to build up a solid practice, including all the basic postures and breathing exercises.

Emphasis is placed on holding postures longer and making smooth transitions between postures. You will also discover some variations of the basic Yoga postures.

This is an ideal refresher course for those who have lapsed in their practice. It is also suitable for experienced practitioners who are new to Sivananda Yoga Center.