Sattvayoga – Embrace Balance, Cultivate Peace: Transform Your Life with Yoga

WHAT IS SATTVAYOGA?

SATTVA is a sanskrit word. It embodies the qualities of balance, calmness, steadiness, goodness, harmony, and peace. It is the middle ground between being overcharged and empty. It is this which promotes radiant health and healing. YOGA means union. Yoga is a state or methods that bring union of the whole self - body, mind and spirit - with the divine. Developed in India, yoga is an ancient wisdom culture which has been evolving for the last 5,000 years. Yoga is not a religion. It is practiced by all faiths, belief systems and philosophies. Yoga is a set of practices that promote inner awareness, consciousness and personal transformation. It is more than a physical practice; it broadens mental & spiritual capacities. The yoga tradition emphasizes love, compassion, knowledge and right action as paths toward union. Yoga guides us in understanding that all is one.

WHAT WE DO?

At Sattva Yoga, a complete yoga practice comprises centering, breathing techniques (Pranayama), gentle stretches (Joint-Freeing & Somatic Movement), flowing (Vinyasa) & static poses (Asana & Pilates), meditation, deep relaxation (Yoga Nidra) and reflection. The breathing techniques revitalize & cleanse the body, as well as focusing the attention inward. The postures stretch, tone and strengthen muscles, joints, and spine: they also stimulate internal organs, glands, and nerves. By releasing physical and mental tensions, the postures liberate the body’s vast resources of energy. The practice of meditation brings increased clarity and inner peace.

HOW WE DO?

I encourage you to develop a personal practice outside of class. It is preferable that you practice yoga a little every day. Begin with 10 minutes and gradually build from there. It will reinforce what you are learning in class and your body will accommodate to the positions more readily. Simply centre on the breath for a minute, do a few stretches to warm the body and do 2-3 postures. The guidance, alignment, technique and sequencing learned in the yoga class are meant to inspire your own personal practice.

Fall Yoga Session Part 2
Mondays – Beginner – Continuing Beginner

Thursday – Intermediate

Where: Kanata, Beaverbrook, Selwyn Cres.

When: Monday 7 weeks beginning Nov.4; Thursdays 6 weeks starting November 7 / 7:00-8:30 PM

Fees:

Monday Fall program concludes on Dec. 16.
Adults: $112
Students & Seniors(65+): $95

Thursday Fall program concludes on Dec.12.
Adults: $96
Students & Seniors(65+): $81
Spring Yoga Session
Mondays – Beginner – Continuing Beginner

Thursday – Intermediate

Where: Via Zoom

When: Mondays 9 weeks beginning April 27 & Thursdays 9 weeks beginning April 30 / 7:00-8:30 PM

Fees:

Monday Spring program concludes June 22.
Adults: $144
Students & Seniors(65+): $125

Thursday Spring program concludes on June 25.
Adults: $144
Students & Seniors(65+): $125
Summer Yoga Session
Wednesdays

Where: Kanata, Beaverbrook, Selwyn Cres.

When: 4 Wednesdays beginning July 8 / 7:00-8:30 PM

Fees:

Wednesday Summer program concludes July 29
Adults: $64
Students & Seniors(65+): $56
The drop-in rate for all is $20

1 / 3

Preparations for Yoga Practice:

Wear comfortable layered clothing that permits freedom of movement such as sweat pants, leggings, t-shirts, shorts.
Yoga is practiced in bare feet.
Bring your own yoga mat, firm cushion, small blanket and yoga strap to class.
Refrain from wearing scented products of any kind to class. Do not apply any lotions, oils, creams to your skin on the days you attend class.
Come to yoga on an empty stomach. No meals 2 hours prior to practice. Hydrate well with water before and after class. Take only small sips of water during class.
Cell phones and pagers are to be turned off or set to vibrate.
Remove your footwear at the front door and place on trays or mat.
Leave coats or jackets on and proceed downstairs. There is a coat rack in the room next to the yoga room.
Please prepare your yoga space by taking out our yoga gear and place yoga bag in the room where the coat rack is located. This will help keep the yoga space free of extras.
Be on time for class- arrive 5-10 minutes ahead of class time to ready yourself for the practice, to stretch and to relax into the present moment. Latecomers can be distracting to others. If you are arriving after class has begun, please wait silently in theupper foyer until we begin our gentle stretches.
If you need to leave the yoga room, please do so in between postures. When returning please do the same.
Please tell me know prior to class if you have any existing health conditions or injuries which may affect your participation such as high/low blood pressure, back or neck problems, epilepsy, chronic sinus problems, eye troubles, surgery, pregnancy, etc. I will then be able to offer safe alternatives and modifications to meet your needs. All information is kept confidential.
After a yoga practice, drink plenty of water to assist in the release of toxins. Taking an Epsom salt bath helps to further this detoxification process.
Please feel free to ask questions during the class and to discuss your experiences with me afterward.

NOTE 1

All classes are 90 minutes in length.

NOTE 2

Your registration will be secured with full payment.

NOTE 3

Please call to register prior to attending.

NOTE 4

Space permitting, my drop-in rate is $20.00 per class.

NOTE 5

A withdrawal fee of $25.00 will be charged before classes begin.

NOTE 6

No refunds once classes have commenced

ABOUT JO-ANNE STASIUK

Yoga help you live in symbiosis
with nature

Jo-Anne is passionate about sharing the practice of yoga with others. She is known for her soul-filled classes that nourish body, mind, heart and spirit. She does this from the depth of her own personal practice and study; and through her gentle guidance, her sense of humour, and the safety that she creates in a peaceful and non-competitive environment.

Jo-Anne has been practicing and studying yoga since the early 1980’s when she began her university studies in the areas of sociology, psychology and religion. She holds a Masters’ degree in counselling, and has been working in this capacity within an educational setting since 1987.

