Astrid teaches a very heart centred approach
Astrid is a Sivananda yoga teacher and her classes are suitable for everybody.
Astrid brings mindfulness to your practice which brings peacefulness to your whole being, and helps you connect to a deeper level of your true self.
Astrid is originally from Germany and has been living in Ireland since 2004. She first came across yoga in Denmark on a retreat with Eckhart Tolle in 2007.
When Astrid returned to Ireland she began going to regular yoga classes and soon developed her own daily practice.
She was fortunate to begin practicing meditation at an early stage which allowed her to experience the inner peace and stillness which developed through her regular meditation practice.
Over the years Astrid has studied yoga and meditation with many inspirational teachers including David Muehsam, Greg Walsh, Uma Dismore-Tuli, Deepak Chopra, Eckhardt Tolle, Kim Eng, Prahlada and Thich Nhat Hanh.
At this stage Astrid’s practice was deepening and she was feeling the benefits on a physical, mental level and a spiritual level.
So Astrid spent two weeks at the Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas to deeper her practice further.
“I enjoyed this immersion in Ashram life, learning more and more about a yogic life-style. It was here that all spiritual practices that I had come across so far came together. Part of the daily routine in the Ashram are chanting, meditation, karma yoga, pranayama, and yoga asanas. I realized that these are all different aspects of one spiritual practice and I knew that I had found my spiritual home.”
Astrid continued in this tradition, and completed her yoga teacher training course at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp in Canada.
On her return to Ireland Astrid began teaching yoga while also continuing her own journey through regular daily practice.
The next year Astrid went to the Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas and attended an ‘Advanced Asana Course’.
On her return to Ireland in 2012, Astrid expanded her yoga teaching to Greg Walsh’s studio in Drogheda – weekly asana classes and monthly ‘Meditative Yoga Workshops’.
Since then Astrid has completed a Yoga Nidra Teacher Training course at the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli and also completed another Advanced yoga teacher training RYT-500 at the Sivananda Yoga Camp in Canada.
Over the years the Sivananda yoga ashram in Canada has become Astrid’s spiritual home, and since 2012 she has returned every year to assist on their yoga teacher training program.
Class Approach
Astrid’s classes start and finish off with deep and nourishing relaxation.
She incorporates yogic breathing exercises (pranayama) into the classes which help the student to become calm and peaceful, and connect on a deeper level to the true self.
The more physical aspects of the class will start with a few rounds of sun salutations (surya namaskar) to warm up the body.
The students will then explore yoga postures (asanas) adapted individually to each students’ ability and focusing on correct body alignment. Each posture will increase strength, flexibility and balance.
The classes will be relaxing, yet challenging, and students will be guided at their own level at all times.’
