Svaroopa (pronounced “svah-roo-pah”) is a healing style of yoga that uses a variety of unique poses to create a deep release of tension throughout the body.
The experience of a significant reduction of tension, leaves the body feeling flexible, supple and rejuvenated. Using props to support the body in a well aligned pose allows for optimal release. From the first pose of every class, shavasana, or total body awareness, the tightest areas of the body begin to release, these soothing effects can be felt everywhere. This release of tension encourages healing, stress reduction and profoundly deep changes creating an inner experience of bliss. The individualized attention to each students alignment makes Svaroopa® yoga adaptable to any body, all ages and physical levels. While other styles of yoga use spinal tightening to be in poses this yoga uses spinal release while leaning into the skeletal system to support the body in all of the traditional yoga asanas or poses. This results in blissful poses while developing a strong and flexible body.
The word svaroopa comes from the ancient yoga text, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras which states
“Tadaa Drashtuh Svarupa Vasthaanum”, which translates to mean at the moment your mind becomes quiet you will abide in the bliss of your own being. From the first shavasana (total body awareness) pose at the beginning of class throughout every pose an emphasis is put upon awareness of the state of your body and mind. Quieting your mind toward bliss.
Svaroopa yoga was developed by Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati (formerly known as Rama Berch)
she teaches yoga according to the ancient tradition - as a direct path to svaroopa, the bliss of your own being. Her unique approach to working with the body emerged from a “cosmic download,” an initiation which awakened MahaKundalini, moving her body into spontaneous yoga poses, and revealed to her the workings of the spine as a conduit of consciousness. This inner awakening continues to unfold, enlivening her understanding of both the body and of ancient texts and teachings.
Swami Nirmalananda is the founder of Master Yoga Foundation and served as the founding President of Yoga Alliance.
She travels extensively to teach internationally, passing on the extraordinary gifts she has received and guiding others to discover their own inner vastness.
This Stuff Works
From Patient to a Patient Teacher (FIBROMYALGIA) By Wendy Hickey CSBT
In September, I went to the rheumatologist who has followed me since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (something like 12–13 years ago). He said that I don’t need to keep coming to see him, that I’m doing great things for myself, and that he doesn’t need to take my money anymore. AND he told me he is coming to take a yoga class so he can see who else might benefit from Svaroopa® yoga. I’m excited. Ganesh at work? Maybe he was leaving (or putting) those obstacles in place and teaching me patience. Certainly, since 1994 when I first began to look for relief from unexplained pain, I have had many lessons in patience. Even for several years before that, I had felt terrible. Cyclically, with the change of seasons, myriad symptoms took over my life for seven to eight weeks at a time: extreme fatigue; aching through every inch of my body; the feeling of swelling in my joints; and pain, not just in my joints, but in my bones. At the end of winter, for example, I might feel better for a week or so, and then the beginning of spring would trigger the agony all over again. Spring was the worst time of year. With the barometric pressure changes, rain one day, sun and cold the next, my body did not know how to adjust, and just hurt all of the time. As a public school speech therapist with my own children to care for as well, I felt as though an avalanche of pain and fatigue was burying me at the foot of a mountain, just when I needed health and energy most, during the end of school “crunch time.”
Healing from Stress (STRESS) By Linda H.
“I was disabled from stress after going through an intense year of finishing my Masters in Social Work with two evening classes a week and a 24 hour internship on weekends working at an in-patient Hospice unit – all while I was Director for a Human Service Agency for 40+ hours. Despite massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture interventions monthly, every old injury such as tennis elbow, knee issues, and mental burnout prevailed by completion in May. A friend offered me a weekend 3-day Yoga Retreat to help me relax - and I found Svaroopa® yoga!! Many of my stress injuries disappeared after one blissful weekend and restored a sense of calmness that allowed me to function again in the world. I signed up immediately for weekly classes and continued healing.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words (Bone Density) By Ekamati (Diane) Tsurutani, Tadaa!
For more than 15 years I have known that I have low bone density, so I have had bone density scans done regularly annually or biannually, and with the same doctor, since 1998. Over that time, even with changes in diet, supplements, etc., my bone density remained mostly steady, with only a tiny increase (usually less than .5%). But last week it became apparent that things had changed. I had another scheduled scan done. It showed increases in all scanned areas, and (no surprise) the spine showed the greatest increase in density — by 7.4% since 2010! A review of my previous scans shows that the spine’s density has increased overall 10.3% since 2008. That puts the density of the spine in the normal range (which is based on the bone density of a 35-year-old person). Not coincidentally, 2008 is the year I began Svaroopa® Yoga Teacher Training with YTT Level 1. I know the doctors can’t figure it out. But, as we all know, “this stuff works,” especially when you “do more yoga”!
Pricing
All Class and Therapy Passes expire 6 months from date of activation.
Introductory Special
New Students Only - One Time Offer!
4 Classes For$40.00
Yogaday Membership
Unlimited Yoga for one low monthly fee. Yogaday Membership includes all Blissful Basics, Continuing, Gentle, Yoga to Improve Your Back and All Level yoga classes and Shake Your Soul classes. Take as many classes as you would like and be amazed at the changes to your body, your mind & more. Additional benefits include 10% off of all product purchases and 20% off of all private Embodyment®and Yoga Therapy sessions. One time $25 enrollment fee.
