Neve Sha’anan Yoga Center

Vijnana Yoga – practicing from inside

Types of Classes and Workshops

Beginning, Continuing and Advanced Classes

Medical Class

Pre- and Post-natal Yoga

Continuing Studies for Wingate Graduates

Credits in Continuing Studies for School Teachers

Beginning, Continuing and Advanced Classes:

Our main classes, 90 minutes long, concentrate primarily on the practice and study of poses (āsana) and breathing exercises (prāņāyāma), and are appropriate/intended for students at various levels:

Beginners

The beginner’s classes are intended for those wanting to learn yoga for the first time or those who have studied yoga elsewhere and wish to acquaint themselves with the guiding principles of vijñāna yoga. In these classes, we build the foundations of our practice. We learn from the beginnings of the basic poses and breathing exercises, while teaching the fundamentals of the principles. Just as it is simple to understand the term ‘relaxation’ while it is not always simple to relax, thus it is not difficult to understand the term ‘rooting’ while it is a slow process to make it a real part of one’s practice. We recommend these classes as a basis for working with the body wisely also to those who have tried yoga in the past.

Continuing

The continuing classes are intended for those students studying yoga for two years at least and who are familiar with the basic poses and the essentials of the principles. In these classes we will deepen our understanding of the basic poses and breathing exercises, while expanding our capabilities in the study of more complex poses. In addition, an emphasis will be placed on holding the poses for longer periods. These are challenging practices, demanding while developing concentration and stability.

Advanced

“This practice becomes firmly grounded when done intensively, properly and continuously over a long period.” Thus writes Pātañjali in the Yoga Sūtra, and Vyāsa’s commentary adds: “When practiced for a long time, when practiced uninterruptedly, when practiced with devotion and passion, it becomes firmly grounded.” The advanced classes form a framework within which students of many years can further deepen and ground their own practice.

Top Back to schedule

Medical Class

The medical class is intended for those unable to attend regular classes due to problems or injuries to the back, knees, neck, respiratory (breathing) or other medical problems. The goal of the class is to strengthen the awareness of stability, to learn methods for coping with pain, to refine the ability to relax and to expand flexibility. As in all our classes, our tools are meditation, breathing and poses. As the medical classes are intentionally kept small, we develop for each student a personal program for practice at home. One’s personal practice is an important tool for strengthen the body and settling the consciousness. With its help, we are able to improve the quality of our lives in spite of the body’s limitations.

Registration for the medical class is for three-month periods (N.S. 310 x 3 = N.S. 930)

For those interested in the medical class, please contact the office (02-6798536).

Top Back to schedule

Pre- and Post-natal Yoga

The practice of yoga during pregnancy can provide a woman with an effective way to know her own body and become increasingly aware of the messages it sends her. Yoga can at the same moment be gentle and deeply powerful, and suited in the class to the physiological and emotional changes that occur during and following pregnancy. The practice is based upon mediation, breathing (prāņāyāma) and poses (āsana) and is appropriate for all woman regardless of previous experience in yoga, while keeping careful attention to each woman’s personal abilities and limitations.

In our practice an emphasis will also be placed upon relaxing the body so as to create a restful feeling and inner expanse for both the mother and fetus.

The work we will do with meditation and the breathing exercises we will practice are invaluable during the birth itself, and allow for inner concentration, an ability to focus on breath and relax during contractions.

Yoga classes give us a pause from the hectic pace of our lives and create a regular and relaxed ‘time-out’, which is crucial also for woman during and after pregnancy.

Top Back to schedule

Long Classes

The long classes are intended for continuing and advanced students and graduates of teachers’ courses. In these classes, from three to three and a half hours long, more time will be given to meditation and prāņāyāma along side the āsanas, and we will study from yogic texts. Students who have been practicing yoga for some years can here develop a deeper and more stable personal practice while deepening their understanding of the principles.

The Center offers three Long Classes:

Sundays with Yael Idan (November till June)

Thursdays with Noga Barkai (November till June)

Six Saturday workshops with Liora Amichai

For more information and tuition, please contact the office: 02-6798536 or office@vijnanayoga.com

Additional information on each of the classes is available in Hebrew - details

Top Back to schedule

Continuing Studies for Wingate Graduates

Advanced studies (hishtalmut) for graduates of the three-year senior yoga teachers course at the Wingate College who wish to continue their studies in order to deepen and refine their practice. The studies entail 24 weekly classes or three intensive weekends during the year. In the classes we will practice sitting, prāņāyāma, āsana and the study of texts. For more details (in Hebrew):

Top Back to schedule

Workshops and Retreats

In all workshops and retreats we will practice together sitting (meditation), prāņāyāma (breathing), āsana (poses), texts and relaxation. The purpose of the workshops is to deepen, stabilize and enhance our personal practice. Here we are able to connect with inner strengths and expand our vision. These are opportunities for inner reflection, which empower us to deal more quietly and effectively with the day to day of our lives.

There are a number of types of workshops/retreats:

· Weekend workshops throughout the year and 3-5 day workshops August. These workshops take place at the Neve Sha’anan Center.

· Retreats of three or four days in various locations in Israel, and longer retreats of five to eight days for advanced students.

For further details:

Upcoming workshop/retreat schedule

Retreats with Orit Sen Gupta

Top Back to schedule

Credits in Continuing Studies for School Teachers

“Gmul Hishtalmut”

Studies in the Neve Sha’anan Center qualify for Gmul Hishtalmut - advanced study credits for junior and high school teachers.

Institute code: 2760.

For more details, please contact Aaron at the Neve Sha’anan Center office (02-6798536 or office@vijnanayoga.com).

For more information from the fund (in Hebrew):

Top Back to schedule

Teacher Training

Teacher training courses for Vijnana yoga, in conjunction with the Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the Wingate Institute, and the College of Accreditations at the Sports Center of Tel Aviv University:

Advanced teacher training (three-year course) [In Hebrew]

Teacher training, yoga for children (one-year course) [In Hebrew]

Vijnana yoga teachers in Israel

New! International teacher training course, Switzerland [In English]