Malas et Bracelet Tayrona Yoga

How to use a mala?

Discover the mala, a sacred necklace made of 108 beads used for centuries by Buddhists and Hindus to meditate and recite mantras. Learn how to use it in your meditation practice and how to energize it to benefit from its spiritual powers.
November 21, 2017
Tayrona Yoga Gâteau courgettes noix cardamome Yoga CookBook

Zucchini, walnut and cardamom cake by Garlone Bardel

Recipe by Garlone Bardel author of the Yoga CookBook

As promised, every Wednesday we will share with you the great recipes from Garlone Bardel's Yoga Cook Book. For all his recipes, Garlone favors quality ingredients, carefully chosen for their energy.

To make her cake, she put wheat, ghee and whole sugar in its composition. These are samana type foods, the energy located between the heart and the navel and circulating around the waist. These foods are essential to yogic nutrition because they are sattvic, nourishing and balancing. They act on the digestive system and the heart as well as on the respiratory system.

Zucchini is a vyana type food, the force of distribution, which permeates and acts on the whole body. Vyana foods stimulate the expansion of energy, they are those that spread on the ground like squash, melons, watermelons, strawberries, beans…

Cardamom is a sattvic spice, removing excess mucus from the lungs and stomach, which stimulates the digestive fire and brings joy. It increases pitta (fire) and decreases kapha (water) and vata (air).

For 1 cake of 6 slices

In the kitchen: 15 min + 40 min cooking time

  • 200g wheat flour
  • 5 tbsp melted ghee
  • 2 small grated zucchini (150 g)
  • 120 g of whole sugar
  • 4 tbsp (120 g) white almond puree
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tbsp baking soda
  • + 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp cardamom seeds crushed in a pestle
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 70 g crushed walnuts

The preparation

Preheat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 6). In a bowl, mix the ghee and sugar with a whisk. Add the grated zucchini, eggs, almond cream, lemon juice and mix everything until you get a smooth dough. In a bowl, mix the flour, bicarbonate, spices and nuts. Add this mixture to the first mixture. Mix everything together then pour the mixture into a round mold (preferably hinged, to make it easier to unmold), previously greased with ghee and floured. Bake for 40 minutes, check the cooking with the blade of a knife, which should come out of the cake moist but clean when it is cooked. This cake can be served as a snack or for breakfast.

You will find all of these wonderful recipes in the book Yoga CookBook by Garlone Gardel, Editions Ulmer.

Photo credit @Thomas Dhellemmes

November 18, 2017
Carine Castet Tayrona Yoga

Portrait of a yogi: Carine Castet - Traveler & blogger

 

Let me introduce you to Carine Castet, Yoga Teacher, Blogger, Traveler, Poet, Passionate,... Lover of life. Carine Castet has been teaching yoga in Toulouse since 2010. She studied yoga with great masters of the discipline in the United States, India, London, Paris... She shares her passion and love of yoga both in her teaching and pedagogy as well as in her blog Yogaventure . The yoga she teaches is full of delicacy. She teaches the precision of alignments and the poetry of movement.

I met Carine at the Yogi Nomad Festival in Biarritz.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

I had been thinking for years about taking care of myself... By leaving the United States, by changing direction to dedicate myself to the practice of YOGA, I had already made a huge step forward in terms of well-being, health... I went to the gym, I practiced yoga, I ate organic at home and as often as possible, I lived the life I had always wanted and very strangely it was my first year of medicine that was like a revelation, a big slap in the face on many levels.

I spent a year getting sick, building up fatigue that I couldn't shake, and my acne came back.

There, I told myself that no matter what positive things we can do for our health: eating, practicing, etc. The most important thing, the basis of health was to slow down, sleep, meditate, reduce all stress factors.

One day I got up and said stop, from now on I was going to regain my health, my happiness, my well-being.

7 years after my first YOGA training, 7 years after the first class I taught, it took me 7 years to understand that to take care of yourself you had to reduce... Really reduce.

What practice for your well-being?

