SAVY Yoga Challenge Program

 SAVY Yoga Challenge Program

SAVY Yoga Challenge Program, based on Yoga, Pranayama, Nada, Marmas, Meditation and more, offers immense healing potential, for the body, mind and spirit. I am a firm believer that Yoga is not just physical stretching, but it is a whole science of life! Almost three decades of studies and experience in Modern Medicine, and comparative studies of the results of Yoga, Marma, Pranayama, Ayurveda, Indian Classical Music and other Alternative pathies, and regular SAVY Yoga Challenge programs run month after month since 2011, have only reinforced my already very firm faith and positive personal experience in the importance and potential of all these in achieving a positive health and leading to all-round development of personality.

The benefits of all this knowledge are being offered in the form of a challenge. The new SAVY Challenge program includes and is based on ‘Dr Sahdev’s ‘Breathe and Heal’ Therapy aka MBH. You will be practicing a capsule of extremely useful exercises, physical as well as mental, in a group in a time-bound manner.

This program sets you on a course to perfection in body, mind and spirit!

Why challenge yourself?

Patanjali, in his Sutras defines yoga as “the ability to control the fluctuations of the mind”.  In order to achieve that goal, Patanjali recommends ‘abhyasa’ (practice) and ‘vairagya’ (detachment) as the two key ingredients of a personal endeavor. In order to establish a regular practice for any endeavor as defined by Patanjali, one needs to have a commitment and a strong will-power. To develop such a will-power Patanjali offers the five yamas (don’ts) and five niyamas(do’s). However, success is not possible without ‘tapas’ (austerity) and application . The word ‘tapas’ in Sanskrit means ‘heat’. An example usually given is the use of intense heat to purify gold. In yoga ‘tapas’ usually refers to practices that make one strong physically and mentally. One who practices ‘tapas’ is known as a ‘tapasvi’. A tapasvi can easily withstand the dualities of life like heat and cold, honor and dishonor, good and bad, light and darkness etc.

The yoga challenge provides an opportunity to practice ‘tapas’ as we are required to make a commitment to a regular practice.

Program Information

Why a month? You do need a regular practice to begin to realize the benefits of any practice. Further, it takes an additional time before the practice gets embedded in your mind as a habit which you can then maintain for the rest of your life. In essence, this could truly be a LIFE TRANSFORMING experience for you. Whether you are brand new to yoga or are a seasoned yoga practitioner, you will find this yoga challenge a truly rewarding experience physically, emotionally, medically, socially and spiritually.

For the benefit of those with real time constraints, we are introducing this program in a month format, but the greater benefits of a regular practice of the same should be obvious.

The program will consist of a group-based practice led by a knowledgeable and experienced instructor. Here are the details:

• Time: On week Days: 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM
• Where: SAVY International South London Studio at 119-D Exeter Road London ON N6L 1A4
• Formats: One Month Format
• Batches: One batch per month.
• Commitment:
  • A firm commitment to complete the program without missing any class (except in an emergency). To underline the importance of this, you are required to sign a form stating the same at the beginning of the program.
  • At the end of the one month program, continue the same practice at home or sign-up for another month to make it a life-long habit. To get to the next level you have to continue at this level for at least 3 months.
• Cost: Total cost is $499 for one month program.
• Components of Program:
  • Asana (physical postures/stretching)
  • Yoga Nidra (relaxation)
  • Pranayama (breathing techniques)
  • Meditation
  • Self Marma Massage of important Marma Bindus
  • Nada
  • Aum Chanting
  • Energy Healing
  • Chakra and Kundalini Awakening Exercises
  • General Ayurvedic Detox Diet advice
  • Pearls of Ancient Wisdom

 Strongly recommended

In addition to committing to the yoga practice as outlined above, we would strongly urge you to commit to the following for the duration of the program:

• ‘sattvic’, light, nutritious, VEGETARIAN food (no meat, poultry, oil, fish or eggs).
• No alcohol, drugs, tobacco or any other item of similar nature.
• A personal practice of at least 15 minutes on a daily basis, especially in the early morning.

Also, to help achieve your goals, I strongly recommend availing the following services at SAVY Studio:

• Midfulness and Breathing-Based Healing (MBH) or DSBH Therapy
• Yoga Therapy Consultation
• Yoga Nutrition Programs
• And other services

 

Daily Practice will include:

