Category Archive: Uncategorized
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The magic of good breathing
Leave a CommentThe magic of good breathing
There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing in and out about 25,000 times a day. Research shows that even small adjustments to the way we breathe can improve our athletic performance, rejuvenate our internal organs, and even cure asthma and autoimmune disease[1].
What is the big secret behind mindful breathing?
The answer lies in the complex mix of how our brain works, our brain’s primitive responses to signals of danger, and how unconscious processes in our body are then controlled in response to these signals [2]. These signals and reactions are also called our “fight and flight” response, or simply our “stress” response. And here lies the power of conscious breathing: with breathing you can DIRECTLY influence this “stress” response. The old Asian wisdom knows many techniques that play with this principle. Many different breathing rhythms to consciously activate our “stress” response, or the “relaxation” response, or the balance between the two.
Of course we also have the more modern variants, such as the currently very popular techniques of Wim Hof or the Heartmath methods flown over from America. At Heartmath they have done years of scientific research into the positive effects of heart coherence and stress reduction [3]. They have also developed biofeedback tools that make your stress level and the effect of your breathing immediately visible on a screen.And what can you do with this knowledge, what can you do?
Breathe consciously for five minutes in the morning, five minutes in the afternoon, and five minutes in the evening. This is how you bring and keep your balance between your “stress” and “relaxation” response. Just 15 minutes of your day can make a world of difference. After a few weeks you will already have tangible results: more rest, more balance, improved concentration, more focus, improved sleeping pattern. You immediately say YES to this, don’t you?The breathing exercise is explained in detail below:
- Sit comfortably
- Place both feet firmly on the floor and place your hands on your stomach
- Bring your attention to your breathing
- Breathe in and out through your nose
- Breathe into your hands
- Make the duration of your inhalation equal to the duration of your exhalation
- Ideally in a rhythm of 5 seconds in and 5 seconds out
- Stay focused on your breathing for 5 minutes
Easy right? Get started, and keep going!
Do you have challenges with your attention? No worries!
Below is a video link to guide your breathing.
Ademhalingsoefening frequentie 6x per minuut om je dagelijkse stress en spanning te verminderenI wish you lots of breathing power!
Raphaelle
Sources:
[1] Het nieuwe ademen, James Nestor , 2022
[2] De kracht van emoties, Heartmath 2020
[3] https://www.heartmath.org/research/research-library/ -
A positive view of health
Leave a CommentA positive view of health
At the end of the sixteenth century, Desiderius Erasmus wrote the well-known wise words “prevention is better than cure”. What have we learned from this in our Western world in 2023? Well not much, you would say, knowing that 97% of our healthcare budget is spent on curative care, and only 3% on preventive care. (1) And yes we do preventive care, everyone knows the consultation centers where you, as proud young parents, go with your newborn sprout, the GGD programs for monitoring the health of our little princes and princesses and of course very recently the corona vaccination policy. But in an aging society, where we expect that in 2040 60% of people will be registered with their GP with one or more chronic conditions, and in 2040 62% of people will be overweight (2). We will have to think the other way around. The health concept of “Positive Health” by founder Machteld Huber sets a good example in this regard.
“Positive Health” chooses a different angle. The emphasis here is not on illness, but on people themselves, on their resilience and on what makes their lives meaningful. According to Huber, health is “the ability to adapt and self-manage in the face of life’s social, physical and emotional challenges”. (1) So it’s about how resilient you are to the challenges in your life, where health is not a goal, but a means to do what you really think is important, a means to lead a meaningful life!
What can you do concretely now?
The spider web has been developed from “Positive Health”, which provides insight into how you experience your health from six dimensions.
Go to https://mijnpositievegezondheid.nl/tools/hoewerkthet and take the test and get started with what matters to you, and what you would like to change! And tie those wise words of Erasmus in your ears and live a healthy life, so that you can give meaning to your beautiful unique life from your full potential!
I wish you very positive health
Raphaelle van der Weide
Lifestyle coach and yoga & meditation teacherSource reference:
(1) https://mijnpositievegezondheid.nl from Institute of Positive Health (iPH) Machteld Huber
(2) https://www.volksgezondheidtoekomstverkenning.nl/c-vtv/trendscenario-update-2020/ diseases – from National Institute for Public Health and the Environment -
How do you become happier?
Leave a CommentHow do you become happier?
Happy 2023!! Probably one of the least original New Year’s wishes, but also one of the greatest gifts you can wish someone. A happy life, isn’t that what you wish everyone? But what actually is happiness, and to what extent can happiness be made?