Since this awareness every day, absolutely every day I devote 8 hours to my sleep . I have never slept 4-5 or 6 hours again… Sleep is the basis of our health, people are often surprised but no matter the number of hours of yoga practice or meditation or organic food ingested, if sleep does not regenerate our mind, our body, we die from the inside…

Also every month, absolutely every month, I make an appointment with Kim my masseuse, 1 hour of pure bliss, letting go... I just have an appointment with her on Friday, it's the appointment that never changes in my schedule!

Meditation which has become a big part of my practice now, I love to dedicate 40min to my practice in the morning or just after my lunch, I feel like it is total luxury. It is just amazing nowadays, the moment I sit down for my meditation I feel so so lucky… And yet it has nothing to do with luck, it is a decision that I made and that I implement with dedication.

What is the ritual of your practice?

As for my yoga practice, well when I'm at home, I start with a little tea ceremony. A wonderful teapot that I chose in my favorite shop in Toulouse, wait for the tea to infuse... The magic happens, I sit on the carpet in my living room in silence and when the tea is ready I pour myself a cup.

I start my playlist on Spotify and I start with some sun salutations. I continue with my current practice, often Yin and I savor my tea while taking time between postures. Feel the effect of one posture before moving on to the other. I practice the art of slowing down a lot. Often a breathing exercise like cardiac coherence breathing comes at the end of the class to prepare me for relaxation. I then settle into Savasana with the bolster under my knees and a blanket on me, I set the timer to 5 min, I turn off the light and the music…

What do you get out of it?

It's always a special moment where I feel so much gratitude, I often wonder how people who don't know yoga yet do it...

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

Always my thermos with a good infusion or coffee J

My notebook where I write down all my lessons

My travel mat

The book I am reading

Art of Attention Inspiration Cards

What is your favorite object/accessory?

My bag itself, the one that Renée had made from her drawings, when I take my bag I am already on a journey, I am transported into the magic of yoga

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

To slow down of course, to surround yourself with lots of little reminders that life is worth lingering in the moment; that the moment will not come back, not to let it slip away in favor of any worries.

Where/how do you practice?

I practice most often at home in my living room, I generally stay dressed as I am, I just put on leggings and hop I start my little ritual.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

A mantra from Louise Hay:

"I am the creative power of my life, I decide to have fun now"

November 04, 2017
Cyril Lagel Tayrona Yoga

Cyril Lagel; a communicative energy that carries and motivates.

How to describe Cyril Lagel to you: he is tall, imposing, impressive...Cyril is my Ashtanga teacher in Paris, at Tigre Yoga.

Can we say that we love our yoga teacher? Yes, certainly. In his teaching, he makes you pass on his passion for yoga. He is a teacher, a perfectionist and his practice of Ashtanga, in my eyes, borders on perfection.

Cyril has a communicative energy that carries and motivates. His encounter with Ashtanga is a combination of circumstances: serious back problems force him to find, to open up to other possibilities to relieve his pain.

Trained by the very famous Caroline Boulinguez , he continues his continuing education with the current great master of Ashtanga; Sarath Jois at Kpjayi in Mysore . Cyril practices yoga with aesthetics, cunning and enthusiasm, all in a positive atmosphere. An alignment worthy of the greatest, he makes you love yoga, pushes you to surpass yourself, and that is magic.

And if we dig a little deeper, we also discover another side of the character: a photographer, in love with beautiful images and beauty. Professional photographer and winner of several awards; Beauty photographer of the year 2014, "International Fashion & Beauty Photography". France, Advertising beauty photographer, silver award 2014, "One Eyeland Photography". Asia. Cyril works for the biggest brands and his concern for perfection and harmony is reflected in his photographic work. To discover.

There you have it, everything is said and I will let him explain to you what yoga brings to him.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

I come from a professional environment that was both exciting and stressful (photography), based on appearance, yoga came as the right answer to a pace of life that needed to be calmed and to an awareness of the need to refocus myself.

What practice for your well-being?

I am an ashtangi with the splendor and perseverance that it entails. (see the following link on the very good article by Mark Zee. This practice suits me because of its demands and its rhythm, but especially for all its little secrets that I discover as I practice… beyond the asanas there is a whole world to discover.

What is the ritual of your practice?

