What is Meditation?

Meditation is the art of stilling the mind. Restoring the mind back to its true nature that is stillness & silence. Attaining a state of deep inner rest in which there is relaxation of all effort.

Our daily lives are wrought with ceaseless thinking & restlessness. We identify with our thoughts & emotions. We thus suffer and enjoy the dualities of pain & pleasure without being able to detach from them.

The Benefits of Meditation:

Through meditation we attain freedom from all concepts, belief systems, thoughts & ideas that bind us. We become true to ourselves and begin to enjoy greater peace, love, compassion, wisdom & understanding. We are also able to tap into our creative potential & discover our true inner purpose.

There is enough Medical evidence to prove that meditation has far reaching effects on our immune system, nervous system and overall wellbeing.

The Course:

The course will be conducted by Shilpa Ghatalia who has studied meditation for the last 22 years. Having explored different styles from Vipassana, Zen, Raja Yoga, to Advaita, in this course she will highlight the essence of each practice. The main focus of these sessions will be to teach one how to integrate the principles into daily life.

Breath training is an invaluable tool in helping the mind to silence. Techniques from Yogic Pranayama will be used for this,

Through this course you will be able to undertake a daily self -practice and start to enjoy deep inner transformation.

This course will cover:

" Philosophy

" The art of Sitting with ease

" The art of breathing

" The art of deep relaxation

Dates & Times: For Working Students:

Every Sat & Sun: 5:45 to 7:15pm, starting Sat Oct 16th to Sun Oct 31st

Dates & Times: For Non- Working Students:

Every Tues & Thurs 9:30 to 11am starting Tues Oct 5th to Thurs 21st Oct

Cost: The course will be spread over 6 sessions & will be RM 300.

Venue: Yogshakti Yoga Centre, www.yogshakti.com

To Register : Either email: shilpa@yogshakti.com or call 012-2052714

Breath Workshop- The Buteyko Method

Russian scientist & Doctor Konstantin Buteyko discovered a scientific breathing practice which has been used to successfully treat conditions as varied as Asthma,Chronic cough,Circulatory problems, Immune Dysfunction and Allergies, Chronic Fatigue, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, Infertility, Anxiety,Depression, Obesity, Hypertension, Hormonal disorders to name a few.

The Impact of breathing in our daily life is far greater than diet, exercise or sleep- infact the way we breathe largely determines these patterns.

The Link Between Breathing and Diseases

It is now a well-researched fact that people can develop a large number of symptoms with Hyperventilation/over breathing. Many medical conditions have been linked with faulty breathing for e.g. conditions such as epilepsy, migraine, angina, hypertension, heart rhythm irregularity, brain hypoxia and mental disorders.

The Link Between Breathing & the Mind

The quality of and function of the mind are tightly bound to the way we breathe. It is considered by many psychologists that all of the physical symptoms of anxiety are related to Hyperventilation. Hyperventilation is frequently provoked and sustained by anxiety and chronic unresolved stress. Working with breathing can modify the stress response. This gives one the tools and ability to modify their own anxiety response increasing the sense of control which is so important in decreasing the health damaging effects of stress.

For those seeking to still the mind & meditate breathing offers a powerful tool for self-transformation.

Workshop Dates & timings for Oct 2010 for Oct

Thursday Oct 7th: 8pm- 9:30 pm

Friday Oct 8th: 7pm- 8:30pm

Saturday Oct 9th: 5:45pm-7: 15 pm

Sunday Oct 10th:5pm-6: 30pm

Cost: Rm 450

" The first three days are the most important.

" Students are welcome to interchange attendance from one scheduled course to another. Upon completion of the course one is entitled to attend future courses for free.

