Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda yoga is a form of hatha yoga that strives to make the body and soul healthy and at peace. Students who adhere to Sivananda’s five points of yoga—pranayama, asanas, savasana (relaxation), diet, and meditation—can build up immunities to disease, impede aging, and balance their systems. Sivananda varies from many forms of hatha in its emphasis on savasana, achieved through meditation and deep yogic breathing.

The yogi Vishnu-Devananda developed Sivananda based on the teachings of his guru Swami Sivananda Saraswati, a former doctor-turned-monk who published over 200 books on yoga and philosophy from his ashram in Rishikesh. Devananda brought Sivananda to the US, founding a group of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers that continue to attract thousands of teachers and students every year.

Sivananda classes are very supportive of beginners, due to their laid-back nature, hands-on assistance from teachers, and heavy incorporation of relaxation techniques. The asanas practiced in Sivananda contain 12 classic poses (headstand, locust, crow), also called the Rishikesh series, that focus on full body stretching and increasing flexibility. Each pose is followed by a relaxation posture, and the class opens and closes with mantras and pranayama exercises.