Sivananda Yoga?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

What are peoples opinions of Sivananda Yoga? I know it is one of the oldest schools in the West, and apparently the first to offer Teacher Training courses.

How does the Hatha Yoga they do compare to other forms of Yoga, especially more contemporary popular ones such as Power Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, etc? Is Sivananda Yoga very traditional or you can vary it a lot?, to keep it contemporary when needed , especially if doing classes at say modern gyms that have lot of other fitness classes there. In Sivananda are they known to hold asanas long time or have flow sequences like Ashtanga - or they do both and lot of variations?

They are not I don’t think Yoga Alliance (U.S.) registered , and probably don’t feel any need to be as they were around long before the Alliance was. If you train with a group like Sivananda Yoga can you later register individually with Yoga Alliance if you wanted to? Although Sivananda is Internationally known, some places do ask if you are Yoga Alliance registered.

For anyone that has done their Teacher Training course, is it one of the best ones out there to do? Considering undertaking it in the future, only reservations would be : - i) it has beginners/intermediate Trainers Training then Advanced Trainers Training, which will work out more expensive than some places doing one 200hr YA accredited course that covers all levels.
ii) it seems to include lot of satsang, chanting, meditaton, etc. Nothing wrong with that & certainly a more holistic approach to Yoga if you want to term it that but I’m wondering how it compares to somewhere that does little or no meditation, chanting, chores, etc in their Trainers Training - will you get more time practicing asanas and anatomy/alignments etc with them i.e. stuff probably more important to your average class.

Has anyone seen official Sivananda Yoga video VHS or DVD - worth getting and do they cover much? As not available where I am, will need to buy it from overseas place.

The approach of Sivananda appears to be a very Holistic one meaning - it covers all paths of Yoga , as well as spirituality, positive thinking, etc, and is not just mainly concerened with physical exercise. Though as mentioned that might not be the ideal approach for everyone.

There are no classes near me but considering going to some when I am on holiday and there is Sivananda Yoga place nearby. Then further courses if initial experience is positive.

#2

Hi MindNinja

I recently completed some trainings at the Sivananda Ashram in Madurai, India and stayed there for three months. At the beginning I was very * skeptical, I didn't have a good impression mainly because of the price that I had to pay but at the end I came to like it. There are things that I still don't like but overall I feel very satisfied and fortunate to have been able to follow the trainings.

The Sivananda style focus on 12 basic asanas that follows an specific sequence which you can find in any Sivananda book. Within those 12 basic asanas you can always incorporate some variations depending on the level of your students. *During the practice there is a lot of emphasis on relaxation. You start with a short relaxation, then very short relaxations after some asanas and a long relaxation at the end of the practice. *It is not at all like Ashtanga yoga. The asanas are performed in a sequence but there is not a flow because you normally relax and stretch after each asana. There is not an specific breathing duration. In Ashtanga you hold each posture for five deep breath but in Sivananda you try to hold them as long as comfortable trying to increase the time with practice. You try to relax on the posture and focus on the breathing.

The Sivananda Teacher Training Course (TTC) doesn't focus only on the asanas. *You will receive lot of theory that covers many different subjects related to yoga and they do make emphasis on an integral approach. That means you will learn about all the main paths of yoga like Karma Yoga, Gnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga in theory and in practice. And they make lot of emphasis on the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. You will hear all the time "everything is Brahman; You are Brahman!"

During they TTC they do teach some anatomy related to yoga but it is not so deep. I believe it is as much as you can learn during one month considering all the other subjects that they cover. It gets more interesting in the ATTC

Ultimately I think nobody can assure you what is the best course. It all depends on what exactly you are looking for and besides everybody perceive the experience in a different way. *But what I can say from all the people that I met is that they were all satisfied with the training and if there was something that they didn't like then they would have the attitude "I will take the best from this experience."

I wrote about the Sivananda trainings in my blog. *There is a lot of information that you might find useful so just paste the link below on your browser. *I hope this helps :slight_smile:

#3

Hi Marco,

Thanks a lot for response, appreciate it a lot! I’ll check out your blog in a moment.

It really only focuses on 12 basic Asanas? That seems very limited, like Bikram Yoga with only 26. Not that you cannot have great Yoga practice with those amounts but just seems limited variety.

From comments I’ve seen under clips on Youtube of Sivananda TT in India, some people are very negative saying after Sivananda etc passed away the organisation got rid of the best people, and now it is more money orientated but who knows on that. I’ve also heard the Yoga they teach is quite basic, with only 12 asanas it seems very limited.

