Yoga with Manya

13/10/2024

Why Practice Yin Yoga?
Yin Yoga is a slower practice where poses are held for longer periods, typically 3-5 minutes, targeting the deeper connective tissues like ligaments, joints, and fascia.

✨ Key Benefits of Yin Yoga:

🌱 Improves Flexibility: Holding poses for longer stretches your muscles and tissues, making your joints more flexible and improving your range of motion.

🧘‍♀️ Reduces Stress: Holding poses for a longer time helps your body relax and calms your mind, which can lower stress and anxiety.

💆‍♂️ Supports Joint Health: Yin Yoga applies gentle stress to the joints, helping maintain their function and mobility.

💫 Enhances Circulation: By focusing on connective tissues and fascia, Yin Yoga can improve blood flow and circulation.

🧘‍♂️ How a Typical Yin Yoga Class Runs:

The class starts with gentle, seated warm-ups to prepare the body.
Poses are held for 3-5 minutes, allowing deep stretches of specific areas such as hips, spine, and shoulders.
Props like blocks and bolsters are often used for support during the longer holds.
Each class ends with a calming relaxation, helping to settle the mind and body.

Yin Yoga is for everyone! Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced yogi, this practice welcomes you. It’s especially great for those wanting to improve flexibility, reduce stress, or boost overall well-being.

Yin Yoga is complementary to Vinyasa and is a fantastic option to practice straight after a Vinyasa class for a double dose of benefits.

08/10/2024

A groundbreaking research project - YOGA + HEART HEALTH

Manya here! For those who haven’t met me yet, I own Prana Yoga Studio and teach yoga and yoga therapy, besides being a scientist. I recently joined Baker Research Institute as a clinical affiliate in a groundbreaking research project — the first of its kind in the world — exploring the benefits of yoga for heart disease, led by the Professor Peter Kistler from the University of Melbourne and Monash University. 🧘‍♀️❤️

The Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, in collaboration with the Alfred Hospital, is conducting a research project to DETERMINE IF PRACTICING YOGA REDUCES EPISODES OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF). This randomised study, the first of its kind globally, will divide participants into two groups: one practicing yoga and the other receiving standard care.

If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and have not practiced yoga for at least six months, or if you know someone with atrial fibrillation who is interested in participating, please speak with Manya at Prana Yoga (studio email and phone). You can also contact Annie, the nurse overseeing participant enrolment, for a detailed discussion about your involvement at [email protected]

All costs for yoga classes and testing associated with the study are supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

State of the art testing will include:
Heart rhythm monitoring
VO2 max – cardiopulmonary test on a treadmill or bike
echocardiography (heart ultrasound)
blood tests
questionnaires

To be eligible you must be:
aged 18-80
have atrial fibrillation
a yoga novice (you cannot have practised yoga in the last 6 months)
physically able to practice yoga 3 times per week (locally)
You must be eligible for Medicare

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey toward better heart health!

02/09/2024

Soundbath - Saturday, 7 September, 2-3 PM

Immerse yourself in profound relaxation with our Sound Bath sessions. Experience the serene blend of crystal singing bowls, hand-pan melodies, and Tibetan therapeutic bowls.

Adeva's mastery of sound will create a restorative atmosphere, while Berna's Sound Massage uses Tibetan bowls to dissolve tension and leave you feeling balanced.

For those who prefer movement, enjoy gentle guidance through restorative poses to further enhance your relaxation.

Join us for this transformative sonic journey and leave feeling renewed and grounded.

Ready to join? Head to our events page to book your spot!

Members $29. Non-members $39.

01/09/2024

What's the Difference Between Slow Flow and Vinyasa Yoga? 🌿

Both Slow Flow and Vinyasa offer a dynamic and energising yoga practice, but each has its unique rhythm and focus.

