Yoga at the customs house: Naima and Katharina
Yesterday we Novel presentedwho often teaches at the Zollhaus. You can also meet Naima and Katharina at yoga classes in the Zollhaus.
Naima was born in France and speaks fluent German. She is not only trained as a Yin Yoga teacher, but also in Ayurveda (a holistic, traditional Indian health system), Reiki (a Japanese form of energy healing) and Qi Gong (part of traditional Chinese medicine, in which exercises influence the flow of energy in the body and mind). These influences can also be found in her yoga classes.
Influence of Eastern health approaches in Naima's yoga classes
Naima herself says, "I have been practising yoga passionately for 10 years. This has enabled me to discover the Asian healing arts. Qi Gong and an Ayurvedic lifestyle are now my companions for well-being and relaxation. I am happy to pass on my experiences. In the context of traditional Chinese medicine, the focus of my practice is on mindfulness, light movements and conscious breathing in order to arrive in the here & now."
Yin yoga is all about relaxing deeply and letting go. Poses are held for a long time in order to stretch and mobilise the deeper connective tissue, known as fascia. In yin yoga, you try to sink into the poses and relax completely instead of holding the poses with force. The breath is consciously taken deep into the body to deepen the relaxation. By sinking into the poses for a long time, tension in the body can be released and flexibility improved.
Yin yoga for mental relaxation and to release deep-seated physical tension
Yin yoga is particularly suitable for people who sit or stand a lot and often suffer from back pain. This gentle yoga practice can also help to calm the mind and reduce stress. Tools such as bolsters, blocks or blankets are also used to help you let go and penetrate deeper layers of tissue. You can find out more about Naima's practice at nayurveda.net.
Katharina, on the other hand, teaches a somewhat more dynamic style and is trained in Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. Hatha yoga is one of the most traditional yoga practices from India. It is based on the idea of uniting body and mind and using physical asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises) to release blockages and get the body's energy flowing again.
Pranayama - breathing exercises - in the morning hours
In den 8 Uhr Klassen vorm Frühstück beginnt Katharina daher gern mit Pranayama, der bewussten Atemkontrolle. Es gibt viele verschiedene Techniken des Pranayama, die unterschiedliche Ziele haben, von der Entspannung bis zur Aktivierung des Energieflusses. Eine der grundlegenden Pranayama-Übungen ist die sogenannte Kapalabhati-Atmung, auch als „Schädel leuchten“ bezeichnet. Diese Übung besteht aus schnellen, kräftigen Ausatmungen, gefolgt von einer passiven Einatmung. Die Kapalabhati-Atmung kann helfen, den Körper zu entgiften und zu energetisieren.
Eine weitere wichtige Pranayama-Übung ist die Anuloma Viloma, auch bekannt als „Wechselatmung“. Hierbei wird abwechselnd durch das rechte und das linke Nasenloch geatmet, um den Energiefluss im Körper auszugleichen. Das Praktizieren von Pranayama kann helfen, den Geist zu beruhigen und den Körper zu revitalisieren.
Dynamic Vinyasa with Katharina
Katharina likes to combine asanas - the various postures that can be adopted in yoga - in a flowing vinyasa style. Here too, she attaches great importance to even breathing and synchronising the breath with the movement. By moving fluidly from one pose to the next, the body becomes warm and flexible, which reduces the risk of injury. The mind also comes to rest as it concentrates fully on the breath and the movement, leaving everyday thoughts behind.
An example of a classic vinyasa sequence is the sun salutation. In this sequence and throughout the class, attention is paid to stretching and twisting the spine in all directions, keeping the joints mobile and strengthening the muscles.
You can book the yoga classes at the Zollhaus on site or as a package including an evening yoga menu at "Yoga, nature and you" or "Yoga and hiking" book.
