This Week End: Pranayama & Mysore Style…

“Prana is the totality of all energy, it is what keeps us alive. To learn to use this essential energy in the best possible way, we can practice pranayama.” Sri O.P. Tiwari

The word Pranayama means breath extension or expanding the life force (Prana). It is the fourth limb of Patanjali´s eight limbs of yoga and an essential part of any Hatha Yoga practice. When practiced consistently over time, Pranayama strengthens the lungs, balances and purifies the nervous and energy systems in the body and increases vitality. As the mind (Citta) is closely connected to the breath, these ancient yogic breathing exercises lead to a calmer and clearer mind. This process provides a foundation that allows for a meditative state to naturally unfold.

There are only a couple spots left for my Pranayama & Mysore Style Workshop in Amsterdam next week end!  In this workshop we will focus on developing a self-practice of Pranayama that you will be able to take away with you and continue on your own.

The Pranayama sessions are followed by an Astanga Yoga Mysore-Style Class where you receive individual adjustments and guidance to deepen your practice.

Contact Astanga Yoga School Amsterdam to register. See you in blooming Amsterdam! xox k

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Please note that the Mysore Yoga Paris Shala will be closed on Friday the 6th of April and Monday the 9th. xx

Mysore Yoga Paris 1 year celebration -Join our donations only-class to AST children´s home!

So Anna´s and my ‘baby’ Mysore Yoga Paris is actually turning one year at the end of the month! First of all a big MERCI to all our beautiful, fantastic, inspiring, funny, mad, loving and devoted students who show up smiling before the sun has risen over the Parisian roof tops, every morning, every season, every weather… Thank you for allowing us to share our love for this amazing practice. OM SHANTI!

To celebrate our very first birthday Anna and I will offer a Mysore and Intro to Mysore class for all levels + cake & fun after practice (naturally).This class will be completely donation based and all funds will go directly to the Ashadayaka Seva Children´s home in Mysore.

Ashadayaka Seva Children´s home, Mysore December 2012

It was my friends Chris and Flora who brought my attention to this small underfunded Children´s home last year. So far the Trust has been able to rehabilitate 33 children who were deserted by their parents and those who had no parents. Most of these children lived by begging.Chris and Flora are volunteering, working with the children with everything from bringing fruits and veggies, taking the kids to play in the park, teaching them yoga or going to the dentist… I was so touched by their commitment to the cause so I began supporting the home and just before leaving for India last year, we created an event at the Shala to raise funds for much needed health check-ups and dental care for these children.

Parvati & Suresh outside Ashadayaka Seva Children´s home, Mysore Jan 2012

Finally in December I went to Mysore with my family to visit the home and take some pictures. When I came back to Paris I received a letter from Chris, that I would like to share with you.  Thank you Chris and Flora for giving us a chance to practice the very essence of yoga and for making sure that the donations really come to use.

‘Our medical programme is in fulll swing. And Suresh is so thankful to France Picture Lady as he calls you affectionately! We had a super mix of HIV and hepatitis testing as well as general nutrition screening to help prove more vegetables are needed in these little bellies!!! We’ve just started the vaccinations for hepatitus. It’s a series of 3 shots over 6 months. And, no kidding, as I’m sitting in the waiting area, I’m reading a newspaper article about 20 new cases of hepatitis A…from the drinking water!

So, really, I’m shocked to think about 2 things: how you made this gift possible and more importantly, how your work and gift to these kids could one day be life saving. Seriously, with your donation and your friends and yoga students, you are providing life-saving protection. And for that, I am humbled and awed and so happy. So, please once again, accept my thanks and Flora’s and Suresh and Parvati’s and all 30 kids! All of them can live without hepatitis or influenza or typhoid…because of you!

All my best to you and the girls and your husband!’

xo c

'French Picture Lady' 
Showing my photos of the children was clearly the highlight of my career!

If you are not able to attend our One Year Celebration at the Shala, you can still make a donation to AST via this link!

 

Easter Workshop in Amsterdam!

