The new yoga

Some things don’t seem to go together. Like yoga and heavy metal. Can’t do it, don’t you think? Go then! On the floor below the loft of a Berlin yoga school, for example, bands let off steam while rehearsing in a club – quite loudly. At the same time, it brings body and soul to rest. Because those who rest in themselves during yoga can enjoy the practice in the midst of the greatest turbulence. Any place, any time, in any situation. The new yoga trends also want to reach us in the middle of life. Whether down-to-earth or not, in silence or loud, with wit or seriousness. Take a look!

Yoga Therapy – Get well faster

Acro Yoga

Acro-Yoga – Take to the air

That looks acrobatic! In Acro-Yoga you practice the asanas in the air – lying on your partner’s feet (f). Practice in pairs, better in threes. The “Flyer” is moved into different positions on the partner’s feet and balanced, stretched and massaged. In addition, the “base” supports the shoulders, upper body or legs from below with their hands. Sometimes the “Flyer” has to use his own muscle power, sometimes he can just let himself hang, relax and even get a back massage from below in between. Number three – the “spotter” – stands next to the two practitioners and secures the figures. “Acro-Yoga is less about performance and more about togetherness, about trust and responsibility for oneself and others,” explains Berlin acro teacher Lucie Beyer. Can’t you do that? Don’t worry, acro-yoga looks harder than it really feels. The most important trick: let go and enjoy the lightness! The more the flyer relaxes his body, the easier it is for the one holding it. By the way: What you already mastered on the mat works even better in the air. You don’t have to be a super yogi. The aerial number was invented by Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer – two US circus performers who mixed yoga with acrobatic elements and Thai massage (the “base” is given as a thank you) and deliberately did not plan any fixed procedures as in other yoga courses. What counts is having fun and practicing together creatively. The more the flyer relaxes his body, the easier it is for the one holding it. By the way: What you already mastered on the mat works even better in the air. You don’t have to be a super yogi. The aerial number was invented by Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer – two US circus performers who mixed yoga with acrobatic elements and Thai massage (the “base” is given as a thank you) and deliberately did not plan any fixed procedures as in other yoga courses. What counts is having fun and practicing together creatively. The more the flyer relaxes his body, the easier it is for the one holding it. By the way: What you already mastered on the mat works even better in the air. You don’t have to be a super yogi. The aerial number was invented by Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer – two US circus performers who mixed yoga with acrobatic elements and Thai massage (the “base” is given as a thank you) and deliberately did not plan any fixed procedures as in other yoga courses. What counts is having fun and practicing together creatively. who mixed yoga with acrobatic elements and Thai massage (receives the “base” as a thank you) and deliberately did not plan any fixed procedures as in other yoga courses. What counts is having fun and practicing together creatively. who mixed yoga with acrobatic elements and Thai massage (receives the “base” as a thank you) and deliberately did not plan any fixed procedures as in other yoga courses. What counts is having fun and practicing together creatively.

COURSES, WORKSHOPS , exercise groups and teachers can be found at www.acroyoga.org and  Mini workshops from around 30 euros, weekends from around 120 euros. More offers under “Yoga Acrobatics” or “Flying Yoga”.

Jivamukti

Jivamukti – Rocking on the mat

Sure, the right music makes every practice easier: we try harder, hold out longer, and it’s more fun anyway. Nevertheless, in many yoga classes there is no musical background. Or you can hear Indian fabric softener sounds that are not for everyone. It’s different with the Jivamuktis (pronounced Dschivamuktis): The fresh and cheeky yoga style from New York is loud and violent. No wonder, the two founders Sharon Gannon and David Life come from the artist and musician scene. Anything that pleases is musically allowed – from rock classics to Tibetan monks’ chants, from Beethoven, Beatles or Björk to Bhagavan Das. They always link the songs along with lyrics about love, peace and non-violence to the topic of the hour and all match the asanas. The beat sets the rhythm for movement and breathing. “Music is a powerful tool for us to reach people and create a good mood,” explains Anja Kühnel, director of Jivamukti Yoga Berlin. “The music makes you switch off better, you find yourself and your own sound – it’s like meditating.”

JIVAMUKTI SCHOOLS have so far only been opened in Berlin and Munich . Classes from around 8 euros, Germany-wide workshops. DVD tip: “Jivamukti Yoga – Transformation for Body and Soul”, by David Life and Sharon Gannon, 14.99 euros .

Anti-Gravity-Yoga

Anti-Gravity-Yoga – Get up close and personal

Tricking the darn gravity? This is what “anti-gravity yoga” can do. You need body tension, balance – and a trapeze cloth that dangles firmly from the ceiling. With its help you then practice the usual asanas. This stabilizes during balance exercises and allows inclined positions that would be impossible without support from above. The raised leg is in the one-legged stand in the cloth, the hands are held tight in the warrior, and in the twisted triangle you wrap the cloth around your waist – or practice the flying dog. The yogis can sway while seated, hop like a marionette, do somersaults in the air, or levitate in a headstand. “Anti-gravity yoga has something acrobatic and playful about it,” says yoga teacher Jost Blomeyer from Aspria in Berlin about the workout. “Compared to traditional yoga, it offers less relaxation and meditation and no breathing exercises, but more lightness and ease thanks to the feeling of weightlessness. It also strengthens the abdominal and upper body muscles more effectively.” The mix of gymnastics, yoga, dance, Pilates and aerial acrobatics is great fun and trains the entire body – after the initial test of courage to hang yourself in the sling.

