My name is Aricia.

Badha Parsvokonasana

I’m a 23 year old west coaster (from Victoria BC).

Tadasana

Uttanasana

I have been practicing yoga on and off from about the age of 8.

Utthitta Hasta Padangushthasana

Growing up, I saw Yoga as a big part of my mother’s life.

Garudasana

I faded in and out of my own personal practice.

Veerbhadrasana I

Approximately two years ago I found a new appreciation for yoga while searching for anything that would help my anxiety and to help me with the stresses of everyday life.

Utthitta Parsvokonasana

I was searching for something to calm my mind and heal myself with. I found it in yoga.

Parivratta Trikonasana

I usually practice moderately active flow style yoga, but have experimented with hatha, hot yoga, bikram, ashtanga, kundalini and other styles.

Paschimottanasana

After almost two years of practicing (almost) every day, I decided it was time to take my practice to a new level, and begin to share yoga with those around me so that I can help others find what I found in yoga.

Parivratta Janushirasana

Paripurna Navasana

I flew across the country, in February, to a bitterly cold and snowy London, to attend SAVY international’s two-week yoga teacher training program to become a registered yoga teacher.

Ushtrasana

The training was fascinating, all-encompassing and in depth.

Parighasana

Salamba Sarvangsamasana

The instruction was very encouraging, and really helped me to understand physical postures and find confidence in poses that I never thought I would progress in.

Karnapeedasana

Jathara Parivritti

Bhujangasana

During my training I grew to appreciate the depth of yoga, its history and philosophy.

Ek Pada Adhomukha Shvanasana

Chaturanga Dandasana

Bakasana

Parshva Bakasana

Ek Pada Chakrasana

At the end of two weeks, exhausted, inspired and frozen solid, I dragged myself onto the airplane that would take me home, inwardly beaming at my accomplishment.

Vashishtasana

Utkatasana

Chakrasana

Adhomukha Vrikshasana

Ashtavakrasana

I left SAVY feeling inspired, confident and super-excited to share yoga with those around me.

A note from the President’s desk

In this now very popular Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month series, we present SAVY Yogis who have been learning the right kind of true, traditional yoga with correct techniques, have done wonderfully well for themselves and are a guiding light and a source of great inspiration for others.

In this month marking the onset of spring, it’s my pleasure to introduce Aricia Haywood, our new savvy SAVY Yogi  for the month of March. She completed her RYT 200 Yoga Teacher Training with me in February, 2015 and is a Yoga Alliance, USA registered Yoga Teacher now. She’ll be completing her DSBH Breathing Educator (DBE-I) training soon. A dedicated and devoted Yogi to the hilt with the freshness of a blossoming spring flower, a bold explorer who loves to meet challenges head on, she is blessed with a compassionate heart, a strong, sinewy, lithe, sculpted and flexible yoga body and a steely grit. She braved the merciless freezing cold and dipping temperatures to come and join us here at SAVY for Registered Yoga Teacher Training and ruffled the brutal February cold weather in London with the whiff of freshness and warmth of spring air all the way down from Victoria, BC! Always up to the demands of the rigorous, intensive training and the ruthless 16-hour routine for two weeks straight she chose to join us for, she seemed to thoroughly enjoy every moment of her encounter with the intense challenges and met each one of them head on! Her attitude, devotion and professionalism made the extreme weather conditions look like nothing more than a mere minor inconvenience. She had done traditional yoga before and enjoyed her re-encounter and rediscovery of authentic traditional yoga at SAVY Studio. She showed a very keen interest in learning new yoga poses. She is an avid learner of her new-found passion of Yogic breathing exercises and newer meditation techniques, and what they can do for her. Day in and day out, she worked her way through the routines with great dedication. She has a keen sense of inquiry, is quick to learn, came out with flying colors in the training, and is bound to do great for herself. She is certainly going to be a source of enormous inspiration for her future students.

All the best, Aricia! Keep it up.

– Jitender

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Aricia Haywood appeared first on SAVY International Inc..

My name is Julia Ann Chandler and I joined SAVY Yoga Studio on  January 17^th 2014. 

I was practising Hot Yoga at a very prominent Hot Yoga Studio here in London for approximately 3 weeks and, a little over 10 years ago, I practised traditional yoga in California as an added weekly exercise regimen.

I regret not keeping up with my Yoga routines from back then.

Although I try to do my best to stay in shape I never seemed to get as sculpted as I once was while practicing yoga.

When joining SAVY my hopes were to focus on relaxation and my struggles with anxiety.

My expectations have been met and beyond.

In only the two short weeks that I have been practising at SAVY International my stress and anxiety is much more under control through breathing exercises and guided yoga practices.

I have even practised some of the breathing techniques I have learned at the studio on my own with great success.

Already I can see an enormous amount of improvement not only with my stress levels but my strength and toning.

My experience at the SAVY Studio has been amazing.

With the warm and inviting atmosphere I have been giving my best efforts to do a class daily.

There is no pressure or competition during practice it is much more of a healing experience.

