About Us
Sunshine Yoga is located on the kwaZuluNatal South Coast, just an hour south of Durban , only 300 meters from the seashore. We offer a number of classes to suit all levels and styles of yoga and relaxation and specialise in yoga therapy and life coaching. All classes are accessible to both beginners and advanced students alike and are sure to enhance your life, by healing body mind and soul.
An Introduction To Yoga
Reawakening the mind’s control of movement, flexibility and health
We all want to be happier and healthier and we want to live more meaningful lives. Yoga means different things to different people; the postures are a small but important part of the practice. Yoga is a safe work out for everyone; its so natural and you don’t need any equipment, you can do it anywhere and don’t even have to leave home! Most practices start with breathing exercises, then sitting warm ups, standing postures and end with seated postures – these don’t ever cause you pain, they merely identify where you are weak and what your problem areas are so that you can focus on them more… class ends with breathing and final relaxation which is the best part, you play dead… this is s most peaceful and relaxing time, an opportunity to reside with yourself and watch your thoughts float by like clouds in the sky.
Yoga means different things to many people, I have enjoyed a wonderful range of benefits – I am much more in control of my mind and thoughts, I am more centred, remain calm in most situations and feel much more on top of things. We all want to be happier, healthier and more meaningful lives. The physical benefits are without a doubt extraordinary and most doctors would recommend yoga for rehabilitation, but why wait until you have problems? Yoga works on every single part of the body and doesn’t leave a stone unturned…there are eye exercises, tongueworkouts, massages for internal organs, pelvic floor exercises, lung exercises to name but a few… beyond the physical side, yoga is a path toward total harmony of body, mind and spirit.
Yoga transcends all religion, and the benefits are universal in the same way that the benefits of nutrition, breathing and sleep are universal, so are the benefits of this ancient wisdom where we learn to deal with our bodies, mind and emotions. Yoga does wonders on the mind and correct breathing cleans all our cells of impurities and toxins, Gentling the mind helps wash away emotional stress, negative thoughts and anxiety. Watching what we eat is important and has an effect on bodies and mind – start paying attention to what is happening within you, and you will be surprised what you discover with awareness!
There are many different paths in yoga; you can choose one of them that suits you or you can choose a combination of them; or you can choose to follow none of them…nothing bad will happen to you if you don’t do yoga, but something amazing will happen to you if you do!!! Hatha yoga is the most common style practiced in the west, it promotes taking care of your body and the benefits can be felt immediately. Your body will feel younger and more flexible and your mind will calm down after just one session, this is a wonderful place to begin.
We focus a lot on the breath in yoga, breath is life; we certainly could not live without it yet we take it so for granted. Breath affects the way we feel, it is closely linked to our emotions – when we are anxious or stressed our breath is shallow and when we are calm and relaxed our breath is longer. So in in turn we can use our breath to control our emotions; like magic!!! …but you must experience it for yourself and I strongly recommend signing up with a qualified teacher to show you some amazing techniques which you can take home and practice.
I like imagining that every breath in, is a symbol of the Divines Love, always there. We often forget, but He is still there, constant, sustaining and giving us life and sustenance, just like our breath. “No Breath, No Life … Know Breath, Know Life”
By Kerry-Lee Jesson
Sunshine Yoga Studio
When it comes to yoga clothes, wear what you feel comfortable in. Despite what you might see in the media or your social feeds, you don’t need fancy “yoga clothes” to do yoga. In fact, you can practice in anything that you feel comfortable wearing—whether that’s leggings and a sports bra, sweatpants and a t-shirt!
For an asana practice, look for clothes that you personally feel comfortable in, that easily move with your body, don’t get in the way, and provide adequate coverage so you don’t feel exposed in various postures. Avoid pants that you might trip over or shirts that will fall around your face in inversions. While more vigorous vinyasa practices might call for leggings and a fitted tank top, you might prefer wide-legged pants and a loose-fitting shirt for a restorative yoga class.
One thing you shouldn’t wear? Socks! Not only can they make you slip as you move through your practice, they can also impede proper alignment and make standing postures less safe. The exception is in restorative or Yin classes, where you’re often in seated or reclining poses, and coziness is key.
Yoga Styles
Yin Yoga
Yin is a magical practice for stepping into yourself. On a physical level it has the perfect conditions to aid your body in healing from everyday stress and trauma. Looking at the more subtle layers of consciousness, it offers the space to lovingly reclaim and nurture all that feels tired, drained and faint.
It is also a greenhouse where we can seed our hearts with more compassion, gratitude and grace to find greater expression in our lives.
The slow pace lends itself to mindfulness and getting in touch with the subtle currents of mind and heart. ..And as the body unfolds into softness, guided by the breath, new worlds wait to be discovered within.
Yin is a practice aimed at the connective tissues. The bones, tendonsand cartilage. Healthy stressmakes them stronger and more resilient. Too little leads to atrophy and tomuch leads to damage. Seeking strong sensations in this sequence has the potential to create unhealthy compressive & tensile stress in and around the hip joint capsules. Effort is rather applied in the direction of restraint, feeling into every pose with a light touch.
