The classes present various styles of yoga at various levels of intensity.
Students have the responsibility to understand that class dynamics will be more demanding at higher levels of intensity. No one will ever be pushed to attempt a yoga posture that they are unable to do. In turn, students are expected to not try to force themselves into poses about which they are unsure.
YogaJaya is not about discipline through force. It is about discipline through self-awareness and intelligent surrender. Through continuity in regular yoga practice, an individual can become very aware of where they are in their yoga development and can learn to practice at a corresponding level of intensity.
It is very important to understand that your individual level is a reflection of your own development, rather than a point of competition with people practicing around you. Yoga is neither competitive nor comparable. Yoga is an avenue to individual personal transformation. Intelligence, perseverance and patience are both called for and nurtured in yoga.
It can take years to attain certain postures, but yoga is more about intent and the process than about achieving the perfect posture.
At YogaJaya, your teacher is available to answer any questions about yoga at any time.
Attending the Classes
It is strongly advised not to eat for a minimum of at least 2 hours before class. Practicing yoga on a full stomach could possibly lead to injury. If you must eat beforehand, keep food intake to an absolute minimum.
Wear comfortable clothing. Shorts, track pants, spats or gym tights and t-shirts or tank tops. A towel would also be recommended because you may sweat in the advanced classes.
Arriving at least 15 minutes prior to the start of a class will allow plenty of time to change and get whatever props might be used from the storage area and have a quick warm up. In some of the classes, the door of the studio might be locked from the time that the class is scheduled to start. This could be done so that anyone coming late will not interrupt a class that is already in progress. In cases where the students and teacher adopt this procedure, latecomers will not be able to join a class that has already begun and they will be asked not to knock on the door.
Students are expected to neatly return all mats/props used during a class to the same place in which they found them stored.
All classes are limited in size, and will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone who has practiced yoga in various studios knows how claustrophobic you can feel in an overcrowded class area. YogaJaya aims for its students to have a reasonable amount of space to practice at every class. Students might be asked to come back at a different time if a class has reached its maximum comfortable capacity.
For information on private or specialized yoga sessions contact us.
June Sunday Course: 4 Sundays 12:50-14:20 - June 8, 15, 22, 29
July Sunday Course: 4 Sundays 12:50-14:20 - July 6, 13, 20, 27
Yumiko Terasaki Sivananda Yoga Workshop
June 28th, 29th, July 5th, 6th, 2008
Asami Koike Nada Yoga: Introduction into the Yoga of Sound
July 19-20th, 2008
Special Hatha Yoga Basic Course
with YogaJaya Director Patrick Oancia.
5 Wednesdays 18:30-20:00 - July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Jason Birch & Jacqueline Hargreaves Hatha Yoga: An Integrated Practice
Saturdays & Sundays, August 2008
Yin Yoga Course with Jacqueline Hargreaves
Nourishing the Energetic Body
5 Sundays 12:50-14:20 - August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Inversions Course with Jason Birch
Diamonds and Pearls of Yoga
4 Wednesdays 18:30-20:00 - August 6, 13, 20, 27
Clive Sheridan
Japan Debut Workshop & Retreat
- Mountain Retreat September 12th-15th 2008
- Tokyo Weekend Workshop September 20th-21st 2008
Yoga Retreat in Tuscany, Italy
with Patrick Oancia (YogaJaya, Tokyo)
& Qbi (Inspya, Hamburg)
September 20 - 27th, 2008
YogaJaya International Intensive Teacher Training
(Yoga Alliance 200 hours)
Tokyo 2009
Osaka 2009
Current Events:
Zeitgeist-The Movie(1hour 56 minutes.)
Zeitgeist was created as a not for profit expression to inspire people to start looking at the world from a more critical perspective and to understand that very often things are not what the population at large think they are.
The course outlines and classes offered by YogaJaya have been designed by chief instructors.
Types of Classes
Hatha
This is a very basic level hatha yoga class with introduces a gentle approach to understanding the postures and breathing. Fun for those who have never done yoga, or someone who has not regularly been physically active in their lives.
Introduction to base asanas. This class focuses on proper utilization of the breath, basic standing and seated postures. This is a good class for people who are just starting yoga. It helps to build a solid foundation for moving to more advanced levels. For advanced students, this class can bring you back to the basic dynamics and detail in a way that can help you to reassess and refine your individual practice.
This class enables students to have a deeper understanding of Hatha Yoga with emphasis on inversions, arm strengthening, balancing and hip-opening in conjunction with different breathing methods. Also, Students will also practice concentration by holding postures for longer periods. This class promotes a strong, purifying practice.
This class is designed to give students a fresh start to the day through warming up the body with breathing excersises in sync with soft, but energetic yoga postures.