If I practice alone, I like to simply put the sound of Tibetan bowls on a loop, it is there without attracting my attention and at the same time it isolates me from external noises, and focuses me on the sound of my breath, the practice becomes a kind of active meditation, carried by the music of my breathing.

What do you get out of it?

Physically a real awareness of the body and especially surprising benefits especially for my back because I have a deformation in the lumbar region (spondylolisthesis grade 3) that no doctor has ever managed to relieve, yoga succeeded in a few months! Yoga is also accompanied by a change of diet and a study of Ayurveda, I feel really good with a diet corresponding to my Prakriti, my doctor observes that I am metabolically rejuvenating since then! Mentally, yoga is an essential break to live in the present moment, the practice soothes me and makes me smile, which I share with those around me .

What do you carry in your ®go free 2.0 yoga backpack ?

I really like the Manduka brand, which I am an ambassador for, which has a real clothing line for men, finally! So my yoga bag, my eko® yoga mat 5mm, the mini manduka equa® hand yoga towel which is really my best friend to wipe my forehead, close a difficult posture, protect a knee etc, and for the softness on my mat my super yogitoes® yoga towel.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

A beautiful mala that my wife had made especially for me in Mysore. She carefully chose the stones that suited me and we went together to have it blessed at the Ganesha temple in Gokulam.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Persevere in your practice…, every day is different, every practice is different, be observant and indulgent with yourself. This is the beauty of ashtanga, an identical series, but a different feeling every day. Do not confuse the technique (asana) and its teaching.

“You should not practice, a “good” practice, but rather keep your faith in yourself. Practice happily, whether it is “good” or not. Sometimes, some postures will not be possible, but when you accept the good and the bad and everything becomes equal for you, that is yoga.” - R. SHARATH JOIS

Where/how do you practice?

I practice Mysore style at home and in the studios of friends and teachers that I like in Paris, I try to go every year to the Shri K Pattabhi Jois institute in Mysore and if my schedule allows it to Bali at Prem and Radha's. I like to practice alone, but I also like the fabulous energy that comes from the other practitioners during Mysore style, this sound breathing is like an invisible connection.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?


“YOGA more famous than known“

Jean FILLIOZAT 1976


Cyril teaches in the following centers:
www.qee.fr - www.tigre-yoga.com



Find her schedule on her website: http://yogidelicious.com

And lots of information on Ashtanga on his page: h ttps://m.facebook.com/yogidelicious/

October 21, 2017
Tayrona Yoga Granola Yoca CookBook

Homemade Granola, recipe by Garlone Bardel, author of the Yoga Cook Book

Garlone Bardel is a yoga teacher and author of a beautiful book Yoga Cook Book on yogic nutrition. She presents 108 recipes, each more appetizing than the last. And the art of eating consciously becomes accessible. to all.

For Tayrona yogis, she wanted to share with you 12 of her recipes that you will find every Wednesday on our blog.

These will be accompanied by recommendations taken from her book which she produced in collaboration with Anne Claire Meret , naturopath.

To begin, a little reminder about yogic food.

In the Indian tradition, dietetics does not focus on the nutritional content of foods but lists foods according to the energies they carry.

According to the tradition and philosophy of yoga (Sâmkhya), every manifestation of the universe is composed of 3 qualities: the gunas. These 3 gunas ( present in food) come into contact with the body when they are ingested. (see page 15, 16 and 17)

Eating healthily requires us to choose wisely what we eat and to open our eyes to the origin of the products we consume.

As Garlone writes in his book, food is not an ordinary thing. Fruits and vegetables, in our hands, the gestures of cooking are a link between individual ecology and planetary ecology.

And to start the day off right, here is the recipe for homemade oat, beetroot and ginger granola

The mistake with commercial granolas is the use of honey, which does not tolerate cooking because it loses its properties and makes it difficult to digest the ingredients it coats.

This recipe can be prepared in advance. This homemade granola is very soft, nutritious and hypoglycemic, thanks to the oats. It is not recommended during periods of Kapha (water) imbalance or ENT sensitivities to cold periods.

Beetroot brings remineralizing and nutritious properties, vanilla brings sweetness, ginger spiciness for the harmony of the whole. Regarding the seeds, use the ones you like and be creative.

