Janis Desmond RYT's Profile

It always seems a little odd to write about yourself.....since yoga is about you & your experience.

The main thing to know about yoga teachers & yoga classes is that there are a HUGE difference in going to a class at the gym & going to a Yoga Studio. There's a big disparity between yoga teachers in terms of the level of training they've had.

If you are interested in yoga as exercise then Svaroopa Yoga may not suite you. If you are looking for a yoga class that is gentle & fairly easy, but very effective & powerful then Svaroopa Yoga is worth checking out. If you've done other styles and are looking for a deeper experience then Svaroopa may appeal to you.

We use the term "Core Opening" with respect to what the physical practice of Svaroopa does, which is very different than "Core Strengthening" popularized by Pilates & many workout routines. "Core Opening" is more than just physical & I think it's best explained the person who developed Svaroopa.....

Here's a passage from an article by the originator of Svaroopa Yoga, Rama Berch.

The phrase "core opening" has multiple meanings. First, it means you are doing poses to release tension in the deepest muscle layers in your body, your spinal muscles. This decompresses your spine beginning at your tailbone, creating space for your vertebrae, discs and nerve roots, as well as taking pressure off your internal organs & glands. Along with relieving pain, it is incredibly health-giving. If this were the only benefit of core opening, this practice would be a miraculous way of working with the body. But it wouldn't actually be yoga, because yoga is about the "something more".

"Core opening" also means that you are opening to the experience of your own essence. The opening is both physical and more than physical. Each time you open your spine, you also open yourself to your own core essence, which is the real reason that Svaroopa yoga works so well. Not only do you get health-giving physical benefits, but consciousness heals you, transforms you, and illumines you from the inside out. The radiance of your own being can shine through when you dissolve the layers that have been blocking its light.

I'm a (RYT) Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Allance @ the 500 hour level. I've been doing trainings since 1999 & have done specific training in Yoga Therapy as well.

I've been teaching for about 7 years in Portland - The Yoga Space, Friendly House, Rose City Acupuncture, and now at Balanced and Whole Wellness Center in the Hollywood District.

See my web site for more information on classes, Yoga Therapy and workshops:

www.jayayoga.net

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