French Yoga Community

BKS Iyengar , the creator of Iyengar Yoga .

BKS Iyengar , whose real name is Bellur Krishnamachar Sundaraja Iyengar, was born on December 14, 1918 in India, more precisely in Bellur (Karnataka), in a poor family and what's more during a flu epidemic. He died on August 20, 2014 in Pune (Maharashtra, India). Does his name mean anything to you? Yes? Indeed, this master yogi is the founder of Iyengar Yoga which has the particularity of being practiced with yoga accessories. This is an integral part of the history of yoga . He is one of the most famous figures in the world of yoga who shows us that even if we have had a difficult childhood, we can still accomplish great things and become a great man.

A childhood at the origin of Iyengar Yoga?

BKS Iyengar lived a childhood where he was regularly sick. His legs and arms were thin. The medical profession announced that he would not live beyond the age of 21. There was little hope for him… In addition, he could not study like other children his age who had to stay lying down.

However, in 1934, Shriman Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who was none other than his brother-in-law, invited him to come to his yoga school in Mysore to teach him this art, in order to help him improve his health. And it was yoga that saved him from his sad fate! He became interested in this discipline that he never stopped practicing. However, his master told him that yoga was not for him. Shriman sent him to Pune anyway to be a yoga teacher. The yoga master BKS Iyengar himself became his own teacher and his first student, perfecting his practice. Following a scooter accident, he began to use yoga accessories to simplify the performance of asanas. The Iyengar method was born!

The creation of his yoga school: RIMYI

In 1943, he married Ramaa. 6 children were born from this union: Vinita, Suchita, Sunita, Savitha, Geeta and Prashant. The last two even became Iyengar Yoga teachers.

After practicing yoga for several years, the yoga master founded in 1973, in Pune, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (more commonly called RIMYI) which was inaugurated in 1975. This yoga master gave the name of his wife who died in 1973. There are 3 floors evoking the body, the mind and the soul. Its 8 columns symbolize the 8 branches of Ashtanga Yoga as shown by Patanjali.

Students come from all over the world to study with this great master. In the evenings, BKS Iyengar taught medical classes to patients giving valuable advice on the art of yoga adapted to each situation: cancer, depression, heart disease, etc.

The teaching and diffusion of Iyengar Yoga

The Iyengar method is characterized by breathing exercises (Pranayama) and the practice of asanas in order to achieve good alignment. Being a therapeutic yoga , it was necessary to use yoga accessories (bolster, block, strap, etc.). The approaches changed every week according to the patient's progress.

BKS Iyengar had several famous disciples like J. Krishnamurti. Thanks to his meeting with Yehudi Menuhin (violinist) in 1952 in Bombay, the yogi master went to Europe, which made him known in the West. He also traveled to China, Russia, the United States and even France to teach. BKS Iyengar is also known for his book Yoga Dipika, Light on Yoga published in 1966.

The Legacy of BKS Iyengar

Now, RIMYI is managed by Prashant, son of BKS Iyengar. In France, no less than 400 certified teachers teach Iyengar Yoga using accessories and a yoga mat making this style of yoga accessible to everyone.

Want to know more about Iyengar Yoga ? Check out the article Iyengar Yoga, a therapeutic yoga .

A passionate backpacker, Maxime lived abroad for 4 years, notably in Australia, Korea, Brazil, and most recently in Indonesia. He is a surfer and lifeguard on the Gironde beaches, and started yoga, as a complementary activity to surfing, when he was far from the ocean.

He started out practicing Bikram yoga, then his natural curiosity led him to experiment with other styles of yoga, including hatha, hatha flow, ashtanga, yin and vinyasa. Through his practice, he felt an intense sense of well-being and an improvement in his life balance, which he wants to share with others. He therefore trained as a yoga teacher in Indonesia, with Tomomi Kojima, and currently teaches in Bordeaux.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

In this constantly changing world, we are subject to many pressures (professional and personal), and to take care of myself, I have gradually refocused on 3 axes:

Focus on my first passion, surfing, in particular by getting closer to the ocean – I moved to Bordeaux 3 and a half years ago – and going into the waves as regularly as possible;

Practicing and teaching yoga, which has gone from being a one-off wellness practice to a real passion that I want to share with as many people as possible;

Taking care of my diet.

What practice for your well-being?

For my well-being, I practice meditation daily and I practice vinyasa, hatha and yin yoga with teachers who inspire me. Occasionally, especially in winter, I like to practice bikram yoga.

