Yoga classes have three aspects:

ASANAS or Physical Poses

• The Asanas are designed to free our mind and body from tension and stress. They relax, rejuvenate, and energize the body and aim to bring the body and the mind into a harmonious union.
• Please trust your own intuition about how far to push yourself physically. You should not strain yourself, but you do need to work and push beyond some of your perceived boundaries. Remember that yoga is not about competing with others.

PRANAYAMA or Breathing Techniques

• Pranayama is the control of breath. The breath is regulated and controlled through the practice of breathing exercises. The duration of inhalation, retention, and exhalation of breath is regulated with the aim of strengthening and cleansing the nervous system and increasing a person’s source of life energy. Pranayama practice also makes the mind calmer and more focused.

RELAXATION exercises

• Yoga Nidra – is a state of conscious deep sleep. During the practice of yoga nidra, one appears to be asleep, but the consciousness is functioning at the deeper level of awareness. It is sleep with a trace of deep awareness. It is state of mind in between wakefulness and dream.

YAMAS – These are about your attitude towards others and the world around you:

• Ahimsa – Often translated as ‘non-violence’ or ‘non-injury’.  It includes compassion or consideration for all living beings.  This idea includes your treatment of your body during your yoga practice.
• Satya – This deals with truthfulness.  It includes the concept of appropriate communication (think before you speak) – conducting your life with honesty in behaviour, with thought, and with intention.
• Asteya – Often referred to as ‘non-stealing’. It means cultivating a less materialistic view of life and reining in desires for things that are not ours to have.
• Brahmacharya – can be interpreted as moderation of our actions and our search to fulfil our sensual cravings.
• Aparigraha – Might be defined as ‘non-greediness’, since it encourages you to separate your true needs from what are merely desires or wants.

NIYAMAS – These are about self-regulation—helping us maintain a positive environment in which to grow:

• Saucha –This Niyama is concerned on both the outer and inner cleanliness. The practice of pranayamas, asanas and Yogic cleansing practices to detoxify and cleanse the physical body are necessary to achieve inner cleanliness.
• Santosha – means contentment. Santosha is to practice humility, modesty and finding contentment with what you have and who you are.
• Tapas – means austerity. This Niyama refers to keeping the body in good condition.
• Svadhyaya – means study of the sacred texts and of one’s self. This involves studying one’s self, self-inquiry and self-examination and other things that can help you get to know yourself more.
• Ishwarapranidhana – Under this concept you accept that an all-knowing principle exists.  It reminds you that this higher force is all around you as well as within you.