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No, Yoga is an ancient, eastern (Indian) philosophy of life that has as its goal to unite and connect the body, mind and Soul. The Yoga Sutras attributed to the sage Patañjãli describe the teachings of Yoga. His foundational texts describe the way to spiritual growth in eight steps. These eight vital parts of Yoga do not need to be taken in a direct order. You pass through them in the order that applies to your life at a specific moment. Yoga philosophy has many tangents with Hinduism and Buddhism, but you do not need to know these per se to be able to practice Yoga. With respect to your own religion (should you have one) then you by no means need to give that up because this goes hand in hand with the philosophy behind Yoga.
Anything but, however, there is one point of overlap, and that is movement. And even there, Yoga is unique because each yoga exercise gains a profound effect with the help of breathing and concentration. In addition, Yoga raises your consciousness about your feelings and thoughts. It works on your patience and curiosity and works more on the principle of ‘let it be’ than with ‘do it’. Yoga is thus a practice, not a workout! It is a spiritual exercise that makes the body stronger, more flexible, and healthier. The goal of Yoga is to calm the mind, to open the heart and to stimulate our spiritual development.
That is the form of Yoga that is offered in many sports’ schools and fitness centres. Yoga master Bryan Kest is the creator of this form and he derived this form from the Asthanga Vinayasa Yoga practice. In truth, it is an abbreviated and adapted version of the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga.
Yoga is about the experience, not the presentation. Moreover, the drive for performance is a concern of the Ego and concerns of the Ego do not show up in the dictionary of (Antwerp)Yoga. With us, you are free to follow the class that you wish. However, whichever level you ultimately choose, we do ask that you are truly honest with yourself. With an eye to personal pleasure and the avoidance of injuries, we strongly encourage that you accept your own limits. Never force yourself. Do the ãsana’s (postures) according to your own ability: only when you fully experience the body do you truly progress. The message is: challenge yourself but acknowledge your limits. Please mention any possible health concerns to the teacher and every ãsana/posture has options so that you can choose one that fits with your body. If an exercise is causing pain, then please inform the yoga instructor. Don’t ever feel ashamed in Yoga. Nobody is better or worse than the other, and there is no right or wrong (so long as it’s not causing harm). You will learn all in a pleasing, non-compulsive manner and we expect that you will eventually leave the pressure to perform at the door.
Before and after the lesson is it the best time for water. Amongst other reasons, this is to encourage or support the detox process. Drinking water before the class supports the cleansing effect that Yoga brings during the class. Drinking water afterwards restores the fluids in the body. Drinking water during the lesson, however, is something we strongly advise against: it cools off the body and bring you—and those around you—out of the concentration. And that is exactly what we want to avoid.
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In yoga, your menstrual or lunar cycle is understood as a downward movement or force. In yoga, we do not suppress natural impulses. If you were to stand in the Candle pose for a while during menstruation, you would disrupt the apana (the outward movement).
Women are better off taking it easy during menstruation. Avoid the fire breath and inverted postures such as the candle or headstand. Ultimately, it is a personal choice; you can also opt for a calmer yoga form during the first few days.
The best is to practice Yoga on an empty stomach. With the twisting postures and the forward and back-bending poses, every meal will just be in the way. Moreover, the energy that we generate is ‘pana’ and that with eating ‘apana’. Eating disturbs the upwards energy that we are precisely trying to stimulate. A heavy meal is best eaten two to three hours before the yoga lesson and a light meal at least one hour before. Having a hungry or weak feeling during the lesson, for that matter is also not pleasant. If you have not eaten much and are a bit concerned about this, then experiment with light snacks, such as: yoghurt, a few nuts or fruit juice. However, a half an hour before the class, you should really not be eating.
Yoga clothing should be comfortable, as you need to be able to move with ease. Thus, wear something that is comfortable or is stretchable. Anything that pinches or is too loose will distract you from the practice and that is not the intention. A pair of short pants or a one-piece that that goes to the knees is good for our teachers. As such, we can better correct the postures! Many women wear leggings with a small top, and many men wear sports pants (long or short) with sleeveless shirts (not too loose). Shoes are not needed: Yoga is traditionally practiced barefoot.
A yoga mat provides you with a soft surface and grip for your hands and feet. You can borrow one from us, but it is more comfortable and hygienic to have one yourself. You can buy a quality yoga mat from us. From dynamic yoga classes, such as Vinyasa Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga, you get pretty hot. Therefore, please bring a towel in the shala or studio. If you want to take a shower with us after class, please bring your own towel.
A bottle of water does not belong in the studio. During class we even advise you not to drink water because it cools down your body and that is not the intention. For those who absolutely cannot do without, we of course do not forbid anything. Before or after class there is free water and yogi-tea. Pregnant mpeten just do drink during class, make sure you have a closed drinking container.
If necessary, bring socks and a sweater or dry shirt for the final relaxation. Blankets are provided.
During a number of lessons, it is nice to work in a heated space (between 25 and 30 degrees). The heat helps relax the muscles (which reduces the risk of injuries), it helps to cleanse the body, it prevents stiff muscles, and the mind slows down, by which you can surrender yourself with more ease. For newcomers the heat is something to get used to. For this reason, we keep the temperature a bit lower during the level-1 class.
No, you are not obliged to do anything. However, you can indeed try and observe what you do with it. The mantra’s are composed in Sanskrit and are universal. They are not religiously intended (though they may be used as such). It is intended in the first place to provide a good feeling, to warm up the breathing and to turn the attention inwards.
By leaving your pressure to perform at the door! Being concerned about your flexibility is something that we place under the category: concerns of the Ego. That you can twist your body into all sorts of knots is well and fine, but in Yoga the experience is the main thing. Yoga does not know right or wrong. There is no competitive element and Yoga is also not about performance. What is it about then? It is about awareness and control. In other words, Yoga is about learning to listen to your body and the observance of limits. Don’t compare yourself with other yogi’s and yogini’s around you. This is not yoga-like and moreover is dangerous and unpleasant. Everyone works during a yoga lesson at his or her level and it is not the intention that you become frustrated by people in your vicinity that are more flexible than you are. Come as you are and check the Ego at the door, because you do Yoga for your Self. With this, the changes will come as your body or mind is ready for them. Emotions such as frustration or shame work against you. They cause the body to be forced and leave the mind lame. So, if you are stiff as a board, then say farewell to the pressure to perform.