Hatha flow
This class will teach the practitioner to build skills into flowing sequences with a focus on combining breath with movement. Students will learn to refine postures and move beyond the limitations of the body and mind. Incorporates meditation, poses and mindfulness.
Hatha vinyasa
Incorporates traditional Hatha Yoga postures with Vinyasa (breath synchronized movement). This is a very dynamic intermediate class which will be of interest to those who regularly participate in different yoga traditions.
With the explanation of the breath method, which is the base of sivananda yoga, sun salutation, and the first part of 12 basic postures in detail. Students practice each pose together with deep breath, observing the changes within the body and mind, improving overall concentration. First timers will also enjoy this class.
Students will practice 2 base breathing methods sun salutations, and all12 basic poses. By holding each poses for a long period of time, concentrating on breath, students will learn the basis of meditation through focus and concentration.
Students will practice variations of 12 basic poses. Students will also gain deeper understanding of kriyas, pranayama, dharana (Exercises and breathing techniques intended to purify and cleanse the body's energy channels)and Dhyana (Meditation).
This class is an beginner level inrtro to Ashtanga Yoga. All basic points of the Ashtanga vinyasa system will be explained, along with in introduction to the postures practiced in the first series. Suitable for complete beginners.
These classes will take the students through the standing, seated, and finishing postures of the primary series. The focus will be on building internal heat and strength in the body and developing the preliminary elements of concentration, breath, movement and Bandhas. Level 2 may not implement jump backs on both sides, and level 3 will slightely vary depending on the teacher and approach.
This is an all level class that will be conducted according to class dynamics. Beginner, Intermediate and advanced students will be welcome to join. Beginner students will be reminded to take responsibilty when practicing and to never go beyond what their limitations might be. Teachers may sometimes introduce led full primary or a mysore style practice is a way which suits all levels.
*For those who are at the level of the advanced Ashtanga second series and up, the open practice sessions are recommended.
This is not a guided class, nor will there be an adjustment teacher. The studio will be open for people to come and pursue their self-practice related to any particular personal discipline. yoga, taichi, pilates, kung fu etc... Entrance fee will be ¥1000 for all students. Anyone is welcome as long as everyone can respect each others practices!
Yoga Reference:
Hatha yoga refers to the aspect of Yoga based in the physical body, i.e. the postures. The ancient yogis viewed the body as a tool for integrating the opposites or polarities of our existence: The right side representing "Ha" energy, intellectual, warm, expanding, solar; and the left side representing "Tha" energy, lunar, intuitive, receptive, cooling. In the human body, this power manifests at the subtle level as prana on the one hand and kundalini on the other. The former is an unconscious subtle energy, the latter is the intelligent Energy of Consciousness (cit-shakti)itself. Hatha's goal is to unite all aspects of the human system and to help us to discover our essential self, unlimited by ego. Yoga of physical and mental purification. Every teacher of Yoga postures is a Hatha teacher.
Sivananda yoga, Sri Swami Sivananda lived from 1887 to 1963. He was an allopathic doctor, then later in his life he turned to the spiritual study. As his life became more focused on the spiritual path he turned more to meditation. Subsequently he established the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh and focused on the dissemination of spiritual knowledge. Swami Sivananda's teachings crystallized the basic tenets of all religions, combining all yoga paths into one - the Yoga of Synthesis. This he summed up with "Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize".
Swami Vishnu-Devananda (1927 - 1993)was a close disciple of Swami Sivananda. He was the first teacher of Hatha yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. He trained thousands of students both Indian and Western. Swami Sivananda sent Swami Vishnu-Devananda to the West to spread the ancient teachings of yoga. Swami Vishnu-Devananda traveled extensively and established yoga centers around the world. He dedicated his life to promoting world peace and understanding. He believed that with no inner peace there can be no external peace.
Ashtanga yoga, as taught by BNS Iyengar and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, is one of many styles of yoga that gradually leads the practitioner to rediscovering his or her fullest potential on all levels of human consciousness - physical, psychological, and spiritual. Through this practice of correct breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama), postures (asanas), and gazing point (driste), we gain control of the senses and a deep awareness of our selves. By maintaining this discipline with regularity and devotion, one acquires steadiness of body and mind.
Vinyasa means breath-synchronized movement. The breath is the heart of this discipline and links asana to asana in a precise order. By synchronizing movement with breathing and practicing Mula and Uddiyana Bandhas (locks), an intense internal heat is produced. This heat purifies muscles and organs, expelling unwanted toxins as well as releasing beneficial hormones and minerals. The breath regulates the vinyasa and ensures efficient circulation of blood. The result is a light, strong body.
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