News Archive / Arkiv

Summer is still lingering, but it is starting to feel a bit chilly in the morning when walking to the shala. We hope you’ve had a great couple of summer months with the chance to recover and replenish your vitamin D levels. The shala has been open since the start of August and in the past weeks we have getting extra energy ahead of the autumn with a visit from guest teacher Tim Feldmann and inspiration from taking part at Ribban yoga festival together with Malmö's many yoga studios. Yoga has, as you are probably already aware of, the same goal regardless of type or style practised, namely, to calm our mind so that we can be more focused, less fragmented, stronger and more resilient mentally and physically. But different people need different methods to reach that goal and that’s why it’s so good that there are various yoga styles, so that everyone can find what works best for them.

Our shala focuses on the eightfold path of Ashtanga Yoga, which is both an end and a means. When practicing (on the mat) we use different tools such as asana (physical postures), breathing, dristhi (focus pints for the gaze), self-control (Yama&Niyama), etc. to reach the goal of yoga. It is irrelevant how advanced or how many postures we do; what the postures look like or whether we are as "good" or "better" than our neighbour. The important thing is what approach we have, i.e. that we cultivate patience and humility, practice regularly over a long period of time and do not force something that the body or mind are not ready to receive. Yoga is not about conquering postures; it’s about gradually learning to respond to the feelings and thoughts that arise when we encounter difficulties. Yoga tries to teach us acceptance and perhaps one of the most important lessons is that "advancement" does not mean going further or deeper in yoga postures, but instead it's about being content in the present moment. It is useful to regularly evaluate one’s approach to the practice, how one relates to it and what attitude one has both on and off the yoga mat. What happens inside when it feels easy or less easy, what does the inner voice say? If you like, we can discuss these and similar questions at our monthly tea&talks after the guided primary series class (next one up is on Sunday 6^th September). We are also happy to receive your questions and thoughts by email or if you want to discuss with each other in our private Facebook group.

AUTUMN SCHEDULE

The autumn schedule starts on 1st September and runs until Christmas. Helena resumes teaching Monday morning’s mysore class and Isabella and Helena alternate on Sundays again. Our evening classes start the second week of September, and both the Level2 Foundation class and the yin yoga are open for drop-in for those who have valid cards with us. But remember to check with Helena that there’s space available before you come as we need to prioritise those who have booked and paid for the entire course. You find the schedule on the schedule page with all temporary changes listed below the overview schedule at the bottom of the page. The page is updated regularly, so visit it to stay informed.

OPEN HOUSE

We start the autumn semester with a kick-off on Sunday 6^th September. In the morning we have a guided primary series class for all our current members at 9 am taught by Isabella and afterwards we open the doors to the public for an Open House. There will be free trial classes, coffee and a Q&A session, as well as special offers exclusively available that day. Keep an eye on our social media and our private Facebook group for announcements. All details about the Open House and how to register for the trial classes can be found here. Everyone is welcome and please invite family and friends too!

AUTUMN COURSES

Since the autumn semester is relatively short, we have chosen to only have one batch of courses. Just like last year all our courses cover ten weeks throughout the semester. Information on all upcoming courses is available here

ASHTANGA FOUNDATION COURSE L1 (beginners) – with Katie, Mondays starting 14/9

ASHTANGA FOUNDATION COURSE L2 – with Helena, Wednesdays starting 16/9

YIN YOGA – with Helena, Thursdays starting 17/9

It always makes us very happy when you share and recommend our courses and events to friends. The more people who practice the warmer the shala :)

At the end of the autumn semester, we plan to hold our annual Advent pot-luck brunch as well as a separate charity event with the aim of giving back to those less fortunate. Both events are already up for registration on the events-page. The next newsletter will be distributed before the Christmas/New Year holidays including a winter schedule and possibly a city retreat in January like the one we had this year. Please stay updated via the website, our social media (links above in the menu and/or join our private Facebook group only for shala members). If you have questions, requests or feedback, you are welcome to contact us via the yoga school's email address, but please keep in mind that we do not read/reply outside office hours or on weekends. If you want the door code, you need to contact us at least 24 hours before your visit.

A friendly reminder: yoga is a "workin", not a workout.

