Programs

Expand Your Mind program with Swami Rajeshwarananda

Friday , March 6th 8pm: Satsang (free and open to all)

Saturday, March 7th: workshop ($35)

Gaining mastery over your thoughts is essential for mental, emotional and spiritual health. Explore the mysteries of the mind and learn to apply the practices of self-reflection, observation of the mind, concentration and meditation in your daily life. Join us in this inspiring program and discover the power of thoughts and the laws of positive thinking.

Teacher: Swami Rajeshwarananda is a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda and is presently director of the Sivananda Yoga Camp. She has taught many international Yoga Teachers Training Courses and is an inspiring teacher,  knowledgeable in yoga philosophy and hatha yoga.

Chanting workshop with stories from the Ramayana with Ramdas

Saturday, March 14th, 1pm-3pm. $35

Join us for a cozy afternoon of tea, kirtan, and stories from the Ramayana.

During this workshop, we will sing a series of uplifting Rama and Hanuman chants – both traditional and more modern songs. In between, we will hear stories from the Ramayana, a sacred Hindu text that tells the story of Rama, a divine incarnation. With the help of monkey god Hanuman and his brother Lakshman, Rama sets out to rescue his abducted wife Sita and restore peace and order (dharma) to the world. Rich with meaning and spiritual lessons, the story of Rama will give us the opportunity to explore themes such as duty, devotion, and goodness.

Whether you already have the chanting bug or it’s your first time, we hope you’ll join us to soak in the good vibrations and hear heartwarming stories.

What is kirtan? Kirtan is a form of chanting rooted in the Bhakti Yoga tradition of India, where sacred mantras are sung in an accessible call-and-response style. By combining music, rhythm, and repetition, kirtan helps quiet the mind, open the heart, and foster a sense of community.

Teacher:  Ramdas has been involved with the Sivananda tradition for several years, teaching yoga, singing kirtan, and participating in satsang. Ever since hearing kirtan for the first time, he has felt connected to its uplifting vibration. He hopes to share what he has learned and help others experience the benefits of chanting.

Raja Yoga Sutras with Sarasvati

March 14th – April 4th, 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: Sarasvati is a senior teacher in the Sivananda Yoga organization and currently serves as the director of the Sivananda Yoga Center in Toronto. She has taught the Raja Yoga Sutras in Advanced Teacher Training courses and is happy to share the knowledge with students through discussions and study of the classical yoga texts and commentaries.

5Day Morning Pranayama practice

March 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.

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.

Asana Variations with Mayavan

Sarutday, March 21st, 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm; $55

This workshop shows how to use variations within the classical twelve-posture sequence

You will learn:

• How to modify postures for different levels and physical needs
• How to introduce progressive variations safely
• Variations for building strength and variations for building flexibility
• How to maintain focus while adding movement
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The class includes a full  practice of the twelve basic asanas with selected variations integrated throughout, followed by time for questions.

Suitable for students and teachers who want practical guidance on how to progress within the classical sequence.

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 centre in Scarborough.