SIVANANDA YOGA RETREAT HOUSE - Sivananda Yoga Firenze

Page 8 · Yoga Activities and Important Info Yoga Activities and Important Info · Page 9
Individual coaching
Do you have particular concerns or interests relating to your yoga practice
We offer 30-minute one-to-one sessions with an experienced senior instructor. Some personal advice
and tips are often enough to bring about substantial progress in both the group practice at the Retreat
House and your own practice at home.
Sun salutation
· Precise performance of the positions
· Individual adaptation of the flow of movement,
intermediate positions, breath control and
relaxation in the movements
Inverted poses
· Consideration of contraindications
· Strength training and taking controlled steps
into the headstand
· Shoulderstand cycle with variations
Asanas in depth
· Individual correction for various asanas
· Pose and counterpose
· Developing a personal exercise plan for
“Yoga@home”
Breathing – Basics
· Diaphragmatic breathing in relaxation and in
various asanas
· Full yogic breathing
· Individual exercises for breathing with
awareness in everyday life
Breathing – Pranayama
· Correction of Kapalabhati and Anuloma Viloma
· Lifestyle coaching for a higher energy level
· Developing a personal exercise plan for
"Pranayama@home”
Ayurveda nutrition consultation
(only on specific dates and for an extra fee)
· Determining your personal body type
· Food intolerances
· Personal dietary plan for physical and
mental health
Meditation coaching
· Individual correction of the meditation posture
· Advice on your personal meditation technique
(abstract/concrete)
· Recognising and overcoming the biggest obstacles
· Developing a personal exercise plan for
“Meditation@home”
30-minute coaching: 25 €
Please enquire at the Retreat House reception
A wide variety of programmes
Choose from a wide variety of programmes. In workshops and special asana classes, you will learn various exercise sequences
that you can easily practise at home. Lectures, PowerPoint presentations, recommended readings and one-to-one talks help you
to broaden your knowledge of yoga.
Special guests & cultural programmes
Workshops and talks with renowned special guests from around the world on topics of health, science, philosophy and culture.
International artists are regular visitors to the Retreat House: for example, Eastern spiritual discourse accompanied by classical
Indian music, South Indian dance, colourful temple ceremonies with mantra recitation.
Course language
English-speaking guests are welcome throughout the year. Yoga classes are taught in both English and German and all lectures
in German are translated simultaneously into English via wireless headphones.
Our team of instructors
Our team of yoga teachers have all graduated from the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Courses, guaranteeing an authentic
experience. All our instructors lead a yogic lifestyle and are competent teachers and advisers.
Massage & sauna
Experienced certified masseuses offer classical massage, foot reflexology, shiatsu and lymphatic drainage. During high season
the Retreat House also offers Ayurvedic oil massages for women with an Ayurvedic massage therapist from South India, as well
as supportive body therapies with a physical and occupational therapist from Berlin.
You can book your treatments on arrival. A Finnish and a low-temperature sauna are available in Hotel Pointner.
Donate some time
The community feeling in the Retreat House is based on ‘voluntary service’. All staff teach and work on a volunteer basis.
You can also lend a hand if you like. Volunteering creates a cheerful atmosphere in which to meet other people and develop
a positive motivation.
What to bring
Please bring your yoga mat, cushion and blanket. You can buy these in the yoga shop, or borrow them free of charge from
the Retreat House (deposit required). Also notebook, torch (flashlight) and walking shoes. Please bring a hard case for your
eyeglasses for safe storage during the yoga classes.
Yoga shop
We will be happy to advise you on choosing the right yoga accessories: Cushion, yoga mat, meditation shawl or yoga clothing
according to your needs. You will find a wide assortment of yoga books including standard works on Hatha Yoga, health, yoga
philosophy, meditation, Ayurveda and vegetarian cooking. Also many classical and meditative music CDs.
Hotel Pointner
For many years the Sivananda Yoga Retreat House has worked closely with Alexandra and Florian Pointner, the proprietors
of the hotel across from the Retreat House. This has allowed us to offer our guests a wholesome and nutritious vegetarian
dietary programme. The entire hotel has been certified by Austria-Bio-Garantie, Austria’s leading inspection body for organic
businesses. It was awarded the European eco-label as well as Austria’s gastronomic accolade ‘Grüne Haube’ for whole-grain
and natural cuisine. The Pointners have been running their farm according to organic and ecological guidelines since 1995.
Various fruits, vegetables and herbs are freshly prepared on a daily basis in the hotel’s kitchen.
All guest rooms have wooden floors, health mattresses, shower, toilet, hair dryer and telephone. Most rooms have a balcony.
The hotel uses clean energy from renewable sources (pellet heating and a solar-powered hot water system).