Beyond yoga, I try to go to the ocean regularly, to reconnect with nature and practice surfing/bodysurfing, and I practice swimming and running weekly.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I always start with a moment of meditation, sitting on a brick or a cushion. Then I spend a moment in balasana/child's pose, to focus on my breathing and enter my practice. The vast majority of the time, I follow a Yang/dynamic practice with a more Yin practice.

What do you get out of it?

My practice allows me to take time for myself which allows me to create mental space, to explore and connect with my inner feelings and to set my body in motion. After a practice, I feel lighter in my head and in my body.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

My mat, my yoga clothes, a water bottle and sometimes a towel (for intense practices: vinyasa and bikram), and my notebook – which I use to prepare my classes or take notes on classes that inspire me.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

I would say my backpack, which I use both for my travels and in everyday life for my yoga sessions, my swimming training or even for shopping.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

I would like to share some advice that I myself received from my teachers, including:

• to listen to yourself, to practice for yourself, to base yourself on your own feelings
• but also to take time for savasana, the most important posture of a yoga session.

Where/how do you practice?

I practice both in the studio with teachers who inspire me, and at home.

My practices are quite varied and depend in particular on my mood/desires/needs of the moment. I always try to listen and be in tune with my body.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

My favorite quotes are:

"There were two roads before me, and I took the one that was not going well, and I knew all the difference." - Robert Frost

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maximefurst/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maximefurstyoga/

Bikram Choudhury invented Bikram Yoga also called Hot Yoga .

Choudhury was born on February 10, 1946 in Calcutta, India. He is an American yoga teacher, but of Indian origin, still alive. As his name indicates, he is the originator of Bikram Yoga , inspired by Hatha Yoga. He suggests that yogis perform a series of 26 asanas, twice, in a room heated to 40°C with 40% humidity. The most dynamic style of yoga! Bikram is one of the most famous Hatha yoga teachers in the history of yoga .

Bikram Choudhury began learning Hatha Yoga at the age of 3. Two years later, he studied this discipline with his master Bishnu Charan Ghosh. During his adolescence, Choudhury won the National Yoga Championship in India for 3 consecutive years. The most incredible thing is that at 11 years old, the yogi master was the youngest participant to win the first prize. This heralds a promising future for the future teacher!

Despite a practice recognized and labeled "Bikram" worldwide by hot yoga enthusiasts, this yogi master was the subject of a resounding trial in the USA for his "sexual assaults" on his female students in training. A documentary presenting this "megalomaniac, predatory" guru is currently available on Netflix.

Bikram reportedly fled the United States after the trial. Fugitive status and accusations that do not prevent him from continuing his teaching.

"If you decide to stay, I advise you to do what I do: separate the man from the teacher," a training executive responded to Sarah Baughn when the young woman first reported her teacher's assaults. Will the thousands of Bikram followers around the world now be able to ignore this?

The Birth of Bikram Yoga

After years of practicing yoga, at the age of 20, Bikram Choudhury was injured in a weightlifting accident that left him paralyzed in the legs. He was told that he would never be able to walk again. It was at this time that he designed the series of 26 asanas with the help of his guru Bishnu Charan Ghosh. Bikram Yoga was born! 6 months after practicing these postures, the yoga master could finally use his legs.

Now, he wants to show that this art allows the body to regenerate and treat chronic ailments. This is what he does through a research project sponsored by the United Nations at the University of Tokyo. Today, Bikram Yoga is practiced in a room heated to 40°C to imitate the climate in India and the asanas follow one another at a dynamic pace.

Choudhury Spreads Bikram Yoga in the United States

It was in the 70s, more precisely in 1973, that Choudhury left India where he spent his childhood, to come and live in the United States, invited by President Nixon. A year later, the yoga master created the Yoga College of India in the city of Beverly Hills (California) and in Hawaii where he welcomed famous people as well as athletes. It was at this time that he became famous.

Later, in the 90s, the yoga teacher offered 9-week certification sessions to train future Hot Yoga teachers. Now, you can find many teachers around the world certified by Choudhury himself who offer you to perform dynamic postures on a yoga mat .

As for his personal life, the yogi master married Rajashree Choudhury, founder of the USA Yoga Federation. However, in 2015, his wife filed for divorce, which was granted in May 2016.

Want to know more about Hot yoga ? Read the article Bikram Yoga, a practice at a temperature of 40°C .

