looking for a yoga place in madrid for ena to take classes at.
anyone doing it now? any tips, recommendations, warnings?
ideally i want a place close to my apt. (plaza mayor) but if anyone has good things to say about places further out, we would consider that too.
so far, she will try a class with "clave53" (http://www.clave53.org) near opera and with "astanga yoga" between la latina and tirso de molina next week.
they are both free trial classes and if she likes, she can decide on one of them.
any input or experiences with either "clave53" or "astanga yoga" (not the discipline but rather the actual school) mentioned above or any other places for that matter?
there are tons of ads for yoga places around, just need some personal pointers if you have any.
I did Yoga last year for a while at "Astanga Yoga" in Calle Juanelo 12, Near Tirso de Molina, I presume that's the same one, Ena is trying next week.
The teachers, Natalia and Borja are both excellent, (they have had extensive training from Yoga masters in India) and the place is very nice with a friendly atmosphere. It is also very hot, which is crucial when practising Yoga, especially the Astanga version as you need to be very warm to increase the flexibility in your muscles and prevent injuries.
I would thoroughly recommend their classes, I'm thinking of starting up again myself soon.
Just one thing though in order to advance in Yoga, especially Astanga, you need to practise at least 3 times a week (obviously better with proper classes) but if you can't afford that, then self-practise at home, just be careful not to overstretch yourself!
I spend most of my money on beer and women, the rest I just waste.
i got some yoga info from kara today at vbalkl as well and am learning bit by bit.
she mentioned that hot and massive sweating with the astanga discipline, not sure ena will dig since she was looking for a more relaxing type (i think).
as for the 3 times a week, well, if she goes with the astanga place on juanelo (yes, it is one and the same, i talked to borja the other day when i went by), the class is mon. and thurs. so that is 2 times a week and i guess she will practice here at home as well if she gets into it.
i thought more people would have yoga input here, maybe my bad for posting on a weekend. the weekdays will tell more.
saludos & thanks a lot for the input.
one question, that street (juanelo) has a LOT of traffic (mostly loading and unloading of trucks) on it, did they not disturb the peace when you were taking classes? just curious.
I did the classes from 8.30pm - 10.30pm so didn't really notice much traffic noise, obviously they close all the windows to keep the place as warm as possible and it never disturbed our practice.
In terms of Astanga being hot and sweaty, well yes it is, there's no denying that, but it all depends what Ena is after, if she wants more fitness, toning and flexibility, then I'd say that Astanga or Iyengar are definately the better disciplines. I tried Hatha Yoga once and didn't like it, It wasn't taxing enough for me.
Hope she enjoys it anyway, whereever she chooses to go.
P.D I have a book on Yoga, in Spanish, if she'd like to borrow it.
I spend most of my money on beer and women, the rest I just waste.
English Pilot-- I did Ashtanga for a couple of years in the states and loved it, but I fell off the wagon since I've been to Spain and haven't done anything serious in almost a year and a half... I live about three blocks from the Tirso studio and keep telling myself that I'll go by and find out what's up with it...
How was the pace of the class? Is it crowded? Do you need to bring your own mat? Do they have a beginner and more advanced class? Or is everyone mixed together? I'm trying to decide if I should ease back in with Iyengar and work myself back up to Ashtanga or just throw myself back into it...
Jer--I think that Ashtanga is the most athletic of the yoga disciplines. It tends to attract those with a slightly masochistic bent (sorry EP, but you know it's true). That said, if you do it a few times a week, you will see serious health improvements right off the bat (aside from the sore muscles, that is).
I heard some not so great stuff second-hand about City Yoga--MIA classes, schedule mis-haps, etc.
Posts: 1070 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
the class i think ena will do is 6-8pm hence the traffic question.
as for the book, will ask her if she wants to borrow it, thanks for the offer.
mariposita, thanks for the input on the astanga discipline.
city yoga was out of the question from the start for ena anyway as the place she ends up at really needs to be within like a 10 or 15 min. walk from our place.
I am not in Madrid, and hence cannot comment on the classes there, however...
I teach Hatha Vinyasa flow yoga here in the USA; I've trained in Iyengar as well. In this country, with the focus on fitness, they are evolving and flowing into one another.
The heated-up room thing is a trend that started about 5 years ago with the introduction of "Bikram yoga;" (registered trademark!) it really does make you feel more flexible and bendy, but I think for beginners it makes it awfully easy to overdo. That whole concept has peaked already here, I think you'll see it losing popularity as time goes on and people overstretch and hurt themselves, and heating fuel prices go higher.
