Tag: Group alexander technique

Nurturing a Community Yoga

  By
English Yoga, 10997 Kreuzberg

At our cozy garden English yoga in Berlin Kreuzberg studio, we nurture a community yoga environment, away from the hustle and bustle of busy city life.

Are we “post”-pandemic yet?

When covid came into our lives four and a half years ago, safety measures were put in place to protect the most vulnerable of our populations in nations that could afford it. In Germany, we went in and out of lockdown several times. At English Yoga Berlin we held classes online. And when we could, began to have classes in person again, with masking and testing requirements. There was a promise of protection with all of these measures, and the world slowed down in order to accommodate them. We took fewer flights, we only traveled when absolutely necessary, a lot of us worked from home and took more time for our hobbies, our friends or families.

In 2022, we saw the release of all covid measures in Germany. This was supposed to get the economy moving again. But it also left vulnerable people to fend for themselves amongst an ever more increasingly individualistic mindset. And also ignored the fact that long covid is pervasive and affects people who also may not have had pre-exisiting conditions. It seemed to me that people were flying MORE and buying more to fill a void. This is also the landscape that platform-based businesses like Urban Sports thrive in.

Why we are not with Urban Sports Club

Platform-based subscriptions allow the end user to access a range of services from a variety of different sports facilities, yoga studios or gyms. Like true hypercapitalist fashion, the options seem endless. You can be a tourist and try out different things, without committing to a membership in one place. It’s flexible, easy, cheap, like Amazon.

But what does it look like for the provider? Before USC was around, there were smaller platform-based subscriptions around, one of them called SoMuchMore. But they got bought out by USC, as did the others. There was a time when English Yoga Berlin had some classes with SoMuchMore. We gave it a try. Naturally, the income per participant was much lower, but we could live with that. But the real impact was on the community. With more random people dropping in, the feeling of a community yoga dispersed. It felt like tourists who just leave their trash everywhere, because it’s not their city, they don’t care. It began to feel more and more like a service to be used (and exploited), rather than a place where participants could come to as a retreat from the chaotic overconsumptive city, pressures from work, microaggressions, family responsiblities, etc.

We aim to provide a safe(r) space where people can feel supported in a community, in order to grieve, breathe deeply, manage chronic pain, and come back to themselves. And not in a navel-gazing neoliberal definition of “self-care” way. But rather in a way where one could truly feel at ease and relaxed and supported. This cannot happen when there is a constant shift of people dropping in who don’t care about the space or the community.

Safer Space

How do we nurture a Community Yoga?

  • We keep our class sizes small.
  • Pinelopi offers predominantly yoga courses, rather than drop-in classes, and offers group Alexander Technique sessions, meditation courses and resourcing of the nervous system.
  • Juli prioritizes queer and trans* folks in the Sunday afternoon queer yoga classes, which are offered on a sliding-scale.
  • Juli also continues to maintain some covid measures. Since quick tests are still readily available and not expensive, testing is requested when attending in-person. And participants are asked to stay home if showing symptoms of potentially contagious illnesses.
  • And Pinelopi organizes group events, such as visits to the anatomy museum, end of year dinners, and retreats.
  • Many of our classes and courses are offered in a hybrid form – both in-person and in the studio. This minimizes the risk of exposure, while also allowing people to participate who either have symptoms or are too vulnerable to attend a group session.
  • Additionally, more and more participants are taking the initiative to offer their gardens, services, time, and care to one another—an inspiring step that reflects a deepening sense of community, far beyond what anonymous hyper-capitalist workout programs can offer.

Every Day Movements

  By , ,

EXPLORING MOVEMENT THROUGH GROUP ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE CLASSES

Thursday evenings at English Yoga Berlin

Group Alexander Technique classes in Berlin

Our habits permeate our daily lives, from the way we squeeze a lemon and carry a child in our arms to sitting in front of our computers, pouring tea, and climbing stairs. In this group Alexander Technique classes, we will examine these everyday movements through the lens of the Alexander Technique. We will explore ways to interrupt habitual patterns and introduce a newfound ease into our actions.

How does the course work?

We begin by delving into the Alexander Technique directions while in a semi-supine position. We familiarize ourselves with the five fundamental principles of the Alexander Technique. With each session, we select a specific action and look at the ways how we shape our bodies to perform it. Our focus is on maintaining our primary control and adapting our actions to serve us, rather than contorting ourselves to complete the task.

The teachings are delivered in an engaging manner through interactive games, observation, partner work, and self-awareness exercises.

For whom?

This class is open to all, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced student. While having prior experience with private Alexander Technique classes can be helpful, it’s not a requirement for participation.

In my experience, individuals who benefit the most from the Alexander Technique combine private and group classes. Private sessions allow us to address your unique habits and guide you towards a more effortless way of being. In group classes, students can explore new ways of incorporating these principles into their lives while honing their self-awareness skills.

When?

Class Schedule:

  • Thursdays 8pm to 9.15 pm at English Yoga Berlin

The next round of this course starts on Novemebr 7th, 2024.

Price

This group Alexander Technique classes are available in two formats:

  • 6-week modules: €65 for the six classes
  • Drop-in class: €15

If you have any further questions or wish to register, please feel free to reach out:

pinelopi (at) englishyogaberlin (dot) com

Pinelopi embarked on her yoga journey in 1999, completing a 600-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher and Vedantic Philosophy Training course in Valencia, Spain. She founded English Yoga Berlin in 2010, and now has over 15 years of experience as a full-time yoga teacher.

She deepened her knowledge by studying Yoga Anatomy with Leslie Kaminoff. Additionally, she trained with David Moore and attended his “Injury-free yoga” workshops, integrating the Alexander Technique into yoga poses. This comprehensive training enriched her expertise in both fields.

In January of 2023, Pinelopi achieved a significant milestone by becoming a certified Alexander Technique teacher. This was an intensive training for 3.3 years, totaling 1600 hours of dedicated study with Jorg Aßhoff.

Pinelopi’s ergonomic consultations integrate anatomy, Alexander Technique, and yoga’s mind-body understanding. Her holistic approach optimizes well-being in the workplace through comprehensive guidance.

She has completed training in ‘Understanding Trauma for Safer Spaces’ with Legacy Motion and ‘Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies’ with Linda Thai. She is currently learning from Steffi Bednarek about applying Internal Family Systems for Social Transformation. Her meditation philosophy is deeply inspired by Tara Brach, particularly the RAIN meditation. She is also the author of a children’s book, ‘Magic of Rain,‘ which introduces the RAIN meditation to children and their grown-ups. It will be published in 2025 by Mango Publishing.