I´m going back to give a workshop in Amsterdam for the 3rd year at the lovely Astanga Yoga School Amsterdam! It´s a beautiful time of the year to visit Amsterdam. The workshop is in the morning so you have the rest of the day free to enjoy the city. Here are some sweet images from last year: We used to rent bikes and cycle along the canals, have piqueniques in the park and apple pie by the market… And Magnus was very excited when he spotted Rem Koolaas while having his post-yoga coffee… haha. You come!! Love  xox

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EASTER WORKSHOP in AMSTERDAM with KIA NADDERMIER

7th, 8th & 9th of April 2012

An introduction to Pranayama & Astanga Yoga Mysore-Style

“Prana is the totality of all energy, it is what keeps us alive. To learn to use this essential energy in the best possible way, we can practice pranayama.”

Sri O.P. Tiwari

The word Pranayama means breath extension or expanding the life force (Prana). It is the fourth limb of Patanjali´s eight limbs of yoga and an essential part of any Hatha Yoga practice. These ancient breathing techniques strengthen the lungs, balance and purify the nervous and energy systems in the body and increases vitality. As the mind (citta) is closely connected to the breath, these practices allows for a meditative state to naturally unfold. We will focus on developing a self-practice of Pranayama that you will be able to take away with you and continue on your own. The Pranayama sessions are followed by an Astanga Yoga Mysore-Style Class where you receive individual adjustments and guidance from Kia.

DATE & TIME: Easter Week End 2012: Saturday 7/4, Sunday 8/4 & Monday 9/4 , Each day will consist of 2 sessions: 10:00-11:30: Pranayama + 11:30-13:30: Mysore-Style

PAYMENT & REGISTRATION: Saturday Only = EUR 45 / Full Workshop (3 days) = EUR 110 Registration to info@astanga.nl and payment in advance is required.

For more info please visit www.astanga.nl

Burfitt for Mysore Yoga Paris!

I am very proud to let you know that Lovisa Burfitt has designed tops exclusively for Mysore Yoga Paris!!

As most of you know when I´m not teaching in the shala I´m working as a fashion photographer. Through my job, I´ve had the great pleasure of working with some of the most talented people in the industry. Lovisa Burfitt has been one of my favorite designers for many years; her work is unique, creative, daring and yet casual at the same time. She is an awarded designer and illustrator whose work is decorating the H&M flagship stores in London & Tokyo as well as published in numerous issues of Vogue.

So when Lovisa offered to make us yoga tops I was of course delighted! Not being big on yoga clothes in general, these vests and t-shirts are actually so nice I´d wear them both on and off the mat -and yes I will sleep in them too!! xx

The tops are 100% organic cotton and 10% of the profit goes directly to the Ashadayaka Seva Children´s Home in Mysore, India.

They are sold exclusively at the Mysore Yoga Paris Shala for 28€.

So make sure to stop by the shala to secure your sample of Paris´most wanted yoga top!! xx

 

Best Wishes for 2012 from Mysore!

Wishing you a very happy and transformational 2012 from Mysore where I have been spending the last month with my family practicing at KPJAYI. I´m sending a big THANK YOU for your generous donations to the Ashadayaka Seva Children´s home at our Mysore / Brunch event at Mysore Yoga Paris in December.

My involvement in the Children´s home has turned out to be quite a big part of our visit to Mysore this time around. Following Chris´and Flora´s work with the children has been a great inspiration and learning. Spending time playing with these beautiful, funny, energetic, clever and spirited kids made me fall in love with each one of them instantly! I have been photographing the kids to help raise further awareness, some of the images are attached on the Christmas Card above. All 33 children eat, sleep, play and pretty much do everything in the little room you see on the left hand side of the card. They still miss so much of the most basic things and a little help goes a long way in India. The contribution that you all made will go to much needed health check ups and dental care. If you wish to make further donations please use this link, set up by Chris and Flora: http://ashadayaka.chipin.com/ast-mysore. We guarantee that the money will reach the children directly.

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As my time here in Mysore is coming to an end, I look forward to see you all very much very soon!! 

The Shala opens already next Monday the 9th of January.

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My Pranayama Level 2 course begins on the 25th of January, all info on the Mysore Yoga Paris website.

(If you are a beginner and wish to begin practicing Pranayama please contact Kia for a possible beginners´class).

The Schedule is pretty much the same as last year…

Can´t wait to see you all!

Much love and blessings from India xoxo kia

Mysore Class and Brunch for AST!