How much on actual Yoga physical practice and on physiology/alignment, etc? As there seems to be lot of meditation, satsang, chanting , etc - which other TTC don’t have at all or as much of.

Do they cover anything on marketing or the business side - how to run a school, become a successful Instructor etc? Are there franchise fees to pay after you graduate or only membership?

The prices seem reasonable compare to other courses, as you did yours in India know you can get lot cheaper at other places.

#4

Well, they teach exactly what Swami Vishnudevananda (founder of Sivananda Ashram) taught. The manual for the TTC, ATTC and Sadhana Intensive was created by Swami Vishnu himself… At least that’s what they told me. I don’t know much about the organization, I’m sure they make lots of money and the indian ashrams must be like a money making machine since they still charge the same western prices though Indians pay a lot less. But it is not my job to judge that.

There are no franchise fees or anything else that you need to pay besides the training fee.

No they don’t cover any marketing or business aspects. I think they just mention something very briefly. But they do want you to become a good teacher and the main instruction is to remember that you are not the doer, you are just and instrument to propagate yoga and world peace. That was Swami Vishnu’s mission.

During the TTC you have two asana classes per day of 2 hours each. In one session you cover the “how to teach” and in the second class you focus on your own practice. However there is not much emphasis on alignment and there is no use of props like in Iyengar Yoga.

There are probably better courses that will teach you how to be a good “hatha yoga” Teacher. But like I said before the emphasis in Sivananda is not just the physical part.

Yes only 12 basic asanas but you will learn also some variations. A typical Sivananda Class start with a short relaxation, opening prayer, sun salutations and other warm up exercises, the 12 basic asanas, final relaxation and the closing prayer. You learn all that during the course.

I personally find sometimes the 12 basic asanas a bit boring but sometimes it is all that I need or even too much if you don’t have enough time. In my own practice I usually include some small variations but some days I just do the 12 asanas and that works really well for me. That being said I still like to learn other styles. I’m learning Ashtanga Yoga as well but it is a completely different practice.

#5

Marco,

The 12 basic asanas bit has put me right off, even with variations it is very limited. More to the point if that is all you teach in classes, your students will get bored to tears in no time or realise you just keep teaching the same stuff and then stop coming.

Other courses will as you said not only cover a lot more material - exercises and asanas but also go more into depth on alignment, use of props, business & marketing, etc i.e. get you better prepared to teach, and especially get you keyed up on the all important marketing & business side of things.

What about the Advanced TTC it must go beyond the 12 asanas? Though even the first course (beginners/intermediate) and Advanced, as much or more material might be covered in one TT course from others & wil probably cost less money than 2 TTC from Sivananda.

Noticed on link on your blog for TTC in India it is Yoga Alliance accredited, wonder if that is the same for all TTC from Sivananda Worldwide?

[B][U]These are 12 basic from TTC or that video shows some from Advanced TTC also? : [/U][/B]

#6

Hi MindNinja

During the TTC they teach you how to teach the 12 basic asanas but you also learn many variations like shown in that video that you can always include in your class depending on the level of your students. Note that those variations are a bit advance and most people can’t do them.

During the ATTC you practice lots of variations to improve your own practice and on the theory side you focus on Vedanta and Raja Yoga Sutras. If you can try to read the post of the TTC and ATTC in my blog, there is plenty of information.

#7

Hi Marco

Thanks for info. Great blogs btw , I wil look out for the book version of your experiences!

I’ll try go to a Sivananda class (none nearby me unfortunately) when I’m on vacation somewhere that has one or attend a short retreat to see what their style is like, etc.

Do you feel the TTC from them is enough to teach people in a class and have students keep coming back? With only 12 basic asanas and some variation, [B]won’t classes be very similar and people get a feeling of deja vu lol? [/B] i.e. you teach basically the same stuff at every class and it is repititious won’t people get bored or think why do I keep going to this, especially someone who may learn the 12 basic asanas fast and wonder why they keep paying for classes when they can do them at home for free.

Do you think there classes could really interest and hold the attention of say average person at gym that have tried oher things (Body Step, Body Combat, Body Attack, Spin, Zumba, etc) and wants to try Yoga?

Do sequences in Sivananda flow like Power Yoga Vinyasa etc? Or do you think you could learn Sivananda style then easily adapt to and teach Power Yoga Vinyasa etc to vary your classes?

