There are many different ways to practice yoga; it is good to find the one that is best for you!

If you want a more active practice and want more strength and balance to prevent injury, perhaps a Yang practice suits you best. If you want to restore and nourish your body because of stress or difficulty, a slower more gentle yoga style such as Yin yoga may be best. A combination of Yin and Yang would be a good practice.

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Yin Yoga

Many people are feeling the stressful effects of our extroverted, busy, “Yang” world, especially here in our dense city of Amsterdam. Our nervous system is constantly activated by the overstimulation and demands of modern life. You may feel like you have no energy left at the end of the day (or in the middle of it!) Or you may feel you are hyper-active all the time and can’t still your mind. 

Yin yoga offers us a way to calm the nervous system by focusing on the breath and slow, sustained movements. 

 

As the nervous system begins to relax, the body begins to 'speak' about what it needs. By bringing our awareness inward, and listen to what our body is saying, tuning in with the sensations of the body, we can begin to balance the connection between the body and the mind. 

Yin Yoga is a very safe and gentle way to activate and stretch the muscles, tendons, ligaments  and connective tissue. By holding poses for 3 to 5 minutes we give the body a chance to deeply release. We train the mind to focus on the breath and the sensations in the body to become more mindful of the important messages our bodies have for us. By stretching the fascia we increase the lubrication of our joints and create more flexibility. Perhaps most profound is the impact that yin yoga has on the energy body, clearing space for our feelings and emotions along the energy channels, or meridians, of the body. 

 

Yang Yoga

Yang yoga is a more active practice that increases strength and flexibility at the same time. It also trains us to stay focused when life around us gets difficult. Through the poses (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama) we train the body to move efficiently and gracefully and develop better strength and balance. A regular practice can keep us strong and flexible to help prevent injury and chronic imbalances in the body. 

 

Private classes/ classes on location

In addition to the group lessons, I offer online classes and private sessions. This can be with you alone or with a group of friends in your living room. This is convenient for many who may not be able to make it to scheduled classes and who prefer to practice in a more private setting, or if you are at home with small children. Private group sessions are also great for special events or in a work environment.

 

I provide mats and props. Sessions can vary in time according to your preference but are usually 1 to 1.5 hours.