22nd October : Pranayama – The Vasishta Method
Tutor :Â Jean Lavers
The subject for this workshop is the Vasistha Method of Pranayama, which was developed by the Vivekananda Kendra Research Foundation.
The principles of this Pranayama system were outlined in the book Pranayama : The Art and Science, published in 1993 by Dr. H.R. Nagendra.
This method of Pranayama does not use bandhas or counting breaths, but relies on establishing a natural cessation of breath in kumbhak.
It is a very effective approach to Pranayama and is designed to be accessible to all.
The day will start with gentle stretching and asana work with a focus on developing awareness of the breath and its movement in the body.
We will use chanting (particularly Aa Oo Mm and AUM) throughout the session in order to deepen that awareness at many levels.
The Pranayama practice will begin with Sectional Breathing, Full Yoga Breathing, Mudras and Mantras.
We will then progress through a sequence of pranayamas leading to silence, Kevala Kumbhak.
The day will include a deep relaxation using breathing and sounds.
There will also be time for questions.
The Tutor
Jean Lavers has been a yoga teacher for well over 40 years and was a D.C.T. for the British Wheel of Yoga for 6 years.
She taught 6 classes a week in Full Sutton top security prison for 11 years, a job she really loved. This led to my appointment as Director of the Prison Phoenix Trust in 1999.
Jean’s interest in yoga as therapy developed greatly by studying with teachers at the Yoga Biomedical Trust, facilitated by Dr. Robin Monro its founding director.
It was here she met her true teacher Mohangee from the Vivekananda Kendra in Bangalore, India. She studied for many years with him and his wife and visited them in Bangalore in 2002.This Vivekananda Kendra are life workers devoted to the teaching and research into yoga as therapy in their hospital and university.
In 2007 / 08 Jean took part as a teacher in a very influential research trial facilitated by York University and funded by Arthritis Research U.K. ‘Yoga For Healthy Lower Backs’. See www.yogaforbacks.co.uk
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- Days are 10am – 4pm. Cost £35.00. Cheques payable to ‘Sheffield Yoga School’.
- For lunch, please bring a vegetarian dish to share.
- Venue : Grenoside Community Hall, Sheffield, S35 8PR
