Join the Brussels Yoga Mala 2019: join the 108 Sun Salutations for charity

Since 2010, the yoga community in Brussels organizes the Yoga Mala around the Summer Solstice. All participants donate some money and all the proceeds go to a charity. This year the mala will be organised in September, around the Autumn Solstice, on a Saturday morning, 21 September.

Why 108 ? Good question, Shiva Rea has written a beautiful article about it, read it here.

So please join in on Saturday morning, 21 September 2019, as the Yoga community comes together for the 10th time in a celebration of the unity of Yoga to raise money for charity Bru’Zelle, a local NGO helping to fight period poverty.

As we welcome the Autumn Solstice let us offer our gratitude to life by saluting and honouring the Sun. We will practice a Yoga Mala, a prayer in motion of 108 rounds of Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutations).

The practice will be a meditative flow, and whether we as individuals are able to do 1 or 108 rounds, the importance lies in our participation and intention – as a collective we will complete the Mala. There will be different teachers leading the rounds of Surya Namaskar, the practice is the Sivananda Hatha Yoga tradition.

Being there together in a spirit of loving-kindness, peace and joy is what it’s all about. And who knows what wonders will come from that…

The event is family-friendly, so children, partners and grandparents are warmly welcome. There will be Yoga for kids & mandala coloring in parallel with the Mala, and other fun activities. Tea and biscuits for after!

You can also make a difference, so come and make it happen together with the Brussels’ yoga community.

Practical information:
Date: Saturday 21 September 2019
Time: 10h30 until approximately 12h00
Venue: Autoworld Museum Mezzanine, Cinquantenaire Park
Cost: EUR 3 Museum entrance fee, plus a donation for charity. The suggested donation is at least EUR 13 (incl. the entrance fee), but we appeal to everyone to give what they can.
What to bring: yoga mat, bottle of water, open heart and lots of energy!
Like the Facebook page & join the event.

• To register please fill out this form and pay your entrance fee & donation into this bank account: IBAN: BE85 0357 3874 8506. 

Anyone interested in volunteering to help either on the day or in preparations please let us know via email  !

Check out the Sivananda hatha yoga Sun Salutations here:

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“O nourishing sun,

Solitary traveller, controller,

Source of life for all creatures, spread your light

And subdue your dazzling splendour

So that I may see your blessed Self.

Even that very Self am I!”

Isha Upanishad 16

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Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Yoga teaching schedule as from September 2019

Warrior pose

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed a great Summer and did do (some) yoga while on holidays.

September marks the start of a new yoga teaching schedule.

Wednesday
6-7:30PM: all level hatha yoga class, Sivananda tradition, at Sampoorna Yoga studio, from 4 September.

Thursday
6:00-7:15PM: all level hatha yoga class, at EU Council sport center LEX building (staff only), from 5 September.

Extra classes: 

• Sunday 8 September, 60 minute all levels hatha yoga class, Sivananda tradition, 3PM, at Sampoorna Yoga studio
• Tuesday 24 September, 90 minute all levels hatha yoga class, Sivananda tradition, 7PM at Sampoorna Yoga studio

I’m available for corporate yoga classes during lunch time, feel free to contact me if you have any inquiries.

Looking forward to guiding you on your yoga journey.

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

 

Free yoga classes at the Sampoorna Yoga Studio open-door-day 8/09/2019

Come and put your good resolutions to practice, discover the studio, try different types of classes, enjoy healthy snacks and tea, and meet other yogis.

Date: Sunday 8 September 2019.

Place: Sampoorna Yoga Studio, Rue du Houblon-Hopstraat 40, 1000 Brussels.

Time: doors open from 10:00 to 18:00.

Free classes (60 minutes):

• 10:30 Sampoorna Yoga (upstairs), Prenatal Yoga (downstairs)
• 12:00 Vinyasa Flow (upstairs), Sampoorna Yoga (downstairs)
• 13:30 Sampoorna Yoga (upstairs), Sampoorna Yoga (downstairs)
• 14:30 Mantra chanting (30min)
• 15:00 Yin Yoga (upstairs), Yin Yoga (downstairs)
• 16:30 Chanting & Meditation

FREE of charge. No mandatory pre-registration, just come along!

Special offer on yoga passes: Buy 10 get 15!

We recommend to take public transport or your bicycle to come to the Open Doors! There is a bicycle parking in front.

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Quick & delicious noodle soup Ⓥ

Noodle soup

This is an easy and quick recipe for either lunch or dinner.

The tofu is seasoned and crispy, the noodles cooked al dente, the miso gives the soup an umami flavour and the roasted sesame seeds add a crispy & nutty taste.

