This workshop gives you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the mechanisms of backward bending. You will learn techniques that help to open and strengthen the body and in a safe way backbend without pain or discomfort. 

You will get tips on how to strengthen your back, legs and torso muscles for increased health and well-being in everyday life.

Bending backwards requires increased mobility and strength in the spine with surrounding muscles. Backward bends automatically brings the focus to the back but in reality backbends is a stretching of the front of the body. 

In everyday life we ​​sit a lot, slouching shoulders, bending forward and rounding our backs. The front of the body thus becomes

compressed, as well as our ability to breathe properly. Our torso muscles weaken and our spine also becomes negatively affected - poor posture, the spine loses flexibility, we get back pain and difficulty to breathe deeply.

In Ashtanga yoga's first and above all second series, the yoga practitioner is introduced to back bends that open the shoulder area, chest / thoracic spine, hip flexors etc. Through regular exercise of the positions from these two series our body will become more balanced. The muscles in the torso are strengthened and stretched and we create better support for a healthy spine and it will become easier to breathe for the yogi.

In a playful way Isabella has composed a vinyasa class, that effectively will explore a number of asanas (positions) from

basic to more advanced level. The workshop is open to everyone but it is of advantage to have some previous yoga experience as well as an open and curious mind.

Limited number of seats. Pre-registration required!

Price; 

750kr for both Masterclasses (brunch included)

400kr/class (brunch optional +50kr)

Photo: Alessia Campostrini

Isabella Nitschke is the owner and manager of Ashtanga Yoga Malmö based in southern Sweden where she runs a daily Mysore programme. She found yoga more than 18 years ago following a running injury and the practice has since helped her heal on many levels. Isabella has Sharath Jois’ blessing to teach the primary and intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga and has assisted him twice at the main shala in Mysore. She returns to India regularly to practice, study and to further develop her chanting skills and studies of yoga philosophy and Sanskrit.

Isabella is also a qualified yoga therapist for mental health, a lifestyle coach and relaxation therapist. She has devoted much of the past ten years to study and explore the effects of yoga on our nervous system and our mental health - in particular how the practice can help increase our resilience to stress and ability to self-regulate. Her teaching style is inclusive and aims to create a safe space for all students. She follows a gentle approach with particular focus on breath to cultivate sensitivity and awareness of the body and mind. Isabella has over 20 years of experience from working in health and fitness worldwide and has studied both anatomy and movement mechanics extensively.

Prior to teaching yoga Isabella had a career in international politics which gave her the opportunity to live and work in many different countries and cultures. She speaks several languages fluently and is still very engaged in human and women’s rights which was her primary field of work. Seva (karma yoga) is an important part of Isabella’s yoga journey and is engaged in the work of several charities such as V-Care and Odanadi.

Read more about Isabella at https://ashtangayogamalmo.se/en/