Sudheesh's teaching style is strongly influenced by his Sivananda teachings, though other styles of yoga inform his practice as well. Sivananda Yoga is a style that was brought to the West in the 1950s by Swami Vishnu Devananda who also opened the many Sivananda Yoga ashrams established worldwide.
A classical Sivananda Yoga class is based on twelve basic yoga postures, the Sun Salutation exercise ('Surya Namaskar') and two Pranayama (Yogic breathing) exercises.
Pranayama helps to cleanse the lungs, remove toxins and develop mental focus and balance. There is a focus on correct abdominal breathing throughout the class.
The Sun Salutation exercise is a sequence of twelve flowing movements practised in synchronisation with the breath that helps to warm the body and prepare it for the yoga asanas (yoga postures) that follow. The yoga postures are based around a range of movements including inversions, forward and backward bends and twisting and sideways bends. Yoga asanas work first and foremost on the health of the spine. The spinal column contains the central nervous system, the communication system of the body, supporting the health of the whole body. If the flexibility and strength of the spine is maintained with proper exercise, circulation is intensified, the nerves are assured of a supply of nutrients and oxygen, and the body retains its youthful condition.
The Sivananda Yoga classes normally run in blocks, as we don't have the resources to manage drop-in classes. The six-week blocks cost £36 and there is a maximum of 14 places in each block.
We recommend that you wear loose comfortable clothing to these classes, cotton is preferable, and bring a yoga mat or other mat to lie on. Please be aware that we don't have changing rooms or a shower (although you can get changed in our loos). Yoga is always practised in bare feet.
The Sivananda Yoga classes are at two levels - Beginners and Intermediate. The Beginners classes are on Wednesday evenings from 6.00pm to 7.30pm. They are structured as a 6-week course suitable for newcomers.
The Intermediate classes are in 6-week blocks; they are pitched at the more experienced Yoga practitioner, and are an ideal follow-on from the Beginners classes. They run at 7.45 pm to 9.15 pm on Wednesdays.
The class leader is Sudheesh. Please note that these classes are usually very popular so must be booked in advance.