🧘‍♀️ Vinyasa: This is a faster-paced practice that links breath with movement in a continuous, fluid sequence. It’s great for building strength, flexibility, and endurance, with a focus on smooth transitions between poses. If you enjoy a lively and invigorating flow, Vinyasa will leave you feeling energised and balanced.

🌸 Slow Flow: A gentler approach to Vinyasa, Slow Flow allows more time to explore each pose and deepen your connection with your breath. It’s perfect for those looking to enhance body awareness, cultivate mindfulness, and enjoy a more soothing practice.

Whether you're seeking the invigorating pace of Vinyasa or the calming flow of Slow Flow, both styles offer a transformative yoga experience. Come join us and find the one that resonates with you!

27/08/2024

Embrace the Change: Yoga for Menopause
Sunday, 8th of August 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Join us for a focused workshop designed to help women navigate menopause through the practice of yoga. Learn how to manage common symptoms, enhance your well-being, and embrace this life stage with confidence. This workshop will equip you with practical tools to apply in everyday life and may help with alleviation of symptoms.

Facilitator:
Manya, a certified yoga instructor and therapist with over 1,000 hours of training, will guide you through this supportive and empowering session. In addition to her yoga expertise, Manya holds a doctorate in biological sciences and has extensive experience in researching and advising on various therapeutic areas. She is currently affiliated with the Baker Institute in Melbourne, where she is involved in a clinical study investigating the effects of yoga on cardiovascular disease.

We Will Cover:
Vasomotor Symptoms: Reduce hot flashes and night sweats with restorative poses and breathing techniques that calm the nervous system.

Mood and Anxiety: Manage mood swings and anxiety with meditation and deep breathing to boost mood and reduce stress.

Sleep Quality: Improve sleep with Yoga Nidra, breathing techniques, and gentle practices that promote relaxation and ease insomnia.

Hormonal Balance: Support hormonal balance with specific poses that target the endocrine system to ease symptoms like mood swings.

Bone Health: Strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis with weight-bearing poses designed to maintain bone density.

Cognitive Function: Enhance memory and concentration with mindfulness practices that support cognitive health.

Overall Well-being: Cultivate self-acceptance and a positive outlook through regular yoga practice, staying in tune with your body during this transition.

Who Should Attend:
Ideal for women in the perimenopausal or menopausal stages, regardless of yoga experience.

Visit our events page to book.

What to Bring:
Comfortable clothing, and an open heart.

Members $29, Non-Members $39

We offer frequent special events, workshops, and courses to expand horizons and encourage profound self-discovery at our yoga studio in Dromana, Mornington Peninsula.

19/06/2024

Happy International Yoga Day

19/05/2024

Sound Bath - with Adeva & Berna, Saturday 1st of June, 2-3PM

Join us for Sound Bath, starting the first Saturday of every month beginning in June!

Experience profound relaxation and rejuvenation with our immersive Sound Bath sessions. Let the serene fusion of live sound therapy with crystal singing bowls, hand-pan melodies, and Tibetan therapeutic bowls wash over you.

Led by the amazing Adeva, whose mastery of crystal bowls creates a unique, restorative soundscape. And it doesn't stop there! Elevate your experience with Berna's transformative Sound Massage. Feel the relaxing vibrations of Tibetan bowls placed on your body, dissolving tension and leaving you balanced and grounded.

Prefer movement? Enjoy gentle guidance through restorative poses designed to release tension and enhance relaxation.

Indulge in this sonic journey and emerge renewed, refreshed, and deeply connected to your inner self. Join us and transform your Saturdays!

Members $29. Non-members $39.

08/04/2024

Have you ever felt the curiosity to try yoga but didn't know where to begin? Now is your chance! Join our special Yoga Beginners Workshop and embark on a journey of wellness. No prior experience required.

Saturday 13th of April at 2PM
Sunday 21st of April at 3PM

Book:
pranayogaandwellness.com.au/events

Yoga Beginners - Workshop

What to Expect?
Basics of Yoga: Learn the foundations of Vinyasa Yoga, where breath seamlessly intertwines with movement, creating a harmonious flow that invigorates both body and mind.