Jo-Anne began teaching yoga in 1997 with her 200-hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher Certification. She received her Professional Kripalu Yoga Teacher Certification in 2000. This reflects over 500 hours of supervised training in Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Theoretical and Applied Yogic Philosophy, Anatomy, Physiology, Teaching Methodology, Techniques and Professional Ethics. Since then she has received an additional 500 hours of training exploring various yoga styles and therapies in Canada, the United States and Thailand. Jo-Anne has received specific yoga training in working with Cardiac & Cancer, Depression & Anxiety clients, Five Element Yoga as well as the practice of Yoga Nidra (iRest). She has also received certificaction as a mindfulness teacher through Mindfulness without boarders.

Jo-Anne’s teaching is currently influenced by her studies with Nischala Joy Devi, Michael Stone, Richard Miller, Erich Schiffmann, Yoganand Michael Carroll, Mukunda Tom Stiles, Gary Kraftsow, Angela Farmer and Rama Berch, Amy Weintraub, Richard Brown, Jill Miller and Jennifer Reis. Her meditation practice and teaching are most influenced by Thich Nhat Hahn, Sylvia Boorstein, Sharon Salzberg, Pema Chodron, Jack Kornfield, Thomas Keating, John Main,osb.and Ron Siegel.

Jo-Anne has studied Thai Yoga Massage with Kam Thye Chow of the Lotus Palm School in Montreal and with Asokananda of the International Society of Thai Yoga Massage in Thailand. She has also received training in Stott Pilates.

Jo-Anne is particularly interested in how yoga practice affects the physiological systems in the body, facilitates the mind-body connection and deepens spiritual balance. She is devoted to helping her students develop a practice that is guided from within so that they may connect more deeply to all aspects of their lives.

YOGA STYLES

Jo-Anne combines pilates and somatic movement and several styles of yoga in her classes. This eclectic approach provides a safe, inspiring and challenging practice. She demonstrates care for her students by integrating their needs into well-balanced and well-paced classes. The tone is positive and respectful. The following provides a brief description of each approach.

Kripalu Yoga

is known as “yoga with heart”. The three stages of Kripalu yoga include: willful practice, surrender and meditation-in-motion. Kripalu puts great emphasis on proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath with movement, and “honouring the wisdom of the body”. You work according to the limits of your individual flexibility and strength. Kripalu means “compassion”. You are encouraged to practice mindfully without self-judgement or criticism. Swami Kripalu saw this as the highest form of spiritual practice. Students learn to focus on the physical and psychological reactions created in various postures through riding the wave of sensation by breathing, feeling, watching, relaxing and allowing sensation to transform. It is the learning gained from doing this that may be translated into your life off the mat. In this context, yoga is seen as a journey rather than a destination.

Vinyasa Yoga

Nyasa means "to place" and vi means "in a special way." Vinyasa is a style of class that connects poses with breath-synchronized movements. Poses are creatively sequenced to develop internal awareness, build heat and explore energizing effects. Music is used to enhance the flow and rhythm of the class.

Structural Yoga

relies on a deep respect for the body's innate capacity for safe, healthy movement and healing. This is a way of teaching that invites the body to find its own optimal way of moving and building strength, without the use of hands-on corrections that might ultimately hinder self-awareness. It promotes the slow, careful development of the muscle structures that are needed to develop a full yoga practice. Sequenced movements known as the Joint-Freeing series are integrated into the practice to improve circulation, and to strengthen and free all the joints in the body.

Svaroopa Yoga

teaches modified ways of doing traditional poses. It emphasizes the opening of the spine beginning at the tailbone and progressing up through each spinal area. This is a slow & conscious yoga that promotes healing and transformation.

Yoga Nidra

is an ancient transformative meditation practice that is derived from the Nondualism Teachings of Yoga. Yoga Nidra seeks to decrease stress and increase clarity. It is a form of yoga beyond physical postures in which the practitioners lie on their backs or sit comfortably in a chair allowing them to be led into a deep state of relaxation. A trained practitioner skilfully guides this 20-30 minute process that allows the active brain to let go of distractions and zone in to the present moment and the peace that lies within. This is accomplished through specific sequential steps which include setting an intention, relaxing the physical body, becoming aware of the breath, relaxing mentally and emotionally, and following the various guided images in an open-ended visualized journey. This practice works deeply to release our obstacles to joy and to experience profound healing in our mind, emotions, body & soul. Through the practice you discover beneath your current mood, beneath your body’s aches and pains, and beneath your mind’s self-limiting beliefs, the vastness of who you really are and your connection to all that is.

Somatic Movement

as developed by Thomas Hanna, is a series of slow muscle movements intended to re-educate the neuromuscular system toward greater health and well-being. The practice of these simple somatic movements releases deeply held maladaptive neuromuscular patterns (sensory-motor amnesia) in the body, and changes how our minds and bodies interrelate.

Pilates

is a sequence of toning exercises that places great emphasis on developing core strength in the abdomen, lower back, hips and buttocks. Correct anatomical placement of pelvis, rib cage, scapula, head and cervical spine are key within the practice. It is important to maintain a strong mind-body connection during the practice through deep breathing and smooth, long movements that encourage muscles to relax and lengthen.

WHAT IS SATTVAYOGA?

WHAT WE DO?

HOW WE DO?

Fall Yoga Session Part 2

Mondays – Beginner – Continuing Beginner

Thursday – Intermediate

Where: Kanata, Beaverbrook, Selwyn Cres.

When: Monday 7 weeks beginning Nov.4; Thursdays 6 weeks starting November 7 / 7:00-8:30 PM

Spring Yoga Session