The benefits of a yin yoga practice comes from length of time in a pose rather than intensity.
Vinyasa Yoga
The Western world has become a seated society, which is why vinyasa yoga is so important: its orientation is breath and movement, and research shows that increased movement in a seated society is absolutely essential for health. Vinyasa yoga gets us moving.
With a seated society comes a toxic mind: because our bodies are still, our minds are racing. Vinyasa yoga stills the mind because it has so many focal points that train the mind: the breath, movements, bandhas, postures, and sequences. We’re really focusing on the breath at first, and then, as the mind gains the ability to concentrate, we are able to focus on many things at once. Step by step we expand the mind with the practice. Without proper training, the mind jumps all over the place, distracting us from working on the parts of our beings that will actually help us evolve. Vinyasa yoga stills the mind, giving it the ability to process what the practice brings up to the surface — the joyful stuff and sometimes the uncomfortable stuff as well.
Vinyasa yoga teaches us how to be loving toward ourselves. How to be compassionate to ourselves, because human beings have self-defeating and self-limiting tendencies. We are our own worst critics. Practicing vinaysa yoga brings the content of our beings to the surface so we can see it. Inside the muscles, we hold the memories of every emotion we’ve ever experienced: sadness, fear, anger, etc. Through the asanas, we can tap into these memories and process our pasts. It’s the asanas that release the emotions out of the body. Being a yogi really means engaging in the process of healing: mentally, emotionally, and physically. Vinyasa yoga helps us learn how to accept all the parts of ourselves that aren’t as evolved as we might like them to be.
Ashtanga Yoga
The inspiration for many vinyasa-style yoga classes, ashtanga yoga is an athletic and demanding practice based on a set sequence of postures that never changes, with sequences in increasing levels of difficulty. Traditionally, ashtanga—which was founded by K. PattabhiJois (1915–2009)—is taught “Mysore style,” meaning students learn a series of poses and practice at their own pace while a teacher moves around the room providing adjustments and personalized suggestions.
Hatha Yoga
Most forms of yoga in the West can be classified as hatha yoga. Hatha simply refers to the practice of physical yoga postures, meaning your ashtanga, vinyasa, Iyengar, and Power Yoga classes are all hatha Yoga. The word “hatha” can be translated two ways: as “willful” or “forceful” (or the yoga of activity) and as “sun” (ha) and “moon” (that) meaning the yoga of balance. Hatha practices are designed to align and calm your body, mind, and spirit in preparation for meditation, and as such you may hold each pose for several breaths at a time and move slowly between postures.
Power Yoga
Power Yoga is a fitness-based vinyasa practice. An offshoot of ashtanga, it has many of the same qualities and benefits, including building internal heat, increasing stamina, strength, and flexibility, as well as stress reduction. Teachers design their own sequences, while students synchronize their breath with their movement.
When it comes to yoga clothes, wear what you feel comfortable in. Despite what you might see in the media or your social feeds, you don’t need fancy “yoga clothes” to do yoga. In fact, you can practice in anything that you feel comfortable wearing—whether that’s leggings and a sports bra, sweatpants and a t-shirt!
For an asana practice, look for clothes that you personally feel comfortable in, that easily move with your body, don’t get in the way, and provide adequate coverage so you don’t feel exposed in various postures. Avoid pants that you might trip over or shirts that will fall around your face in inversions. While more vigorous vinyasa practices might call for leggings and a fitted tank top, you might prefer wide-legged pants and a loose-fitting shirt for a restorative yoga class.
One thing you shouldn’t wear? Socks! Not only can they make you slip as you move through your practice, they can also impede proper alignment and make standing postures less safe. The exception is in restorative or Yin classes, where you’re often in seated or reclining poses, and coziness is key.
Class Schedule
Monday
8.00 - 9.30am - Vinyasa Balance and Breathe
4.30 - 6.00pm -Vinyasa Balance, Breathe and Flow
Tuesday
8.00 - 9.30am - Yin Yoga
Wednesday
8am - Fun Flow Ashtanga
4.30 - 6.00pm Yin Therapy
Thursday
8.00 - 9.30 - Surprise!
4..30 - 6.00pm -Vinyasa Challenge
Friday
8.00 - 9.30am - Yin & Yoga Nidra
Saturday
8.00 - 9.30 - Power and Strength
Sunday
8.00 - 9.30am - Yin Therapy and Healing Yoga
*Timetable subject to change
Single Class: R80
Twice a week: R400 per month
Unlimited lessons: R550 per month
Kids Yoga: once a week R450 per month
One on One (when available): R450 per session
Trauma Healing Therapy: R450 per session
Mat Hire: R20
Healing Balm: R80
Yoga Mats: on order
Classes on a first come first serve and bookings are essential due to covid regulations.