And as for having to go 3x per week? This is a first for me, I've never heard that requirement. ANY yoga is excellent for you, the more the better, but as you grow into it you just listen to your body and it will let you know how much is too much/enough/too little. Arbitrary rules are imposed from the outside, and sound much more like "fitness trainer" talk than "yoga mindfulness." (BTW, yoga isn't supposed to be a CV or weight-loss aid. But it surely does build up strength, flexibility, balance, and mental acuity!)
The yoga poses that comprise fitness-type classes are only a small part of what Yoga is. The poses were created just to keep you limber and relaxed enough to sit still and meditate for hours; they are themselves a spiritual discipline as well as a physical workout.
I'll get off my soapbox now! I am looking forward to doing a class in Spanish!
Reb
Posts: 385 | Location: a pueblo in Palencia, via Pittsburgh USA | Registered: 15 February 2003
Hi jer Nice to have you back. My girlfriend is taking yoga lessons at a place call "Yoga Sivananda" C/eraso 4, Tel: 913615150 http://www.sivananda.org/madrid She is very satisfied. It's possible to buy a card for 10 clases and it comes really cheap. Enjoy Nava
Age is a matter of mind, if you don't mind it doesn't matter.
Posts: 317 | Location: Israel >Madrid | Registered: 29 July 2004
No problem, let me know if Ena wants to borrow the book, I'm only in Anton Martin, so not far for you to come and pick it up!
Mariposita,
The classes are a mixed level, they don't have different classes for beginners or Advanced, but it's a good pace for all levels and they keep a close eye on the beginners and make sure they don't over do it. As regards mats, they do have ones there that you can use, but obviously as it's such a sweaty discipline, I prefer to take my own, you can buy a mat from them for about €20 I think.
Rebrites,
I certainly didn't mean to give the impression that you have to practice 3 or more times a week, merely it's a recommendation, certainly for Astanga Yoga as it's such a difficult discpline, to improve quickly, the more you practice the better. I was speaking from my own personal experience, where I noticed a much faster learning curve when I increased my classes from 1 to 3 times a week. This was also a recommendation from the teacher.
I spend most of my money on beer and women, the rest I just waste.
thanks for the rec. Nava but that yoga sivananda is WAY out there for ena. as i mentioned, it really needs to be within short walking distance from our place.
hey rebrites, tall order. i think you should start a new thread entitled "yoga in ...." (replace the .... with the area you will be in).
back to yoga in madrid.
update...
ena was supposed to have her trial yoga class today at 5:30pm at "clave53".
she just called me at 5:45pm and said there is nobody at the center
after calling and calling myself and leaving a few voicemails, the woman who gave me the trial class apointment for ena over a week ago answered the phone (her name is carmen de la rosa).
diplomatically i asked her where the class was since my wife was waiting outside the center in the rain and nobody is there.
all she could say was that she was sorry, not enough people signed up for the class (4 was the minumum ). i asked why she had not called me to cancel since she had my phone number and new ena was going to show up today. she offered no explanation and hung up on me!!!
i am forced to come to the conlusion that clave53 is very unprofessional and in a word, is crap as far as classes are concerned.
stay away from clave53!!! and stay away from "carmen de la rosa" y "giusseppe" (the owners/operators)
i do not know anything about the yoga instructor there himself but i would also think twice before using the center.
needless to say ena will be going to the "astanga yoga" (see prev. posts above) for her classes.
Glad to hear Ena enjoyed the class at Astanga Yoga.
Sounds like those Clave53 jokers are not a very professional bunch, not a very Yoga type attitude displayed there
Hope Ena continues to enjoy the classes with Natalia and Borja. I'll be taking the classes again next month hopefully, if I can fit them into my hectic timetable!!
EP.
I spend most of my money on beer and women, the rest I just waste.
Do you know if they offer an English session for those of us who are still conquering Spanish? I'd hate to pull something by inhaling when I should exhale
I really want to get more fit but am not excited at the prospect of jogging, etc.
Thanks, jar
Posts: 75 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 28 August 2005
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
she was prepped to sweat it out thanks to your info EP.
). i asked why she had not called me to cancel since she had my phone number and new ena was going to show up today. she offered no explanation and hung up on me!!! 
stay away from clave53!!! and stay away from "carmen de la rosa" y "giusseppe" (the owners/operators)