Happiness professor Meike Bartels (1973) says about this: “I don’t see happiness as an end point but as a catalyst. Happiness is about shaping your life to the moments when you feel good. Trying to steer your own course. People often talk about what they have to do to become happy. But you can also ask yourself: what should I do to become happy?” (1).
Scientists have determined that 40% of your happiness is determined by your genes. Something that is already fixed at birth, also called your “set point”. You can be resigned to this, and think “I can’t help feeling unhappy, it’s my genes!”. The good news is, the other 60% is in your hands!
Of that 60%, 10% is determined by your circumstances (2). The fact that our circumstances have so little influence on your happiness has to do with habituation. That luxury car, that large television screen, those designer pants, it gives you a feeling of happiness when you buy it, but you get used to it very quickly and the feeling of happiness does not last long.
The other 50% that determine your happiness lie in conscious activities that you can choose every day. But what are those activities, and what can you do with them? And here science (1) and the ancient yoga tradition go hand in hand, here are some tips.
Take care of yourself
Lay the foundation for good health: feed your body with healthy food, get plenty of exercise, preferably in nature, get enough sleep, and ensure a good balance between tension and relaxation. Good health ensures a healthy hormone balance, and stimulates the production of your so-called happiness hormones (3).Count your blessings
Every night before you go to bed, write down three things you’re grateful for that day and dwell on that feeling: a beautiful sunshine, that beautiful smile from the neighbor, that hug from your daughter. Living from gratitude stimulates “to have a positive attitude to life”, to “see the glass half full instead of half empty”.Do a good deed
Do something good for your fellow man, without expecting anything in return.
This fits in nicely with the principle of karma yoga, or the “yoga of action”, where you do something selflessly for others. And these can also be small things, bringing a bunch of flowers to your sick neighbor, or pleasing your friends with homemade cookies.Experiencing every moment of sincere gratitude and connection increases your feeling of happiness, you radiate this, you smile, and yes… you get a smile back! And so the circle is complete: the catalytic effect of a moment of happiness.
I wish you a very happy 2023! May it be a year full of grateful moments and moments of deep connection, a year in which you will experience happiness as an attitude to life instead of an end result to be achieved.
Raphaelle van der Weide
Lifestyle coach and yoga & meditation teacher
Butterflyfive.comSources:
(1) Meike Bartels, Wat je kunt doen om gelukkiger te worden? https://www.universiteitvannederland.nl/college/wat-kun-je-doen-om-gelukkiger-te-worden
(2) Jos Leventje, Wat maakt daadwerkelijk gelukkig? De 3 factoren voor Geluk volgens de wetenschap. https://leventje.nl/factoren-voor-geluk
(3) Martijn, Gelukshormoon tekort, 4 hormonen voor een gelukkiger leven! https://jouwpersoonlijkegroei.nl/gelukshormonen/
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A retreat, what are you actually doing there?
Leave a CommentA retreat, what are you actually doing there?
Retreats, you see them more and more often. But what exactly is it and what do you actually do there? Maybe you have a certain image of a group that is completely silent for a few days, or maybe it seems a bit blurry. I’d love to tell you all about it!
What is a (yoga) retreat?
The literal meaning of retreat is ‘withdrawing from yourself’. During a retreat you take time for yourself and step out of all the roles you assume in daily life. Just press the pause button to feel how you are really doing. You no longer have distractions to hide behind. You create space and time to feel and be sincere and honest with yourself.What do you do during a yoga retreat?
During a yoga retreat there are various yoga classes on the program. In addition, there is room for meditation, pranayama (breathing exercises), workshops and free time to do what you feel like. The food is provided and you don’t have to worry about anything else. It is often possible to book a massage, a 1-on-1 session or an energetic treatment. Sometimes there are also group activities on the program. You can think of (cocoa) ceremonies, ecstatic dance and a walk in nature. You can choose which activities you want to participate in. Above all, feel free to do what you need. Withdrawing yourself into your own bubble or being in contact with others.What does a retreat lead to?
Unknowingly we are overloaded with stimuli and thoughts every day. By stepping into a different environment you become aware of your behaviors, patterns and beliefs. Because you take more moments of rest, there is more room to notice your body’s signals and to be in touch with yourself again. You may suddenly notice that you are tired or that you do certain things because they are expected of you. You can receive new insights and get answers to questions that you have been walking around with for a while. You relax, you feel relaxed and you gain new energy. You often gain new knowledge and experience and you are given tools that you can use in your daily life to experience more and more happiness in life.How do you know which retreat is right for you?