A while ago Chris and Flora, some dear friends of mine who live in Mysore, e-mailed me about a project they are working on supporting the Ashadayaka Seva Trust. I was very touched by the cause and their commitment and felt I wanted to contribute in some small way. The Ashadayaka Seva Trust was established in 2003 with the main objective of Eradicating Child Labour and providing rehabilitation for the destitute children.So, to raise awareness and money for this important project (as well as a great excuse to get together!!) Anna and I will be giving:

MYSORE CLASS / INTRO TO MYSORE all levels welcome!! 

(all revenues from the class will be donated to AST).

Thursday the 8th of December 8.00-10.30 at Mysore Yoga Paris

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After this Anna, Hélène Gwenola and Annemarie and I invite you all for

 WINTER BRUNCH

where you can also make a donation for the Trust if you like!

So far the AST has been able to rehabilitate 33 children who were deserted by their parents and those were orphaned. Most of these children lived by begging. I will go to Mysore myself in December to visit the children and give our donation.

Please RSVP if you wish to join us and do feel free to spread and forward this important info to anyone that might be interested. 

And if you can´t make it to the class or the brunch you can still make a donation via this link!

Thanks in advance for your support and we look forward to seeing you!

Bisou xoxo kia, anna , gwen, annemarie and hélène

Mysore Yoga Paris in this week´s French Elle!

 

 

C´est la yogamania? In any case, it seems like Paris is finally ready to wake up (early)!!

Click the image to read the article written by Isabelle Sansonetti.

xox kia

The sun is always shining…

me and beautiful Gwenola in Bhekasana

I´m just back from a sunny photo shoot in Mauritius. It´s a rainy Thursday in Paris, I bike home from our early morning Mysore class and I feel blessed that in the Shala the sun has been shining brilliantly yet another morning. I´m grateful to be surrounded by such devotion, energy and grace shining from my students…who are in fact my most important teachers. I dedicate this mantra to you guys with BIG love. xx k

Om Sahanavavatu sahanau-bhunaktu

Saha-viryam-kara vavahai

Tejaswinavadhitamastu

Ma Vidvishavahai

Om Shanthi-Shanthi-Shanthihi

May the Divine protect us together

May It nourish us together.

May we work together uniting our strength (for the good of humanity).

May our learning be luminous

And purposeful.

May there never be a conflict of interest between us.

May there be peace, peace and perfect peace.

PRANAYAMA Introduction Course / Level 1

‘To stabilize the mind we need to channel the breath. By practicing Pranayama we become more natural and closer to who we really are. This is not an intellectual understanding but a total understanding with every cell of our being.’

SRI O.P. TIWARI

PRANAYAMA Introduction Course / Lev 1

+ Mysore Style / Introduction to Mysore 

Mon 10/10 + Wed 12/10 + Fri 14 /10

 Pranayama is the fourth limb of Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, and an essential part of any Hatha Yoga practice. These ancient breathing techniques strengthen the lungs, balance and purify the nervous and energy systems in the body and increase vitality. As the mind (citta) is closely connected to the breath, these practices provide a foundation that will allow for a meditative state to naturally unfold.This practically orientated intensive course is focused on helping to develop a small self-practice of Pranayama, that you will be able to continue on your own. The breath work is preceded by a traditional Ashtanga Yoga Mysore Style Class or a Beginner / Intro to Mysore Class where you receive adjustments and guidance from Kia & Anna.

Click here for more info, registration, prices etc, or visit www.mysoreyogaparis.com

Just a little adventure…

Uma jumping off the high rock! Crete August 2011

Running around like a mad woman trying to keep up with everything my little girls need to start their new schools, my thoughts went to that early morning in Agios Pavlos last week. The sun had not yet risen above the mountain tops but the air was already warm and soft like silk. Uma and I standing by the car, holding hands, just about to leave our summer-home Yoga Plus. She reaches up and whispers to me: Mama, don´t be sad,  we are not leaving we are just going on a little adventure! Perhaps this is the perspective to keep in mind as I rush down to the metro with a million things on my never-ending todo-list in my head. Perhaps reality is in the moments of peace and clarity, spending time with your loved ones, swimming naked in the sea by an empty beach… And perhaps this crazy, hectic but also very wonderful life in Paris is just a little adventure!

Anyhow I am very happy to be back and to see you all soon at Mysore Yoga Paris! I start teaching tomorrow morning and now we have Mysore classes 5 mornings a week -yey! xoxo kia