After teaching scuba divers and freedivers in Asia and Oceania, Cécile Arquey specialized in Yoga for women's mental strength. If you want to meet her, she currently gives private "Yogirl Power" sessions in Bordeaux. Her next destination? The Azores where she wants to create her wellness center.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

Out of curiosity! I liked the world of Yoga and I wanted to discover all its facets. I suspected that it was not simply a series of postures.

I started by researching on my own and downloaded a meditation app. After a month of daily meditation, my partner said to me in a very serious tone: “Cécile, I ask you not to stop meditating. You are much more serene. Above all, don’t stop.”

I then followed an initial training course as a Yoga teacher… just out of curiosity!

What practice for your well-being?

Several! Breathing to calm me down, meditation to clarify my ideas and postures to relieve my back. Yin, Vinyasa or Power Yoga, I adapt the style according to my feminine cycle.

In addition to Yoga, any immersion in salt water does me a world of good! I find a lot of common points between Yoga, freediving and surfing.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I roll out my mat in the morning next to my husband's and end my session with a moment of gratitude.

What do you get out of it?

Practicing as a pair helps you not to lose motivation.

As for gratitude, it brings happiness by focusing on positive things.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

If it's me, student: my water bottle and my mat.

If I am the teacher: my water bottle, mats, blocks, a small speaker with an MP3 player and my e-reader where I import the lessons I am preparing.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

My orange Manduka Prolite yoga mat ! It has witnessed the most beautiful classes I have ever attended; I think back to Randi Sesse Kjær's creative class, Mathieu Bayol's chants, Sacha Heath's moving voice, meditations with Burkhard Langemann and Kirsten Reiss.

This orange mat has supported me when I was teaching under the scorching sun on the beach in Thailand or in the rain and mud in the Philippines… It is indestructible!

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Meditate every day! Regular meditation practice will bring much more into your life than the most impressive yoga postures.

Where/how do you practice?

Most often indoors and occasionally at the beach directly on the sand to get away from my mat for a bit.

I like to teach in super stretchy jeans or shorts to show that leggings don't make us better yogis. And I wear tank tops that reveal my hairy armpits, to remind people that every woman is free to decide what her body is.

What is your mantra/ favourite phrase?

I end my lessons by saying: “May all beings be free and happy.”

We start doing Yoga for ourselves and little by little we realize that we are doing it for all living beings.

Thanks to the Tayrona team for giving me this space to express myself on the blog.

Website: www.yogirlpower.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cecile.arquey.yogirlpower/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cecile.arquey/

Progressing in the practice of yoga requires a lot of patience.

Yoga is a body-mind practice that allows you to relax, but also strengthen your muscles. Some yogis, like beginners, want to quickly improve at yoga . And sometimes, it can be frustrating not to progress as you would like. You stagnate. But, don't panic, with our advice you can become good at yoga with a good dose of patience and regularity.

Set goals in your yoga practice

As in all sports, to progress in yoga , it is necessary to set yourself achievable goals. Why achievable? To accomplish them more easily and not to get discouraged if you cannot accomplish them.

Practice yoga regularly

There is no secret to improving in an area, you have to train regularly. Just like yoga! This can range from one session per week or even per day, even 15 minutes. This way, you can gain flexibility, but also perfect your yoga postures . It's up to you to find the regularity that suits you.

Take yoga classes with a teacher

So yes, you can practice yoga alone at home, but it's even better in a group. Not only will you share your passion with other yogis, but you will also improve your yoga practice faster, because the teacher will be there to guide you and correct your posture if it is poorly done. Choose a yoga class adapted to your level.

Focus your attention on every muscle in your body

The practice of yoga is a work on the body and mind connection. To do this, when performing an asana, focus on the muscles of your body that you are mobilizing. Visualize them contracting or relaxing! Do not hesitate to purchase the book Yoga Anatomy — Muscles to help you.

Avoid comparing yourself to others

During a group yoga class, you may be tempted to compare yourself to other yogis. But, know that everyone is unique. You don't necessarily have the same flexibility as your neighbor on the mat or even an identical body. So, to progress when you start yoga , don't waste your time comparing yourself and instead focus on your own practice. It's a time to take care of yourself on all levels: physical, mental and spiritual!

Listen to what your body is telling you

A yoga session is about taking care of your body. And this involves listening to your sensations and pains. Pay attention to your feelings. Don't stay in a posture for a long time if you are uncomfortable. This way, you won't put unnecessary strain on a part of your body at the risk of injuring yourself.

