Kundalini-Flow®
Practice
My method, Kundalini-Flow, is strongly influenced by Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa Flow Yoga through some special sets of excercises.
Kundalini Yoga improves the energy of body and mind. Kundalini is the term for the primordial energy, the divine energy, our life energy. Through Kundalini Yoga techniques our energy...
Thai Yoga Massage
This massage technique comes from Thailand. It is strongly influenced by Yoga through the stretching positions and movements performed during the massage. The terms Thai massage and Thai Yoga massage are hence synonyms. Traditionally, oils are not used and the massage takes place on the ground or on a mat.
Its origins can be traced back to India, like Yoga, and show a deep influence of Buddhism and its philosophy. The roots of this massage, that date back over a thousand years, even...
Biography
I did a Tapa Group theatre course with Denise Del Vecchio and Eduardo Tolentino, not to become an actress but to gain a better understanding of the body's potential and the ways in which it can express itself.
At university, I studied for 2 semesters in the FAAP School of Visual Arts in São Paulo. I decided to live outside the bubble of the city, and for a long time I lived by the beach, leading a simple life in a tropical paradise in the northeast of Brazil, when it was still untouched. I then lived for a few years in Zurich, a city that would become ever present in my life, and where I'd return to later. It was the place my heart chose.
At the beginning of the nineties in São Paulo, I met Professor De Rose. I loved the fluidity of his Yoga style, especially the way he performed the asanas (postures), the breathing exercises and the mantras. I studied and worked with him and his team for 3 years as a yoga teacher in the UNI-Yôga headquarters.
I definitely fell in love with Yoga when I met some of the teachers who would serve as the inspiration for my work.
I have completed 600 hours of Yoga Training with Pedro Kupfer, through the Dharma/Yogabindu Institute. Pedro Kupfer is author of various fundamental and important books about Yoga and his leading expertise is well known in the international Yoga community.
In the following years I made several journeys aimed at learning about the traditions of Yoga and visiting different schools. I had the fortune of attending classes with some amazing teachers, it would be impossible to name them all here.
Although I've met some of the most famous teachers from the world of Yoga, I must say that the teachers I encountered in Brazil continue to be the fountain I drink from when I want access to knowledge and truth. Brazil is an incredible country for studying spirituality, the body, movement, music, dance and the arts in general. It's an infinite source of talent and creativity.
For many years now, I'm a member of the International Yoga Alliance and the Swiss Yoga Association.
I continue to educate and refine myself, and I have a genuine interest in carrying out high quality work rooted in Yoga Ethics. I seek to follow my Dharma with correction and also with compassion. The Yoga path is like any other, full of successes and failures. It is important to understand that, just as sometimes we all make mistakes and sometimes we get things right, we all deserve compassion and respect.
Using discretion is enough to keep the heart pure – Viveka. Stay faithful to your intentions – Sankalpa.
For an infinite number of reasons, my sincere thanks to Pedro Kupfer, Renata Ulliana, Camila Reitz, Kalidas Nuyken, Laura Parker, Gustavo Ponce, Marcia De Luca, Danny Paradise, Rodrigo Cardoso, Regina Shakti, Bruno Bartulic, Angela Hosse, Felicity Mac Donald, Larry Shultz, Andre De Rose, Julio Fernandes, Javier Sunder, Saul David Raye, Janice Vitavec, Cheryl Bernardi, José Maria Carvalho, Julio Vilan, Ivaldo Bertazzo, Breno Mascarenhas and all those I learnt from, as well as my students, who always teach me so much.
My eternal thanks to the Siddha Yoga community and to Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Om Namah Shivaya!
Tania Sturzenegger
I live and work in Zurich, Switzerland, and teaching Yoga has been my profession for several years.
I took my first Yoga class when I was 16 years old in São Paulo, my home city; it was a classic Hatha Yoga class. I loved stretching, breathing and relaxing; concentrating on the present moment, being at one with my body and listening to it.
When I was young, I used to love stretching on my bedroom floor or the living room carpet, and then I discovered that a technique existed that was perfect for me.
