Why Yoga, I grew up dancing because we lived in the Caribbean where everyone was happy most of the time, at least that is how I remember my youth. Not much was available to us those days not even TV, no disco’s, computers etc. Sports was practically free so that is what we mostly did, swimming, basket ball, volley ball, walking, cycling and ballet classes were also available and in the weekends we organized our own dance parties at homes. Most houses were built on columns so under the house was party time.

I moved to the Netherlands to study nursing, it was an in-company program meaning you worked full time went to classes and had to study. After graduation I got married and had two daughters shortly after each other I was 25 years old when my second daughter was born and I began to seriously hyperventilate.

In 1974 doctors did not even know what it was, the word did not exist yet ‘hyperventilation’ they only knew that Valium gave relief. Being a nurse, I al to well knew what it would mean if I continued that regimen of medication.

 

A friend of my mothers introduced me to yoga; it was just becoming popular through the Beatles and Ravi Shankar. I gave it a try, to me anything was better than becoming addicted.

 

Having been dancing and into sports all of my youth did make the Asana’s easy for me, breathing however was a problem. Learning to breath correctly did help enormously, while I must admit that it took me 2 years to completely stop hyperventilating.

 

I never gave up Yoga completely; it made me realize that after a physically active youth, completely stopping being active while living in Holland, had caused my problem. And that awareness was very important, both physically and mentally.

 

In 1985 during a Yoga session the Hague it was suggested to me that a Yoga teachers training was about to start and if I was interested. While living a full and busy life it dawned on me that it could be a good idea so I signed up, following that program I immediately went on to become a pre-natal yoga teacher and continued after that to becom a Kundalini Yoga instructor.

 

Pre-natal yoga is very special to me, because I realized how important it is in today’s society for couples to really prepare for the birth of a child. Usually both parents are working and both are perusing a career, pregnancies are also planned later in life, at least after 30. I prepare parents not only physically and mentally for the delivery but for the period after birth. We no longer live in an era where a grandmother, mother or a relative is available to care for the baby, clean and cook, while carrier demands continue. If not adequately prepared the joy of having a child sadly becomes a burden.

 

From yoga I learned so much, not only to control my posture but also the whole philosophy of yoga: Becoming a balanced person, making decisions no matter how difficult, controlling urges and thoughts. Over the years it gave me the energy to be, without worrying, it gave me the strength to fight without fighting.

Everyone should try it.

 

It became my dream to have my own Yoga studio one day and that dream has now come true. The natural 40 m2 wood floor inside chosen with care as are the colors while a 32 m2 hardwood outside deck surrounded and covered by tropical plants I created an ideal space to practice Yoga.

 

Morning and evening session are available; the groups are kept small up to 10 persons in order to facilitate individual attention to each student.