" Do not eat for one hour before classes

" Private training is available on request. Either Register at Desk or call: 03-42524714 or 012-2052714

Buteyko Testimonials

After just 2 days of practicing the method, I began to notice some changes in me. I had less appetite and I became a vegetarian without even trying. I had no craving for non-vegetarian food at all. I followed the method religiously and my maximum pause was 2 minutes on the 7th day. I lost 2.5 kg in 10 days, just breathing. My complexion also became clearer. After the 10th day, I tried taking some poultry but found that my taste buds have changed. I started to enjoy vegetarian food more and found meat tasteless. I used to take a 15-20 minutes nap in the evening so that I can continue to work through the night. Ever since I practiced the method, I have not taken any evening naps even though I sleep less these days. I am able to stay fresh and focus throughout the day. The method also helps in my yoga practice. I am able to do certain postures which I couldnt do before this. KOH SAN TEE

BUTEYKO was for me the doorway to a healthier and better life.My appetite diminished and the desire of sweets was gone for the 3 months I kept on doing it 4 times a day. My body found its balance! Through the practice I learned to sit for almost 30 min. in cross leg position and the wish to meditate increased day by day. Since then my health and my lifestyle changed dramatically. The Yoga Asanas became easier and with more depth. My cholesterol is normal and the most interesting phenomena to me are my weight loss of 10 kilos without any diet! Gudrun Fassbender

Intense 21 Day Yoga Courses  October 2010

What is an Asana?

An Asana or posture is that which happens spontaneously in the field of pure awareness. A posture, which is done, is different from that which happens. The practice of Yoga is about learning how to allow the creative intelligence to flow through us, unobstructed. That which brings about this obstruction is stress, tension, fears, worries, anxieties, negative thoughts etc.

All our lives we have learnt to go about life & our duties with tremendous tension, stress & strain. We have accepted that it is natural to have to undergo stress in order to attain our goals. Yoga teaches us the opposite. By learning how to find that perfect balance between effort & ease we attain that effortless state in which one is perfectly at ease while attaining ones goals.

Yoga, when practiced with the right understanding can take us to great heights of physical, mental, psychological & emotional wellbeing. We experience wisdom, a feeling of Aliveness as never before and a deep inner peace that is unshakeable. We come to recognize that all that happens in phenomenal existence is temporary and a necessary part of the cosmic play. We learn how to accept/make peace with What IS in our lives without resisting & most importantly learn how to be truly present to each moment as it arises.

The 21 Days Course:

One may attend classes for years and never quite experience the benefits of Yoga in its totality. One of the key aspects on the journey to self-discovery, which is Yoga, is a sustained, consistent home-based self-practice. This is indispensible.

The 21 Days course is to help you develop confidence in attaining a daily home practice. It is said, practice something for 21 days and it will become a habit Often, it takes this to break away from old habits and create new beneficial ones that serve us and bring us to higher levels of understanding.

Each session of the 21 days course will be of almost 2 hours duration and will comprise Asana, Pranayama & Meditation.

Through this course you will be able to:

Cultivate a comprehensive daily home practice that will include important Asanas, Kriyas, Pranayama, & Meditation. While on the course you will be given individual guidance in order to start a home practice immediately. Notes will be provided.

I wish to take care of individual needs and to see the same students from start to finish. Personal guidance will include dietary advice and suggested inspirational reading.

Although it is important you attend all 21 sessions, if you travel during the time period and miss out on a few (up to 3 classes) you will be allowed to make it up in the next course.

The following will be covered in the course:

" Asanas/Postures such as Standing pose sequence, core & pelvic floor strengthening, hip openers, back bends, inversions, arm balances, twists with emphasis on important alignment principles.

" Pranayama/breathing techniques, which cleanse & purify nerve channels through which life force/prana flows thereby raising levels of consciousness/awareness.

" Bandhas/Locks to facilitate the movement of Prana/Life force through the main nerve channel called Sushumna. One of the aims of Yoga is to awaken Sushumna at will as this leads to optimal balanced state of the individual.

" Kriyas or purificatory techniques to cleanse & purify the body

" Meditation/Deep Relaxation

" Yoga Philosophy

" Yoga Therapy

Course Details:

One has to attend 3 sessions a week to complete all 21 sessions.

Course days & Times:

Tues evening 6:30 to 8:30pm; Sat & Sun 7am to 9am.

Course will begin on Tues Oct 5th & end on Sat Nov 27th

Cost for the full course: RM1,500/ (can be paid in 3 instalments)

Early bird price: RM1,300 (paid before 15th Sept)

A Workshop on Essential Cleansing & Strengthening Techniques Stomach/Digestive System

Have you observed how?