Dr. Jitender K Sahdev is a kind hearted man with a plethora of knowledge in many areas which is an added bonus in any Yoga instructor.

When I first contacted SAVY International to inquire about classes and prices, Dr. Sahdev kindly scheduled me in for an hour long ‘Meet and Greet’ where he showed me around the Studio, explained his credentials and practices, as well as answering any questions I may have had.

I have noticed my flexibility increasing daily.

I now feel more in control of my stress levels through deep breathing exercises.

After a yoga class my energy levels are through the roof and a sense of calmness stays with me throughout the day.

All these improvements I’ve noticed in just two short weeks.

I cannot wait to see how I’m feeling after two months or even two years.

As I get better at my practice, the better I’ll feel overall.

Strong body mind and soul!

I highly recommend SAVY International to anyone seeking an authentic Yoga experience! You will be amazed just how beneficial it can be for you! Whether you’re adding yoga to your exercise routine or solely focusing on yoga, it is a win win! SAVY International is a ‘go at your own pace’ studio and when you leave you’ll be feeling great wanting to come back for more!

A note from the President’s desk

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Julia Chandler appeared first on SAVY International Inc..

My name is Donna Hebert and I joined SAVY around August-September 2012.

 My background in Yoga was very limited – I did a little bit in my late teens and had one 8 week course in Yoga in my early 20s.

Unfortunately I had not kept up with Yoga as I “aged”.  My daughter asked me last year if I would be interested in “trying Yoga” and much to her surprise I agreed and hence attended my first SAVY Yoga class in 2012.

Much to my disappointment I could not even sit on the floor with my legs under me!  My strength and flexibility had disappeared over the years and arthritis was setting in. This was not good!  Would I stay with it??

I decided perhaps through perseverance I may be able to make improvements in my flexibility.  So while I started off huffing, puffing and complaining I gave it a whirl!

By the time January and February 2013 arrived (only a few months after I started) I took a break. I had noticed improvements in how I felt and  thought I was fine to do this.   (I am not much for going out in winter especially at the end of a work day – that is why I missed classes!).

When Spring arrived ( a couple of months later) I returned to Yoga.  I realized it had not been a smart move to miss those couple of months of classes.  Arthritis had meantime reared its ugly head even further!  Since April, I started to attend classes more regularly and while I would like to attend more frequently, ( other commitments)  I can say that improvements have been made.

I am back to being able to sit on the floor with my legs under me and can now hold a number of the poses for more than 10 seconds! I feel better and have noticed a great improvement in my strength in the upper part of my body!  Overall I feel physically better.

It has also made me realize that no matter what is going on in one’s life, if we don’t take care of ourselves we will not be any good for anyone else.

I strongly encourage those people not involved in any form of activity to try Yoga – you work at your own pace – and your movements and flexibility will improve.

I know I for one will continue to stay with Yoga as ending up in a wheel chair is not someplace I want to be! Having been a working parent and raising children I also strongly emphasize to many young people to not neglect themselves – make time and give Yoga training a try.

SAVY is a comfortable and safe place to receive your training and Jit is a Dr trained in India.  Although he does not yet practice medicine in Canada he certainly understands ailments and disease quite deeply.

As a result any pose can be tailored to accommodate the student and as the student gains more flexibility, the pose will be improved.

No one need feel intimidated!

In summary, I highly recommend you give SAVY a try!! Procrastination does not exercise the body!

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Donna Hebert appeared first on SAVY International Inc..

A note from the President’s desk

 
 
 
 
 
 

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Eugene Wong Won appeared first on SAVY International Inc..

Hello, my name is Debbie. I have been with SAVY Yoga for 2 years now.

I have practiced yoga now and then over the years and have recognized the many benefits it can provide.

From the very beginning with SAVY, I have been impressed with the amount of knowledge and background Jitender brings to the classroom.

He is caring and compassionate and works with each individual to challenge your ability for improvement.

Along with the great bunch of participants class is not only fun but entertaining as well.

 Sometimes I might not really feel like going to class, but when I do, I feel so invigorated for the rest of the day and so glad I made the effort to be there.

My favorite poses would be the shoulder stand and the sun salutation.

Yoga has benefited my everyday life by increasing my inner core strength,

improved my posture,

given me energy and peace of mind.

It has been a real pleasure getting to know Jitender and his family.

I would encourage you to come to SAVY and experience the many benefits for yourself.

A note from the President’s desk

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Debbie appeared first on SAVY International Inc..

My name is Pauline Donald and I started yoga with SAVY two years ago and attended 30 lessons.

 

After a few months break, I returned in January of this year.

I tried yoga years ago and really enjoyed it but that session was discontinued.  I tried yoga at several other places which eventually led me to SAVY.

I encourage anyone who is seeking to improve their body strength and flexibility and overall health benefits to join SAVY and discover for yourself.

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Pauline Donald appeared first on SAVY International Inc..

The post Featured SAVY Yogi of the Month – Noel Paterson appeared first on SAVY International Inc..