Main ingredients (4 servings)

• Noodles of your choice (I used gluten free brown rice/ pumpkin & ginger noodles) for 4 people (about 250g)
• 1 pack of firm tofu (250g)
• 2 to 3 carrots, sliced julienne style
• 1 large leek or 2 small leeks, sliced
• 1 large chunk of ginger
• A handful of sesame seeds
• Optional: some leafy greens such a bok choy or fresh (baby) spinach, washed and shredded.

Seasoning ingredients

• Vegetable stock powder
• 3 tbsp black bean & garlic sauce (from a Chinese or oriental store)
• 5 tbsp of olive or coconut (or other neutral vegetable) oil
• 4 tbsp tamari or shoyu sauce
• 4 tbsp miso paste (rice, soy or another type)
• 2 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp paprika powder
• 1/2 tsp of chili flakes
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Optional: salt to taste (it’s already salty due to stock powder, miso & soy sauce)
• Optional: 2 tbsp no fish sauce (vegan shop or Jumbo in The Netherlands)
• Optional: 1 tsp sambal (very spicy sauce) or sriracha 

Preparation

1. Lightly press the tofu with both hands (careful not to break it) to drain the water from the tofu (use your hands or this method) & cut in cubes (of about 1-2 cm each).
2. Prepare the marinade for the tofu: mix the black bean and garlic sauce, tamari, no fish sauce, sambal/ sriracha & spices together and stir in the tofu cubes. Set aside.
3. Wash the veggies and cut the carrots in julienne strips; peel the ginger and slice thinly; cut the leek in slices.
4. In a frying pan, heat some oil, add the tofu cubes and fry for about 5 minutes on all sides until crispy. Turn heat off.
5. Heat a small frying pan, add the sesame seeds and roast until crispy, not black. Turn heat off.
6. Bring about 1l water to boil, add the vegetable stock powder (see packaging for directions, put half of suggested quantity), as well as the veggies and the noodles bring to boil and let simmer for about 4 minutes (depending on the instructions on the noodle package)*.
7. Serve: add a tablespoon of miso paste to 4 bowls; take a few spoons of the hot stock from the soup and add to each bowl to mix with the miso paste. Once the noodles are al dente, add the noodles with vegetables and stock. Top with tofu & toasted sesame seeds. Add soy sauce to your liking.
   1. Optional: add some shredded leafy greens to the bowl and let it wilt for a minute or so (no need to boil).
   2. *Tip: cook the noodles in a separate pot, drain & rinse with cold water to ensure they’re al dente and especially if you won’t eat all the soup in one go.

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Noodle soup in the making

Accessible yoga training & certificate

Last week I was lucky to be able to attend a 5 day training with the wonderful teacher Lakshmi Sutter in the Sivananda yoga ashram nearby Orleans, France. We were taught many aspects of less able bodied people, their challenges, but mostly all their possibilities to practice yoga on a physical, mental & spiritual level. There was a fun & interested group of fellow yoga teachers from different backgrounds and places taking the course. We all had our own reasons to follow the course, but the intention in general was to be able to bring to more people the benefits of yoga. At the end of the training I obtained my certificate for further training (63 hours). I’m looking forward to teach the accessible training where needed, so feel free to contact me for inquiries.

More info about Accessible Yoga conferences and trainings

Some photos of the training & the delicious sattvic & vegan food in the ashram:

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

 

17-21 June 2019 – 5 day early morning yoga

The Sampoorna Yoga Studio team celebrates the start of the Summer with a delightful 5 day early morning yoga challenge.

Let this week be your inspiration to a daily morning practice! Get up early and start your day with yoga followed by a nourishing vegan breakfast of porridge and fruits!

On five consecutive mornings we meet up before work and duties for a full practice of hatha yoga. There’s no better way to start the day!

 Price: 50€ for the 5 classes (or you can use your regular pass). Free vegan breakfast included!

Dates: 17-21 June 2019 from 7 to 8AM, followed by a filling vegan breakfast

Register online or simply drop by on the day(s) you can make it, even if it’s only 1 day!

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति

Fruit & vegetable season is here: order your slowjuicer with a special discount

Are you looking for a great and useful gift for yourself or your loved ones? Looking to consume more vegetables & fruits in an easier way to stay or become more healthy?

Order the Jazz Max slowjuicer through me and enjoy a special (6%) discount as well as an exclusive manual with recipes and information to get the most out of your juicer.

There are several models available (prices with discount):

• Uno: 275,00€ (259€) – juicer only
• JazzMax white: 345,00€ (324€) – multi-fonctions
• JazzMax chrome: 360,00€ (338€) – multi-fonctions

Read more about the wonderful aspects of the slowjuicer in a previous blogpost.

I can organise a group order as well (as from 2 juicers) with a more interesting price. The juicer comes with a warranty of 3 years.

• Order your juicer before 13 June via mail.

 

Om shanti -ॐ शान्ति