Hi there,

can anyone recommend a good yoga class in either Canton Vaud or Geneva? I´d perhaps like to take a class, but just don´t know where a good one could be.

Also, do you know of any that have classes at the weekends?

If anyone has any tips, I´d really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Neonfish

Hi,
Try www.yogafinder.com and click on Switzerland.

Thanks for that website! I was interested in yoga classes as well and this site is very helpful. It took me a minute to find the International page but if you click "find a yoga class" at the bottom of the first page, you will be directed to an international page where you can click "Switzerland". They have two yoga studios listed in the Geneva area.

I remember reading somewhere that only some kinds of yoga are suitable for people with bad backs, and it is very important to have good teacher.

Does anyone know the type of yoga that is good for bad backs? And, a good teacher of that kind of yoga in Zurich?

Thanks.

Hatha Yoga is probably what you have heard about but there is no generic answer to your question. It really depends on the source of your bad back - disc degeneration, bad posture, trapped nerve, inflamed tendon etc etc . Yoga can help bad posture and increase flexibility but the wrong exercises could end up putting strain on your back and aggravating certain problems. I would advise you see your back specialist or physio first before going to a Yoga school. Any reputable Yoga school should conduct a one-on-one induction interview to discuss your objectives and any health problems and tailor make a regime for you. Depending on the severity of your back problem a general class may not be for you.

Hi,
I am a yoga teacher working in Lausanne. I teach primary series ashtanga yoga, a dynamic form of hatha yoga, linking postures through breath. You can check out my website at http://eightlimbsyoga.blogspot.com/. At the moment I am not teaching because I have a serious injury from snowboarding but will resume teaching classes for beginners/experienced practitioners in approximately one and a half months time. There is more information on my website about ashtanga yoga and my schedule.

Great advice Nev about the back problems. Seek out professional help first if the back injury has persisted for a while. If you do choose to take up yoga lessons, tell your teacher before you start about any injury/ies to your back or else where first before beginning. Safety first....... Certainly yoga can help strengthen and stabilise injuries. I will be working hard on mine soon.

Hope this helps.

Alex

I can recommend Entre Ciel & Terre which is in Vich, near Geneva.
The owners are great teachers and wonderful people.

Hi, we at Leela Yoga in Zurich will feature an 'Easing Back Pain' workshop at our yoga studio on May 27th, 2007. This workshop will be taught in English.

This workshop will bring you the knowledge, understanding and practical techniques to enable you to reduce and manage back problems.

We usually recommend our clients when they indicate to have back problems to consult with a nearby osteopath. Like this we can rule out that there is any clinical condition causing the back problem.

The good news is that research has shown that only 10% of all back pain needs medical attention ( x-ray, operation, etc., yoga probably not appropriate ). In 90 % of the cases no medical attention is required and can resolve completely through yoga.

You are more than welcome to drop in to our studio and ask for me so that we can assess what the best way forward is for you; If a group class would or would not be suitable for you, if you need a private program etc.


Best wishes,
Andre

Hi,
one of the reasons why I did start with yoga was a herniated disk when i was 21…
Many years later and without operation, the result of a steady yoga practice is INNERCITYOGA in Geneva, www.innercityoga.com ,which I had the pleasure to cofound.
You see what a bad back can make you do eventually!

As Andre stated, check with your doc first and then go to gentle hatha yoga classes. The funky stuff will follow once your body will be ready.
Enjoy your practice!

Patric

If you are looking for English yoga classes in the center of Geneva, you may want to check out Innercityoga.