As you grow older the abdominals get weaker and harder to tone? An unsightly pouch of fat hangs at your lower abdomen? According to the Indian tradition, this area functions as the stove of the body. It is in this area that all the unwanted impurities in the body accumulate. A weakening of the area means sluggishness in elimination and the accumulation of toxins, leading to low energy levels & vitality. A heaviness of body & mind ensues. 90% of all diseases start here.

One of the greatest gifts that the Yogis offered to mankind were techniques that involve strengthening/toning of the Stomach/Digestive System which they referred to as the Powerhouse of the body Most Yoga practitioners are familiar with these practices, but have been unable to integrate it into their daily lives.

In this workshop some of those powerful techniques will be covered, such as:

" Agni Sara: To increase digestive fire, promote detoxification, removing sluggishness, increasing dynamism

" Nauli: A powerful tonic for the stomach, helping to massage and tone the digestive organs

" Inverted poses such as Sarvangasana and Viparita karani: which have the greatest effect on the digestive tract and have the same effect as turning a bottle upside-down to clean it up. Through inversions you will learn about the Bandhas (see below) or locks which are essential to Yoga.

" Pelvic floor strengtheners due to aging, childbirth, obesity fibroids etc, many women suffer from weakened pelvic floor muscles, which can cause incontinence and/or prolapsed bladder and uterus.

" Abdominal strengtheners: This is the most difficult area of the body to tone & strengthen. Specific exercises, which can be done on daily basis for just 15 minutes to make a dramatic difference to, muscular tone & digestive health.

" Kapalabhathi: to reduce fat around the stomach, relieve constipation and other stomach ailments and improve oxygenation to cells/tissues.

" Bandhas: Powerful locks to bind the vital energy and redirect it. Uddiyana or the stomach lock will be emphasized as this helps greatly to strengthen the abdominal muscles and diaphragm.

" The use of 3 of the most natural, effective stomach cleansers for daily use.

Through this workshop you will learn how to:

" Awaken awareness of the subtle inner muscles in the lower abdomen, tone & strengthen them. To spontaneously lift them in your Yoga practice and in your daily life in walking, standing & sitting and experience lightness!

" Promote better and more adequate bowel movements, which can lead to effective weight loss and detoxification.

" Integrate it into a daily practice and thus enjoy a new vitality, lightness in body, clarity of mind and glowing health!

This workshop is open to all levels of Yoga students. However, those with the following conditions should not attend: High Blood Pressure, Ulcers, Hiatal Hernia, Menstruation & Pregnancy.

Class numbers will be limited to 15 students only. So if you wish to register kindly do so with payment to secure your place.

Date: Sat Oct 23rd, 24th, 30th & 31st

Time: 7am to 9:30am

Cost: Rm450

Venue: Yogshakti Life Yoga center

Email: shilpa@yogshakti.com or for more details

To register you may do so at the desk or call or email us.

In this workshop, I share with you the practices that I have done for the last 22 years and to which I attribute my good health! Shilpa

Dear Students

Teacher Training Program with Nicky Knoff

I hope this finds you all in the best of health & spirits. I hope your practice has been flowering and you are beginning to enjoy the fruits of it.

After long consideration & waiting I have finally found a Teacher Training Program that is authentic and will instill in you the vital rudiments of the sacred practice of Yoga.

Nicky Knoff is a teacher with 38 years of teaching experience. She runs one of the most comprehensive & authentic TTP's. As you all know TTP's are so common these days, one has a hard time knowing which is authentic.

Nicky has agreed to travel to KL in November to run a month long program for aspiring Yoga students & teachers alike.

Whether you are planning to teach or not this may be the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself fully into the sacred journey to your Self!

A total of 162 hours will be covered to obtain the RYS (Registered Yoga Alliance) Certificate for the Foundation level Course. The RYS is the certificate that is recognised the world over for Yoga teachers.

The first part (in which half of the *162 hours will be covered) will be from Nov 15th to Dec 10th 2010. Timings proposed are: 7am-9am , Mon through Fri and Sat & Sun will be from 10:30am to 3:30pm..

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me shilpa@yogshakti.com or call me at 012-2052714.

(* 162 hours of 200 hours RYS are to be done with Nicky, the remaining 38 hours will be self study under her guidance)

Peace, Love, Light & Joy

shilpa