Don't know your asana from your elbow? Julie Knight's introduction to yoga can help.

To many people, the word yoga conjures up the image of a long-haired, bearded Indian man sitting in the lotus position and chanting. It has been increasingly in the public eye, mainly due to celebrities such as Madonna, Geri Halliwell and Gwyneth Paltrow singing its praises.

Reported improvements such as toned upper arms, trim stomach and firm thighs and bums have encouraged them to take up yoga classes, but for the uninitiated and uninformed, what is it all about? Yoga originated in India around 6000 years ago. The practice sometimes seems to have an air of mystery about it, which perhaps prevents many people from trying a class. It can be seen as new-age, 'alternative' or a bit of a fad in the exercise world. In reality it is a holistic practise that benefits body, mind and spirit.

People take up yoga for a surprisingly wide range of reasons: to gain flexibility, to tone-up or lose weight, to improve their ability to relax or to prepare their body for a physical event such as childbirth. Regular practice of yoga will improve your general fitness and body shape, make you stronger, calmer and more able to cope with the stresses and strains of life. Types of yoga Hatha (or physical) yoga is broken down into eight stages or limbs.

Traditionally these are followed progressively to reach Samadhi, the last stage, where the spirit is liberated and becomes 'at one' with the universe. Yoga practised in the west mainly encapsulates stages three and four. Stage three (Asana) is the practise of the postures or poses and stage four (Pranayama) is rhythmic control of the breath.

There are many styles of Hatha yoga currently being taught, all of which have slightly different emphases.

• Astanga yoga is the form of yoga currently enjoying the most attention. Also known as power yoga, the moves or transitions between asanas are performed at a higher speed than usual, thus providing an aerobic workout, missing in the alternative yoga forms.
• Iyengar yoga, based on the teachings of BKS Iyengar from Pune, India, concentrates on the postural alignment of the body and limbs. The practice makes use of ropes, blocks and belts to aid in the attainment of the asanas.
• Sivananda yoga focuses on the flow of energy in the spine. This style is built around a specific sequence of twelve postures or poses.

What to look for in a yoga class Yoga includes elements such as stretching, balancing and posturing - the combination of which can seem like a contortionist act to the newcomer. However, a good yoga teacher will tailor the postures to suit the different abilities within a class. Some classes will focus heavily on meditation and visualisation, but for others, meditation simply refers to the period of cool-down or relaxation at the end of the session. Controlled breathing is a hugely important part of the practice.

Yoga is suitable for both men and women and can be enjoyed by the full range of fitness abilities. Even if you have trouble touching your toes, yoga can still be open to you. Classes can be found by looking in the telephone book or by recommendation from friends or work colleagues.

There are numerous teachers in the larger cities and a few are listed below. Try out one or two sessions before committing yourself to a lengthy course, as your relationship with your yoga teacher is one of the most important factors in your enjoyment and progress of yoga.

Where to take yoga

AMSTERDAM

Ajit Kaur Sandur
Holds classes at various locations around Amsterdam - call for details.
Tel: 020 6798753
Email: a.k.sandu@chello.nl

Asana Studio
Droogbak 11
1013 CG Amsterdam
Tel: 020 422 23 93
URL: www.studioasana.com

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Amsterdam
Studio De Loods, Prinseneiland 20G (2nd door)
URL: www.ashtangayogamsterdam.org

Classes, self practice, workshops and training by Katiza Satya and Anna Stella.

Sivananda Hatha Yoga
ABC Treehouse, Voetboogstraat 11
Susan Nicolas
Tel: 020 320 6828
Email: susanicolas@yahoo.com
Website: www.yogaadvaita.org/amsterdam

Classes taught in English, open to all levels of experience.

