YOGA

somaticyoga/slowvinyasa/yinyoga/yoga with deep sound

with Maria Rutanen

The Vinyasa class emphasizes the breath, which provides rhythm for the movement and guides it through the flow of sequences. Through the fluctuation of movement and stillness, lengthening and compressing, softening and strengthening, we align ourselves with the space. The purpose is not to achieve anything, but rather to investigate, explore, and experience one’s own body-mind through asanas and to let transformation happen.

Yin practice gives us time to deepen, listen, release, and be present in the moment as it is. Through long-held asanas, we access the body's fascial-fluid system and cultivate compassion for ourselves.

With a somatic approach, we learn to soften in asana and discover that by listening to and sensing our bodies, we can deepen our understanding of them and become gracious. Movement can be a powerful tool that allows us to experience sensitivity, acceptance, and change. Inspired by Body-Mind Centering, we approach yoga practice experientially, through different bodily systems, such as bones, muscles, fluids, and the endocrine system.

Through a feminist lens, we can deconstruct limiting beliefs about what kinds of bodies can practice yoga, affirming that anyone, regardless of physical appearance or ability, can be a yogi.

Maria is a dance artist, choreographer, movement teacher, and Vinyasa Flow and Yin Yoga instructor (RYT 200) inspired by Body-Mind Centering, Embodied anatomy, Buddhist insights and various dance and somatic practices. Maria practices Yoga since 2003. For many years, she practiced Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in the Mysore style, until she moved on to softer Vinyasa and eventually fell in love with the deep and comforting asana work of Yin Yoga. Maria has been teaching yoga for many years, also holding groups for women only and the elderly. She also taught yoga off the mat, for example on a chair, as well as on a paddle board.

yielding into the earth, lengthening into the space, aligning between sky and earth

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I am grateful to all the great teachers who have dedicated their lives to discovering and sharing knowledge and to those who have dared to question, critique, and resist harmful structures in order to move the practice forward. Thank you to the Advaita masters, to the wisdom of tantric Kashmir Shaivism and Vajrayana buddhism, and for all the many trips to India that I have been privileged to take. Om Namah Shivaya.