Search Results for: meditation

What is Drishti- Part 2

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In our last blog about the definition of Drishti,we talked about using this “gaze” as an anatomical tool to self-correct your posture while practicing yoga. But we also highlighted it as a useful implement to quiet the mind and increase relaxation while avoiding obsessive thoughts. But the benefits of this aspect of yoga can go beyond simply a place to look during Downward Dog.

Another important subtlety in the concept of Drishti is in the different ways of gazing. This is a variation on the practice of detachment but specifically, a Drishti can be described as ´soft´, ´pointed´, ´wide´, ´gentle´, etc. Again, there are very practical reasons for this. Even though Patanjali never gazed at a computer screen, he could imagine what hours of single distance, harsh gazing can do to your eyes. Varied distances of Drishti, as well as varying degrees of hardness or staring in the postures, helps to exercise the optical nerves and reduce the strain that can produce tension headaches.

Early yogis and yoginis realized that the quality with which you observe something radiates through your body. Your body naturally becomes more tense and rigid, or soft and relaxed, depending on how you are looking at something. A soft Dristhi promotes internal reflection, relaxation, meditation. A harder one pushes the focus externally. Both can be useful, but the eyes should never strain.

So, the next time you find your eyes wandering, watch your mind and body, and see if you can notice how your Dristhi affects you. And next time you practice yoga, play with your gaze point and see how it affects your practice and your life.

For more information about our new schedule for Yoga in Kreuzberg check out our English Yoga classes.

Understanding Sun Salutations

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If you have practiced any kind of yoga before, you are probably familiar with the Sun Salutation sequence. Many teachers begin their classes with a series of sun salutations, so it is one of the first things that most students learn.

But, what is a Sun Salutation?

Here is a bit of information about the history and practice of the Sun Salutation:

sun salutations in yoga kreuzberg

photo by Fern

The Sun Salutation (in Sanskrit, the Surya Namaskara–literally, the salute to the sun) is composed of 8 different asana, and 12 posture changes. Some asana are repeated in the sequence. The postures are performed with specific breath sequencing, which gives the sequence a rhythmic and meditative quality. In some traditions, students pause to chant a mantra in between Sun Salutations. The amount of Sun Salutations in a yoga class varies from teacher to teacher, but, for some, the ´daily limit´ is 108! In the Ashtanga tradition, solstices and equinoxes are celebrated with 108 Sun Salutations.

It is said that the sun salutations sequence was incorporated into yoga by yogis who were distressed by how their bodies atrophied during hours and hours of meditation. The Sun Salutation was discovered as an extremely efficient and meditative way of keeping the physical body healthy, which would allow the yogi to meditate with ease. This is because the sequence hits all of the major muscle groups in the body, stretching and strengthening the upper and lower body while simultaneously lengthening the spine.

If you are new to yoga in Berlin, or anywhere else for that matter, the sun salutation is a great asana sequence to begin practising at home. If you start performing three or four of them each morning, first thing after you get out of bed, you will see your flexibility improve significantly. This is also a great way to start the day quietly and touch base with your body and emotions. You can make the practice more challenging for yourself by slowing down your breathing and your movement. As always in yoga, practising with concentration and intention is the most important piece–try to keep your senses ´in ´ your body and you will be amazed at what benefits you feel from this ancient practice.


What is the point of yoga- Yoga Styles Explained Part 2

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Different styles of Yoga in BerlinMany people wonder, “Why should I do yoga?” And while this is an individual question, I think it’s important to understand what the point of the practice is before deciding to make it a part of your life.

In my last blog about Hatha yoga in Berlin, I talked a bit about the current “trendy nature” of yoga and why there seem to be so many yoga styles on offer. But the true goal of Yoga is to bring the practitioner into a state of perfect peace with themself and with the world. This cannot be achieved overnight. And so, to approach this goal, one spends a lifetime practicing this discipline. Although perfect peace is the most difficult state to attain, it is said that everyone can approach it through a sincere practice of yoga.

As mentioned in my previous blog, originally there were four different types of yoga created. These different types were created so that people were able to practice the kind of yoga that best fits them as an individual. The four original yogas are: Njana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga.

The Njana yoga practitioners use the intellect to attain a state of inner peace. Their whole practice is about analyzing the world around them, and distinguishing what is real from illusion. This yoga is the best kind for people who have a need to intellectualize everything about the world.

The Karma Yoga practitioners strive to attain the inner peace state through action (Karma being the Sanskrit word for “action” or “to do”). Their practice is based on taking positive action without being attached to the fruits of one’s deeds. This kind of yoga is best for those who need to live an active life and keep themselves constantly busy.

The end goal of our Hatha Yoga in English classes is to be able to meditate

The Bhakti Yoga practitioners use their emotions in order to attain their yogic goal. Bhakti is the yoga of devotion. This kind of yoga is said to be the best for people who are of an emotional nature and need to sublimate their emotions in order to attain inner peace. This yoga would concentrate on rituals, symbols, chanting. It is said that by doing so the practitioners channel their emotions to a higher state of being.

