Yoga is a comprehensive system for health and well-being on all levels: physical, mental, vital, emotional and spiritual.
The practice of yoga has been thought to date back to pre-Vedic Indian traditions; possibly in the Indus valley civilisation around 3000 BCE.
The Sanskrit noun "yoga" (योग) is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj" (युज्) which can be translated as "to attach, join, harness, yoke". Philosophically speaking, yoga may therefore be seen as a practice to experience the union of the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.
At House of Yoga, we do not practice yoga in any religious context. We encourage everyone to connect to the practice in their own unique way, to increase self-awareness, and to make use of the set of tools yoga provides us, so that we can each walk the journey of life ourselves.
Yoga is accessible to all: no matter your flexibility, body shape, age, experience or ability, because it is ultimately about feeling connected to your body so that you know what it needs.
Although our teachers are experienced in adapting their classes to suit your needs as an individual, the wonderful thing is that as you continue to practice yoga, you will strengthen the connection to yourself so that you will be more in tune with your body and how to adapt a teacher’s instruction to best suit you. In other words, you become your best teacher!
Yoga tends to be more of a holistic practice than many other forms of modern exercise and trends. Many of us begin yoga for its physical benefits but soon come to realise how wonderful it is for our mental and emotional health and general sense of well-being.
From a physical perspective, research has shown that it's important to get all four types of exercise, for their various benefits: endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility. And yoga offers all of these. Yoga is also low impact on the joints and bones, and encourages a greater range of motion in the joints and longer, leaner limbs whilst still building strength and endurance.
Yoga is also a fantastic complement to any other form of physical activity and is more and more practiced by professional athletes and sportspeople to enhance their athletic performance, reduce injury propensity and improve focus, concentration and clarity.
You can wear any clothes in which you feel comfortable and are able to move freely, for example, loose-fitting bottoms and a t-shirt, or leggings and a top. Classes are practiced barefoot.
Optional:
- Your own yoga mat (or you can hire one at the studio for R30)
- Long-sleeve top/jumper and/or socks for warm ups and cool downs
- Small towel
- Water bottle
Respect for oneself and others is a key feature of yoga, and so we would kindly ask all our members to please adhere to the following guidelines in order to allow everyone’s experience at House of Yoga to be a peaceful and fulfilling one:
- Please arrive at least 5 minutes before your class, and 10 minutes if it is your first time at House of Yoga, as you will need to fill out a registration form.
- Inform your teacher if you have any injuries, have had a recent operation, or are pregnant. We and our teachers reserve the right to ask you not to attend a class if we believe it would be in your best interests owing to an injury or medical condition. House of Yoga is not liable for any injuries sustained on our premises.
- Ensure your phone is turned off or on silent (not vibration mode), remove your shoes before entering the studio and leave them, along with any other belongings, in the secure waiting room.
- The studio space is there to provide a calm, peaceful environment for all practitioners. We practice respectful silence when entering the studio and waiting for class to begin, as well as after class when exiting the studio. Please refrain from any loud chatter inside the studio.
- Yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach, ideally two to three hours after your last meal. If you need an energy boost before class, we suggest having a light snack (like fruit) or juice.
As House of Yoga is situated in a residential area, we strongly urge our members to please be mindful of our neighbours, and to arrive and leave the studio in respectful quietness.
There are three off-street parking spots at 43 Heather Street, in front of the studio. If these are full, members should park in the street, but please DO NOT park in any of our neighbours’ driveways or block any entrances. Please note, House of Yoga accepts no liability for any loss or damage to your property.
Yoga is a wonderful way for an expecting mother to connect to both her growing baby and changing body. Our Yoga for Pregnancy & Post-Partum classes are gentle and slow and suitable for moms-to-be in all trimesters. But we always recommend obtaining your medical practitioner’s approval first.
These classes are suitable if you are new to yoga or more experienced. Once having given birth, yoga is a wonderful practice to continue as your body readapts and to support you in your role as a mother. We recommend starting gently, perhaps continuing with Yoga for Pregnancy & Post-Partum, and gradually rebuilding your strength with compassion and awareness before rejoining other classes on our schedule.
Yes, we offer private yoga classes on a one-to-one basis and in small groups. Private yoga tuition is a great way for you as a yoga student to deepen your practice, focus on a particular set of poses or asana, or work through a specific injury. Please get in touch if you would like further information on our private yoga sessions.