Thanks a lot for help, you have a lot of knowldege and great experience in Yoga.

#8

Hi NinjaMind

Thanks, I’m glad you like my blog :slight_smile:

I think is a good idea if you try to follow a few Sivananda classes so you get a feeling of how it is. What I saw during my stay at the ashram is that the people who come just to practice a bit of yoga would stay for about a two weeks. Some would love the practice and others didn’t like it so much but it also depends a lot on the teacher. Some would prefer one teacher and others would prefer another teacher. Although we all followed the same training we all put our own personal touch to the class.

A feeling of Deja Vou? :smiley: lol Well that depends on the teacher. It certainly gets*boring if you teach only the 12 basic asanas everyday but if you include variations it won’t. And there is nothing wrong with the students to learn the whole sequence. I think is great if they can take with them the practice and start doing it on their own. But there is always room for improvement and it is very different if somebody else leads you than when you lead yourself. So if they like the style they won’t stop coming.

Now, if you want to place yoga between or compare it to all these Gym stuff like Body Step, Body Combat, Body Attack, Spin, Zumba then I think you are starting with the wrong concept about yoga. *The aim of hatha yoga is not to burn calories too look and feel good, but to prepare the body and mind (purify it, making it fit and healthy and develop concentration and relaxation) for higher practices like meditation. *It’s purpose is spiritual and thats the emphasis giving in a training in a traditional school like the Sivananda Ashram.

That being said you can always adopt whatever you learn in a TTC to the needs of your students. So if you want to teach in a gym along with the other gym stuff you can certainly do so though I think is not the right place for a yoga practice. Just keep in mind what the aim is. You also need to make sure that the students feel relaxed, content and present during and after the class. That would be a good yoga class!

There shouldn’t be a problem with learning and teaching different styles like traditional hatha yoga, power yoga, vinyasa. *I think many teachers do so. The Sivananda style is not a flow like in Vinyasa.

Well, let’s see what other more experienced yogis in this forum have to say :slight_smile:

#9

Hi Marco,

Thanks for notes again. Regarding teaching in gyms, etc - it is not me that would want to compare it to gym stuff (Body Combat , Zumba, etc) but I ask as if I am teaching Sivanandas stlye at a gym how it is likely to be perceived. For instance near me at popular gym (that has Zumba, Step, Spin, Body Pump, etc) there was a Dru Yoga class, people tried it found it very boring most of them anyway so classes stopped with in the end few people going. I attended one class not long before they stopped. It was individual asanas with pauses in between each one ‘ok now we’ll try…’ and in the end 5 minutes or so meditation lying down with the lights dimmed - after few minutes I heard one person snoring!

It depends on who you are teaching but generally at a gym with lots of other classes or wherever you are teaching people coming used to that - you can’t do much if any chanting or long meditation, you might include say short meditation at the end. People are there primarily for the physical benefits. Of course some might want to learn the spiritual elements or have no problem chanting Aum etc whilst meditating then you can guage them accordingly.

Certainly as a new Instructor a gym is good place as you have guaranteed potential audience interested in exercise, the negative as you said peoples perceptions or expectations that are used to other classes like Step, Spin, etc. Locally for me teaching say at local hall or community hall, you will find it tougher to attract people and will have less of an immediate potential base.

Like you said you need to adapt to your audience but generally for gym type audience maybe Power Yoga Vinyasa, or Shiva Rea type flowing style, etc would go down lot better.

‘‘The Sivananda style is not a flow like in Vinyasa.’’ - due to holding each asana for a period of time?

Regarding the 12 basic asanas if you are doing say an hour class, the 12 can take up an hour or you are repeating sequences or the basic asanas?

#10

Yeah, I totally agree with you. If I go to a gym I expect to sweat, feel energized and work hard. In that environment the best could be an intense style like Ashtanga Yoga. But still ideally you should have a place dedicated to yoga. I know the easiest might be to start in a gym but then you really need to adapt to the environment and at the end you won’t be teaching yoga but just physical exercises.

Yep, the Sivananda is not a flow cause holding the postures for some time and because you briefly relax after most of the postures. And yes the 12 postures can take an hour or more. You normally start with breathing exercises like kapalabhati and aniline viloma, then sun salutations and then the 12 basic asanas. If you would teach a pure Sivananda style I think it would defitinvely not fit in a gym. Who wants to listen to an opening prayer and do pranayamas in a gym? :slight_smile: