Martyna

Christmas Apéro

On December 21st (Saturday) you can take a little break from your Christmas preparations and stop by the studio between 16.00 and 18.00 to raise a glass with us to all the beautiful moments from the past year 🥂

There will be no yoga practice, but you can finally meet your friends from the class for a little yoga chat!

At 17.30 I will guide a short Loving Kindness meditation so that we finish this year with a heart full of love for ourselves and others 💛

Christmas schedule

There will be a special class schedule between December 23rd and 31st. Please pay attention to the changes and sign up for the classes marked with a star. 

There interactive online schedule is available through the Fitogram platform and app. You can use this link to see the schedule, create an account and sign up for the classes if you need to.

The balance of feminine and masculine that the practice requires is incredibly beautiful. The female body must become strong and controlled as the male body. The male body must become as supple and gentle as the female body. While this practice requires very masculine determination and effort of will, it also demands feminine vulnerability and surrender. – Zoe Ward

Dear Ashtangis,

Hope everyone is healthy and well during these cold days. Dress warm, drink lots of ginger tea and don’t forget to create some internal heat with your Ashtanga practice! The studio is nice and warm, even early in the morning, so come and do a few Sun Salutations to keep your body warm and your energy level high!

Below you can find a short update about schedule changes and events in the upcoming weeks. 

• The next Introduction workshop will take place in just a few days, on November 23rd (Saturday). You will get the answers to common questions about the goal of Ashtanga Yoga, about reasons for fixed sequence, about benefits of the poses we do and many others. You will also learn about the ujjayi breath, vinyasas and other techniques we use in the class. Both complete beginners and students who already practiced Ashtanga for some time are welcome to join.

• More advanced students might be interested in the upcoming workshop about the Second Series of Ashtanga Yoga on December 7th (Saturday). The second sequence is called Nadi Shodhana and its goal is to clear and calm down the nervous system. It’s quite challenging, but with the right technique, it can be a very good balance to the Primary Series. I will show you different variations of the poses, therefore you don’t have to be very advanced to join, but some experience in Ashtanga Yoga is advised.  

• The next Full Primary Series Led class will take place on December 1st (Sunday). Because of the growing interest in learning Pranayama, from now on the class will be followed by 20-30 minutes of breathing techniques. Please sign up if you are planning to come to this class.

• Christmas holidays are slowly approaching and those of you, who stay in Lucerne, will be happy to hear that this year I will be teaching the whole December with only a few classes cancelled over Christmas. There will be a special schedule during the holidays, I will post it on the website in the beginning of December. And if you are already looking for gifts, then remember that there are beautifully designed vouchers available at the studio. Instead of buying things, you can gift someone with their first yoga experience – a single class, a yoga pass or a workshop.

• Since the studio opened, I have been trying to follow your feedback and to keep the schedule and price list adjusted to your needs. Seeing that some classes and yoga passes are more popular than others, there might be some little changes in the coming year. I can see that the morning passes aren’t very popular, as most of you want to be more flexible. Also the weekend classes are unfortunately rather empty – I’m counting on all the weekend yogis to start showing up! I’m still working on the changes – please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you come more regularly to the classes.

Love,

Martyna 

The body benefits from movement and the mind benefits from stillness. – Sakyong Mipham 
 

Dear Ashtangis,

One year ago today I taught my first class in the new studio in Weggisgasse. It’s been a busy year teaching full time, preparing workshops and taking care of the studio for you. I’m grateful to all the 115 students who visited the studio in the first year – thank you for being a support and for trusting me with your bodies! I’m glad to have you in the classes, let’s keep creating this place together! 

Below you can find a short update about schedule changes and events in the upcoming weeks. 

• I planned the next workshop for October 26th (Saturday). This time we will talk about the philosophy of 8 limbs of yoga and I will share with you my experience with the practice of Pranayama and Meditation. You can find more information on the website. 

• The next Full Primary Series Led class will take place this Sunday, October 6th. From now on please sign up if you are planning to come to this class, it will take place with the minimum of three participants. After the class you can join me for a talk about yoga philosophy and Q&A.

• Because the studio is rented out for a workshop with Jason Milne on that weekend, there will be no evening class on October 11th (Friday) and no morning Led class on October 12th (Saturday). The morning Mysore on Friday will take place as usual. 

Love,

Martyna 

Dear Yogis,

for family reasons I will be traveling to Poland for the next long weekend, August 15th to 18th. Therefore there will be a few changes in the next week’s schedule:

– There will be no classes from Thursday (15.08) till Sunday (18.08).
– The Full Primary Series Led class will be moved to next Sunday (25.08).
– To make up for the cancelled classes and give you opportunity to practice, I will teach two extra classes on Monday (12.08): a Mysore class from 6.30 to 8.30 and a Led class II at 18.00.
– All the yoga passes will be extended accordingly.

From August 19th on the classes will take place according to the regular schedule. Thank you for your understanding and I hope to see you in the next few days!

Love,
Martyna

The bridge between knowledge and skill is Practice.

The bridge between skill and mastery is Time. – Jim Bouchard

Dear Ashtangis,

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful hot summer! The last couple of weeks you could feel as if you were practicing in India – the heat opens the body and makes it more flexible and the sweating helps you to remove all the toxins from it. Those are the best conditions for this practice, so keep showing up on your mat and enjoy the quick progress!

Below you can find information about schedule changes and events in the upcoming weeks. 

• August 1st is a public holiday – I will be away for the long weekend so there will be no classes from Thursday (1.08) till Sunday (4.08). See you again on Tuesday!
  

• I won’t be around on the first Sundays of August and September and therefore I will teach one Full Primary Series Led class in between those two – on August 18th. The class will be followed by a short talk on yoga philosophy. 

• Because a lot of you are enjoying summer evenings outside and the Monday class has been rather empty, I will cancel it for the whole month of August and restart it on September 2nd. You can always see the updated schedule on the website. 

• The next Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga workshop will take place on August 24th. In this workshop you will learn all the necessary theory and technique so that you can understand how this practice works. The workshop is meant both for students who have no experience in yoga as well as for students who already joined some classes, but would like to learn the theory behind it.

• I will teach another workshop for more advanced students on September 14th. Save the date, I will soon post more details on the website! I’m also always open for your suggestions about topics you would like to work on.  

• Last but not least: in the beginning of November I will host the first international workshop in our studio. Ken the Rolfer is an authorized Ashtanga Yoga teacher, anatomy instructor and a certified Rolfing therapist. He will teach a workshop “Living Anatomy of Ashtanga Yoga”, which will give you a deeper understanding of the biomechanics of the postures as well as practical tools to improve your practice. Stay tuned, I will soon post more details on the website! 

 Love,

Martyna 

Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen. – Brené Brown

Dear Ashtangis,

it makes me very happy to see our yoga community growing and the classes are slowly filling up. Thank you for choosing this practice and for trusting me with your bodies. I really appreciate every single time you show up on your mat and I’m doing my best to be a good companion in your yoga journey!

Below you can find information about schedule changes and events in the upcoming weeks. 

• May 30th (Thursday) is a public holiday, but the classes will take place as usual. There is another holiday on June 10th (Monday) – if you would like to join this class, please sign up by sending me an email or a text message.

• In June I will open a new Mysore class on Mondays, 17.00 till 19.00. Come and give the traditional method of teaching Ashtanga a try! Beginners are always welcome in Mysore classes. Hope to see you in the first class on June 3rd. 

• Please remember that from June on the Saturday and Sunday Led classes will start earlier, at 9.00. The next Full Primary Series Led class will take place on June 2nd. You can always check the website for the updated schedule.

• The next workshop on June 8th (Saturday) will be about Hip-opening yoga poses. We will explore different poses and preparations that bring mobility to the hips. Among others, we will practice opening the hips for lotus poses and backbends – asanas that are among the most challenging for many yoga practitioners.

• In June I will again take a few days off to take care of my own practice and to assist Petri Räisänen in his retreat. There will be no classes from June 15th till 22nd. I hope you won’t lose your motivation and you will be able to unroll your yoga mat for a home practice!

Love, 

Martyna 

If you can stand on your mat for yoga and you have available at least fifteen minutes, you are a truly lucky person. That alone is a priceless gift and a tool to improve your life, which not many have. With these thoughts have a sense of gratitude for what is available to you. Get to practice. – B.K.S. Iyengar

Dear Ashtangis,

Easter is coming soon and, instead of shopping for chocolate rabbits, I’m packing my suitcase for a trip to Helsinki where I will join a workshop with Eddie Stern and Petri Räisänen. Teaching yoga every day can be exhausting at times and daily self-practice feels a bit lonely – I sometimes miss being a student! It makes me really appreciate every practice in a Mysore room with other students and a teacher who supports me in my yoga journey. Don’t take your practice for granted, be grateful for the time you can spend on your yoga mat and just enjoy it!

Below you can find information about schedule changes and events in the upcoming weeks. 

• Because I’m away, there will be no class from Thursday (18.04) until Saturday (20.04). I will see you again on Tuesday, April 23rd. Happy Easter! 

• In June you can expect some changes in the class schedule. But don’t worry, only for better! I will open a new Mysore class on Monday evening – now those of you, who are not early birds, can also get a taste of the Mysore practice 🙂  Also, on your request, the weekend classes (Saturday Led class and the monthly Sunday Full Primary class) will start a bit earlier, at 9:00. The updated schedule for June will soon be available online. We create the classes together, so please let me know in case you have any suggestions!

• The Detox and healing through Ashtanga Yoga workshop will take place on May 4th (Saturday). In the theoretical part of the workshop I will explain how Ashtanga Yoga method works for our body in terms of healing and removing the toxins. In the practical part we will go through the Primary Series paying special attention to the alignment and techniques that help us get the most out of those therapeutic poses. We will conclude the workshop with a discussion about diet that supports the yoga practice. The next workshop is scheduled for June 29th in the afternoon – details soon, you can already save the date!

• After the Detox workshop you can put your new knowledge into practice during the Full Primary Series Led class  on Sunday, May 5th at 9:30. The class is followed by short talk about yoga technique and philosophy.  

• The next Ashtanga Open Class will take place on May 18th (Saturday) at 11.30. If you have any friends who would like to try Ashtanga Yoga, but never had a chance, then please let them know! The class is free and all new students get a discount for their first yoga pass.  

Love,

Martyna 

You know your yoga practice is working when your life gets better, not when your yoga gets better. – Hala Khouri

Dear Ashtangis,

As spring is slowly approaching, I see some yogis are waking up from their winter sleep and have more energy to practice in the morning 🙂 For me this time of the year is all about revitalising and nourishing my body so that I have a fresh start after the cold winter months. I hope you also take some time to take care of yourselves!

Below you can find information about schedule changes and events in the upcoming weeks. 

• Spring is a great time to take care of your body, therefore I will start by giving a workshop about Detox and healing through Ashtanga Yoga on March 16th. We will talk about the therapeutic aspect of this practice and will explore different poses that heal illnesses and help us to keep our bodies in good health. I will also share with you my experience about diet that supports the yoga practice. 

• Please notice that there will be no class on Saturday, March 23rd. All the other classes this month will take place according to the regular schedule. 

• Yogis new to Ashtanga Yoga will have another chance to join a free Ashtanga Open Class on March 30th (Saturday). Maybe someone in your family or friends would like to give it a try? Let them know! 

• The open class will be followed by an Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga workshop on April 6th. This workshop is a great way for you to learn the theory and the techniques that we use in the class, making the start in the regular classes much easier for you. It’s also a good chance for those of you who have already joined some classes, but would like to learn the theory behind it.

• The Full Primary Series Led class in March won’t take place, instead you can join a special class with a guest teacher Chantal Hauser this Sunday. I will teach the full sequence again on April 7th.  

• If you have someone you would like to share yoga with, you can now buy them a new yoga gift voucher – available at the studio. It can be a voucher for their first yoga pass, an intro workshop, a private lesson or even simply a trial class in a group. Sharing is caring! 

 Love,

Martyna 

Before you’ve practiced, the theory is useless. After you’ve practiced, the theory is obvious. – David Williams

Dear Ashtangis,

I hope you all had a good start into 2019 and that you made some yoga-related New Year’s resolutions 😉 If so, then I will try my best to help you stick to them and give you many opportunities to do yoga. My wish for this year is to see the Ashtanga community in Lucerne growing, so that all the classes in the new studio fill up. This is slowly happening and I’m happy that many new people join Ashtanga classes and that the regular students stick to the practice making so much progress.