Everyone has their own needs and experiences. That is why it is important that you feel for yourself which yoga retreat suits you. How long do you want to go away? A day, a weekend or a week? Do you want to stay in the Netherlands or go abroad? Do you want to get started with a specific theme? Check out the place, the program and the organizers and feel if this feels right for you. If you are going to a yoga retreat alone for the first time, this can be very exciting. Know that you are always in a safe group of like-minded people and that you are not alone. The most important thing is that you are having fun and that you feel comfortable. -
Sleep meditation is the remedy for a good night’s sleep
Leave a CommentSleep meditation is the remedy for a good night’s sleep
Do you recognize this? After a busy day you are finally in bed, but you can’t get to sleep. You are worrying and all kinds of thoughts are wandering through your head. You sleep restlessly and often wake up and in the morning you don’t feel rested at all. Many people suffer from sleep disorders, insomnia or poor sleep and are at their wits’ end. Did you know that sleep meditation can help with that? Not only for sleeping problems, but also to simply feel a bit more energetic or more comfortable in your own skin.
Why a sleep meditation
A sleep meditation can help you experience more rest and relaxation and fall asleep more easily. It can also help you improve your sleep quality. A good night’s sleep is necessary to be able to process the stimuli you experience during the day. In addition, the body can recover during sleep and thus strengthens your health, both physically and mentally. Stress decreases and sleep quality increases. After a good night’s sleep, you wake up rested and feel cheerful, energized and alert throughout the day.How do you perform a sleep meditation?
During a sleep meditation you shift the focus from the head (thoughts) to the body (feeling); such as feeling physical sensations or your breath. You activate the parasympathetic nervous system, a relaxed state in which there is room for rest and recovery. There are many different forms and ways to perform sleep mediation. It is important that you find a way that suits you.You can do a sleep meditation sitting, next to your bed or in another nice place where you can relax. It can also be lying in bed. You no longer have to change position or take action and you can go to sleep immediately after meditating.
Types of Sleep Meditation
Relaxation music
An easy and accessible way to unwind is to listen to relaxing music. You can turn on music with a certain frequency (vibration), nature sounds or ‘white noise’.Guided Meditation
Nowadays there are various apps that you can use as a tool during your meditation. As a sleep meditation, you can turn on a guided meditation such as a body scan or a meditation aimed at relaxation or gratitude. There are also specific sleep meditations that are aimed at falling asleep relaxed.Meditation without guidance
During a meditation without guidance you bring your attention inwards and you can concentrate on one thing. For example, you can focus on your breathing, physical sensations in your body or visualize a place where you like to be and where you feel comfortable. During meditation you perceive what presents itself, without judgment and without having to change anything. Everything is as it may be in the present moment.Breathing exercise
In addition, performing a breathing exercise can also have a beneficial effect in experiencing relaxation and calming your nervous system. The focus is on lengthening your exhalation. For example, you can inhale for a count of four and then slowly lengthen your exhalation to a count of 8.Finally, some tips for a good night’s sleep
Create your own sleeping ritual to prepare body and mind for your night’s rest. You can think of taking a hot shower, drinking a cup of herbal tea or reading a book. You can write down all your thoughts or three things you are grateful for at that moment. Performing a number of gentle yin yoga poses helps you to connect more with your body and to let go of the last physical tension.There are many possibilities, it is important that you choose a way that suits you, you enjoy doing and where you experience positive effects.
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Back to that great holiday feeling
Leave a CommentBack to that great holiday feeling
The summer holiday period is over and you soon go back into the fast rhythm of daily life. You are absorbed by all the activities, obligations and roles that you fulfill at home and at work. That nice holiday feeling you had seems to be slowly fading away, even though you intended to keep that feeling for so long! With these relaxation exercises you will return to that nice vibe.
