Satyananda-style yoga is an integral yoga, based firmly in tradition. It provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to living in the modern world. It incorporates Hatha, Raja, Karma, Jnana, Mantra and Bhakti Yoga. With an emphasis on safety and personal experience, it is flexible to suit the needs of individuals.
People who practise Satyananda-style yoga are of all ages, body types, and levels of health and fitness and come from many walks of life. This system of yoga provides everyone with the tools for self-development, to become stable and self-reliant. Classes follow a gradual progression, enabling students to assimilate the effects of the practices gradually and safely. The emphasis in a Satyananda-style yoga class is on developing personal awareness.
A student-focused approach is employed, that is non-competitive, avoiding students’ comparison with one another. This is facilitated by the teaching style, in which the teacher mostly remains seated and uses verbal instructions.
Each class includes a brief, relaxing “settling” period, asanas (postures/exercises), breathing practices and a meditation or deep relaxation (Yoga Nidra) session. Some students are drawn naturally to the physical end of the yoga spectrum and others to the meditative end; others are in-between.
Satyananda-style yoga teachers adopt an agreed code of ethics as a condition of accreditation. They are trained, assessed and accredited to ensure high quality and professionalism. Satyananda-style yoga does not postulate any political or religious beliefs, however, respect is paid to the lineage in the way that the class is conducted.