• Asana: We will practice a variety of asanas (physical postures) during this one month. Even though we shall maintain the same basic pattern, each day we will either introduce a new pose or practice variations of different poses. The asana practice will improve strength, flexibility, endurance and balance in different parts of the body. Also, asanas act on different Marma points and hence on Chakras.
• Yoga Nidra: Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation) helps not only relax the body but also helps calm the nerves, the mind and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Pranayama: Pranayama is the bridge between our physical body and other sheaths. Various pranayama (breathing techniques) practices will include all or some of – bhastrika (deep forceful breathing), kapaalabhaati (breath of fire), bahya pranayama (holding the breath out), agnisaar ( belows breathing with breath holding), anulom vilom (alternate nostril breathing), many other deep breathing practices, sectional breathing, sitali (cooling breaths), breath retention (kumbhaka), bandhas (energy locks) and much more.
• Meditation: We shall practice a few simple but very effective meditation techniques.
• Self-Marma Massage: Marma bindus are the energy points which connect to the chakras through nadis. Self-massage of various important marmas helps open up energy channels and balance chakras.
• Nada: Nada (Indian Classical Music) notes have the same effect as the Marma bindu massage and help to open up and balance various chakras. We’ll be practising various notes and may even practice some compositions based on various ragas on different occasions.
• AUM Chanting: AUM is the primordial sound and AUM chanting has a healing effect on all our sheaths. We’ll be investing some  of our time in it daily.
• Energy Healing: Various exercises are conducive to very positive energy fields around us while practicing in a group. We’ll be doing these exercises on different occasions.
• Chakra and Kudalini Awakening Exercises: Various procedures, chants, exercises which help balance chakras and so are conducive to kundalini awakening in the long run will also be done.
• Ayurvedic/ Yoga Dietary Advice: Importance of diet on the basis of body type, and its role in healing will also be highlighted. You will be given a general advice on diet throughout the program.
• Yoga philosophy: Understanding of concepts of yoga philosophy will be shared while practicing asana, pranayama and meditation so we can develop a deeper understanding of the yoga practice as well as learn more.

 Benefits of the program

Besides the obvious benefits of a regular month-long practice at the physical level – weight loss, flexibility, strength, endurance, balance etc, more benefits at the mental, intellectual and even deeper levels cannot be over-emphasised. Patanjali, defines ‘kriya yoga’ as a combination of ‘tapas’ (austerities), ‘svadhayaya’ (study of self and of scriptures), and ‘Ishvara Pranidhana’ (surrender to a higher principle). He further states that by practicing ‘kriya yoga’, one can overcome all the ‘kleshas’ or afflictions (pain and suffering) of life. In the modern context the word ‘klesha’ can be equated with mental stress that we all face on a daily basis. Now, this is a pretty strong statement as all of us want to learn how to cope with stress in our lives. We plan to incorporate all these three components of ‘kriya yoga’ into our practice during the yoga challenge program.

Here are some of the benefits of attending the yoga challenge program:

• This program sets you on a course to perfection. You learn healthy habits which you can continue to follow.
• At the completion of the program, develop an on-going daily practice of your own.
• PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
• The benefits of a regular practice cannot be over-emphasised!
• Natural weight management.
• Develop a body that is more flexible, healthier and stronger.
• Learn how to manage stress effectively.
• Reduce chronic pain.
• Develop the habit of waking up early, thus leaving much more of the day for yourself.
• Morning yoga gives you abundant energy and vitality for the rest of the day.
• Develop a strong will-power.
• Detoxify and cleanse your body.
• Develop healthier eating habits.
• There are innumerable other benefits beyond this list.

I would like you to let us know what other benefits you foresee out of this program (your own reasons for participating in the program).

Please contact us if you are interested. I would love to hear any suggestions or comments that you might have. Space is limited and participation will be on a first-come-first-served basis. So respond early to participate in this exciting, life-transforming experience.

 Follow-up of the program

As you will experience in a short span of one month only, the program is immensely useful and certainly Life-Transforming. But this is only the beginning! Various health problems take different time durations to respond to this complementary, drugless modality. Still, to see its full benefit in chronic and complicated diseases, it is recommended that the program must be followed for at least 1 to 3 years.

How To Join the Program

• Decide upon the month to join this program. The batch start around the 1^st day every month for SAVY Yoga Challenge program.
• Check with us, or online if the space is available for the batch.
• Make your payment on telephone or in person at the Yoga Studio.
• Your spot will be reserved after receiving full payment.

 

Your Yoga Teacher Trainer – Dr Jitender K Sahdev E-RYT 500, RCYT, RPYT, D.Sc., Ph.D.,MD, MBBS, Fellow in Surgery and Surgical Oncology, is a Yoga Therapist /Yoga Teacher in London with over 35,000 hours of Traditional Yoga teaching experience. A Surgeon by profession from India, he utilizes Yoga as a complementary therapy for optimizing the health and wellness of his participants and for easing symptoms of pain and tightness associated with disease. He trained under doyens of Yoga in India for almost four decades. He is a Yoga Therapist in Canada.

 

Note : You should check with your health care professional before starting this or any new exercise program or breathing routine. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, migraines or heart or lung ailments. Women who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant should consult their physician before performing any of the breathing or physical exercises.

The information contained in the program is not intended to serve as a replacement for professional medical advice. Any use of the information in these programs/ workshops is at the reader’s discretion, risk and responsibility. The studio, author and the publisher specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of any information contained herein. A health care professional should be consulted regarding your specific situation.