Why I Teach Sivananda Style (And What That Actually Means)
A student who has practiced for years asked me something I think a lot of people wonder but rarely say out loud: "You teach asana, you teach pranayama — so does everyone else. What's actually different about what you teach?"
It's a fair question. Here's my honest answer.
Most classes today teach yoga as a set of techniques you can mix and match — some asana here, a breathing exercise there, maybe a few minutes of meditation tacked on at the end. There's nothing wrong with that. But it's not what I was trained in, and it's not what I teach.
I teach Sivananda Yoga — a classical style passed down from Swami Sivananda through his direct student, Swami Vishnudevananda. It isn't a collection of techniques. It's a complete system, built around what's called the Five Points of Yoga:
Proper Exercise (Asana) — a fixed sequence of 12 classical postures, always practiced in the same order, designed to work the whole body systematically rather than chase variety.
Proper Breathing (Pranayama) — breath as the bridge between body and mind, not a warm-up exercise.
Proper Relaxation (Savasana) — deliberate, structured relaxation between and after postures, not an afterthought at the end of class.
Proper Diet — a sattvic, life-supporting approach to food as part of the practice, not separate from it.
Positive Thinking and Meditation — the mind as the actual site of transformation; asana is preparation for this, not the goal itself.
That's the real difference. When you walk into a Sivananda class, you're not choosing from a menu — you're being guided through a structure that's been refined and taught the same way for decades, because every part of it supports every other part. The fixed sequence isn't a limitation; it's what lets you actually feel your own progress over time, because you're not comparing apples to oranges each week.
It's also not about performance. There's no pushing toward advanced variations for their own sake. The focus stays on awareness — what's happening in the body, the breath, the mind — in whatever version of the pose is honest for you that day.
So when my student asked what's different, the honest answer wasn't "my technique is better." It's that I'm not teaching techniques at all. I'm teaching a system that was designed, as a whole, to move a person toward steadiness in body and clarity in mind — and asana is just one of its five legs.
"If you've only ever experienced yoga as a workout, I'd love to have you experience it as a practice."
The Science of Vagus Nerve Regulation Through Sivananda Hatha
We live in a world of chronic overstimulation. Between Slack notifications, deadlines, and the general pace of modern life, our nervous systems are under constant siege. Many of us spend our days trapped in a low-grade, survival-driven "fight-or-flight" state (sympathetic dominance).
In classical Sivananda Hatha Yoga, we do not view relaxation as a luxury or a passive "pause." We view it as an active physiological reset.
Here is the biological science of how steady, hold-based postures and classical breathwork directly regulate your nervous system via the vagus nerve.
The Vagus Nerve: Your Body's Natural Brake
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It runs from your brainstem down through your neck, heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It acts as the primary highway for the parasympathetic nervous system—the system responsible for slowing your heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and signaling your body that it is safe to rest, digest, and heal.
When you stimulate the vagus nerve, you increase your "vagal tone," which allows your body to bounce back from stress much faster.
How Classical Sivananda Practices Stimulate the Vagus Nerve
1. Rhythmic, Diaphragmatic Breathing (Pranayama)
Deep, slow belly breathing physically stretches the diaphragm muscle. Because the vagus nerve passes directly through the diaphragm, this physical movement stimulates the nerve’s sensory receptors.
The Science: By consciously slowing your exhalation to be longer than your inhalation, you send an immediate chemical signal to your brain to lower your heart rate and stop producing stress hormones like cortisol.
2. Long-Held Postures (Asanas)
Unlike fast, cardio-heavy yoga styles that keep your heart rate elevated, classical Hatha focuses on holding postures in stillness.
The Science: When you hold a posture and focus on maintaining a calm, steady breath despite the physical effort, you train your brain to stay calm under pressure. You are teaching your nervous system how to experience physical challenge without triggering a panic response.
3. Systematic Deep Relaxation (Savasana)
We close every Sivananda practice with 10 to 12 minutes of structured, guided relaxation.
The Science: This is where the physiological "magic" happens. During Savasana, we systematically release tension from every muscle group from the toes to the head. This complete physical surrender allows your body to transition fully out of fight-or-flight, giving your brain the restorative rest it needs to sleep deeply and recover from cognitive fatigue.
The Takeaway: You cannot think your way out of stress, but you can breathe and move your way out of it. Classical Hatha Yoga uses your body’s built-in biology to restore mental spaciousness and physical ease.
Ready to experience a deep nervous system reset? Meet us on the mat in Montpellier Centre.
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Looking for Hatha Yoga Classes in English in Montpellier?
Join a welcoming community and explore traditional hatha yoga through movement, breath, relaxation, and meditation.
Looking for Hatha Yoga Classes in English in Montpellier?
Join a welcoming community and explore traditional hatha yoga through movement, breath, relaxation, and meditation.
Looking for Hatha Yoga Classes in English in Montpellier?
Join a welcoming community and explore traditional hatha yoga through movement, breath, relaxation, and meditation.