‘Chitta vrtti nirodhah’ or the cessation of mental fluctuations, is the goal of all yogic paths. Samanta offers students many routes to this one goal – explore the meditative Sivananda hatha yoga, embrace a dynamic Vinyasa practice, or use props to gain strength and stability in advanced and beginner postures. For students, Samanta emphasises the importance of sadhana – inculcating a sense of regular practice at the same time and same place, every single day.
Samanta combines classical, dynamic, therapeutic and restorative practices according to the student’s age, physical and mental temperament and his or her environment.
This form of Yoga involves the practice of Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breath control) and Dhyana (meditation). It is more structured in the posturing: achieve a pose, hold it, extend it, release and realign.
One concentrates on breathing with motion while moving into the postures. In this ‘breath-synchronized movement’, you flow gracefully from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale.
I got Samanta’s number from a friend when I got pregnant. I have been taking yoga lessons and doing body work massages with her since the 14th week of my pregnancy and plan on continuing up until 36 weeks. My yoga and body work sessions have been a life saver during pregnancy as they have really helped my balance and flexibility. Especially during the 8th month when I started feeling my heaviest both the yoga sessions and body work really helped with my back and leg pain. I would highly encourage taking pre natal yoga classes and doing body work massages with Samanta Duggal!– Ameesha Mansukhani
