Yoga and Mindfulness

Yoga

The Yoga I teach is inspired by Vanda Scaravelli who was a student of BKS Iyengar, TKV Desikachar, and the philosopher J Krishnamurti. She taught an intuitive form of yoga, placing emphasis upon awareness to what is happening inside us as we practice. It is based on working with the principles of grounding the body, releasing tension, and connecting with the breath. These principles create greater freedom and movement in the body.

I describe my practice as a intuitive style of  Yoga: yoga that is practised slowly, intelligently and safely. In my individual as well as group classes I focus on student centered guidance to achieve your natural movement potential. I show my students how to engage their bodies using their core strength and inner aliveness to achieve more physical comfort and openness. The movements or asanas are a ground for investigation, release and grounding. I aim to make Yoga accessible to people of all ages and abilities. As you explore the asanas, you will experience greater independence, pleasure and ease in the body, and the joy of discovering how you can move toward a healthy, relaxed and energetic state of body and mind by yourself, anytime, anywhere. 

Yoga is not about touching your toes but what you learn on the way down! It is a process of transformation. Yoga helps to create physical and emotional wellbeing and balance. It renews your energy and aspires a sense of simplicity and wholeness. 

Yoga also has a therapeutic aspect. In individual sessions, I combine Yoga with other types of therapy such as Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial Release Therapy. These individual sessions are aimed for people to aid recovery from injuries, resolving problematic joints, back pain etc. 

In 2006, American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologist published guidelines for exercising in pregnancy recommending "in the absence of any complications, 30 minutes or more of low to moderate intensity exercise on most, if not all, days of the week for all pregnant women.” Up to date research continues to further prove the health benefits for the exercising mother and the growing baby.

Potential benefits for mums:

• Better cardiovascular fitness
• Healthy weight management
• Lower Stress levels and better sleep
• Psychological well-being
• Lower incidence of pelvic girdle pain and back pain
• Better circulation and blood pressure
• Regulated insulin sensitivityIncreased body awareness, balance, co-ordination and posture
• Better pelvic floor muscle function
• Preparation for labour and delivery
• Pain management in labour
• Recovery following delivery
• Lowers incidence of post-natal depression

And for the growing babies:

• Improves oxygen flow to the placenta
• Improves placental and baby growth
• Improves cardiovascular and neurological development
• Reduces stress level during birth
• Reduces risk of obesity in children

The classes consist of relaxed stretches, releasing physical tension, the development of strong muscles, breathing exercises, and mind and body awareness.

They are appropriate for beginners and experienced exercisers and are also individually tailored to your fitness needs and abilities. 

Discover Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a completely secular, scientifically validated practice that offers to train you to be fully attentive to the present moment. Additional benefits are learning new emotional skills and new behaviors that are more adapted and effective. It is a practice that profoundly alters our cognitive and emotional functioning, opens us up to a new way of living and connects us to our resources.

The benefits of this method are the reduction of daily stress as well as the improvement of the quality of life. This happens by teaching us to be more present with all that happens around us. Teachings include the acceptance of reality as it is, benevolence towards ourselves and connection to one's body and to the present moment.

The sessions take place over eight weeks (2 hours per week) and consists of meditative practices lying down, sitting and moving (yoga).

For adults

• Learn how to better manage your stress on a daily basis
• Decrease your anxiety and sleep disorders
• Increase your well-being and self-knowledge

Mindfulness is an art of living: Using practical techniques that make it easier to relax and manage stressful situations and allowing you to be more present.

Mindful Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an ideal time to practice meditation in full awareness. Your body changes and you have new responsibilities. These changes can cause anxiety and stress. Learning to meditate in full awareness, with the help of complete program which integrates body and mind, can help you to be present in the midst of all these changes.

This course does not replace birth preparation course taught by a midwife. 

For the child

There are many benefits of a mindfulness practice for children (as of 6 years old). Scientific studies have shown that it can lead to:

• Improved ability to focus, focus and memorize.
• Better control of emotions.
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved self-confidence and relationships
• Decreased impulsivity and conflict
• Improved sleep quality