(/month)$90.00
Yoga Classes Drop In
Includes: All Level; Continuing Level; Blissful Basics; Yoga to Improve Your Back.
$18.00
5 Class Pass$80.00
10 Class Pass$150.00
Yogaday Deeper Membership
Yogaday Membership PLUS unlimited Deeper Yoga Classes. Deeper Classes are designed for the more experienced Svaroopa® yoga students. You must be approved by the deeper instructor to attend.
(/month)$100.00
Deeper Yoga Drop In
Student must be have a deeper Svaroopa® yoga practice and be approved by instructor to attend deeper level classes.
$20.00
5 Class Pass$90.00
10 Class Deeper Pass$180.00
Jump Start Your Bliss
$108.00
4 Yoga Classes and 1 Embodyment or Yoga Therapy Session.
Yoga Therapy
1 Hour Session$75.00
5 Session Pack$360.00
10 Session Pack$700.00
Tue February 16, 2016
Continuing
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am; Instructor: Peggy Fluett
Course in Mindfulness
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm; Instructor: Susan Berg
Wed February 17, 2016
Continuing
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am; Instructor: Uma (Margo) Gebraski
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm; Instructor: Lori Lepold (sub for Peggy Fluett)
Thu February 25, 2016
Blissful Basics
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am; Instructor: Uma (Margo) Gebraski (sub for Peggy Fluett)
Continuing
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm; Instructor: Lori Lepold
Fri February 26, 2016
Continuing
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am; Instructor: Uma (Margo) Gebraski
Sat February 27, 2016
All Level
Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am; Instructor: Uma (Margo) Gebraski
Yoga for Your Back
Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm; Instructor: Uma (Margo) Gebraski
Sun February 28, 2016
Continuing
Time: 9:30 am - 11:00 am; Instructor: Koroll Haley
Healthy Living Series with Ayurveda
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm; Instructor: Amy Kelly
Mon February 29, 2016
Continuing
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am; Instructor: Andrea Perry
Blissful Basics
Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm; Instructor: Andrea Perry
Continuing
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm; Instructor: Peggy Fluett
Class Description
Continuing
Continuing level Svaroopa yoga course is designed to build throughout the year so that as you become more familiar with the poses and the alignments that are most effective to you, new challenges are introduced to open your body. This class is designed to be appropriate for beginner, continuing or deeper level student
Course in Mindfulness
Course in Mindfulness, will explore the 3 pillars of Mindfulness: Meditation, Stress Reduction and Mind Power. The course is experiential and includes simple, yet powerful yogic stretching and breathing practices, recorded guided meditations from Shuddhaanandaa, and explores mindfulness in the workplace, at home, in parenting, relationships, daily tasks, eating and in service to others. Come and learn how to make your life more meaningful as you face the unique challenges in this ever changing, chaotic, challenging world. You will experience first hand the simple tools of mindfulness, meditation and stress reduction and witness how these new personal mindfulness practices can significantly affect your work, home and life balance. Awaken your latent potential and achieve personal and professional success while keeping in view the importance of making positive contributions to the environment and welfare of humanity. This is mindfulness for compassion in action! Entire Course 6 weeks Jan 19 - Feb 23rd for $60 or Drop into individual sessions for $18. Class Passes and Membership may be applied
Shake Your Soul
Little by little the body lets itself go into extremely slow involuntary circular movements of the limbs, carried by the breath. Yoga of Dance, an experience of dancing from the inside out. Feel yourself. Value yourself. Be Present and grounded with full aliveness. To participate in this experience you need to be able to Breathe Not Dance
Blissful Basics
The Foundational concepts of Svaroopa yoga, why we are so precise and how to access the spine to feel the changes. Beginners to experienced yogi's will benefit from this class. This is not only for beginners since the basic poses are truly the most profound and when aligned correctly can reap the most benefits
All Level
Svaroopa yoga course is designed to build throughout the year so that as you become more familiar with the poses and the alignments that are most effective to you new challenges are introduced to open your body. This class is designed to be appropriate for beginner, continuing or deeper level student. The instructor will evaluate the students attending to determine the lesson plan for this class
Yoga for Your Back
Improve your back with simple spinal release poses and a home practice suitable for you. Variations to the poses will be introduced to individualize the class. The class size will be limited so that the instructor can take more time with each student helping them get propped
Healthy Living Series with Ayurveda
Ayurveda, which literally means, "knowledge of life and longevity" is India's science of natural health care. Wise earth is an experiential approach to the teachings of India's wholistic health system. You will experience the tastes, smells and energy of the food along with easy tips to make them a part of your daily life and sadhanas (practices) of healthy living. Past knowledge or experience is not necessary, just a desire to have fun and an open heart and mind for learning a new approach to your health. 5 weeks February 21st - March 20th. Sundays 2 - 4pm. Topics: Based on Wise Earth Ayurveda Principles. Introduction to Ayurveda; What's your Dosha? Ghee and Paneer Making. Spice Grinding to make Masala. Ahimsa in the Kitchen. Sadhana of the Grains & Chapatti Making. $100 for entire series of 5 classes. register by Feb 15 for 10% discount. $25 for each individual class
Yoga Rhythms Studio located in Lisle, Illinois bordering Naperville specializes in Svaroopa® yoga, a simple yet profoundly deep style of the ancient healing practice of yoga. By using props and specifically aligned poses students release their spine systematically to provide tension release, a calm mind and a blissful state of being.