Dancing has always been another of my passions, but I couldn't adapt to the strict style of Classical Ballet. I ended up dancing in an extremely detached manner, with no expectations, and focused on experimentation. I decided to go to Jazz and Modern Dance, Afro-Brazilian Dance and Belly Dance classes. I was interested in all forms of expression, and also some martial arts. I did Capoeira, Thai-Bo and I tried Jiu-Jitsu when I was giving Yoga classes to one of the Brazilian champions, Fabio Gurgel.
Kundalini-Flow®
Practice
My method, Kundalini-Flow, is strongly influenced by Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa Flow Yoga through some special sets of excercises.
Kundalini Yoga improves the energy of body and mind. Kundalini is the term for the primordial energy, the divine energy, our life energy. Through Kundalini Yoga techniques our energy centers can be promptly activated and this energy awakened.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga emphazises the importance of coordinating our breath and movements during the practice. The Flow means more than just the integration of movement and breathing. It encompasses also the meditative state in which we perform the asana sequences (postures). A state of 'alert intuition' is maintained throughout the practice session, when postures are generally held for 5 breaths. In the passages between postures attention is also focused on the fluidity of the movement and the care taken when performing it.
Kundalini-Flow is hence a method for those who like to awaken or even spark the body's energy, and also for those who love breathing profoundly and healthily, moving through the breathing like in a dance.
Two aspects that you will NOT find in this class: jumps and music. We substitute jumps with long and graceful steps, which have no impact on the joints. The music is our own breathing, there are no distractions.
The method Kundalini-Flow and the logo are duly registered in Switzerland, Germany and Austria under my name.
Benefits
It strengthens the central nervous system, stimulates metabolism and regulates the functioning of the pituitary (hormonal) gland. It restores the flow of vital and pure energy, freeing the accumulated toxins and tensions in the physical and subtle body.
It supports the proper functioning of the two sides of the brain and motor coordination. It significantly strengthens pelvic and abdominal muscle, as well as body posture in general.
Building concentration and intuition, the class calms you while simultaneously being dynamic and energising. Well-being and vitality are the main results.
"I see Yoga as, above all, a spiritual path, where physical and breathing exercises are just the tip of the iceberg."
Tania Sturzenegger
Thai Yoga Massage
Thai Yoga Massage
This massage technique comes from Thailand. It is strongly influenced by Yoga through the stretching positions and movements performed during the massage. The terms Thai massage and Thai Yoga massage are hence synonyms. Traditionally, oils are not used and the massage takes place on the ground or on a mat.
Its origins can be traced back to India, like Yoga, and show a deep influence of Buddhism and its philosophy. The roots of this massage, that date back over a thousand years, even reveal the influence of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines.
Its founder, an Indian medicine man and a contemporary of Buddha, Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha (in Thailand, Dr Shivago Komarpaj) is mentioned in the ancient scriptures (Pali Canon) of Theravada Buddhism.
The Thai Yoga massage is not based on a western anatomy system. It is based on energy (prána) that is the foundation of all far-eastern healing techniques. In the human body, this energy flows through a network of channels or meridian lines (the respective terms are Sen in Thai or Nadi in Sanskrit). Health is the balance and the harmony of these energies. It is a state of vitality, strength and inner peace.
This technique combines massaging along energy lines, stretching, twists and meditation. As in the case with Yoga, Thai medicine recognizes 72,000 energy channels. The most important are Sen Sumana (Suschumna), Sen Ittha (Idá) and Sen Pingkala (Pingala). All the lines are important, but these lines have a more direct effect on our whole energy system and are directly connected to the most important Chakras (centers of energy).
The Thai massage is one of four branches of Thai medicine; the other three are healing with herbal remedies, special diets and spiritual practices along with meditation.
Deeply linked with Buddhism, Thai Yoga massage is a way of cultivating the four divine states of this philosophy: Metta (loving-kindness), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (contagious joy) and Uppekha (equitableness, impartiality, non-aggression). When applying it, we must be in a meditative state, flowing and dancing to our divine rhythm, deepening the connection with our body, mind and spirit.
