Shanti Yoga Classes

Shanti Yoga Classes are peaceful, sacred, transformational practices for body mind and spirit. Held at Shanti Yoga Southport Centre & Nirvana Wellbeing Retreat.

shanti yoga class with happy relaxed participants at southport qld

Shanti Yoga classes are a peaceful, sacred, transformational practices for body mind and spirit. They present a unique sequence of intentional breathing (pranayama), supported stretches and postures (asanas) incorporating simplified yoga in common, everyday approach to deep rest, restoration, wellbeing and healing. You meet and heal yourself on the mat.

Guided awareness, breathing, stretching, classical postures, modifications and safety features are incorporated throughout the class, making them appropriate for beginners, safe if you are ill, injured, menopausal, and also are pre-post natal safe. You are invited to practise at a level that is appropriate to you, in a comfortable setting. No experience necessary. Everyone can attend a class and benefit from it, regardless of how new or experienced you are.

Our beautiful centre provides an opportunity for you to attend regular classes with a mindful community of fellow practitioners, like-minded people who you can interact with at our lunches, retreats and social events.

Practising regularly together with a teacher, over a period of time, enables you to systematically develop and grow as a human being, and deepen your understanding of life.

Classes are multilevel, fully demonstrated, and beginners are able to attend all of the Shanti Yoga classes because of the way that Shanti Yoga is designed and taught. Cushions, pillows, blankets, props and chairs are available to support you during practice. While doing yoga you also work with the mind, emotions and spirit.

The beauty of Shanti Yoga is that it introduces you to yourself at all levels. You will help boost your nervous and immune systems, improve overall pain relief, help recover from lack of sleep, soothe headaches and migraines, lower blood pressure, release endorphons and anti-ageing hormones, strengthen bad backs, joints and so much more.

A combination of three styles of yoga are taught in each class (Restorative, Shanti Yoga flow (vinyasa), and Gentle Hatha Yoga) together with Pranayama (intentional yoga breathing, to work at building levels of prana (lifeforce), invigorating the immune system, healing the nervous systen and strengthening the mind-body. The shorter (55min classes) include Yoga Nidra (conscious yoga relaxation) while the longer and back-to-back classes extend the session for asana practice, with deep rest Yoga Nidra and Meditation added on as a separate class, helping your body heal itself. The combination of philosophy with practice is a hallmark of Shantiji’s back-to-back sessions.

The needs of the body are different in the morning of your life and in the evening. Morning practice uses posture and breath in specific ways to energise and strengthen the entire system for the wear and tear of each day. Evening practices relaxes the entire body to heal and repair from the wear and tear of the day.

Come prepared to for authentic practice, by agreeing to be a student, accepting the soft, nurturing style of classical yoga, and to practice with awareness and presence. Check out how you feel after!

 



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SHANTI YOGA STUDIO FACILITIES
Fully equipped studio
Non-slip Yoga mats – no hire-fee
Cushions and Pillows provided
Blankets, Towels, Filtered water
Air-conditioned studio
Natural bamboo timber floor in yoga studio
Toilets that you can change in
Shoe rack and clothes hanging area
Lounge and waiting area
Shanti Yoga shop
Massage therapy rooms
Delicious, weight loss, vegan, lunchbox meals $15

What does yoga teach?
The Sanskrit word ‘yoga’ means ‘to unite’ or ‘to yoke’. This implies that we are seeking connection with the whole of existence and with ourselves as we are at the moment.

Yoga teaches discipline – the discipline of freedom. It’s practice encompass eight limbs. These are social (yama) and personal (niyama) disciplines; body (asana), breath (pranayama) and sensory (pratyahara) disciplines; and the mind disciplines of concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and equanimity (samadhi).

Yoga teaches us to live in contemplation of the body, feelings, mind and mind objects as a way of disentangling ourselves from the tendrils of karma in order to find liberation. Using the process tools of yoga postures, breath, sound vibration and affirmations (mantra), yoga relaxation (nidra), concentration and meditation make disentangling ourselves from our beliefs and assumptions, projections, aspects of our personality, disidentification and centering not only more manageable but also fun and enjoyable. Yoga is about practice. In this way, it’s much more about how than what.
Are there many types of yoga?
Yoga is one. However, there are may approaches or styles within this oneness. Our style is Shanti Yoga. It has been developed by yoga master Shanti Gowans. It is yoga for every body and it is yoga you can do. It is a fully led style of yoga that incorporates the eight limbs of yoga with simple stretching, classical yoga postures calledasanas, breathing and relaxation. You come in stressed out and leave blissed out.
Is exercise the foundation of yoga practice?
Self awareness – the practice of observing yourself without judgement – is the foundation of yoga practice.