The energies stimulated in this porridge are apana (energy that descends from the navel to the perineum) with beetroot ; udana (energy linked to the head and limbs) with nuts and coconut oil; samana (energy responsible for assimilation) with ginger

A truly yoga-friendly breakfast. It provides balance (samana) and nourishes the mind (udana) with the fruits.

For 1 jar

In the kitchen: 10 min, cooking: 30 min + rest 10 min

200 g of oat flakes

1/2 red beetroot, grated,

4 tbsp pumpkin seeds

2 tbsp sunflower seeds

2 tbsp golden flax seeds,

2 tbsp sesame seeds

1 tbsp vanilla powder

1 tbsp almonds

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger

3 tbsp coconut oil

4 tbsp maple syrup

The preparation

Preheat the oven to 150°C. In a saucepan, melt the coconut oil with maple syrup over low heat. Grind the flax and sesame seeds. In a large bowl, place the oat flakes, all varieties of seeds, almonds, vanilla, ginger and finely grated beetroot. Pour in the oil and maple syrup mixture. Mix everything thoroughly so that the ingredients are coated with the oil-maple syrup mixture. Place everything on a baking sheet covered with a sheet of parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes. The granola can be enjoyed straight out of the oven, as is or warm. It keeps very well in a glass jar and can then be consumed over the days, accompanied by a hot vegetable milk of your choice.

With thanks to Garlone Bardel, Anne Claire Meret, Thomas Dhellemes for the beautiful recipe photos, to Ulmer editions and Emmanuelle Christophe thanks to whom nothing would have been possible. Thanks again for this recipe taken from the Yoga Cook Book available on our site.

October 18, 2017
Bienfaits du yoga Tayrona Yoga

What are the many benefits of yoga?

The effects of yoga for a healthy body and mind!

We often think of yoga as a practice that relaxes the body and mind. But, we don't necessarily suspect that this approach hides several other benefits. What does yoga bring ? In this article, you will discover the benefits of yoga if of course it is performed regularly whether at home with your own equipment or in the gym thanks to group classes.

Say goodbye to your stress to be more zen

Yoga is perfect for freeing yourself from the pressure accumulated during the day. Yoga postures , breathing and meditation will allow you to calm your inner voice and thus reduce your stress. This practice helps you disconnect to bring you closer to serenity. It is a moment just for you far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Get better sleep to feel refreshed

Yoga relaxes, therefore, it leads to sleeping better and therefore to having a more rested body, a good immune defense to fight against all the small diseases and to be in a better mood. This practice is recommended for those who are used to insomnia, drowsiness during the day or who have concentration problems.

Be in the present moment to be more serene

I am sure you have already felt like you are not completely where you are at the moment you are. Your day goes by passively without being aware of your actions, your mind and your emotions. And this happens more often than you think! Thanks to yoga, you will be more inclined to be in the present moment with the help of the technique of mindfulness. From then on, you will find it easier to find answers to your questions as well as your problems.

Improve your breathing to be fitter

At every moment, you breathe without really realizing it, because it is a natural state. However, during periods of stress, it becomes irregular, which results in lungs that fill less well. Thus, your blood is poorer in oxygen, which affects your vitality. The solution? Yoga sessions. In this practice, breathing plays a vital role thanks to multiple methods: soothing or more stimulating. You learn to increase the time of your inspirations and your expirations, consciously, to breathe better. You thus contribute to giving more strength to your organs such as your lungs and your heart.

Increase your flexibility to be more dynamic

Even if it doesn't seem like it, yoga postures help develop your muscles and your flexibility. But also, on the benefits of yoga on the body , you can count on strengthening your balance and agility in a very gentle way unlike bodybuilding or the gym. The little extra is that dynamic yoga will work your cardio.

So, what are you waiting for to start yoga? Take advantage of it and practice now. To help you get started, read our article '' Back-to-school yoga resolutions '' .