Raja yoga practitioners try to attain peace through meditation. But in order to sit down and meditate one must not only learn how to control the mental fluctuations but also to have a fit body that can manage to sit motionless with no pain for an hour. To be able to do the latter Hatha Yoga was created. This is the only type of yoga from the original ones that focuses on the physical body. I teach this kind of yoga because it addresses the body, mind and energy levels of the practitioner throughout his/her self-exploration towards inner peace.

 

What is Hatha Yoga- Yoga Styles Explained Part 1

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Different kinds of yoga in BerlinToday it is very common to hear about many different kinds of yoga in Berlin. And with so many variations to choose from, it can get rather confusing. In truth, there were originally only 4 types of yoga: Njana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga. These yogas were created so that people could practice the kind of yoga that was most attune to their own character.

 

My Hatha yoga in English classes stem from the original Raja Yoga style. Raja yoga focuses on controlling the waves of thought by turning our mental and physical energy into spiritual energy. The purpose of Raja Yoga is to attain inner peace through meditation. In order to do this one must gain control over the physical body and prana (or vital energy), so that meditation can happen naturally. Raja Yoga consists of eight steps. The third step (Asanas) and the fourth step (Pranayama) is what makes up Hatha Yoga. This is the only kind of yoga that actually deals with the body and the one that most westerners think of when the word yoga is mentioned.

 

All of the yoga styles that have to do with physical and mental control stem from Hatha Yoga. The kinds of yoga we hear about today in the Berlin studios around us have much more to do with marketing then with providing separate types of yoga. These types and names are more of a description of the teaching method. For example a Vinyasa flow class will concentrate more on teaching the asanas with a flow rather than remaining static in them. Power yoga teaching will work to make you sweat. Hot yoga will teach yoga in a (very!) hot room. And the list continues with no end. Last year, I even heard of bicycle yoga! After trying to figure out how such yoga would work and picturing headstands being performed on the saddle of a bike, I discovered that it was about riding bikes out to different places, getting off the bike and then practicing yoga. I must say that I was relieved!

 

Mini DETOX retreat

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Hello Everybody,
 
I will be helping the Integrative Health Berlin to present a mini Detox retreat which I warmly invite you to participate in.
Warm greetings and Happy New Year!
 
Lisa Milloy~Integrative Health Berlin is please to present this wellness workshop offering!  It’s coming up soon, so please email now to reserve your space.
 
miniDETOXretreat   ____________________________________________________________________________________________
 
A workshop series designed to inspire and support a cleansing and healthful start to the year.  Learn and practice some simple detoxifying activities that you can easily incorporate into your daily/weekly wellness regime.  Our focus is practices that support and vitalize the body’s own natural systems for detoxification and preventing illness.
 
Movement ~ Yoga (Vinyasa-Flow Asana Practice) & Fusion Movement (inspired by the principles of Pilates, Yoga and Dance) ~ lengthening, and strengthening exercises to invigorate the circulation, support healthy organ function, and release toxins and tension. 
 
Massage ~ Self-massage techniques to stimulate and support important organ systems ~ Gently stimulating toxin elimination, and enhancing immune system function with techniques such as dry skin brushing and foot massage.
 
Breath ~ Yogic Breath-work (Pranayama) ~ purification of the lungs and energy systems.
 
Sound ~ Relaxing, guided meditation (Yoga Nidra). ~ deep restorative rest. 
             ~ music will be incorporated into movement practices.
 
The workshop(s) will be lead by instructors:
 
Lisa ~ Registered Massage Therapist (BC, Canada)
Kate ~ Certified Vinyasa-Flow Yoga Instructor
Pinelopi ~ Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor 
 
*More details to follow soon….stay tuned!  
 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
When:  
 
Saturday January 14th, 21st, 28th (11:00 to 14:00) & February 4th (11:00 to 17:00)
 
Where:
 
Studio 142 – Bethanien Building – Mariannen Platz 2
 
Fees:
 
All four Saturdays (14 hours) – 70 Euro
 
January 14th, 21st, 28th (three hours) – Drop-in 18 Euro
 
February 4th (five hours +one hour break) – Drop-in 30 Euro 
 
There are some discounted spaces available for those with no/low incomes.  Please email if you would like more information regarding this.
 
 
Please email me at rmt@lisamilloy.com to reserve your place now.  Space is limited to 12 participants.
 
 
Yours in Health and healing,
 
Lisa Milloy (RMT, BC, Canada)
Integrative Health Berlin
listen to your body ~ it knows.

Contact Us Here for English Yoga in Berlin

yoga for beginnersWhether you are looking for yoga for beginners, community-focused yoga, or simply a community of like-minded people in Berlin, we invite you to get in touch!

Each of us at English Yoga Berlin offer you something unique and different. If you are still unsure of who to write to after reading about each one of us and our different styles of yoga, you can write to one of us and we will make sure it goes to the right place.

Contact Pinelopi offers gentle, injury-conscious Hatha Yoga to all levels, including yoga for beginners, Alexander Technique classes, Meditation classes and yoga courses, workshops and retreats.

 Juli if you’re interested in community yoga, vinyasa flow yoga, restorative yoga, or queer* yoga.

For any additional questions, please check out our FAQ page, your question may be answered there.