AKHANDA YOGA

'Akhanda' is a Sanskrit word meaning whole, indivisible and complete. Akhanda Yoga is a traditional holistic approach to yoga developed by Himalayan Master Yogrishi Vishvketu.

Every class includes 5 elements:

Movement: connect with your body
Breathwork: feel the effect of working with the breath
Sounding with mantra: observe what happens to your mind and body when you use your voice
Meditation: create space to just be
Yogic wisdom or philosophy: shared with the theme of every class and scattered throughout the practice

For more information on Akhanda Yoga click here.

Why I Love Akhanda

The philosophy behind Akhanda Yoga is all about connection to the whole: using a range of tools available to us and acknowledging that we ourselves are whole and complete just as we are.

The holistic approach incorporates not only asana (movement) but techniques the yogis of old used to connect to that inner state of calm and oneness. I love it because it is accessible to everyone, whether it is your first experience of yoga or a new take on your own established practice.

One aspect of Akhanda Yoga that really resonates with me is the sounding and mantra. When I was a teenager I taught singing workshops and choirs for 5 years. I loved helping people grow in confidence as they learned to express themselves through music.

I learned that sharing my passion to bring happiness and joy into people's lives is priceless and this love of teaching has been rediscovered in Akhanda Yoga. I can't wait to practice with you!

A word about sounding

Sounding is not often used in yoga here in the West so it's worth acknowledging a couple of things.

Our voice is our oldest instrument and is used all the time throughout our lives to communicate with one another. It helps us to express ourselves and using it only strengthens our ability to do so. It's also a ready made tool that we can use to our benefit. And why is this you may ask?!

Well, it turns out that using sound has direct physiological benefits - meaning that when we use our voices to produce sound we actually improve our mind state.

Sounding makes you happy!

Working with Sanskrit mantra is especially effective, as the structure of the words have the effect of breaking up negative energy patterns and recreating positive new ones. Coming away from unhelpful thought patterns and towards embracing the quiet joy at the centre of our being.

In Akhanda Yoga we open the practice by chanting 'OM' together. We then chant a Sanskrit mantra, different ones for different classes which I lead line by line.