Sources:

- http://www.yogapassion.fr/yoga-bienfaits-essentiels

- http://www.cosmopolitan.fr/,8-bienfaits-du-yoga-que-vous-ne-soupconniez-pas,1922042.asp

October 14, 2017
Garlone Bardel Tayrona Yoga

Portrait of a gourmet yogini and author of the Yoga CookBook: Garlone Bardel

Let me introduce you to Garlone Bardel, she has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and teaches Yoga Nidra. But not only that, she is also a food stylist and author of the Yoga CookBook. I had the chance to meet her and join the launch of her new project: a reference book on Yogic nutrition.

This beautiful book takes up the ancestral principles of the yogi's diet, adapted to our Western lifestyle. A comprehensive, synthetic and in-depth collection that presents 108 recipes brought up to date, each more appetizing than the last, and 12-minute yoga sessions for harmony in yogic daily life. A real gem for all gourmet yogis and to experiment with yogic food principles.

It was only natural that I asked Garlone to take our little questionnaire so that she could share her well-being secrets with you.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

Most certainly in reaction to the harshness of life, its frenetic pace, its immense demands and its sometimes difficult obstacles.

I saw that there were, in equal situations, the happy and the complainers, the enthusiasts and the eternal complainers. Those who see in gray and those who always see the spark and are amazed by it. So I looked for the instructions. Yoga gives it! For thousands of years, the yogis of ancient times have known how the body and the mind work. All adjustments are possible. The tools are there, available. You just have to use them!

I only hope for one thing: the day when we teach this to children as we teach them to read and count.

What practice for your well-being?

My sadhana (personal practice) is the same every day, defined for a specific duration and which has a previously defined objective (it can be physical, mental or spiritual).

For example for 3 months, then afterwards, an assessment... So, I pursue or redefine an objective.

It's good to have a great teacher to define your sadhana.

It is 12 minutes long: short and effective. 12 minutes is not much, and yet…every day…

Repetition marks destiny with a strong imprint.

Test it out….yoga can only be understood through experience.

To this I add two 21-minute meditation times.

Morning and evening, on an empty stomach. I have nothing but wonders to say about it. But above all, do it and see.

And every day, whenever I can, I do yoga nidra. I can't even imagine living without it! Yoga nidra relaxes and strengthens by eliminating all physical and mental tensions.

What is the ritual of your practice?

For my sadhana: same time every day, it includes asanas, pranayamas and meditation.

I precede this with some yogic cleansing (jala ​​neti, oil pulling….) All this is specified in the Yoga cookbook!

What do you get out of it?

Mental CLARITY, a body freed from too much tension, and an ability to cope whether the sea is calm or stormy!

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

My Ekolite Manduka yoga mat…which I call my flying carpet! AND always, everywhere a yoga nidra that I can listen to wherever I am.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

My mat! and maybe also my stole/dauthi which wraps me up for meditation times.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Practice! “An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory”

Where/how do you practice?

Wherever I am, in the morning on an empty stomach, before the house gets busy! And in the evening, an airlock before dinner, then some mental practices before falling asleep.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

My personal mantra was given to me by an Indian Swami. It is not said!

But, my favorite phrase is a phrase from Gandhi, which basically says:

“I meditate 1 hour a day, but if I have too much work, I meditate 2 hours”

October 05, 2017
Roxane Feel Tayrona Yoga

Portrait of a natural yogi: Roxane Feel

Let me introduce you to Roxane, whom I had the chance to meet during our Satiam Yoga Teatcher Training given by Katy Misson. I liked her right away. Her attentive side, her presence, her smile on her lips make her a beautiful person. Behind this great nature girl hides a business woman who has given meaning to her life. After 8 years in Paris and many hours spent on planes running between the different capitals of the world for her work, she arrived in the Northern Alps region 2 years ago. And as the saying goes, she is alive again. Back to nature, to the green, to simple things ... she savors every moment of it. And I understand her so well because I followed the same path!

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

In Paris, I had the feeling that life was passing by without really taking the time to look at it and savor it. Everything was going fast, the days went by one after the other, and I felt tired from so many demands on me on a daily basis. I had never gotten into the habit of doing sports, of getting some fresh air, a city girl who was always told that you had to work hard to be independent and stand out in this brutal world. Except that the years went by, and I gradually became aware that I was at risk of missing out on a lot of simple things, and above all me!