The physical practice for its own sake is not the be-all, end-all of yoga and must not be taken out of its original, holistic, integrated context. Whilst asana is the centerpiece of most Yoga practice, Yoga is not just exercise and poses! Yoga teachers and students must expand their idea of what yoga is so that you do not consciously or subconsciously encourage aggressive practice.
How does balancing the chakras relate to me?
The chakras represent the psychic centres of energy in the body. The word chakra means ‘wheel’. Through your yoga practices, you will uncover a detailed understanding of the meaning, anatomy and function of the seven major chakras in your body. The five chakras in the body are keys to the five elements and the five senses, and the two in the head represent the command centre and the gateway to cosmic consciousness. By ‘balancing’ the chakras through Shanti Yoga purification therapies and meditation practices, you will gain valuable insights into which practices will positively enhance your total well being. When knowledge of the subtler aspects of the chakras is understood and incorporated into your daily practice, consciousness is freed from the downward inertia of the fear-filled, animal nature and allowed to rise to the higher centers of consciousness. In addition, advanced healing that works through the energy of the subtle body will help open, balance and ground you. These profound practices will increase your vitality while enhancing your powers of concentration. Rediscovering your inner source of physical health, emotional contentment and spiritual peace, is simply a matter of finding the proper knowledge and then cultivating your will force.
What does yoga say about food?
Food in yoga must not only feed the body but nourish the soul. Yoga teaches that nutrition is much more than about what we eat, since we nourish ourselves by what we think, say, listen, see, our personal relationships and the world in which we live. Yoga advises us to cook and eat sattwic (pure) food, consciously. Understanding food to be like medicine you must use it without desire nor hate.

Would you like to learn how to prepare the healthy and delicious food that Shantiji and others yoga teachers and students eat daily? In this connection, we offer an all-day, hands-on workshop where you will learn to prepare and eat yogic breakfasts, lunches and dinners. You’ll benefit from the Health Institute Australia’s 40+ years of research, experimentation and practice with nutrition, vegetarianism, Ayurveda, alkaline and nutrient therapies. Menu preparation will respect your personal Ayurvedic (the science of life) body-type and dietary restrictions.
Are Yoga classes suitable for stress and anger management?
Yoga postures were outlined as far back as the 15th century, by Swatmarama, an Indian, yogic sage, in a book called The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, from which several styles of yoga have originated. Shantiji has adapted these into a program that cleanses and balances the body and mind to open up the energy channels, release more subtle elements, and recognise the spiritual essence hidden within you. Through continued practice of yoga, you will gain health, flexibility, stress relief, and learn to be more relaxed under stressful situations. Shanti Yoga practices are an excellent contribution for a wonderful life. You can read Shantiji’s translation of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika in her book: Hatha Yoga for body, mind and spirit.
What is spirituality of the body?
In the Shanti Yoga (tantric) tradition, the body is considered to be the gateway to enlightenment. To discover the body in Shanti yoga, is to discover awareness and eventually, the awakened state. To look at the body from the outside, is to see form. However, when we view it through the eyes of yoga and meditation, we find it holds unlimited interpenetrating realities. To discover the body, is to discover your deeper self and in turn, to arrive at the genuine spiritual fulfillment all beings seek. Shanti yoga provides a series of body-based awareness practices – somatic protocols that open us to the full depths of our inner life in all its profundity and transformative power.
Is Shanti yoga safe for pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a normal condition in a woman’s body. Shantiji has written a book for pregnant women entitled: Yoga during Pregnancy and we also have a simple posture chart with prompts for the pregnant mum. Yes, Shanti yoga will help you during pregnancy and afterwards. There are no special classes specifically for pregnant women as we encourage them to attend regular classes, where they are instructed regarding any safety modifications, by the teacher .
Can I injure myself doing yoga?
Shanti Yoga provides good, experienced, caring, welltrained teachers. The traditional practice of yoga demands dedication, discipline, sacrifice, humility, surrender, love, devotion, and rigorous self-investigation. Yoga is not something you can learn to teach in a weekend, or more popularly, in a mere 200 hours to be a registered yoga instructor! Finding a good teacher tops the list of ways to avoid injury in yoga class. The most experienced teachers are not going to push you beyond your limits. They do not skip instructions and advice regarding the foundations of breath and asana safety for the sake of a good workout! Proper alignment, form, training, mental and emotional states are all important teaching. It is possible for anyone to practice yoga. The Shanti Yoga practice cultures both an awareness of how to be careful with yourself, includes safety features and practices, and the mindful adaptation of all yoga practices, making them ‘doable’ for your body, with it’s individual uniqueness. Yoga itself is not dangerous at all, but it can be taught and learnt in a manner that is more likely to bring about injuries if you are overzealous with your practice, do practices that your body is not ready for, without adequate preparation for that individual practice, are forceful and competitive, push and strive, and do things in a less than mindful way. Letting go of striving after achievement and competition are important tenets of practice, more important than where you place your leg or arm! The practice of yoga is often touted as a panacea to all ailements, and in most cases it can and will be. One of the most important things you learn to do through yoga is to listen to your body and breath and honour their messages.
Is Yoga beneficial if I have an injury?
Yes, for most injuries or pain, yoga is very therapeutic. Because Shanti Yoga offers a gentle, focused and slow program, sore backs, necks, knees and other injuries can be greatly improved and indeed, often healed. Remember, that often, your body just wants to relax so that it can heal, and this is why learning to breathe deeply, stretch gently, switch off your mind, and practice complete relaxation, are the key to health and wellbeing.

Just start with what you know and can do easily. Through the process of the lessons you will discover how you can move and feel better. By becoming aware of what is easier, more connected, stronger and more efficient, you can go beyond your current levels of performance. The effects of Shanti yoga are both generalised throughout your system and are also specific. People at all levels of ability can improve from where they started. You will learn to make the impossible possible; the possible easy; and the easy, elegant.