Yoga Movement: Experience the graceful rhythm of yoga as we guide you through basic Vinyasa sequences that enhance flexibility, strength, and balance.

Explore diverse yoga styles beyond Vinyasa at our studio. From Slow Flow to Yin yoga, discover practices tailored to your preferences, opening doors to varied experiences on the mat.

Why Attend?
Comprehensive Understanding: Learn how a typical yoga class is structured, from breathwork and body warm-up to foundational poses, balancing, core exercises, and twists.

Flexible Participation: Choose to attend one or all workshops, accommodating your schedule and pace.

Extended Learning Opportunities: This workshop supplements our regular beginners' classes on Mondays at 7:15 PM and Tuesdays at 4:45 PM, providing continuous support on your yoga journey.

Benefits of Yoga:
Cardiovascular health, strength building, flexibility, stress reduction, and improved mind-body connection.

Enhanced balance, weight management, boosted energy levels, and improved circulation.

Physical and emotional well-being promoted through creative sequences, adaptability, and community spirit.
Book:

Saturday 13th of April at 3PM - book
Sunday 21st of April at 3PM - book

We offer alternative dates for our workshops to accommodate your schedule.

04/04/2024

Dynamic Twisting Flow Workshop: Exploring the Potential of Vinyasa Twist Postures

Sunday 7th of April at 4PM
Thursday 11th of April at 11AM
Monday 15th of April at 7:15PM

Throughout this energising session, we prioritise fluid movement, precise alignment, and mindful breathing to bolster strength and foster spinal mobility. During the workshop, you'll skilfully move through each twist, ensuring precise alignment and muscle engagement. In Vinyasa, breath is synchronised with movement, so you'll learn to coordinate twist movements with your breath, enhancing your understanding of each posture, whether standing, sitting, or grounded.

Twists not only facilitate detoxification but also fortify core muscles, boost spinal flexibility, and support digestion. Through gentle yet effective movements, you'll unwind tension and attain a profound sense of relaxation, fostering balance both on and off the mat. With modifications tailored to individual needs, practitioners of all levels can partake in this enriching experience.

This workshop welcomes yogis of all backgrounds, spanning from those embarking on their yoga journey to seasoned practitioners. Whether you're aiming to bolster your strength, enhance flexibility, or refine your understanding of twisting alignment, this session offers something transformative for every participant. Come embark on an inward journey with us, as we explore the art of twisting to elevate our flow and nurture well-being.

We offer alternative dates for our workshops to accommodate your schedule. Members: Free. Class Pass holders: 1 credit.

02/04/2024

Shoulder Flow WORKSHOP: A Journey of Movement and Strength

Unlock new dimensions in your practice with the workshop looking at movement of shoulders in various poses. Dive into functional movements designed to strengthen and open your shoulders, enhancing your Vinyasa experience and fostering flexibility. This workshop is open to yogis of all levels, from curious beginners to seasoned practitioners.

Learn more and book by viewing our timetable or visiting our events page:

Thursday 4th of April at 11AM
Sunday 7th of April at 10:30AM
Saturday 20th of April at 2PM

We offer alternative dates for our workshops to accommodate your schedule. These workshops are included in memberships and are covered by class passes (1 credit).
Casual $37

Workshop:
In this 90 min workshop, you'll explore the intricacies of shoulder movement and learn how to harness the power of your upper body with intention and precision. The session is curated to guide you through a series of dynamic Vinyasa sequences specifically tailored to target and strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulders. Designed for practitioners of all levels, this dynamic Vinyasa experience will focus on unlocking the full potential of your shoulders while cultivating awareness and mindfulness in your practice. Whether you're looking to enhance your strength, improve your flexibility, or simply deepen your understanding of shoulder alignment, this workshop offers something for everyone.