“The very heart of yoga practice is ‘abyhasa’ – steady effort in the direction you want to go.”
“Yoga means addition – addition of energy, strength and beauty to body, mind and soul.”
“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect”
“Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are”
“Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world, today I am wise so I am changing myself”
“The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life”
“Let your practice be a celebration of life”
“Yoga is the practice of tolerating the consequences of being yourself.”
Anahata Yoga
An intimate yoga & pilates studio in a peaceful garden setting close to the heart of Sandton, situated in Riverclub, Johannesburg. It is close to Sandton, Parkmore, Morningside, Duxberry and Bryanston and surrounding suburbs.
We follow varied Yoga & Pilates practices and our classes vary from classic Hatha classes to Vinyasa Flow, Challenge Yoga classes and Yin Yoga Practices, as well as Stott Pilates. We like to have a relaxed atmosphere and our students become part of our yoga community.
We offer group classes for all ages and abilities, adapting classes accordingly, as well as offering props and alternatives for each individual.
Dominique also has a particular passion for working with bodies of all shapes, sizes and ages, particularly one-on-one yoga & pilates. Contact her for more information on private yoga and/or pilates classes for all body types.
Our classes are small, which means that we are able to devote more attention to each person.
Each group class is 1 hour (express class) to 1 hour 30 minutes. Each 90 minute yoga class will include approximately 10 minutes of Pranayama (breathwork), just over an hour of Asana practice (postures) and approximately 10 minutes of Savasana (meditation/relaxation). A minimum of 1 hour is recommended for a private class.
Pilates classes are usually an hour for group or private. Group pilates class are mat classes with various props. Private classes will include both mat & reformer.
All our teachers are fully qualified and continue to enrich their knowledge base with workshops and post teacher training studies.
Pregnancy Yoga
Recommended by most doctors and midwives, pregnancy yoga offers a multitude of benefits to both mother and baby throughout pregnancy, during birth and beyond:
- Joint exercises – perfect for poor circulation, swelling/water retention and excellent to improve mobility. Also enhances squatting and other birthing positions.
- Gentle Stretching – maintains supple and toned muscles. Relieves back ache.
- Breathing – balances the autonomic nervous system which regulates the major systems of the body and controls hormonal secretions. Deep breathing increases the intake of oxygen to both mother and baby. ‘Birthing breaths’ aid in the preparation for a calm birthing.
- Yoga Nidra Relaxation – Blood pressure is also lowered during this relaxation technique and one gains the equivalent of 4 hours deep sleep. Yoga Nidra also promotes inner communication with your child and assists in releasing any impressions associated with the fear of birthing.
By developing a deeper awareness of your body, a powerful connection between a mother and her child is established.
What is Yoga?
In the West, what we refer to as Yoga are the “asanas” or series of postures. These can be practiced as individual poses, or part of a series or vinyasa. In a class one would also practise Pranayama (breath work) and Savasana (meditation or relaxation). There are many different styles of Yoga including Hot Yoga, Flow or Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga. There are also many different schools of Yoga with their own particular styles. These include Satyananda, Sivananda, ISHTA, Iyengar, Bikram, and Forrest.
Do you do a lot of Stretching in Yoga?
Yes, you do. However, yoga is not just about stretching. It is about strengthening too. In Yoga we try to find balance in our bodies. Each posture has particular physical and more subtle benefits. In Yoga we also tune into our breath with each movement bringing a level of mindfulness that is not always possible in other physical activities. It is important to always work with alignment in yoga to avoid injuries.
What style should I choose?
That really depends on your own personal taste, but also depends on what type of body you have at this moment in time. Some styles of yoga are faster, or slower, or even practised in a hot room. Some move you deeper into your muscles and connective tissue, while other generate an internal heat. In my yoga classes, I like to vary my classes and I also include students of all ages and abilities. I include variations to move further into a pose, or to aid in getting into a pose. I maintain my yoga studio at room temperature (a heater in winter).
What are the benefits of Yoga? *
Yoga helps with posture – this can lead to a healthier spine and less aches and pains throughout your body.
Yoga helps to increase flexibility – tight muscles can put a strain on joints. Flexibility can help to ease this strain on all areas of your body.
Yoga helps to increase strength in your body – Keeps you looking good and able to accomplish harder physical tasks. Also, as you get older, there is less chance of you falling and breaking bones.
Yoga helps to prevent and slow down the onset of Arthritic conditions by bringing fresh blood and energy into joints and cartilage.
Yoga helps to keep your spine healthy – by working the muscles around your spine and by bringing fresh nutrients into the disks around your vertebrae.
Yoga improves your circulation and can help with heart problems.
Very often in our busy lives, we find ourselves disconnected from ourselves. Yoga helps to get in touch with your body on a physical level, a mental and spiritual level.
Through doing inversions, Yoga helps to re-orientate ourselves and see the world in different ways!
* Please consult your doctor before practising Yoga. The information provided is general information, and is not intended to substitute for informed professional medical advice.
