Where? Open Mind Project, 95 Pearse Street, Dublin
Time? 1-2pm
How much? Donation based
Since the closure of the lovely Hush Yoga studio, I've been on the lookout for another drop in Yoga studio. I'm not keen on signing up for 8 week courses as I feel it really ties you into something you should be able to go at anytime you want that yoga hit. Alas, so many of the drop in classes cost alot so I was thinking that I'd have to be saluting the sun from my kitchen window! Until I heard about Open Mind Project. Hurray! www.openmindsproject.ie All classes at the centre are currently donation based. Double Hurray!
Its a bit tricky to find (I cycled passed it twice) and once inside I couldn't find anybody so wandered upstairs. The studio is a bright, warm, clean room with 3 huge green plants and lots of space. I had forgotten my mat so was freaking out a bit in case they didn't have any to spare. In my best 'I'm not freaking out' voice I asked the teacher for a mat and she smiled & pointed to a load of them neatly rolled up in the corner. Phew!
We started the class lying down on the mats, eyes closed and listening to our breath. Listening to heavy breathing is some peoples idea of torture but I think in a Yoga class it just doesn't seem so bad. Anyway, we moved to sitting up and horror of horrors, our teacher asked us to introduce ourselves and say whether we had any injuries. That bit was actually fine though, I thought she was going to ask us to name our intentions for our lives or something so I fell back into my breathy, relaxed state. Deirdre (our instructor) started with some core strengthening postures. I found these pretty hard going, as in I was shakin' like a leaf on the second posture. I think she saw me wobbling all over so showed 'the class' how to adapt the posture if its a but too difficult. Thank you! Deirdre bought us through some lovely flowing postures that were challenging but at the same time, relaxing. She demonstrates the postures then moves around the class, correcting peoples alignment and offering tips to progress each posture. The hour flew by. We finished the class with three Nommmmmssss, there were only 5 of us in the class so there was some very self conscious Nommmming going down but I gave it socks!
I really liked this class and going to it at lunchtime seemed so much more appealing than sitting at a desk, eating your tuna sandwiches! Its adaptable and gentle enough for beginners and intermediates alike.
Til next time,
Peace out
P.S. Just a quick tip, during Downward Dog I was horrified to see up close and personal, how badly my poor feet needed some tlc, so remember to paint those tootsies!
