YOGA ACCORDING TO AYURVEDIC PRINCIPLES
PRIVATE YOGA ONLINE
YOGA RETREATS
YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
Regular Yoga classes are available live in Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany, where I also will be hosting some retreats, in beautiful surroundings of the alpine regions.
PRIVATE ONLINE CLASSES
Private classes have a lot of advantages: Not only is this the way Yoga was always intended to be taught – only in this way can we truly focus on it‘s amazing healing benefits for the individual. And as much as we all mostly prefer live classes, online classes do have some undeniable advantages: You can be in the privacy of your own home, making your home your sanctuary. Through detailed verbal instruction, you will be able to understand even the subtle aspects of your practice. The cost of online private classes are lower than in-house classes, due to higher cost of studio rent. And within a short amount of time, you will be very much used to communicating in this way.
So, how does it work?
We will meet on zoom, which will not cost you anything and you won’t have to sign up for anything (I will do that on my end). You will just need to have your laptop or iPad or your mobile phone set up so the camera can point to your area of practice. Best wear something contrasting to your background and have good light in the room, then I can see you perfectly well.
After an initial, short consultation, your physical constitution and individual needs are assessed. Then we can create a Yoga sequence just for you, which you can practice at home. This may also include Pranayama (breathing techniques), deep relaxation techniques or meditation. We can focus completely on your needs.
You can book as many private classes as you need, depending on how much support you need on your journey.
I recommend to start with more frequent sessions (once a week or bi-weekly) and then, as your confidence and ability grows, to reduce it to once a month, or when needed.
Online classes can focus on anything you need – from strength building, challenging Asana to deeply relaxing Yin Yoga, from Philosophy classes and Meditation to nervous system balancing Pranayama, or Ayurvedically therapeutic practices.
Just send me a message below and we can work out a schedule that suits you.
Cost of one private session: 60 Euro.
If you happen to be in Murnau am Staffelsee, please check out the local class schedule here:
WHAT IS YOGA AND HOW CAN IT TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE?
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj, meaning “to yolk” or “to unite”. But what is it that we are trying to unite?
Our whole being consists of layers of conscious intelligence – the body, our vital energy, our emotions, our discerning mind and personality, our spiritual consciousness, our soul. Often, we are not aware of what is going on in all of these layers, they seem disconnected – our body breaks out in disease, our emotions are out of balance and we react to the world around us through fear and trauma that is stored deep inside our mind. Our spiritual consciousness is limited to religious belief or disbelief and our soul feels lost because we do not feel safe to be who we truly want to be in this world.
Yoga aims to connect all of these layers again, bringing us back into alignment with our own authenticity and thus with the whole world.
Yoga refers to the union between body, mind and our innermost self. The union between us, and the whole universe.
Through Yoga practice, we can achieve a state of equilibrium by re-setting our nervous system, bringing peace and wellbeing to our mind.
Of course there is a lot more to Yoga than the physical practice we do on the mat in a class – but here is where most of us begin.
It all starts with some simple postures, breath-work and concentration.
But in the end, it will transform your life.
THE BEST – AND MOST TRADITIONAL – WAY TO LEARN YOGA IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL CLASS BETWEEN STUDENT AND TEACHER.
FOR THE PROPER PRESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHT METHODS, A SHORT AYURVEDIC CONSULTATION IS RECOMMENDED, WHICH IS WHY YOUR FIRST, INITIAL SESSION WILL BE LONGER.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
MY STYLE OF YOGA...
