Take it to the mat

Take it to the mat

As much as you love the Italian way of life, every now and then you might find yourself craving the alluring aroma of a Thai curry and the lifestyle of a bigger, more cosmopolitan town than Florence can possibly offer. But when it comes to yoga centres, you need look

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Wed 16 Jun 2010 10:00 PM

As much as you love the Italian way of life, every now and then you might find yourself craving the alluring aroma of a Thai curry and the lifestyle of a bigger, more cosmopolitan town than Florence can possibly offer. But when it comes to yoga centres, you need look no further, as the variety of choices here is almost overwhelming. Florence is the perfect spot to ‘give it a go’ if you have never tried yoga before, or to continue your routine from back home.

 

The compelling promise of softly toning your body from tip to toe, on top of feeling more relaxed, balanced and simply happier, has made yoga immensely popular beyond its native India. In the West, scores of adaptations of this century-old tradition are now part of millions of lives and lifestyles. Pop stars from Madonna to actors, models, athletes: everyone seems to be doing it. The combination of different body postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana), all aspects of a thorough yoga practice, seem to be doing the trick!

 

 

As is true for any other form of exercise, results don’t come at once, but patience will pay off, as soon as your body and mind surrenders to the new moves. As a reward, your posture will improve, your breathing will become more efficient and deeper, you will feel stronger and more resilient, and your endurance and energy levels will increase. Yoga simply makes you feel gorgeous and, after some time, look gorgeous too.

 

Some of the yoga centres in Florence focus on physical exercises while others tend to frame the body work in a spiritual and traditional context. To find out what is right for you, go for a trial class (which is often free) and see what style, instructor and setting suits you best. Call the centre before you go, and bring along comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. You can leave your gym shoes at home, as practicing yoga barefoot helps you feel grounded and develop awareness of your body.

 

 

The following centres offer classes in Italian and English, and are suitable for all levels:

 

SIVANANDA YOGA

Via de’ Marsili 1, tel. 055/2302250. www.yogaincentro.it

 

Part of the global network of Sivananda Yoga Centers, Sivananda Yoga Firenze is run by Francesca, who returned to Italy after 20 years spent in the US, Germany and UK to open the Florence affiliate in 2006. In a cosy centre a stone’s throw from Palazzo Pitti, her Hatha yoga classes guide you through breathing exercises and the sun salutation, a dynamic succession of 12 yoga postures, before continuing with relaxation intervals and single postures that stretch and strengthen your body. Classes conclude with meditation or guided relaxation.

 

IT’S YOGA FIRENZE

Via dei Bardi 21, tel. 339/1970902, www.itsyogafirenze.it

 

At It’s Yoga Firenze, a spacious centre in San Niccolò, Melissa, who moved from New York to Florence a year ago, or Max, originally from Germany, offer Atshanga yoga classes. Asthanga is a somewhat more physically demanding branch of Hatha yoga, where all postures are linked by a dynamic connecting posture (vinyasa) that creates a flow between the more static, traditional yoga postures. Relaxation is limited to the end of the session. Melissa also holds free open-air classes at La Spiaggia Easy Living, the riverside beach just across San Niccolò (until August, Wednesdays at 7pm).

 

 

IYENGAR YOGA

Via San Gervasio 18 and Via Ulivelli 31/r,  tel. 055/582821, info@centroiyengaryoga.it

 

Iyengar Yoga, created by B.K.S. Iyengar, strongly emphasizes precision in all postures. It uses props such as belts, blocks and chairs, and postures are held for a relatively long time. Gabriella Giubilaro is the mother of Iyengar Yoga in Florence and runs centres in Campo di Marte and Novoli. The Campo di Marte centre has a sweet little garden attached to the gym-like yoga room. Michele (or ‘Mims’) has been teaching in Florence for 17 years; her class is challenging, but an extremely efficient way to adapt your body to the different yoga moves.

 

 

YOGA INTEGRALE

Viale Volta 127, tel. 338/1600523. www.yogafirenze.it

 

Centro Sinergi in Le Cure offers a range of wellness and complementary medicine services, among which are the Yoga Integrale classes held by Jacopo Ceccarelli. Apart from these general classes guiding you through postures, breathing exercises and meditation, he also offers weekend seminars called ‘yoga sul tapeto volante’ (yoga on the flying carpet). This is a dynamic variation comprising elements of Thai massage, partner yoga and acrobatic yoga where you take turns being the base or the flyer and lift each other up into poses. It sounds daring but it’s fun and suitable for all levels!

 

 

‘SCARAVELLI’ YOGA

Vanda Scaravelli was the daughter of the founder of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Alberto Passigli, and from a well-to-do family. Vanda studied yoga with J.K. Krishnamurti, who was a disciple of B.K.S. Iyengar. Krishnamurti, a famous and well respected yogi in the yoga world, was a friend of the family and visited their country home every summer, where she would practice yoga with him. She started teaching yoga at the age of 60, and could backbend into a bridge and execute other tricky yoga poses well into her late 80s. Many of the yoga centres in Florence are run by people who directly or indirectly studied with Vanda.

 

The yoga centres listed below offer very individual yoga styles, all inspired by Vanda Scaravelli.  These classes teach you how to ground yourself using the force of gravity and your breath and make yourself feel fluid and flexible. If you prefer a slower pace for discovering yoga and your body, these centres are ideal:

 

 

ROSSELLA BARONCINI

Borgo Albizi 15, tel. 334/3171742. www.rossellabaroncini.com

 

For many years, Rossella studied yoga directly with Vanda. She created her own studio, set in a beautiful fifteenth-century palazzo in the heart of town, with acute attention to detail, using exclusively ecological and innocuous materials. Rossella also holds retreats in Stromboli, Sicily as well as in Ireland, Denmark, Holland and occasionally, the United States.

 

 

STUDIO YOGA MAYA

Via de Serragli 59, tel. 055/9060107. www.studioyogamaya.com

 

Studio Yoga Maya is another relaxing hideaway in Oltrarno, opened four years ago by Francesca. Francesca or expat instructors Michael or Brigid teach the classes. The studio is named after Francesca’s cat, who may peek over your shoulder during class.

 

 

BODY LANGUAGE

Via degli Artisti 6, tel. 340/7939589

 

Dennis Clark, originally from Atlanta, has been running this yoga and pilates studio close to Piazzale Donatello since 2005, where she instructs pilates classes. Lisa, originally from Minnesota and in Florence for 22 years, has been instructing yoga for seven years and will guide you through classes.

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