Bring back the holiday feeling
How does vacation feel to you? What does the holiday feeling mean to you? A feeling of freedom, peace and pleasure, nothing is necessary and everything is allowed? Do you spend more time outdoors or in nature? Do you enjoy the long days, the sun and the warmth, cheerful music? Do you take the time to eat and drink together, to connect with each other and to create conviviality? Are you more in connection with yourself and do you do the things you feel like doing? What do you like to do when you are on vacation and what do you experience?Visualization exercise: your ultimate holiday
Travel to your ultimate holiday destination through this visualization. Sit in a nice place where you won’t be disturbed. Get into a comfortable position, close your eyes and bring attention to your body. Feel your feet, your legs, your upper body, arms and head. Connect with your breath and on the exhale release all tension.Now imagine that you are in a place where you would like to be. The place where you can experience your ultimate holiday feeling. Maybe you are lying on a beach somewhere in the sun, sitting on a terrace and enjoying delicious food or being in nature. What does this place look like, what do you see? Colours, shapes, structures, objects? What can you hear, sounds of nature, music, people? Is there a certain smell that you can detect? Maybe even something you can taste? How does the place feel where you are now? Is it hot or cold? Use all your senses to make your experience as intense as possible and feel your holiday feeling. You may feel a soft smile on your face. Stay in this place for as long as you want and then calmly return to the area where you are, reconnect with your body and slowly open your eyes. Take this great holiday feeling with you and travel back to this great place, your happy place, as often as you want.
Stress relaxation exercise
If you find yourself quickly being drawn into the daily grind and feeling tense, take a moment for yourself and perform this short relaxation exercise.Sit or lie down quietly and bring attention to yourself. Breathe in deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat a few times and feel your breathing calm down more and more. On the inhale, make fists of your hands, tense all muscles and on the exhale, release the tension. Inhale make fists, exhale release. Repeat several more times.
Bring attention to your shoulders, how does this area feel? Inhale and shrug your shoulders toward your ears. Hold this position for a moment and feel the tension and discomfort. Sigh out and lower the shoulders, feel the relaxation and relief. Repeat this relaxation exercise a number of times and feel how you can release more and more tension as you exhale. After repeating the exercise a few times, bring the attention back to your body and feel for another place where you feel tension. Inhaling tense the muscles in this area, feel the discomfort. Breathing out you let go of all muscle tension and you feel space and relief arise.
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Experience your day mindfully
Leave a CommentExperience your day mindfully
You probably recognize it: in daily life you are often absorbed by all the activities, obligations and roles that you fulfill at home, at work and beyond. How do you ensure that you still experience your day as consciously as possible? Claire, the hostess of Yogaplace, shares her tips.
A slow start of the day
How you start your morning affects how you feel for the rest of your day. Do you start the day in a hurry? Then you will also feel restless for the rest of the day. Are you going for a calm and relaxed start to the day? Then you will notice that you are more confident the rest of the day.
How do you start your day slow? Make sure you take all the time for yourself, even if that may mean getting up a little earlier. “Activate your senses with a nice scent (incense, scented candle, aroma diffuser) and a herbal tea and choose your favorite place in the house to wake up peacefully. You can also spend this time on a nice work-out, yoga practice, walk, meditation or journaling.”Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury
Also create fixed moments to literally take care of yourself. Claire: “With a fixed skincare routine I give my skin, and therefore myself, care and attention. A wonderful facial massage is certainly not lacking.”
Taking care of yourself also means feeding yourself. “I adjust my breakfast to the season. Now in summertime, my body is telling me it needs something fresh and lighter. For example, vegetable yogurt with summer fruit, chia seeds, grated coconut and goji berries. Something that you prepare for yourself with care and love always tastes better!”Offline time
Do you find yourself spending a lot of time in front of a screen? Plan regular offline moments. Put your phone away or put it on airplane mode and let the people around you know that you are offline. Just look how much more space in your head you will experience and maybe even creativity will be sparked!Yoga contributes to a mindful life
Claire: “How yoga helps me to stay mindful during the day? It helps me to connect with my ‘self’, to be aware, to feel well what lives in me and to listen to my body. What it offers me? Peace, tranquility, connection with myself, gratitude and also challenge, energy and a lot of creativity.”Namaste
Claire
Hostess at YogaplaceCheck out the Yogaplace services at ODS Vitaal
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Energetic through the summer
Leave a CommentEnergetic through the summer
Summer, an active season in which you want to do more and do more. The temperatures are higher and it is light for longer. The season to open up and connect. You may experience that you are more concerned with the people and the world around you and that you pay less attention to yourself. All the more important to take a moment for yourself. We share some tips and exercises with you.
Make time for yourself
Whether at home, on vacation or in nature. Create a place with a nice atmosphere where you can do your thing undisturbed. You don’t have to stand on the mat for an hour and perform all kinds of complicated yoga poses – yoga involves much more than performing a number of poses on the mat. You can also think of other exercises such as pranayama (breathing exercises) or a body scan. The important thing is that you take the time to get into the here and now and connect with yourself. Feel how you are doing and what you need.