Isabella & crew

P.S Don’t forget that you can use your wellness allowance with us

On Sunday 6th September we open our doors to all yoga enthusiasts. Come and try different types of yoga and find out more about how you can start practicing and introduce yoga into your life. Welcome to meet some of our teachers, try classes for free and get answers to your questions about yoga, all in a relaxed and pleasant environment. There will be coffee, tea and refreshments. Existing members are also welcome to join the fika and bring with friends and family.Special offers and discounts will be available during the day. Read more about the event, the program and how to register here

“Den blomstertid nu kommer” is a Swedish song traditionally sung at school graduations at the end of the spring semester ahead of the school holidays. It symbolises the arrival of summer, the light, the awakening of nature and freedom and of course the summer holidays. Because yes, I Isabella will have summer holidays from my studies at university! It feels strange to have a summer break in mid-life, but I childishly look forward to letting my nose emerge from the books and let it get some sunshine. Summer holidays also mean that I will be back in the shala every day and Helena will get some well-deserved time off. With the arrival of summer, we unfortunately also have to say goodbye to Viktor who is leaving us for Stockholm and new adventures at the end of June. We wish him the best of luck and are happy and grateful for his great help in the shala over the past two years. We will of course miss him, but we hope that he will come back and visit from time to time.

The summer months also offer many happy events, especially in July and August. However, we had to postpone the 108 sun salutations that we had planned in connection with International Yoga Day to later this year. Read the newsletter to keep up to date with what's happening at the shala, what the summer schedule looks like and what events we have planned.

SUMMER SCHEDULE

The summer schedule officially starts after the midsummer holiday weekend, although there are some small changes happening earlier in June. Isabella resumes teaching on Mondays as from 8/6 and every Sunday after midsummer until the end of August when the autumn semester begins. During the summer we close for our annual summer break three weeks in July, more precisely from 12/7-2/8. During that period, you are welcome to join our summer yoga holiday to the Finnish archipelago (read more below). All cards that are valid over the summer break will automatically be extended with the corresponding amount of time. The summer schedule will be published on the schedule page in due time, but you can already get a sneak peek here.

SUMMER COURSES

In August we offer two shorter summer courses for those who are curious about yoga and want to prepare for the autumn semester. Isabella teaches the following courses:

YOGA FOR STRESS REDUCTION – 5 sessions on Mondays at 17:30 starting 3/8 (the course is held in Swedish). Read more here.

ASHTANGA FOUNDATION COURSE – 4 sessions on Tuesdays at 17:15 starting 4/8. Read more here

We always appreciate when you recommend and share our courses and events with friends and family.

SUMMER YOGA HOLIDAY

Following tradition, our annual yoga holiday mid-July goes to Kadermo Retreat Centre in the Finnish archipelago. From 12-17 July, Isabella teaches a week-long retreat with daily morning mysore classes and special workshops in the afternoons. Kadermo is a wonderful place with its beautiful nature and special energy. Stefan, who owns the centre, has created everything himself in an ecological spirit. Come along and experience the island's unique peacefulness and enjoy yoga, nature, Finnish sauna and refreshing swims. Participants tend to come from all corners of the world, and the centre is very popular. You can come only for Isabella's retreat week or stay longer as Kadermo is open all summer with different teachers! Read more here

GUEST TEACHER TIM FELDMANN

Tim Feldmann from Miami, USA, is visiting us for the third time for the weekend 21-23 August and the workshop is almost fully booked. Tim will teach two morning mysore classes and three afternoon workshops with special themes. There will also be time for questions at a special Q&A session on the Saturday. If you want to join, now is the time to register - don't miss the chance to learn from Tim's extensive knowledge of yoga and, not least, experience his wonderful sense of humour. Read more here.

RIBBAN YOGAFESTIVAL

The last weekend of August it’s time for the annual yoga festival at Ribersborg’s beach in Malmö. We missed it last year, but this year we are back and representing Ashtanga Yoga Malmö. On Saturday, 29th August, Helena and Katie each teach a class and Isabella, Cisse and Tao will be working on the festival grounds as volunteers. Please come join us and try different yoga classes from many of Malmö's yoga studios, meet other yoga practitioners, check out a lot of yoga merch and eat some delicious healthy food. Information and tickets can be found here

The next newsletter will be distributed ahead of the autumn semester, but please stay updated via the website and our social media (links in the menu above) in the meantime. You can also join our closed Facebook group, only for shala members. If you as a practitioner have any questions, requests or feedback, you are welcome to contact us via email to the yoga shala email account. However, please note that we do not read/reply outside office hours or on weekends. If you want the door code, you need to contact us at least 24 hours before your visit.

Sun(ny) salutations

Isabella & crew

The summer schedule officially starts after the midsummer holiday weekend, although there are some small changes happening earlier in June. Isabella resumes teaching on Mondays as from 8/6 and every Sunday after midsummer until the end of August when the autumn semester begins. During the summer we close for our annual summer break three weeks in July, more precisely from 12/7-2/8. In August we offer special events and guest teacher workshops. Read more under upcoming events