ASHTANGA YOGA
Ashtanga Yoga is a method, utilising the eight limbs of Yoga according to Patantali:
1. Yama (Mindfully living in the world)
2. Niyama (mindful treating ourselves)
3. Asana (Posture practice)
4. Pranayama (Breathing practices)
5. Pratyahara (Sense-withdrawal/inner awareness)
6. Dharana (Concentration)
7.Dhyana (Meditation)
8. Samadhi
It uses a system of posture that focuses on
– increasing awareness of inner sensations and the feeling of being in the moment (mindfulness)
– the spine and practices Mula Bhanda (the “root lock”) to hold energy in and keep the spine erected (Asana)
– the lengthening of the breath, using a certain breathing technique, in order to calm the nervous system during practice (Pranayama)
– the awareness of the inner senses (Pratyahara)
– the concentration on certain energy points of the body (drishti) in order to focus or move energy in certain directions (dharana)
– the flow of movement and breath while concentration prevails will eventually result in a moving meditation
– During the final relaxation (Shavasana) this moving meditation will leave us feeling blissful and whole, glimpsing a state of unification of all of our layers of conscious intelligence.
Most people associate Ashtanga Yoga also with some specific series of postures put together by Sri Pattabhi Jois and his Teachers before him.
The first and primary series is called Yoga Cikitsa (Yoga Therapy) for good reason – the body will be challenged and moved in all possible directions, the breath is controlled and will influence the nervous system positively and directly, so that the whole system is re-set, your metabolism is encouraged to detoxify each cell in your body and your mind will be focused and concentrated until you will experience a beautiful sense of calm, strength, freedom and well-being.
The hormone and Chakra system is balanced in a systematic way and each organ is strengthened, circulated and flushed through a well organised series of postures. Even the eyes are part of the practice through specific gazing points.
The primary series is a great basis from where to begin our practice – it provides us with a thread we can follow. However – as tempting as it is – it should never be practiced rigidly and without intelligently adapting the postures to the needs of the individual, which should be assessed by a teacher and/or Ayurvedic practitioner.
YIN YOGA
Yin Yoga has a variety of incredible benefits:
Fascia, a connective tissue that surrounds all our muscles, bones and organs and forms our ligaments and tendons, can tighten around weaker parts of the body (resulting from previous injury, postural problems or emotional trauma), causing this body part to feel tight and difficult to open up through a regular Yoga practice.
These tissues need a different approach to being gently stressed, soften and worked out. Yin Yoga uses a variety of postures, mostly on the floor, that can be held for longer periods of time, using gravity rather than muscle force, achieving a therapeutic affect on joints, ligaments and tendons.
Each posture also works on an energetic level on the Nadis (or Meridians) of the body, which are thought to be situated inside the fascia, and can have a similar effect to a Shiatsu treatment or Acupuncture.
Chakra work can also be done through Yin Yoga.
Each posture is held for several minutes. The nature of the postures and the time spent in them provide a great opportunity to practice mindfulness, breath awareness and meditation.
Testimonials:
“I find Sandra to be an amazing teacher: passionate, holistic and knowledgeable.”
Brenda Harkin
“Sandra is an excellent teacher and has created a Yoga class that is accommodating to all levels. Always a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommended.”
Caolan Barron
“Brilliant class and amazing teacher! I still can’t believe the change in my flexibility, strength and balance. And the best thing – it keeps on getting better!”
Alexandra Drafilova
““I actually feel taller! Brilliant class! I’ll be back for sure!”
Leanne Sheridan
“Good atmosphere, wonderful location, awesome teacher!”
Agnes Wo
“Great class, felt fab after, just what I needed, great teacher too. It went by too quickly. Really looking forward to the next class and the next and the next…”
Siobhan Donohue
IN PERSON SCHEDULE IN MURNAU/BAVARIA
VHS
Mondays
18.30 – 19.45
20.00 – 21.15
starting March 7
VHS Kurszentrum Kemmelpark
for bookings go to
https://www.vhs-murnau.de
YOGABLU
TUESDAYS
10AM TIME
AyuYoga Vinyasa mixed level (not for complete beginners)
WEDNESDAYS:
18.15
Yoga for beginners, 8 week course starting February 16
8pm Ashtanga Yoga modified primary series
@Yogablu Murnau
www.yogablu.de
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Yin Yoga @ Yogablu Murnau
Yin Yoga Mini Retreats are taking place once a month @ Yogablu in Murnau.
Asana Clinic @ Yogablu Murnau
Sunday, 6th March
11 am – 1.30 pm
For more information and booking, please go to www.yogablu.de