An energetic start to your day
Do you want to feel fit and energetic this summer? Get up early in the morning and take a moment for yourself before jumping into on mode and doing all kinds of things. It is light early in the summer. During sunrise, nature awakens and there is a lot of prana (life energy) in the air. A great moment to start your day energetically by performing a sun salutation!
- Stand up straight and feel the grounding under your feet
- Inhale, raise your arms in a large circle and close your palms
- Exhaling, bend over and place your hands on the mat. You can bend your knees here
- Inhale lengthen your back, exhale step your feet back one by one and bring your body into a straight line (plank) and slowly lower down until you are lying on your stomach
- Inhale and open your chest, push the upper body up a bit from your hands (cobra or upward dog)
- Exhale, roll back down and press firmly into your hands and push your sit bones up to the ceiling through the knees or by curling your toes into the mat (downward dog)
- Inhale and step the feet forward between the hands, extending your back
- Exhale bend your head towards your legs
- Take a deep breath, slowly stand up and bring your hands in a large circle above your head
- Exhale, slowly lower the hands down along the body and feel the grounding under your feet
- Being present in the here and now
During the day you can take a moment and use your senses to get into the here and now. Look around you, what can you observe? Objects, colors, structures. Do you hear sounds? Are these far away or close by? Maybe you smell a certain smell, can you sense the temperature or taste something?
A cooling breathing exercise
To help cool down the body on a hot summer day, you can perform the Sitali breathing exercise. Stick out your tongue and curl the sides of the tongue up to create a straw-like shape. Breathe in slowly and feel the cooling air flowing into the body. Breathe out slowly through the nose.
Namaste
Manon
Check out the Yogaplace services at ODS Vitaal
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Better sports performance through the use of a supplement
Comments Off on Better sports performance through the use of a supplementBetter sports performance through the use of a supplement
Now that spring has arrived, many endurance athletes are getting on their bikes or preparing for a long-distance run. The question that is often asked in the spring is about the use of supplements. Do you get better by using one or more supplements? Yes and no. Supplements can make a major contribution to your sports performance, but they also have instructions for use.
The beginning
By using only a supplement you will not perform better. It starts with a healthy lifestyle. Choose a tasty, healthy, varied and balanced diet. The basic diet consists of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibers, etc. What goes in and what is needed must be completely in balance. You can use multivitamins, but if they are not made from the right ingredients or from synthetic material, then they are of no use. The basic nutrition must therefore first be properly coordinated.imbalance
If the balance is disturbed, something is not right with you as an athlete. If you have a shortage of something, you have to supplement it. It is wise to get good advice about this. On the internet you will find a huge number of providers that all promise the world. Forget that. It just starts with you: your mindset and your basic nutrition.Additional Supplements
Now I hear you think, “Then why supplements?” Supplements are important for the athlete who regularly exercises. If you get on your bike once a week and ride a round around the church, then the basic nutrition will suffice and on the day you start cycling one extra whole-wheat slice of bread and a banana. If you exercise fanatically more than once a week, targeted supplements are a desirable addition. Targeted? Yes, targeted. You should see supplements as an addition to your daily lifestyle and diet. So you should not just use something because the neighbor does too.Which supplements
Throughout my own sports career I have used numerous supplements. One was sponsored or purchased by the club, the other I bought myself. I soon learned that supplements are not only about quality, but also about taste and finally the cost. For example, I had a supplement that was quite okay but was almost three times more expensive than a comparable brand. I was sponsored a supplement that bears the quality mark of the NZVT (Dutch Security System for Nutritional Supplements Top Sport). This quality mark indicates that the batch of the supplement has been checked for prohibited substances and has been found to be good. The taste and effect of the supplement were just not right. It is therefore extremely important that you use a supplement that suits you. In many cases, the advice is: choose customization.Purpose of a supplement
The purpose of a supplement is to supplement the basic (sports) nutrition. A supplement focuses on a faster recovery, replenishment of energy, shortages in other nutrients and getting sick less often.Supplement advice
My search for a suitable supplement has taken many years. As I wrote before, it simply has to meet a number of (personal) conditions. I have been using SupQ for a few years now. This Dutch product (or rather Limburg product) meets all requirements when it comes to endurance sports. SupQ does not focus on the complete sports industry but has developed a product that is purely aimed at endurance sports. In addition, it is substantiated by research, they work together with various sports dieticians and the products have been extensively tested on Dutch laws and regulations.If you look at which supplements from SupQ contain my personal preference, they are the following:
SupQ isotone drink lemon
If you are engaged in your endurance sport for more than 60 minutes, a well-functioning and tasty isotonic drink is a real asset. This isotonic drink is extremely hydrating and certainly does not have an overly sweet taste. It does not stick in the mouth and has approximately the right ratio of carbohydrates and minerals. It replenishes lost carbohydrates and minerals. A 500 ml bottle of isotonic drink also replenishes one third of the amount of magnesium. One of the important minerals that an endurance athlete loses quickly. My preference in taste is with the isotone drink lemon.If you are an athlete who sweats more than the average athlete, you also lose a lot of salts. Then the ORS drink Peach is ideal for you. It is rich in electrolytes and replenishes the deficiencies.
