Spring is around the corner and the mornings are becoming brighter. Getting up to go to the shala is easier when it is less dark and cold. Have you also noticed that body and mind feel lighter some months of the year, or that you face more physical and mental resistance at other times? After practicing yoga for a few years and showing up on the mat several times a week, you may start to discern a pattern where the body follows the seasons. In order to practice yoga sustainably and maintain both motivation and health over time, it is important to both begin to notice and be sensitive to the natural fluctuations of our energy. In the winter, you may not be able to, nor should you, do all the asana if the body feels stiff or tired (however, showing up on your mat will always improve circulation and reduce stress), but in the summer it may easier to piggy back on the extra energy that comes with the light and warmer temperatures. How do you feel that the seasons and the climate affect you, your physical and mental health? We regularly treat questions like this and other yoga related topics at the monthly tea&talk sessions after the guided primary series class. The next session is on Sunday 17/3 – please don’t hesitate to send us specific questions in advance so that we can prepare for a dynamic discussion.

During the spring semester we offer several new courses and workshops at the shala which you can read about in this newsletter. We are also trying to inspire you with some fun events coming up this summer; such as our annual yoga holiday to the Finnish archipelago on the island of Kadermo in July. In August, R. Sharath Jois visits Sweden and Stockholm and in September we are happy to announce that guest teacher Tim Feldmann returns for another weekend workshop in Malmö. Continue reading below for more detailed information and other important news at the shala.

SPRING SCHEDULE & SPECIAL OPENING HOURS

The spring schedule runs until the end of June. All dates for guided class, tea&talk, the start of new courses etc. can be found on the overview schedule. Please keep in mind that during school and public holidays we may have different opening hours. You can always find any temporary schedule changes and information about cover teachers at the bottom of the schedule page below the overview schedule. The page is sometimes updated at short notice, so please visit it regularly.

STORAGE OF PRIVATE YOGA MATS AT THE SHALA - spring cleaning

For those of you who come often to practice, we offer the storage of yoga mats at the shala. The shelf with private yoga mats has gradually filled up - which is a great sign that many people want take practice - BUT we have noticed that many mats remain untouched since a long time. We would therefore like to ask those of you who visit the shala less than once a week to pick up your mat (alternatively, that you start coming to practice more often of course!). During the planned Easter spring cleaning session, unused, leftover mats will be cleared out.

We would also like to ask those of you who come often to class, to take your yoga mat home from time to time to clean it properly and air dry it to reduce the growth of bacteria and bad smell. Please make sure to have a band around the mat so that it keeps together and takes up less space on the shelf (Helena has made rubber bands with name tags that are available to buy) and please never leave cotton rugs or mat towels at the shala. Thank you for your cooperation, in this way the shala will be a pleasant place for everyone.

NEW COURSES & EVENTS – starting after Easter

We have several new courses that start at the shala in April. Do you know someone who is curious to begin a yoga practice? Have you taken a beginners’ course and want to continue? Are you feeling stressed and need to unwind? Or would you like to deepen your yoga knowledge and immerse yourself in asana technique? We hope to inspire you with our courses and are always happy when you recommend us to friends and family.

ASHTANGA FOUNDATION/BEGINNERS COURSE Mondays with Isabella starting 8/4 ((registration  here)

ASHTANGA FOUNDATION Level 2 Wednesdays with Helena starting 3/4 (registration here)

YOGA FOR STRESS REDUCTION (in Swedish only) Tuesdays with Isabella starting 9/4 (registration here)

YIN YOGA Thursdays with Helena starting 4/4 (registration here)

YOGA-ASANA technique class 14/4 and 26/5 with Isabella (more info here)

SUMMER YOGA RETREAT JULY 14-19

Our annual summer yoga holiday goes to the island of Kadermo in the Finnish archipelago. From 14-19 July, Isabella is teaching a one-week yoga retreat at Kadermo Retreat Centre. Come along and be enchanted by the magical light, the calm and the nature of the island; get a chance to deepen your yoga practice, enjoy good vegetarian food prepared by our Indian chef and meet lovely [like-minded] people from all corners of the world. Kadermo Retreat Centre is a very special place that cannot be described but needs to be experienced. Read more here

GUEST TEACHER TIM FELDMANN

We are very happy to welcome back guest teacher Tim Feldmann to Malmö in September 2024. Tim visited us for a weekend workshop in 2021 and for a long time we have been trying to find new dates for a return visit. We finally managed to match our calendars and on September 6-8th Tim will come to our shala in Malmö to teach a weekend full of ashtanga yoga. Tim is Danish but is a resident of Miami (US) since many years. There he and his wife Kino MacGregor run the yoga shala Miami Yoga Garage. Tim also spends a large part of his time travelling both to teach and to continue his yoga studies. Learn more about the weekend with Tim here and book before March 31st to benefit from the early-bird discount.

WANTED – ASPIRING ASSISTANTS

As the shala continues to grow and the mysore room and courses are often full, we could sometimes need help with assistance in class. If you practice with us and are interested in developing your yoga skills, learn more and maybe become a teaching resource in the future, Isabella is planning to put together a small group of interested, aspiring assistants. This group would meet regularly look at adjustment techniques, discuss various questions about the practice and how best to help and support the practitioners who come to the shala. The format and conditions of the assistants' group has yet to be outlined, but you should be available to observe/assist at least one morning a week and attend monthly assistants-meetings if you decide to join. Contact us by email with your expression of interest and a short motivation of why you want to learn to assist.

SHARATHJI VISITS SWEDEN IN AUGUST

Last but not least, we want to flag that R. Sharath Jois, our teacher from India, is coming to Stockholm on August 6-11th this year. Last year's European tour was cancelled due to visa difficulties, but this year's visit is secured as Sharathji’s visa has already been issued. Don’t miss the chance to experience a bit of Mysore on home turf. Check out Yogashala Stockholm's website for more information about the workshop and how to register.

That's all for now. The next newsletter will be distributed in June with information about the summer schedule etc. We do ask you to stay updated between newsletters by following us on social media (links in the menu above under Contact). If you are not a member of our closed Facebook group, we recommend applying to it to get access to the latest news and updates at short notice. Sometimes we change the door code and those who have valid practice cards receive a text message when this happens, but if you have not been to the shala for a while, we ask you to email us well in advance (at least 24 hours) before your visit.

Keep calm and carry on practicing!

Isabella & crew

P.S You can use your wellness allowance with us and we are also approved for Physical activity on prescription.