What practice for your well-being?

I entered a yoga studio 3 years ago, and thanks to a caring and smiling teacher, I discovered the well-being of connecting to your body. I persevered in the practice, I tried several styles, I traveled to Bali and India where I had the chance to practice in magical places. I wanted to go further in my practice so I searched in the region when I settled, and on the net I came across Satiam Academy. I came to practice a class and I got hooked; because the fact of anchoring your bases, of seeking alignment in your body, and finding an expansion through your heart spoke to me ... I went for it, I believed in Katy, and I followed her training ... which turned out to be super enriching.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I practice daily today, I need it.

What do you get out of it?

Yoga has been part of my life for 3 years and has helped me a lot to reconnect with myself, with others, with what surrounds me.

I apply it every day, in a broad dimension: full awareness of the things around me, kindness towards others, no judgment, taking everything that happens to me on the bright side: I smile at life despite the setbacks that arise.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

A towel to dry myself, a dry t-shirt, my Manduka Prolite yoga mat and lavender lotion to clean my mat. I love that smell!

What is your favorite object/accessory?

Honestly, I don't have one, and I don't want to have one. I don't want to be tied to an object to do things, because if one day I don't have it anymore, I don't want to be lost.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Practice without expecting anything, just for you. The path is tasty and the rest follows. Stay focused on your sensations and your breathing while you are on your mat. The daily benefit is obvious and subtle.

I want to make you want to travel inside yourself... it's magical. Come join me on Saturday mornings to share this well-being with me!

Where/how do you practice?

Satiam Academy in Annecy le Vieux on Saturday morning

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

Life is short. Enjoy!
And don't look back on other people's gossip , that's their problem, not yours.
September 30, 2017
Emilie Leduc Tayrona Yoga

Portrait of a yogini curious about life: Emilie Leduc

Let me introduce you to Emilie Leduc. Emilie is a Hatha and Vinyasa yoga teacher in Paris and creator of the blog MyhappyYoga. An offbeat blog that shares her experiences as a yogi. She defines herself, above all, as a curious and adventurous yogini. What she likes most is meeting people, discovering and exchanging. Yoga has taken a big place in her life and to share this passion with her students, she organizes, in addition to her classes, yoga retreats in Tunisia.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today .

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

At a point in my life when I didn't really have a choice. I had fallen so low that I could only go back up! I stopped working, I left aside all the faults and addictions that were hurting me and I discovered yoga. With it, I met people who seemed ordinary but whose advice and presence were extraordinary for me.

What practice for your well-being?

Yoga, obviously!

What is the ritual of your practice?

My yoga ritual is every day, all the time! Yoga is a way of life that has been part of my daily life for several years now. Of course, it doesn't only involve physical practice. Being present in everything I do, whether I'm working, peeling carrots or brushing my teeth, that's the key.

What do you get out of it?

A deep balance and true serenity.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

I don't have a yoga bag per se. I already spend my days lugging around my yoga mat, that's enough :)

What is your favorite object/accessory?

Haha, I'm picky but I'll be honest.. I don't have one and actually prefer not to have one. Imagine if I had one and lost it? Catastrophe! :) I prefer not to get too attached to the material :)

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Don't try to be anyone other than yourself.

Where/how do you practice?

Everywhere, with or without carpet.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?


“I'm too busy working on my own grass to see if yours is greener. »

For more information on Emilie and her retreats: My-happy-Yoga or on her FB page

September 23, 2017
Tayrona yoga Bonnes résolutions pour la rentrée

Back to school resolutions Yoga

I'm making some good resolutions for the start of the school year, I'm taking yoga classes

Just like at the beginning of the year, the start of the school year is a good time to make good resolutions, especially when it comes to sports. And why not take up a yoga class in the gym? This practice promotes relaxation, the development of your physical strength, the stimulation of your immune system, the return of vital energy and the body-mind connection. There are sessions for beginners to learn all the tricks of yoga. This article will show you how to get started on this adventure, bringing you positive benefits.

Choosing a yoga studio is very simple

The first step to start this practice is of course to choose a yoga studio . The most logical thing is to find a room close to your home so as not to get discouraged after a few sessions because of the journeys.