Below you can find information about schedule changes and events in the next two months. 

• I slightly adjusted the class schedule and renamed the evening classes to make the difficulty level more clear. In “Ashtanga Led class I” (Tuesday & Friday) I teach approximately 1/3 of the Ashtanga Primary Series – the class is good for beginners and those of you who would like to do a gentler practice on that day. In “Ashtanga Led class II” (Thursday & Saturday) we do half of the first sequence or a little bit more, so you might need some experience in yoga before joining. 

• On your request I will offer 3-months Yoga Passes. The pass will cost CHF 600 and will be valid for all the classes I teach. It comes with a 10% discount for all the workshops and a possibility to freeze it for one week in case you are away. You can find the full price list on the website. 

• Next Saturday (January 26th) I will teach a Backbending workshop. We will explore preparations for different backbends and the correct technique to do them. The workshop will be adjusted to different levels so don’t hesitate to join even if you are not very advanced yet. Backbends have always been my favourite poses, so I’m really looking forward to it!

• I was happy to see such a positive reaction to the first Ashtanga Open Class in January. I will make it a regular event so that new students can join a free class and try out if Ashtanga Yoga is something for them. The next open class is scheduled for February 23rd (Saturday) at 14:00. 

• Because the old town becomes very lively during the carnival and we might be disturbed by the noise, the studio will be closed for couple of days from February 28th until March 5th. The validity of all the yoga passes will be adjusted accordingly. 

As you know, the new studio is still a work in progress, so I’m very open to hear your feedback about the place or the class schedule and your ideas for events you would like to attend. Let’s keep creating this space together, thank you for all your support!

Love,

Martyna 

Dear Ashtangis,

Christmas is just around the corner and I know that the preparations keep everyone busy this month. I hope you can still find a moment to unroll your yoga mat and do some sun salutations. Finding the time for your practice might be a challenge, but the clarity and peace that you feel afterwards will help you with all the other tasks throughout the day. Also, you are always welcome in the quiet space of the Mysore class – even if you want to do just a short practice. It’s all about showing up!

Below you can find information about schedule changes and events in the next two months. 

• Because of the upcoming holidays there will be a few schedule changes in December. The validity of all the yoga passes will be adjusted accordingly.
  • December 8th (Saturday) is a public holiday. The morning Led class won’t take place.
  • There will be no evening Led class on December 18th (Tuesday). There’s no holiday, but it’s my birthday and even yogis get to celebrate sometimes 😉 Hope to see you in the morning Mysore instead.
  • I will be away for Christmas between December 21st evening (Friday) till December 26th (Wednesday). From Thursday on the classes will take place according to the regular schedule.
  • There will be no classes on January 1st (Tuesday).

• In January there will be a few great opportunities to start your yoga practice. On January 5th I will teach an Ashtanga Open Class – a free class with a short introduction to the method. New students will have a chance to buy a pass for a discounted price. Maybe you have a friend who is thinking of coming to yoga? Let them know!

• January 6th is a holiday, but I will still teach the Full Primary Series Led class. If you have some experience in Ashtanga Yoga, then you can give a try to the whole first sequence. Guruji used to say: “Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory” – after this class I give a short talk so that you can learn some philosophy and have your questions answered.

• Beginner Yogis can join the Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga workshop on January 12th. In this workshop I explain the basic theory and techniques of Ashtanga Yoga so that you can start your practice in regular classes with a solid foundation. Also recommended for people who visited some classes, but who feel that they would like to know more about the exact method. 

• We will end the month with a Backbending workshop on January 26th. Backbends can be very challenging, even for more seasoned practitioners. In the workshop we will go through different preparations that open our hips, chest and shoulders. We will also have a look at the alignment of different backbends that we do in Ashtanga and learn how to do them in a safe way. We will conclude the workshop with a sequence of therapeutic asanas that can help you with a back pain.

Enjoy the last weeks of 2018, take care and see you on the mat! 

Love,

Martyna