Use yoga props

Yoga accessories are also a great help to advance in your yoga practice . Between brick, strap, bolster and yoga wheel, they are to be chosen according to the asanas performed. In addition, they can reduce the risk of injuries and help maintain good alignment especially if you practice alone at home.

Discover all our yoga accessories on the Tayronalife store.

Vegetarian, vegan, raw food,….the emergence of organic, new food trends are emerging more and more today with the practice of yoga.

Polls indicate that 50% of the French population say they want to increase their consumption of plant-based products. But only 5% are vegetarian or vegan.

More and more of you want to become vegetarian, vegan, or raw foodist for environmental, ethical, philosophical or animal reasons. Many of you are asking questions about your diet.

Do you have to be vegetarian to practice yoga?

The question comes up often. Yoga advocates balance in all things. How to make informed choices without going overboard.

From the point of view of yogic doctrine, the question of vegetarianism can be analyzed from two angles:

From the angle of yoga and its principle of non-violence ( Ahimsa ), it is recommended to be vegetarian because the practice of yoga advocates non-violence in all its forms, both for humans and animals. In addition, a yogi eating meat absorbs the fear of the slaughtered animal.

From the angle of Ayurveda medicine and its classification of foods. This science of life, associated with yoga, offers a healthy lifestyle linked to its dosha (Kapha, Pitta or Vata). Doshas are the reflection of our physical constitution and our vital energy responsible for our physiological and psychological health. The latter are associated with 3 gunas (sattva, rajas, and tamas). The goal of Ayurveda is to eat sattvatic, namely light, fresh and natural, in order to prepare the body for the practice of yoga. Because the latter is lighter.

Yoga therefore recommends its yogis a lacto-vegetarian diet in order to feel healthy and full of vitality.

What is a vegetarian diet?

This is the most common diet today, it is composed of a consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in fiber, vitamins and mineral salts, cereals, eggs, milk and dairy products which cover deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12 and calcium.

It excludes the consumption of meat

What is a vegan diet?

It differs from vegetarian because it also excludes the consumption of eggs, dairy products and all products of animal origin except honey. Their consumption is limited to plant products.

On the other hand, it presents a risk of deficiency in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamins B2 and B12 since it is more restrictive.

So I ask the question again: do you have to be vegetarian to practice yoga?

I would say that everyone is free to make their own choices. But it is established that diet plays an essential role in health. A reduced consumption of animal products and a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables can help prevent certain diseases such as obesity, cholesterol problems, prevent cancer and cardiovascular problems.

The practice of yoga above all gives the desire to eat consciously, to feel better in one's body and to have a more balanced and more natural diet. Above all, you have to listen to yourself and listen to your needs. It's all a question of balance.

Caroline can you introduce yourself?

Yogi, artist, poet, hippy, nomad are all words that define me! Curious about life, I like to discover other landscapes, new cultures, meet people, share. It is probably for all these reasons that I chose to teach yoga - adults and children. Connecting with people, transmitting the pleasure of practice and seeing the smile appear at the end of the classes, that's what makes me happy!

My training in Bali allowed me to develop a holistic approach - integrating the best of ancestral traditions with the most effective modern healing modalities. I thus created Body & Soul Flow™ Yoga - a style that suits me and is inspired by the different yogas that fascinate me. For 2 years I have been offering yoga coaching courses and retreats for women in order to experience a free, strong and caring femininity. I love co-creation and one of the projects I am proud of is the new "Art and Yoga" mediation at the Annecy Castle Museum.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

I started yoga almost 15 years ago, at the time I was working in the events sector in Geneva and I was living life at 100 miles an hour. My body had given me warnings that I had not listened to. I had a lot of trouble managing periods of stress and so it ended up crystallizing in the body. That's when I decided to take up yoga, on recommendation, to learn to slow down and breathe. And there I discovered the importance of breathing and I immediately felt the benefit of refocusing, of cutting myself off from the outside agitation.

What practice for your well-being?

Connecting with nature is essential - in fact it is my primary source of inspiration for my classes. Fortunately I live in Annecy between the lake and the mountains. When I am at home, I like to create a relaxing atmosphere, with incense and meditate in front of my altar - where there are my stones and statues brought back from my travels. I have a real passion for books, which I buy faster than I read. I am a visual artist so when I have time: painting and writing, because creativity greatly contributes to my balance, as do traveling, which I do depending on the yoga studios. I never travel without my Jade mat.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I always connect my practice with the energy of the moment (change of season, moon cycles, etc.) because what happens in nature also connects to "our nature" within us. I always integrate a theme into my classes to develop positive thinking, which is a bit lacking in our Western world, and thus recreate the connection with the Universe. And always with a nice playlist to let yourself be carried away.