Shirley Woods
Innerspace
Elandsgracht 105 (1 hoog)
Amsterdam
Tel: 020 6827202
Email: sw.yoga@planet.nl
Online: http://home.planet.nl/~woods009

Sai Mithra yoga center
Sint Antoniesbreestraat 102
Tel: 020 636 20 44 
Email:Yogacentrum@saimithra.nl
Website: www.saimithra.nl 

Classes taught in English and Dutch, open to all levels of experience. Also teacher training classes, pregnancy yoga, mantra chanting, yoga for children and intensives.  

Iyengar Yoga Center
Niewe Achetgracht 134, 1018 WV
Tel: 020 627 6523
URL: www.xs4all.nl/~iyoga/index.html

yogayoga
Amaliastraat 5
1052 GM Amsterdam
Tel: 020 6883418
Email: info@yogayoga.nl
Website: www.yogayoga.nl
25 classes a week, taught in both English and Dutch. Sunday workshops, pre- and postnatal yoga as well as private classes.

Read our article about this school. 

Natalie Serin
Tel: 034 444 1842
Email: natserin@europost.org Conducts small, personalised yoga and softball classes – call for details.

Rik Verbeek
Amstelveenseweg 671
1081 JD Amsterdam-Buitenveldert
Tel: 020 644 9214
Email: rik.verbeek@wxs.nl Both group and private yoga lessons in English. Also for the elderly and disabled.

SvahaYoga
Willemsstraat 133
Amsterdam
www.svahayoga.com
info@svahayoga.com
020-622.2353 All classes are taught in English. 3 classes 7 days a week, divers levels.
Largest Yoga studio in Amsterdam. Located in the beautiful Jordaan (Downtown Amsterdam)

GRONINGEN

Hatha Yoga Studio
Nieuwe Kerkhof 3
9712 PT, Groningen

Phone Anneke Draaijer for more information
Tel: 050 534 4499
English Class Tuesday 19.45-20.45

UTRECHT

Yoga Moves
St. Janshovenstraat 1
3572 RA Utrecht
Telefoon: 030 267 9478
Mobile: 06 14188574
E-Mail: contact@yogamoves.nl Situated off the Biltstraat in Utrecht, Yoga Moves (previously YogaMotion) has classes 7-days a week and is the first school in Holland to specialise in Ashtanga & Vinyasa styles of Yoga (interpretation: Power Yoga, Madonna's & Sting's type of yoga). Hilary Menting, an expat herself from California, has opened it. We also offer classes in Iyengar, Pilates, Post-Natal, Meditation and you can get one of the best massages in Holland (Ken is an expat too!)

Studio Dipika
Herenstraat 46, 3512
Tel: 030 2311446 Ivan Herger
Iyengar Yoga in Utrecht
Veeartsenijstraat 167, 3572 DJ Utrecht
Tel: 030 251 59 43
email: herger@phys.uu.nl
URL: www.iyengar-yoga.com/utrecht/

ROTTERDAM

BKS Iyengar Yoga Studio
Vasteland 27, 3011 BJ
Tel: 010 4047962
URL: www.yogastudio.nl

Charles Hond

Yoga Studio
URL: www.yogastudio.nl
Yoga lessons in both Dutch and English.

Constance Endenberg
IJsclubstraat 71, 3061 GS
Tel: 010 4524436

maasyoga     
www.maasyoga.nl
Admiraal de Ruyterweg 22a
3031 Rotterdam
Tel. 06 26 128 123
E-mail yogahuis@hotmail.com

THE HAGUE

Haagsyogacentrum
De Sillesstraat 13
Den Haag       
Tel. 06 26 128 123
E-mail yogahuis@hotmail.com
Online: www.haagsyogacentrum.nl
 
Savinder Soor
Gaarde 22
3193 EA Nieuw Engeland
Hoogvliet
Tel: 010 216 0286
Email: yogahuis@hotmail.com
Online: www.yogahuis.nl

Savinder Soor
Yoga lessons in English
Bezuidenhoutseweg 211
The Hague
Email: yogahuis@hotmail.com
Online: www.haagsyogacentrum.nl

Updated 2007

[Copyright Expatica 2004] Subject: Yoga in the Netherlands