YOGA for the body and mind

The word “yoga” means “union”: union of mind, body and spirit. If you want to relax and become more balanced, centered and calm, yoga will guide you there. If you want to achieve peace of mind, be more focused and have better concentration, yoga is the answer. Yoga will improve your physical health, tone your muscles and internal organs, relieve inner tension, reduce weight, and strengthen your bones. Yoga is an extraordinary fitness regimen that helps to balance emotions, sharpen the intellect, and bring peace of mind.

The Five Principles of Yoga:
Relaxation – Exercise (Asanas) – Breath Control (Pranayama)
Nourishing Diet – Positive Thinking and Meditation

IYENGAR YOGA

A more static form of yoga based on body alignment. Iyengar uses props (blocks and belt) to help the student reach perfect body alignment. Iyengar is very beneficial for the skeleton, muscles, joints, and opening the hips. It is an excellent way to learn yoga as the class focuses on perfect body alignment and posture. This knowledge helps to progress faster in all other forms of yoga.

HATHA YOGA

Hatha yoga is at the origin of all the other styles of yoga. Hatha Yoga is the most popular form of yoga helping to join the mind and body. This is the only class taught in Vietnamese but foreigners are welcome. Hatha Yoga increases vitality and concentration.

POWER YOGA

Power Yoga is a dynamic and strong form of yoga based on Ashtanga. This yoga discipline emphasizes body strength and body conditioning. Excellent for those who are looking to reshape their bodies.

SIVANANDA YOGA

For SIVANANDA yoga, you would learn:

1. PRANAYAMA, which means “control the prana”. Control of the prana (the subtle energy of the vital breath) leads to control the mind. When the subtle Prana is controlled, all other gross manifestation of Prana in the body will slowly come under control. Every part of the body can be filled with Prana. When we are able to do this, the whole body will be under our control. All diseases of the body can be destroyed at the root by controlling and regulating the Prana; this is the secret knowledge of healing.

• KAPALABHATI – Cleansing Breathing Exercise
In Sanskrit “Kapala” means skull; “bhati” means shining. Kapalabhati is considered to be so cleansing to the entire system that, when practised on a regular basis, the skull (and the face) shine with good health and inner radiance.

• ANULOMA VILOMA – Alternate Nostril Breathing
Anuloma Viloma cleanses and strengthens the lungs and entire respiratory system. It harmonizes the entire system. During retention, there is the highest rate of gaseous exchange in the lungs. Because of the increase in the pressure, more oxygen goes from the lungs into the blood and more CO2 pass from the blood into the lungs for elimination during exhalation. Anuloma Viloma helps to calm the mind, making it lucid and steady. Practised of Anuloma Viloma purifies the nadis and makes the body light and eyes shiny and the psychic system is balanced as well.

2. THE HEADSTAND
The Headstand relieves the pressure on the heart, supports the circulation, and releases tension in the lower back area. It increases memory capacity, will power, concentration and self confidence.

(According to Classical Teaching of Sivananda Yoga)

VINYASA YOGA

A dynamic form of yoga based on the posture flow. Vinyasa is similar to Ashtanga principles but the teacher does not follow the Primary series. Each position is guided by the teacher for the whole class.

QI GONG for health, energy and mental clarity

“Qi Gong” is an invaluable component of traditional Chinese medicine that has its origin in ancient times. Its primary stimulus was the search for immortality. Therefore, Qi Gong movements aim to restore the "qi" (the human body's vital energy) flow, nourishing the internal organs for optimal health and longevity.

A healing art, Qi Gong is composed of over 3,000 modalities of movements which synchronize breathing to exercises. A form of exercise and meditation, it can take away stress, pain and sickness from your body in a very short time and leaves you with an amazing feeling of calm and energy. Recommended for those who want to improve their health, concentration, memory, fitness and self control.

T’AI CHI for physical and mental agility

T’ai Chi consists of graceful, continuous movements combined with breathing control to promote relaxation, balance, flexibility, and coordination while improving overall physical and mental agility. This ancient Chinese art, dating back to the 8th century, is based on traditional defensive and offensive techniques. We are offering the Twenty-Four Moves of T’ai Chi.

When you perform an internal movement correctly, you will feel the sensations of stretching and intense energy flowing in an otherwise relaxed body. Classical T’ai Chi teaches students how to use internal discipline in every move so that internal energy circulates continuously throughout the body at all time. From martial art point of view, classical T’ai Chi is, among other things, practicing the mobilization and delivery of the internal power until it becomes instinctive, spontaneous, and instantaneous.

ABDO-PILATES for a streamlined body

Throughout history, people have looked for new and innovative ways to achieve physical fitness. We can trace yoga to the Indian sub-continent as far back as 4,000 years, and t’ai chi ch’uan to China since the 8th century. Pilates – developed in the early 20th century - is a combination of ancient wisdom and contemporary knowledge.

Pilates - named after its creator, Joseph H. Pilates - is a method of exercise and physical movement designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body. Pilates is a physical therapy that works on different muscles to tone and condition the body.  Pilates helps to develop correct breathing technique, good posture, better concentration and focus. It improves balance, co-ordination, flexibility, and streamlines the body.

Belly Dance

Belly dance is a Western name for an dance developed in the Middle East. Some American devotees refer to it simply as "Middle Eastern Dance".
Belly Dancing is a fantastic fun way to get fit, lose weight and shape up.  It can improve coordination, balance, muscle tone and posture.  Belly dancing tones your abs and you can literally shimmy off the fat. There are also social and emotional benefits of bellydancing such as stress reduction.