What do you get out of it?

Serenity, empowerment and confidence in the Universe and in my path. I am learning to listen to myself more too.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

The treadmill of J essential oils that I apply before or after the course depending on my energy. Without forgetting my speaker for music.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

My mala bought in Bali while I was doing my first training. It symbolizes this turning point in my life and helps me connect to my intentions.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

As I tell my students, yoga is above all about feeling, not performance. The image conveyed by social networks is far removed from what yoga is, which is above all an art of living, where we certainly work the physical body - and not only - but we do not seek to be contortionists. This is why I always suggest trying things out to find the right style and teacher. The yoga mat is magical, it is like a mirror - as you are on the mat, you are in life! It will accompany your changes and revelations off the mat as well.

Yoga is also a journey towards oneself, we understand it as we practice. In a lifetime we will do thousands of downward dog poses, but they will all be different, because we are never the same (physically and mentally), from one day to the next, and even in one day. So, it is important to connect to the present moment, to the feeling and the rest will follow.

Where/how do you practice?

A practice in the morning will condition the rest of the day, so as soon as I can I take advantage of this energy. I do a mix: a flow where movement and breath harmonize, then a meditation with a time to set my intention for the day.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

She is such a fetish that she is tattooed on my arm:

"Live the life you love - Love the life you live"

And Oscar Wilde “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken. »

www.carolinesutter.com

instagram: carolinesartyoga - facebook: carolinesartyoga

Use a yoga brick to maintain good balance and alignment.

The yoga brick , also called a yoga block , is an accessory used in particular in Iyengar yoga. Yes, but what is it used for exactly? To support you in performing your asanas by extending your arms or legs, to support you in relaxation postures or to achieve perfect alignment or balance. A block of foam, cork or bamboo that will save you from many injuries. It can be used by beginners lacking flexibility as well as by experienced yogis. Discover the postures with a yoga brick .

A yoga block to compensate for lack of balance or flexibility

When you start practicing yoga, you lack balance or flexibility. This is where the yoga block comes in! This yoga accessory allows you to lean safely and keep your balance. Use it at all 3 heights for perfectly performed yoga block asanas . For example, for the stork pose (Uttanasana) if you cannot reach the ground, the downward dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), the side angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana), the triangle (Trikonasana), the half wheel (Ardha Chandrasana), the half monkey god pose (Ardha Hanumanasana).

A yoga brick for more comfort in seated postures

When you do a sitting posture or meditation, you may feel uncomfortable. You have back or leg pain and you can't relax. By sitting on your yoga block for meditation , you will have a straight back and you will feel more comfortable. It is still more comfortable on a yoga block than on the floor!

A yoga accessory to help you relax

The eco-friendly yoga block is not only used as a seat or an extension of the arms, it can provide you with real comfort by placing it under your back during lying asanas. I would like to mention in particular the bridge posture (Setu Bandhasana) by sliding your eco-friendly yoga block under your pelvis in order to put less strain on your abs. But, there is also the fish posture (Matsyasana) by placing the yoga accessory between the two shoulder blades. Note that you can also wedge your eco-friendly yoga block under your knees during the Savasana relaxation.

The yoga brick to maintain perfect alignment

The art of alignment in yoga is very important. To keep this alignment whatever your posture, do not hesitate to help yourself with an eco-friendly yoga brick by placing it between your legs or arms. Here are some yoga exercises with bricks . For the wheel posture (Chakrasana), place your yoga accessory between your thighs. For the camel asana (Ustrasana), slide your eco-friendly yoga block between your heels. Finally, for postures on the forearms, place your brick between your palms.

Discover all our eco-responsible yoga bricks made of cork or foam in the Tayronalife store.

The right yoga mat is a question of type of use, thickness, size, eco-responsible material and quality.

So you've decided to start yoga! But you don't have the equipment yet? Know that it is important to have your own eco-friendly yoga mat for hygiene reasons. However, you will see that this accessory will become your greatest ally in your practice. It will support you in your postures without ever saying anything. However, you don't know how to choose an eco-friendly yoga mat ? Between type of use, thickness, material, size and price, you are completely lost.

Which eco-friendly yoga mat for which use?

Among yoga mats, you can find standard mats and travel yoga mats . The difference? Lightness and maneuverability. The former are heavier and can be suitable for use at home. However, the latter are light and foldable, so they can be easily transported, especially to the studio or when traveling.

