Introduction
Wear clothes that fit comfortably, you need to move a lot in them. No requirements for special yoga clothes, just wear something flexible. Remember, yoga is not about the appearance, but if these clothes make you feel good, go for it!
For yoga in a heated room, it’s recommended to wear a short pants + sports top (yogini’s) / or no top at all (yogi’s). During the practice, please take your shoes and socks off. Traditionally, yoga is practiced barefoot. Embrace your feet, they are amazing parts of your body. Show them some love and a bit of sunlight.
Practice yoga on an empty stomach, so the meal will not get in your way when you twist and bend. The energy we create during the practice is ‘prana’, which is different energy than ‘apana’ that is generated during eating. Also, drink before or after the practice to cleanse your body and to hydrate. Try not to drink during the practice, because it will lower down your body temperature.
A lot of yogi’s and yogini’s are vegetarian, or vegan, or something in between. One of the ethical principles of yoga philosophy (ahimsa) is that you don’t hurt other beings (non-violence). However, adapting your food choices is never a requirement to start practicing yoga. At this place, you can find primarily information about veganism, because it happens to be that I’m vegan too! I was already vegetarian long before I started practicing yoga and I turned vegan because of my own beliefs.
A common misconception that I often encounter is that you have to be flexible to start doing yoga. It’s the same comparison to: ‘I can’t start learning to play guitar, because I can’t play guitar.’ Silly isn’t it!? Everybody has to start somewhere, so don’t compare yourself to others. Everybody has their own journey, their own challenges, and their own physical and mental boundaries.
Strength and flexibility will come later during your practice, but be aware that results are different for each one of us. Remember, it’s the practice itself that counts and the connection that you feel with yourself and the universe. Showing up at your mat is more important than being flexible. Also good to know: the cool poses you might encounter on social media take normally years to achieve. But you already knew that the internet doesn’t display our daily life, right!?
Choose a yoga style that you like. And always tell your yoga teacher if you have (chronic) pains or injuries. Asanas will be adjusted for you. Just breath, you can do this!
By practicing yoga, you will feel physically and mentally stronger. Movement cleanses your body and can remove blockages, what makes your energy flow again. For me, my yoga practice is like moving meditation. Some days are better than others of course, but I always feel more positive and energetic afterwards.
The benefits are endless, and here are a couple you can experience: Rest, peace, positive energy, excitement, and confidence. But you can also release your emotions during or after the practice (like crying or feeling sad). No worries, this is all very normal. Part of practicing yoga is learning how to accept yourself. One of the things I find fascinating is the connection between the mind and body. There’s still so much to learn about this! Because of the introspection, yoga can also support you when you’re going through a rough period in your life. Yoga can be supportive by stress release, emotion regulation, and trauma healing. Keep in mind that the experiences are always personal, and I’m no doctor saying that you should or shouldn’t do something. Always tailor movements and activities to your personal needs and consult a doctor if you need to.
The holistic approach of working on your body, mind, and soul, are complementary to each other. Your whole being is more than a body, is more than the mind. It’s the connection that is within everything! For a long time, this scientific field was underdeveloped, but nowadays, more people discover the importance of the body/mind-connection. In fact, you have four bodies to take care of (physical, emotional, mental, energetic). Yoga pays attention to all of those.
This website www.yogacolours.nl belongs to Kim Francis and is used as my personal online space. This creative space shows information about yoga, food and a healthy lifestyle. It displays my interests and the activities that I’m drawn to. You’ll find posts and information that shows my perspective and personal opinion, and is in no way intended to harm or offend anybody.
Any questions or comments? Send an e-mail to info@yogacolours.nl and I will get in touch with you.
Or follow me on social media and I will see you there. Let’s connect and spread some love and happiness.
Love more, smile more at Yoga Colours ♥
Yoga Colours Consultancy
July 2021 / 200h Vinyasa Ashtanga – RYS Yoga Union – Ourania Bouzouki & Spyros Kapitsinos – Palairos Greece
April 2022 / Ashtanga Course – Tula Studio Amsterdam – David Robson & Jelena Vesić – Amsterdam The Netherlands
August 2022 / 300h Hatha Vinyasa Ashtanga – RYS House of Om – Wissam Barakeh & Peewee Sanchez – Bali Indonesia
My yoga journey started around 2015 when I was a bachelor student. I enrolled for my first yoga lesson ever. The more the years passed by, the more yoga became part of my lifestyle. Lover of ashtanga, vinyasa, hatha and yin. Next to that, I regularly practice bikram, iyengar, nidra, and several forms of meditation and journaling. Every once in a while, I update my knowledge with new courses. Besides yoga and fitness, I spend my time learning about philosophy, ayurveda, and trauma healing. Health and wellbeing is a great part of my life, and I’m always eager to learn, teach, and experience more.
Bachelor of Education; Biology Teacher – 2015 / Fontys Hogeschool Tilburg, The Netherlands
Master of Education; Educational Sciences – 2021 / University Utrecht, The Netherlands
I have a deep respect for nature in all its forms. Biology was therefore the minor that I studied. Everything about biology is so fascinating. The teacher aspect came later. As a teacher, you can have so much influence on other people’s lives. This sparked my interest to do a major in education. But the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. So I keep educating myself in various disciplines. For the rest of my life, because I love learning and teaching. In my eyes, I will always remain a student.
Yoga Colours Consultancy is actively registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce: KvK 75733102
Proud owner of Yoga Colours Consultancy (YCC) and www.yogacolours.nl ♥
Yogic Lifestyle
As a yoga teacher, I love to move and be moved. Next to regular yoga lessons, I have a very broad interest in the yogic lifestyle. We can work together in all kinds of forms, but here’s a list that could speak to your interest. We can practice together, or in a small or bigger group.
- Ashtanga / Vinyasa / Hatha / Yin
- Breath work
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Vegan lifestyle
Also, have a look on my business page for more information. Still miss that sparkle? Connect with me, and we’ll get in touch to see how I can help.
It is possible to have a private and personalised fitness session, adapted to your wishes.
Fitness and yoga can work complementary. Since I work out in the gym, I know that fitness exercises build up strength that may also be beneficial to your yoga practice. Think of training like: lower back, arms, hip mobility. Also, stretching before and after your gym workout can be supported by yoga. I can show you how to easily integrate these two disciplines. We can work out together, or in a small group.
Contact me to explore the possibilities.
It is possible to have a private and personalised yoga session, adapted to your wishes.
Sometimes you need more attention, practice, or motivation during your yoga session. It can help to practice one-on-one, to understand asanas better, or to progress even faster. Whatever the reason is, if you feel like having a personal session, dedicated to your practice, I can help you for sure. Private sessions are beneficial for beginners and advanced practitioners. For a beginner, I can spend more time on various topics, like explaining the asanas, movements, breath work, philosophy, aim and alignment. If you’re more advanced, we can target specific areas for a deeper understanding of the eight limbs of yoga.
Contact me to explore the possibilities.