General Info:
Our Purpose: My name is Vishnu das, a senior disciple of Swami Ramakrishnananda and Director of the Ramakrishnananda Yoga Center of Florida, holding classes in Sarasota, Florida. I have started this studio to share the ancient practice of classical Hatha Yoga that I have been most fortunate to be instructed in by my dearest Guru. He has bestowed upon me the gracious title of Yogi Raj, which is a Master of Yoga, and one authorized to teach Yoga in all its aspects. Who should participate: Ramakrishnananda Yoga is for those who are curious to experience this practice in a very pure form, fully connected with its Hindu roots. Hatha yoga is a spiritual path, not just a series of physical movements. Ramakrishnananda Yoga is the style of hatha yoga as it is taught by Swami Ramakrishnananda. This physical yoga places an emphasis on a meditative practice, supported by steady awareness to the body and mind, deep relaxation, and conscious and deep breathing. All of this creates an optimum condition for meditation to occur naturally, which is the objective of all yogic practices. It is based on 12 of the main hatha yoga postures, or asanas, and their many variations. Although hatha yoga is a physical practice that increases flexibility and energy, with many health benefits such as curing many ailments, Ramakrishnananda Yoga also focuses on giving the practitioner the opportunity to become aware of their body, mind and subtle energies. This ancient spiritual practice, which is not only physical, can bring about a total and complete transformation of one’s being from the illusion of self separateness to the enlightened realization of living and being in one with life. As Swami Ramakrishnananda wrote in his book Yoga … Union with Reality, “The method of yogic relaxation consists in the search for a natural holistic state of serenity and repose with the object of experiencing calmness, as much on the physical and mental level as on the emotional and spiritual.” This meditative practice includes flowing series of asanas as well as holding some yoga postures for a period of time, a technique that helps to quiet the mind. Pranayama (breathing exercises) is also a key element of Ramakrishnananda Hatha Yoga, as it teaches the yogi to control their vital energy — which lies in breath — and to calm the mind, while activating and sweeping specific chakras. Ramakrishnananda Hatha yoga classes last 90 minutes and are comprised of physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (Pranayama), relaxation, concentration techniques and meditation (Dhyan).