Our Core Practices
About Yoga
The Meaning of Yoga
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj” or “yug”, meaning to yoke, join, or unite.
At its heart, yoga is the practice of uniting body, mind, and spirit - a way of remembering wholeness.
Origins and Tradition
Yoga originated in India around the 5th–6th century BCE, evolving through centuries of physical, mental, and spiritual exploration.
While modern yoga often focuses on movement, its roots lie in a much wider philosophical system dedicated to balance, awareness, and inner freedom.
Much of what we understand about yoga today comes from the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, written over 2,000 years ago.
This foundational text describes yoga as an eight-fold path (aṣṭāṅga yoga) - eight “limbs” that guide the practitioner toward self-realisation and peace.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The eight limbs, or Aṣṭāṅga Yoga, offer practical and ethical guidance for living with awareness:
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Yama – moral disciplines and our relationship with others
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Niyama – self-care and inner observances
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Āsana – the physical postures that steady and strengthen the body
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Prāṇāyāma – breath control, expanding and refining vital energy
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Pratyāhāra – turning the senses inward
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Dhāraṇā – concentration
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Dhyāna – meditation
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Samādhi – union or integration, the goal of yoga itself
Most modern students encounter yoga through āsana, the third limb - the physical practice that develops discipline, steadiness, and stillness, preparing us for meditation and deeper awareness.
At Sarvāṅga, our classes weave these limbs together - movement, breath, focus, and reflection - to make yoga a living practice, not just an exercise.
Beyond the Mat
Yoga is a philosophy, a science of mind, and a lifelong inquiry into being present.
Through breath and mindful movement, we cultivate strength, softness, and a deeper connection to life itself, paving the way for deeper exploration of yoga spiritual and philosophical themes. For reflections and more information on yoga philosophy and the eight limbs, visit our Journal.
Sarvanga
Origin - Sanskrit "sarva" and "anga" Meaning - whole body, or all limbs
The name Sarvanga comes from the sanskrit “whole body” and reflects the all encompassing nature of yoga- a practice which engages every muscle, your mind and your spirit. It also reflects my belief that yoga is a whole body-mind way of exercising, growing stronger, calmer and learning to be at ease with your body and your own self.
A strong mind and a strong body work well together, but neglect one and you may find the other doesn’t work quite so well either. Yoga is a powerful way of realising that your body and mind are one, part of a single system that must learn to work in balance. Engaging with this as we practice brings depth to our understanding of ourselves and our wellbeing and teaches us to respect the openness of our minds and the wisdom of our bodies. We learn to listen to ourselves, to move with greater ease and give our minds the space to think clearly, we provide ourselves new and healthy ways of expressing our emotions. We give ourselves space to relax.
Yoga asanas have many variations and modifications enabling yoga to be practice by almost any individual with their unique range of movement, and even with very limited movement, pranayama (breath work) and meditation can be wonderfully beneficial and accessible.
About Qigong
The Meaning of Qigong
The word Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) combines two Chinese words: “Qi”, meaning life force or vital energy, and “Gong”, meaning skill, cultivation, or work.
Together, Qigong means “the skill of working with energy.”
Origins and Philosophy
Rooted in ancient Chinese medicine, martial arts, and Taoist philosophy, Qigong has been practised for thousands of years to balance the flow of Qi throughout the body.
Its gentle, flowing movements harmonise breath, posture, and intention — restoring vitality, calm, and focus.
While yoga arose from India’s spiritual traditions, Qigong grew from China’s understanding of energy and nature. Both share the same essence: presence, awareness, and harmony between body and mind.
Practice and Benefits
Qigong practice involves slow, mindful movement, breath regulation, and standing meditation.
It strengthens the body while releasing tension, improves balance and coordination, and gently supports the immune and circulatory systems.
Beyond the physical, Qigong brings steadiness, emotional clarity, and a quiet sense of connection to the world around us.
About Sound Healing
The Meaning of Sound Healing
Sound Healing - sometimes known as a Sound Bath - uses vibration and resonance to restore balance in body and mind.
As you rest, instruments such as crystal bowls, gongs, chimes, and drums create harmonic waves that invite deep relaxation and inner stillness.
Origins and Tradition
Sound as medicine has existed in cultures around the world for millennia - from mantra and chant in India, to Tibetan singing bowls, to Indigenous drumming.
Modern sound healing draws from these traditions, combining them with understanding of frequency, vibration, and the body’s natural capacity to recalibrate through resonance.
Experience and Benefits
During a sound bath, you simply lie back, close your eyes, and listen.
The frequencies gently slow brain waves, calm the nervous system, and support deep rest. Many people describe the experience as meditative, clearing, and profoundly soothing.
Sound healing can help relieve stress, improve sleep, and restore energetic balance - a beautiful complement to yoga, meditation, or Reiki.
Benefits of Practice
Why We Practice
At Sarvāṅga Yoga in Wokingham, we teach yoga, qigong, meditation, yoga nidra, and sound healing - practices that strengthen the body, settle the mind, and reconnect us to what’s real.
These traditions share a simple purpose: to restore balance - within ourselves and in how we move through the world.
Physical Well-Being
Yoga and qigong both cultivate strength, mobility, and stability through mindful movement.
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Yoga builds muscular balance, flexibility, and joint health while improving posture and body awareness.
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Qigong, an ancient Chinese energy practice, develops coordination and vitality through slow, flowing sequences that harmonise breath and movement.
Together they enhance circulation, support the immune system, and reduce tension held in the body.
Regular practice can ease back pain, improve sleep, and increase overall resilience - gentle but lasting foundations for lifelong health.
Mental Clarity and Emotional Balance
Movement, breath, and stillness combine to calm the nervous system and clear the mind.
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Meditation trains focus and presence, reducing anxiety and improving emotional regulation.
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Prāṇāyāma (breathwork) balances the body’s stress response, grounding restless energy.
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The steady rhythm of qigong fosters inner quiet and mental spaciousness.
Students often describe feeling lighter, more centred, and better able to respond to life with clarity rather than reaction.
Deep Rest and Nervous-System Repair
Modern life rarely offers genuine rest. Practices such as Yoga Nidra and Sound Healing invite the body to deeply release and reset.
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Yoga Nidra, or “yogic sleep,” guides awareness into the state between waking and dreaming - a place of profound restoration where the body can heal and the mind can settle.
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Sound Healing (or sound bath) uses instruments such as crystal bowls, chimes, and gongs to create resonant vibrations that encourage relaxation and energetic alignment.
These restful experiences support better sleep, recovery from burnout, and long-term nervous-system health.
Energetic and Spiritual Connection
Each of these practices works on subtle levels - refining energy, awareness, and connection.
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Yoga integrates body, breath, and consciousness.
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Qigong moves life-force energy (Qi or Prāṇa) through the meridians.
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Meditation dissolves the sense of separation, guiding us toward stillness and unity.
Over time, practice becomes less about exercise and more about presence - a ritual of remembering our natural wholeness.
Community and Belonging
Beyond personal well-being, group practice offers shared rhythm and quiet solidarity.
Many students find community here: a space to arrive as you are, to listen, to move, and to belong.
This human connection is itself deeply healing - a reminder that we’re never practising alone.
Begin Your Practice
Start where you are. Explore the practices that call you most - movement, rest, sound, or stillness.
Over time, each will lead you toward the same place: balance, clarity, and peace.