During a beautiful snowy Sunday (10-12-2017) we have completed the Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training van Tanja Isabelle Secrève at the Mudra School voor Zwangerschapsyoga in Amsterdam.

This has been an extensive and intense education with fantastic colleagues. We shared a lot of workshops with six expert teachers. We had a great insight into pregnancy Yoga, partner Yoga, acupressure, homeopathy, mother and baby support, baby massage and post-natal period. Together we prepared many presentations and yoga classes. We have attended Yoga internships at different yoga schools, we have passed several tests on breathing techniques and a final paper.
We have learned from each other and shared a lot of emotions.

Such a wonderful path to learn how to help women and their partners during the pregnancy all the way to the delivery, one of the most special, magic and powerful experiences that life offers.

The idea to start a pregnancy yoga teacher training come to me in February 2016 in Rishikesh, India. I was inspired by my friend and colleague Tommaso, who told me fascinating stories about the pregnancy yoga lessons of his colleagues in Firenze. Grazie infinite !

I feel thankful for this intense and beautiful year!
Grazie! Thank you! Bedankt!
Sahiela

A few weeks ago I was working on a translation while listening to the French song Mama Sam - M -. That song reminded me how much I love the French language. A few hours later I received a request for a Yoga class in French. I have attracted a nice new challenge!
Today I had the chance and the pleasure to provide this Yoga lesson in French in a beautiful Yoga studio in Haarlem. Here are a few impression from this Yoga class.
We had French Yogi Tea to start and get into the French mood  :)

During Savasana I have played some notes on the Harmonica.

I feel grateful to these Yogini’s for sharing this Yoga Class dedicated to Gratitude.
Merci beaucoup aux Yoginis que aujourd’hui ont partagé et offert la séance de Yoga à la reconnaissance et à la gratitude. Merci pour votre présence!

Enjoy your Yoga practice & Stay YogaTuned ~
Namaste,
 
Sahiela

Final paper for the Pregnancy Yoga Teacher training done… on the most magic experience of this year!
In April I felt honored when a close friend told me “I feel relaxed when you are there. I would like to invite you to my delivery!”
One week before the delivery date, on a Wednesday night, I received a phone call from her husband. “Sahiela, I guess you know why I am calling you…!” The baby was almost there. I took one minute to think if I still wanted to go. I felt completely unprepared. But I said yes. I rushed to Amsterdam and I arrived just in time.
What a gift being there when a new cycle of life begins. A fascinating and powerful experience. The adrenaline, the warmth, the strength of nature and the waves. Waves bring life. A wonder! For three days I had energy flowing all over the body and I couldn’t sleep.
 
A want to express deep gratitude to Ana and Gerben for trusting and giving me this opportunity.
My yoga teacher suggested to write about my impressions. It took almost three months to start writing down on paper this incredible experience. I decided to describe this delivery for the final paper of my Pregnancy Yoga teacher training.
Experience is the most valuable knowledge. I feel much more confident and ready to help women in their path to the delivery.
Thank you so much! <3

Sahiela
 
Picture: When I met again the beautiful baby

Yesterday it’s been the last day of the advanced Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training “Creative and intelligent sequencing” with Daphne Koken, a truly inspirational, kind and energetic teacher. This is a groundwork that I needed. I feel really grateful for these teachings. Such a treasure.
Teacher trainings are such a powerful experience. Every time there are feelings, emotions and images from my childhood that emerge. Yesterday night I visualized the view from my room where I grew up. Today this image floated in my mind again and again. I could enjoy those mountains for 14 years. I remember ending days just watching the sun disappearing behind the mountains. Observing the colours changing. All those evenings releasing the emotions and the thoughts in such a simple way. It’s incredible how you embody the environment where you live. This teacher training has brought me back to the mountains.
Sahiela

Yoga is a wonderful path. During the first Yoga teacher training you receive a little taste of this astonishing world. The first step into the Yoga jungle. Then comes the time to make a closer step to a Yoga style. September has been magic. I could feel that I wish to develop in Vinyasa Yoga style. Here are some memories of my first advanced studies at de Nieuwe Yogaschool in Amsterdam: Yoga Advanced Studies (50 hr) - Vinyasa: Mastering the art of Flow & Hands on Assists by Simon Rowe. The end of every Yoga teacher training feels energizing like when you receive a new instrument. Feeling grateful for the precious new tools received! I find Prana Vinyasa Yoga both challenging and fascinating. I am truly excited to explore it more. Looking forward to the next training.
Stay YogaTuned.
Namaste,
Sahiela

Holidays are great. We look forward to enjoying them. But can we really relax on holiday? It depends. Do you wish to cut off all work related activities?
To me holiday needs to be a real break from everyday routines. Routines that need a break of course. Your yoga practice is welcome on holiday. Especially if you are a yoga teacher. Finally you can just give yoga classes to yourself. Lovely!
How can we truly relax? Sometimes we cannot chill out and we keep the same loop “I need to get so many things done!” To avoid these kind of feelings and thoughts, during the last two longer holidays, I have set a new habit that seems to make my holiday much more enjoyable. I simply switched off my internet connection for at least one entire week. On July I did it again. No social media for 8 days. From the third day on, it feels awesome to not just check out anything on the phone. The phone remains somewhere in the bag. When you find it you notice that it has become incredibly cold. This is a good sign. You have not used it. You forgot it. Yes, this is one of the best habits I have created for myself. Perhaps you can try it and check out if you experience lightness, freedom and full connection with the environment. 
Have you created relaxing habits during your holiday as well? Could you relax deeper? Share your suggestions or comments!
Take care of yourself <3
Enjoy your holiday!
Stay tuned with yoga tuned ;) ;)
Namaste,
Sahiela

Dear yogis and yoginis, summer is here! We have good chances to spend time outdoor. Let’s enjoy the summer and its natural yoga props. Trees, during the warm season, become yogi’s best friends.
Here you find 3 different poses that you can practice on the trees during your holidays. These 3 Yoga poses are a preparation for the handstand. If you are used to practice with the wall, in nature you will need more concentration. Trees are all different, so they can be a great new challenge to experience outdoor.

In case you are not used to practice these poses on the wall, make sure that you have a good assistant keeping you safe.
Before practicing these poses warm up with the following sequence:

• Pranayama (breathing exercises)
• Neck warming up
• Shoulders warming up
• Cat-cow movements and variations
• Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) several times with variations of your choice
• 3 to 5 rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) of your choice
  

Thank you trees for your support :)
Enjoy the summer, enjoy your Yoga practice. Stay YogaTuned!
Namaste,
Sahiela

Today we had a recharging early morning Yoga class. I have mentioned that tomorrow, 21st of June, the longest day of the year, it’s the day dedicated to the Yoga discipline.
The International Yoga Day had been proposed by Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly in 2014:
            “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day."
We have devoted time to think about the origin of this ancient tradition. We feel grateful to be able to practice, share and explore the Yoga philosophy.
Thank you Yoga, Thank you India and thank you to all Yoga Masters for sharing your precious knowledge.
Happy Yoga Day and Happy Summer Solstice.
Namaste!
Sahiela
Pic @ Ganga River, Rishikesh, India - January 2016 during a Yoga Teacher Training