What is Classical Yoga?

Classical yoga is an integrated system of stretching and balancing postures, breathing exercises (called pranayama), relaxation and meditation aimed at revitalising and rejuvenating the body, improving flexibility and circulation, boosting the lymphatic system and helping one become calm, centred and focused.

Most yoga taught in the West is actually Hatha yoga which comprises balancing and stretching postures (also called asanas). Thus hatha yoga is the umbrella term under which you will find the various styles of yoga such as Kundalini yoga, Sivananda yoga, Bikram yoga, Viniyasa, Astanga and so on. The form of hatha yoga I teach, Classical Yoga, has been passed down over the centuries from yoga guru to disciple, and can be seen as the original, pure yoga without embellishments that is aimed at stilling the mind via the postures.

What is pranayama?

Pranayama is all about learning to control the breath. Traditionally the breath is seen to connect the body, mind and spirit. There are breathing exercises that are aimed at relaxing the body and the mind, and then there are also breathing exercises that will help you to focus your mind and revitalise you. Through breath control we can control and channel our emotions, for instance, when people get angry their breathing becomes shallow, short and sharp; by controlling the breath we can learn to slow down the breathing and regain our composure in tense situations and thus become more in control of our emotions.

What is meditation?

Meditation is NOT contemplation or thinking, nor is it hypnosis or some kind of esoteric religion. It does not require you to reject or change your beliefs, culture or religion. In meditation you learn to observe the mind and let it become quiet and serene; and go to that place of silence where you are in a state of restful alertness. Meditation has proven therapeutic effects such as relaxing muscle tension and the autonomic nervous system. It can liberate you from mental stress and help you attain a tranquil mind.

Can anyone do Classical Yoga?

Yes, some of my yoga students started late in life, the oldest was 60 when she started, and their only regret is that they started so late! There is the misconception that yoga is only for women....the men in my yoga classes are often surprised at how much of a work-out they get from a yoga class.

In addition, if you are practising other sports, for instance golf, tennis or cycling, classical yoga is the perfect type of exercise that will ensure that you remain well balanced and supple on both sides of your body. Since yoga also improves strength and flexibility in your joints, it helps to protect you from injury.

If you are feeling down and depressed, yoga can also help to energise you and help you get in touch with your body and yourself.

Can people with back problems and arthritis also practise yoga?

It is important to keep as supple and mobile as possible, and to maintain and improve the range of motion in all your joints, and that includes the spine. Since you work at your own pace, there is no pressure on you to do things that you feel you just can’t manage at the moment. Gradually, in some cases surprisingly quickly, you will make progress, and you will regain the confidence you once had in your body. Yoga is an excellent way of strengthening your core and thus also your back.

Of course, in some cases personal classes are more suitable than group classes where your condition can be tackled more directly and appropriately. Also, since you will learn how to breathe more effectively in my yoga classes, you will also be acquiring a powerful tool for relieving pain!

What if I am HIV positive?

Yoga will help you regain your strength and, quite importantly, it will help you to be more in touch with your body and as a result you will be aware of any aches and pains before they become acute and thus you can deal with them early on. Classical Yoga will also strengthen your mental and physical resilience if practised regularly, and as we know, your mental and emotional attitude to disease play an important role in your road to recovery.

It looks like yoga is a cure-all for all sorts of ailments, surely this is too good to be true...

Yoga won’t necessarily cure anything, but if practised regularly it will alleviate your aches and pains to such an extent that you can start living a full life again, full of joy and unrestricted movement, without having to expend your physical and mental resources on just managing the pain. Many of my yoga students tell me that they suffered from migraines before starting yoga, and that after practising yoga just for a short time, the migraines either disappeared completely or became less frequent and less severe. Other yoga students have noticed that they have become less angry and no longer take things so personally, and that life in general has improved greatly for them.

Others have found that they now enjoy exercising and that yoga has acted like a gateway to other forms of exercise, be it cycling, running, golfing, dancing, etc.

When I completed my honours in Psychology, my research focused on the effects of yoga on addiction, and the research indicated that addicts found yoga quite challenging at first since their bodies were just so weak, but over time they became stronger and started to enjoy the yoga classes, and generally they noticed that on their yoga days they felt a lot less aggressive and hostile, and much more in control of their life.

Can yoga work in conjunction with psychological therapy?

Indeed it can. In fact by releasing the physical tension in the body, often mental tension and blocks are released which can aid in therapy. In addition, meditation has been shown to have positive and beneficial effects on our state of mind, leading to a more tranquil and serene state of mind, and increasing our energy and passion for life!

Do I need any special equipment and clothes?

The beauty of yoga is that you need not invest in any special equipment! Come in the most comfortable clothes you have, best is a t-shirt or leotard, and elasticised tracksuit pants, shorts or leggings, and in winter you will need a fleece to keep you warm during the relaxation and meditation. However, you might want to invest in a yoga mat – this will insulate you from the cold in winter, provide a non-slip surface for the standing postures, and cushion you when lying down. Yoga is generally done barefoot.

Can I still do yoga if I am a Christian, Muslim, Jew etc?

Yoga is not a religion. No doctrine is preached, and the only thing that is required of my yoga students is that they respect the beliefs of their fellow yoga students.