SupQ energy bar apple cinnamon
For the endurance athlete, the sports meal alone is usually not sufficient. The sports meal is sufficient for 5 to 10 km. But longer distances require the replenishment of your carbohydrates. Many athletes make the mistake of taking a gel. These gels consist only of sugar. This will immediately raise your sugar level. That’s fine for the last 5 km, but if you still have a long way to walk or cycle, it’s better to make up for the shortfalls in another way. The SupQ energy bar has the right ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and minerals. Due to the compact composition of this bar and the subtle taste, you will not get an excessively sweet bar or bar that crumbles in your throat. These bars come in different flavors. My personal preference is the SupQ apple cinnamon bar with green tea.SupQ recovery shake
If you exercise regularly, it is important to let your muscles recover properly. Yet in many cases recovery is forgotten or thought of too late. With endurance sports it is important that you replenish the muscle glycogen on time. If you only do this with the well-known protein shake, it will not work. In endurance sports, carbohydrates are not only the source of energy but also an important link for recovery. If you do not or hardly recover, more muscle damage will occur and your body will not improve in sport. My personal preference for the recovery shake is SupQ recovery strawberry.SupQ latest products
New SupQ products are regularly launched on the market. These new products are selected according to the needs of the athletes. At SupQ, the wishes of the athlete come first. Products can be developed that they think are good in the market, but the opinion and wishes of the athlete are very important.Conclusion
I understand that you are thinking: “The above story is a sales pitch for the SupQ products”. As a Sports Nutrition Coach, I receive various offers every month to promote and test products. Usually the packages I receive are viewed and returned to the sender. The SupQ product fits in with the vision of the Sports Nutrition Coach. With a well-founded supplement you can perform better. However, it starts with the right basic nutrition. So make sure it’s in order. You don’t know how to pick up the basic nutrition. Please contact ODS Vitaal. There are various programs where I can help you with nutrition.Andre Mostard
Sports nutrition coachView André’s offer in the ODS Vitaal portal here.
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Your first yoga practice
Comments Off on Your first yoga practiceYour first yoga practice
When Rein (21) started his graduation internship in the marketing department of Yogaplace in February, he had no experience with yoga yet. Because he also wanted to experience it for himself, he decided to participate in an Ashtanga Mysore style class. Many think that this form of teaching is only for the advanced yogi, but especially as a beginner this is a great way to develop your own practice. In this blog Rein shares his experience of his first yoga class at Yogaplace.
“Yoga is an industry that I was not yet familiar with, but which seemed very interesting to me because it is a different form of sport than I am used to. When I started my internship, I felt that I should of course get to know Yogaplace’s offer. I was invited to join a Mysore style class.”
First time yoga
My first yoga practice was a pleasant experience, and also special because I practiced yoga for the first time in a shala with experienced yogis. I participated in the Ashtanga Mysore style class, a yoga practice where you perform the series of poses at your own pace and order. You receive good guidance and help from a professional teacher, which makes it feel like a kind of private lesson in a group. Since this was my first lesson, I started with the first and second parts of the sun salutation under guidance, going through each step individually and finally practicing it in full several times in a row.My experience
I entered the practice openly with the idea that I would be surprised what would happen and what feeling is involved. You learn to concentrate on the breathing and associated postures, which I found more intensive than I had previously thought. The practice ends with a final relaxation where you lie on the mat (savasana). The combination of the breathing and the series of postures eventually gave a calm feeling and a lot of energy for the rest of the day.Recommended or not?
It is definitely recommended to try a yoga class. It gave me a lot of energy, peace and joy for the rest of the day. The first few lessons will take some getting used to and you will see how the practice is as pleasant as possible for yourself. In addition to the above benefits, it is also a relief for your physical body due to the many stretches and different positions.”