A soul mat of the right thickness (cushioning) to support you properly.

Have you noticed that there are several thicknesses (cushioning) of eco-friendly yoga mats ? Between 1.5 mm and 8 mm. We recommend that you choose your eco-friendly mat according to the type of yoga practiced, your comfort preferences and your proprioceptive sensitivity. The thicker an eco-friendly mat is, the more it will cushion your back and joints. However, the less dense it is, the more stability it offers in your postures. The thinnest eco-friendly floor mat (1.5 mm) corresponds to the travel yoga mat . Although practical, it is not very comfortable. For dynamic types of yoga (Ashtanga, Power, Vinyasa, Kundalini), we advise you to choose a thicker and therefore more comfortable yoga mat : between 4.5 and 6 mm.

What size yoga mat should I choose?

Just like the thickness, there are different lengths of organic yoga mats : standard (about 1.80 m) or long (about 2 m). Choose its dimension according to your height. If you are over 1.80 m, then opt for a yoga mat between 1.90 and 2.15 m. This way, you will have less risk of injury. As for the width, it depends on your build (the width of your shoulders). The standard size is about 60 cm. However, if you have a large stature, prefer a mat between 66 and 72 cm wide.

Choose an eco-responsible material!

Instead, choose eco-friendly materials for your eco-friendly yoga mat : eco-friendly PVC (Oeko-Tex certified), TPE, natural rubber, jute or organic cotton. Discover in particular the Tayrona ''My soul mat'' yoga mat in TPE. Why? They do not contain chemicals that are toxic to your health (such as AZO plasticizers and dyes). In addition, these eco-friendly mats are biodegradable and therefore do not pollute once thrown away. And finally, one of the big advantages is that these materials are durable, meaning that you will keep your eco-friendly yoga mat for several years.

Eco-friendly yoga mat VS cheap yoga mat

Generally, eco-friendly yoga mats are expensive because the material is natural, but also because the manufacturing process is more ethical. Workers are paid more fairly. The advantage is that these eco-friendly yoga mats are of better quality and you will invest only once in a mat rather than several times in different cheaper mats.

Discover all our eco-responsible and quality yoga mats on the Tayrona Yoga store

My name is Charlotte, I am 25 years old. I moved to Rennes last July to teach yoga after my training at the French Yoga School in Paris. This training sparked my curiosity for Indian culture, which led me to take the Certificate in Asian Cultures and Spiritualities at the ISTR in Paris, after an adventure of several weeks in India two years ago. These experiences have more deeply nourished my journey in Yoga and led me to think of this practice as being as consistent as possible with its roots and at the same time adapted to the Western world in which it is evolving today.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

I discovered yoga through my piano teacher who recommended a course. I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful teacher, I immediately liked her course and very quickly I wanted to follow the same training as her.

What practice for your well-being?

To walk !

And then enjoy the sun as soon as possible, sleep well, and eat well. It's my basic comfort but enough to feel good. Of course yoga does me a lot of good but it's much more than a simple well-being practice.

What is the ritual of your practice?

I start by getting into the shavâsana posture (lying on my back) and with a breathing preparation. In the teaching that I follow, we always start with these two phases to prepare ourselves to experience the yoga session.

Then there is a muscular preparation, mainly for the back, then a sequence, the postures then, alternated with deep breaths; and we finish with shavâsana or a silent sitting.

What do you get out of it?

Preparation helps me to be more available for the postures afterwards. With practice, we find ourselves better and better able to empty our minds and welcome the Breath – little by little…

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

Apart from my outfit... my straps and a notebook to possibly note down new impressions after the course.

What is your favorite object/accessory?

I don't have any.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Don't hesitate to try several classes to find the teacher who suits you. (But it may be the right person from the start! You'll know!)

For the record: the first time I tried a yoga class I left thinking that yoga wasn't for me! Then I met another teacher and look where that led me...

Where/how do you practice?

At home when I have a moment alone and in silence, in a well-ventilated room. Or ideally outdoors when I have the opportunity.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

I don't have a favorite phrase, but of course there are plenty of gems, encountered over the course of readings. Here is the latest one found, from Mâ Ananda Moyi, quoted in the latest "Yoga Notebooks": "Wherever you are, that's where you must begin the journey."

For more information:

www.charlottecorvellec.wixsite.com/charlotte-hathayoga
www.facebook.com/charlotte.hathayoga