In order to get your hands on the famous studio, you have to go online and list the places where you can practice yoga nearby. But, you can very well go to a tourist office. Don't hesitate to look at the website of each studio (videos, articles and even reviews) or even go on site to choose the one that inspires you the most by letting your intuition speak.

Ask yourself the right questions: what types of yoga are taught? Are there classes for beginners? What are the schedules and prices? If the answers don't appear on their website, contact them.

Finally, if some rooms offer an open day or a trial class, take advantage of it to discover the place.

Yes, but which yoga class should you choose?

Various types of yoga for all tastes

You may not know it, but there are different types of yoga: Kundalini yoga, Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Iyengar yoga, Yin yoga, Yoga nidra, Bikram yoga and Acroyoga. However, the postures are identical except that some practices are more dynamic, allowing you to develop your muscles while others are relaxing. It's up to you to find the one that suits you! And for that, there's nothing better than testing it out, especially during a trial class.

Looking for a beginner course

When you start, it is normal not to have the same level as those who have been practicing for a long time. For this, you must look for a class with beginner yoga exercises that will teach you all the basic postures. Ask the studio, because not all offer this type of class.

Well, look at the price and schedule of yoga classes

Beyond the type of practice and the level of yoga classes , the price and schedule are also very important. Don't hesitate to compare the offers that studios propose in order to choose a session that fits your budget. But also, how can you participate in a class that you are not available for? Choose a time when you can go, especially an evening yoga session . To do this, look at the class schedules of the studios.

What yoga equipment should I buy?

Like every sport, you need to buy the necessary yoga equipment . This starts with the outfit, which must be comfortable and not prevent you from moving. Opt for tight-fitting clothing, so opt for a sports bra, a t-shirt and leggings. A sweater can be worn during relaxation at the end of the session. To tie your hair, don't hesitate to take an elastic band.

Yoga studios lend mats, but it is more hygienic to buy your own. However, if you do not want to bring your own, do not forget to take a towel that you will put on the mat. Finally, like any physical practice, you must hydrate yourself well. Keep a bottle of water near you.

The Tayronalife online yoga store offers all the yoga equipment you will need to start practicing yoga.

September 13, 2017
Marie Wittock Tayrona Yoga

Portrait of a yogi with a passion for cooking: Marie Wittock

Her passions for cooking and yoga have always guided Marie: yoga is what first awakened in her the appetite for better nutrition.

After living in an ashram for 3 months, her daily life changed completely! Apart from daily meditations and regular practice of postures, healthy eating is an aspect of yogic life that she was able to discover. Alongside the greats of living cuisine (Martine Fallon in Belgium and Matthew Kenney in the United States), Marie developed her skills and knowledge in this area. At 23, Marie is the founder of the blog La Meilleure Part , a yoga teacher at the Yoga Room and is behind the stoves of the Tero restaurant in Brussels.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

After my ashram experience, I pursued a "sattvic" lifestyle, or "healthy"/"conscious" lifestyle, specific to yoga. At only 18 years old, I paid great attention to my lifestyle, taking care of my diet, ritualizing my mornings with meditation and breathing exercises, and practicing yoga daily.

What practice for your well-being?

Hatha yoga, and in all its forms! Postures and breathing exercises are just two of the many techniques of hatha yoga. Meditation, as well as the moral and ethical philosophy of hatha yoga, are just as important as the physical aspect of the discipline. Hatha yoga begins with the physical body, and then moves on to the mind. By taking control of the physical, we gain control of the mind, and therefore of thoughts and emotions.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I practice Sivananda yoga (a form of hatha yoga named after its founder, Swami Sivananda). A session usually begins with an initial relaxation. Then come breathing exercises (pranayamas: Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma), to allow the mind to sink into a state of calm and concentration; then, the sun salutation (Surya Namaskar), to warm up the body before entering stable postures (asanas). The session consists of about 12 asanas and ends with a final relaxation.

What do you get out of it?

Practicing yoga gives me a real presence to myself, to my environment and to others. After taking or giving a yoga session, my mind is much clearer, my thoughts go to the essential and my emotions are completely stabilized. I feel energized physically and mentally, which gives me a very powerful feeling of being able to do anything!

