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This site is dedicated to the practice and teaching of Yin and Ashtanga yoga in the Thousand Islands region of southeastern Ontario.
  

Siobhan McAuley has been practicing yoga for 17 years and has taught over 5,000 hours since first being certified to teach yoga in 1998. She has taught yoga in both the US and Canada,in small towns and big cities,for universities, corporations, private clients and yoga studios. In addition, Siobhan founded Green Tara Yoga in Key West, Florida in 2003 where she was the director of their 700 hr. yoga teacher training program.
About Ashtanga Yoga~

Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga transmitted to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. (description from the ashtanga.com website.)


Ashtanga yoga is practiced 6 days a week with a rest day on Saturdays, and each new and full moon.


The following are aspects that Pattabhi Jois emphasizes as the main components of Ashtanga Yoga.


Vinyasa: Vinyasa means breathing and movement system. For each movement there is one breath. The purpose of vinyasa is for internal cleansing. Breath and movement combined while performing asanas, or postures, creates heat in the body which purifies the blood and removes toxins and stiffness from the body.


Tristhana: This means the three places of attention or action: posture, breathing system and looking place. These three are very important for yoga practice, and cover three levels of purification: the body, nervous system and mind. They are always performed in conjunction with each other.


Asanas purify, strengthen and give flexibility to the body.Breathing is rechaka and puraka, that means inhale and exhale. Both the inhale and exhale should be steady and even, the length of the inhale should be the same length as the exhale. Breathing in this manner purifies the nervous system. Dristhi is the place where you look while in the asana. There are nine dristhis: the nose, between the eyebrows, navel, thumb, hands, feet, up, right side and left side. Dristhi purifies and stabilizes the functioning of the mind.


The six poisons: A vital aspect of internal purification that Pattabhi Jois teaches relates to the six poisons that surround the spiritual heart. In the yoga shastra it is said that God dwells in our heart in the form of light, but this light is covered by six poisons; kama, krodha, moha, lobha, matsarya, and mada. These are desire, anger, delusion, greed, envy and sloth. When yoga practice is sustained with great diligence and dedication over a long period of time, the heat generated from it burns away these poisons, and the light of our inner nature shines forth.



This forms the practical and philosophic basis of Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. (as taken from the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute website.)



About Yin Yoga~

Yin yoga is a contemplative body based practice. Each Yin yoga sequence works to safely stretch the tendons and ligaments of the body to open the joints. It is particularly helpful to increase range of motion in stiff and sore bodies, to stimulate the movement of fluids and energy through the body, and to calm and the relax the body, mind, and emotions.


Yin yoga is characterized by the long slow holding of the poses, all of which are done on the floor. It can be practiced by anyone, although it is deceptively more challenging than it appears. Each posture is held for up to five minutes which allows the deeper tissues of the body to be nourished and thus release long held tension. It is believed that the energy meridians of the body flow through the connective tissues which are targeted in the Yin practice, and thus each session is similar energetically to receiving an acupuncture treatment.


Yin yoga is immensely beneficial to those who are very active or busy in their daily lives as it gives them a chance to slow down and experience deep relaxation. Yin yoga is an excellent compliment to Ashtanga yoga as it helps to develop a compassionate approach towards oneself on the mat.


Some of the more subtle benefits of the Yin practice effect the mind and emotions providing valuable insight into the thoughts and beliefs which dominate our behaviour. Yin yoga is invaluable as a tool for learning to establish healthy boundaries for our selves, and with others. Yin yoga challenges us to remain present to our experience even when strong sensations, interpreted by the mind as discomfort, are present. This leads to greater mental focus, concentration and deep integration.

                                                              

67 division st. wolfe island, ontario