When

• ​Weekly Yoga Flow Classes (and sometimes as Yin Yoga) will be held every Thursday, 17:00-18:00 - check the class plan for occasional exceptions
• ​In additional Yoga Nidra or Meditation will be offered once a month at Lunchtime.

​See Descriptions below for information on what to expect in all these classes .

Costs

In addition to the SG Membership fee, there is also be a dedicated Yoga Section fee of 70 Euro per year. You can attend as many classes as you wish.

All Infos:

WHERE:

In the EF Fitness Room in the Cellar. Go down the centre staircase near the Conference Area, turn right (as though you are heading back to Reception but underground), through a heavy door, around a turnstile, the Yoga Room is then on the right hand side. There is a changing room with lockers and also showers.

IS THIS FOR BEGINNERS:

All levels are welcome. Clear instruction tailored to offer many modifications - allows your physical practice to feel natural and uncomplicated whether you are an experienced yogi or new to the mat.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE YOGA FLOW CLASS:

Each Class is 60 minutes and starts with a settling in time, seated or lying down to allow your mind to 'arrive' on your mat. This may involve the setting of a theme with a dharma talk, a pranayama (breathing technique) or a short meditation. Some warm up exercises follow to get your physical body and muscles ready for your practice.

Then we get a bit more active with standing Asanas (poses) and vinyasa flows. These will be through sequences, sometimes through a peak pose and equal attention to both sides of the body. The focus on movement with your breath allowing you to flow from one yoga pose to another - imagine it as a moving meditation.

After that we get to the deeper part of the practice where poses are held for a longer period of time, coming back down to your mat. A closing sequence almost always with some type of inversions prepares you for your own personal and well deserved Shavasana - the most important part of the practice.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE YOGA NIDRA CLASS:

On the first Thursday lunchtime of each month, an additional 20 minute Yoga Nidra Class will be offered. This will be just 20 minutes and involves a deep relaxation. There is no need to get changed as you do not move AT ALL. Just wear something you do not mind lying down in.

Yoga Nidra maybe described as a kind of guided meditation but actually it is not meditation at all .... With meditation you sit and stay focussed , with Yoga Nidra you lie down , slow down and chill out. The goal is to move into a deep state of relaxation while maintaining awareness. All you need to do is lie down, resist any movement and allow my voice to guide you through the practice which involves visualising a goal you want in life (don't worry if you don't have one), a body scan, awareness and connection to your breathe, your feelings and your thoughts. If wished, bring an eye covering (a towel, an eye mask ....) to ensure you can relax completely.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE YIN YOGA CLASS:

You might think that not much happens in a Yin yoga class, so if you are looking for something active, challenging and flowy you will be disapointed. However, there is a point to it. Yin Yoga gets through the muscle layer to actually start activating the fascia (these are fine connective tissues connectin your muscles all through your body). In order to 'get' to them, poses need to be held for 3, 4 and even 5 minutes at a time. Don't worry, you will not be expected to stand on one leg during Yin Yoga, in fact you do not leave the mat. It is not completely relaxing though, you will still feel something. In fact it is where the magic happens.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE MEDITATION CLASS:

Randomly, there will be some Meditation Workshops. These are designed to guide you so that you can apply the techniques on your own. Meditation is basically training the mind to focus your attention and ultimately get to a state of mental clarity and calmness. It is not, as some often thing, about sitting in a trance or thinking nothing. That is actually 'checking out' and what you actually want to do is 'check in' with yourself and the world around you. It's effectiveness is actually scientifcally proven to reduce stress & anxiety, to help you focus (even when you are not meditating), to help you sleep, to enhance a positive mindset .... and more. The Workshop will be just 20 minutes, broken down into 3 sections of mini mediations to get you to grips with it all.

WHAT TO WEAR:

For Yoga Flow, Yin Yoga: Something comfortable - T shirt, Leggings, Tracky bums, shorts. We practice in bare feet, so shoes are not necessary. Do also bring some socks and a warm top for shavasana.

For Yoga Nidra: a cover for your eyes may be be useful but no further change of clothes necessary - just wear something that day you don't mind lying down on the mat in.

For Meditation: just come as you are.

WHAT TO BRING:

You don't need anything - Mats, Blocks, Bolsters & Blankets are available in​ the Yoga Room.

You may of course bring your own mat if you so wish.

I first started practicing yoga more than 20 years ago when pregnant with my first child - a great time to start since that is when you are at your most bendy. Around 2016, I first started thinking about teaching and after talking too much about it finally took the plunge in January 2018 and had an amazing​ one to one training with Cherryl Duncan. The proverb "When the student is ready the teacher will appear (Lao Tzu) certainly rang true for me. In the classes I teach, I like to think my sense of humour and compassion provides a reassuring space to calm the inner mind chaos. It is my goal that students leave the class feeling inspired, happy and looking forward to their next class. ​

• 2018: 200 hour dharmaKaya® Yoga Teacher Training - Cherryl Duncan
• 2019: Yoga Anatomy Course - Cherryl Duncan & Dale Guffrie
• 2020: Thai Yoga Massage Course - Patrick Broome Studio, Munich
• 2022: Qi gong for Yin Yoga - Wenlin Tan