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

My mat, of course! But above all, I never go anywhere without my water bottle. To quench my thirst and not waste plastic, I always carry this perfect stainless steel container, from the Qwetch brand, 100% healthy and sustainable. I even customized it by dressing it with Yoga Room bracelets.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

Can I say "my gourd"?

Besides that, my new Amazonite stone bracelet (on sale at Nasoha), offered by my lover. In addition to being a sentimental object, this crystal jewel strengthens the energies of freedom, expression, communication and creativity. Ideal for teaching or practicing!

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

A quote from the Upanishads: “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch you words, they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your clothes; they become your character. Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny. »*

* translation: “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become your personality. Watch your personality; it shapes your destiny.”

Where/how do you practice?

I practice at the Yoga Room and at home. My practice at the studio is more rooted in a process of receptivity, evolution and learning, while my practice at home is more meditative, introspective and therapeutic. In both cases, I practice in a state of mindfulness.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

“Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha”, the mantra of Ganesh, which earned me the spiritual name “Uma”, during my initiation into a personal mantra. This mantra is known to overcome obstacles encountered in life and brings success.

September 09, 2017
Aurélie Enggasser Tayrona Yoga

Portrait of a smiling young yogini in the making: Aurelie Enggasser

I met Aurélie Enggasser through our email exchanges when she bought her yoga mat. She wanted a good, grippy yoga mat for her practice and took part in the competition held in partnership with the Yoga Passion blog. Aurélie is 30 years old, she lives in Alsace and recently discovered yoga during a retreat in the Landes. She immediately fell in love with yoga and is now training as an Ayurvedic therapist to continue her search for well-being. Aurélie is a real ray of sunshine. Everything about her exudes happiness and the joy of living. She promised to write us an article for our blog on Ayurvedic medicine.

Concerned about her well-being, it was only natural that I asked her a few personal questions about her yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

The word YOGA means UNION. Union of body and mind. I discovered and felt this concept for the first time in my life during a Yoga retreat in the heart of the Landes. For the first time, I was congratulated, encouraged. I was told that I did not have to force, nor to do if I did not want to. I found a refuge of kindness and peace. I know that I am still at the beginning of this path but I savor every step and I am in no hurry to reach the end!

I particularly like yoga because it is not a competition: neither with others nor with myself. It is not a source of additional pressure but simply a gain in well-being.

What practice for your well-being?

When I practice alone on my mat I always try not to think too much about the sequence of postures but to feel what my body needs at that present moment. This allows me to be much more connected.

What is the ritual of your practice?

Before I start I usually take a shower and massage myself with coconut oil.

After my practice I always end with about fifteen minutes of meditation. If I practice in the morning I meditate on my intention for the day and if I practice in the evening I think back to 3 pleasant events of the day and I try to physically soak them in.

In winter I really like to prepare a golden milk at the end of my practice. This is an Ayurvedic ritual with turmeric, also called the spice of life. It is a beautiful ritual that will bring sunshine back into your body.

What do you get out of it?

I try to practice yoga every morning because I have always found that it gives a certain scent to my day. A scent that will permeate my thoughts and attitudes. I simply feel soothed.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

A shea butter cream because I really like massaging my feet after a session.

I also bring a strap that allows me to adjust the posture to my body. Indeed, we must never forget that it is yoga that adapts to your body and not your body that adapts to yoga. And of course my new yoga mat,made of rubber and natural jute from the Eco Yoga brand recommended by Tayronalife

What is your favorite object/accessory?

An elephant pendant that a Sri Lankan guide passed on to my parents for me during their trip there.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Listen to yourself, be yourself, don't hesitate to say no and accept your dark side.

Where/how do you practice?

I practice at home every morning, in my living room or on my balcony, depending on the weather.

Every Wednesday evening I also go to a Hatha Yoga class.

On weekends I regularly take part in training courses.

I really like running and after each session I do some yoga positions to stretch well.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

 

"When the desire to take disappears, the jewels appear"

Patanjali, Yoga-Sûtra, II, 37

August 26, 2017