ANTI-GRAVITY YOGA COURSES are offered by the following fitness clubs at the respective membership conditions: Aspria in Berlin , Pfitzenmeier in southern Germany , Shark you in Augsburg , Point in Gerlingen .

Call a Yogi

Call a Yogi – Book the Yoga Coach

Would you like personal training? Alone, with friends or family? Comes immediately: That’s exactly why Sonnia Höffken founded “Call a Yogi”, a kind of yogic delivery service. In addition to courses, the internationally certified yoga teacher from Munich also gives private lessons, for example for athletes and managers, pregnant women and mothers. And that where your customers want it and feel comfortable: at home, in the countryside, in a hotel or in the office. She even brings the necessary yoga equipment with her on request. The advantage: “In the individual lessons, I can respond to the personality and condition of my customers much more individually and purposefully than in classic group training and select suitable exercise series, breathing and mental exercises,” explains Sonnia Höffken. “The exchange between teacher and student is more intensive, because I take into account the respective life situation. This allows me to accompany my students on their personal development path or during a phase of life.” She doesn’t have to look after 20 students at the same time. In addition, there is no envy factor for the students: the constant comparison with the others in the yoga class. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards. This allows me to accompany my students on their personal development path or during a phase of life.” She doesn’t have to look after 20 students at the same time. In addition, there is no envy factor for the students: the constant comparison with the others in the yoga class. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards. This allows me to accompany my students on their personal development path or during a phase of life.” She doesn’t have to look after 20 students at the same time. In addition, there is no envy factor for the students: the constant comparison with the others in the yoga class. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards. She doesn’t have to look after 20 students at the same time. In addition, there is no envy factor for the students: the constant comparison with the others in the yoga class. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards. She doesn’t have to look after 20 students at the same time. In addition, there is no envy factor for the students: the constant comparison with the others in the yoga class. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards. Instead of external perfection, what counts in one-toone yoga is the inner attitude and the willingness to engage in a new yoga experience. Although personal yoga is similar to a group class, it benefits many more: Beginners learn the basics faster, advanced students can develop further. And on top of that, of course, you get additional tips for independent practice – because most people often roll out the yoga mat on their own afterwards.

PRIVATE YOGA TEACHERS can be found, for example, ( from around 80 euros per hour) .

Nivata-Yoga

Nivata Yoga – Finding stillness

Back to the beginnings. With the yoga of stillness, practice returns to its origin. Katharina and Julian Middendorf traveled through India for two years. Her “souvenir”: a traditional but lively style of yoga, which makes the ancient philosophy and meditation tangible in modern everyday life and with which we can hear our inner silence even with external volume. Nobody has to sit in the lotus position for hours and ask themselves whether they are already meditating. In contrast to many modern yoga styles, which are mostly practiced fluently, with Nivata you can feel each individual asana briefly. This is how practice becomes meditation. Free from strenuous contortions and sweaty exertion, Nivata has a gentle but lasting effect on the body with its unusual asanas. Because not the choreography of an hour, but the energetic effect controls the sequence of exercises. Everyone determines their own intensity and pace. “Nivata brings us back down to earth with its many exercises while lying down, sitting down and crouching,” explains Katharina Middendorf. She and Julian usually lead her classes together, in addition to the sun salutation, the moon salutation is also practiced, and each lesson ends with Yoga Nidra, a form of relaxation that is also called “conscious sleep”. They have also created a special yogic get-together: the “Circle”, in which meditation and mantras take place in a circle, and Nivata-based coaching for life crises. “Nivata brings us back down to earth with its many exercises while lying down, sitting down and crouching,” explains Katharina Middendorf. She and Julian usually lead her classes together, in addition to the sun salutation, the moon salutation is also practiced, and each lesson ends with Yoga Nidra, a form of relaxation that is also called “conscious sleep”. They have also created a special yogic get-together: the “Circle”, in which meditation and mantras take place in a circle, and Nivata-based coaching for life crises. “Nivata brings us back down to earth with its many exercises while lying down, sitting down and crouching,” explains Katharina Middendorf. She and Julian usually lead her classes together, in addition to the sun salutation, the moon salutation is also practiced, and each lesson ends with Yoga Nidra, a form of relaxation that is also called “conscious sleep”. They have also created a special yogic get-together: the “Circle”, in which meditation and mantras take place in a circle, and Nivata-based coaching for life crises.

CLASSES, COURSES and workshops are listed (from around 10 euros per class). Possible everywhere .