The effects are the same as those felt in Yoga, with an increase in vital energy, a soothing of tensions, the release of interrupted energy flows, an increase in joint flexibility, muscle stretching, and relaxation. There is a sensation of inner peace and balance.
The Thai Yoga massage is also known as "Lazy Yoga" or passive Yoga because the results are very similar. It's worth a try!
References
"Die Yogastunden bei Tania Sturzenegger sind durch ihre profesionelle und geduldige Unterrichtsweise sehr beruhigend und gleichzeitig fordernd für jedermann, ganz egal welches Level der einzelne Schüler mitbringt. Durch die Fokussierung auf die diversen Kundalini-Asanas und Atmungstechniken ist jede Stunde eine Reinigung, ein In-Sich-Kehren oder ganz einfach: Ein Genuss. Tania weiss es, ihre Schüler auf eine leichte, angenehme und professionelle Art und Weise da abzuholen, wo es nötig ist. Ihr Erfahrungsschatz im Bereich Yoga ist immens und bei der Brasilianerin mit Wohnsitz Zürich spür- und sichtbar."
Fabienne Heyne, TV Moderatorin
"Bereits bei der ersten Yogastunde, die Tania in unserem Gesundheitszentrum gegeben hat, war ich dabei. - Und seither habe ich freiwillig keine einzige mehr ausgelassen.
In dieser Stunde über Mittag kann ich mich so gut entspannen und gleichzeitig mit neuer Energie aufladen so, dass die oftmals langen und anstrengenden Nachmittage mit Leichtigkeit zu bewältigen sind.
Generell spüre ich, dass ich kräftiger und beweglicher geworden bin und sich dadurch auch meine Körperhaltung positiv verändert hat.
Tania hat eine grosse Begabung, die Stunden so zu gestalten, dass jeder Teilnehmer profitieren kann, auch wenn das Niveau in der Gruppe teilweise sehr unterschiedlich ist. Die einzelnen Übungen werden achtsam eingeführt und aufgebaut.
So bekomme ich auch von den Gruppenteilnehmern durchwegs positive Rückmeldungen."
Renata Holzer, Ergotherapeutin, Leiterin Therapie im Santémed Gesundheitszentrum Wiedikon
"Wir haben Tania Sturzenegger als zuverlässige und engagierte Mitarbeiterin kennengelernt. Sie ist pünktlich und garantiert stets einen reibungslosen Ablauf ihrer Kurse. Den Member und Vorgesetzen gegenüber verhält sie sich immer freundlich & korrekt und hält sich an die vorgegebenen Arena 225 Richtilinien. Tania Sturzenegger ist ein Mensch mit viel Herzblut und positiver Austrahlung. Ihre Ziele verfolgt sie mit einer gesunden Beharrlichkeit und Fairness. Im Unterricht überzeugt sie mit ihrer ruhigen Art und Einfühlsamkeit sowie Didatik und Fachkompetenz. Tania Sturzenegger empfehlen wir jedem erfolgreichen Fitness- und Yogacenter gern weiter".
Anita Kunz, Arena225, Zürich
"Liebe Tania Mein Son ist am 10 Januar geboren, er heist Benjamin. Die Geburt ist "einfach" und relativ schnell gewesen, danke für die Schwangerschaft Yoga Kurse bei dir in Birthlight! Mit die Atmungen ich konnte gut entspannen. Ich habe keine Riss gehabt, die Beckenboden Muskulatur war gut trainiert! Danke schön für deine Hilfe!!"
Edina Sciarini, Zürich
"Liebe Tania, Ich danke Dir für Deine wunderbare Yoga Stunden. Mit jeder einzelnen schaffst Du es, mich auf eine sanfte Weise zu mir zu bringen. Diese Stunden bei Dir sind einzigartig! Denn bei Dir merkt man sofort, dass Yoga nicht nur Workout ist, sonder viel tiefer gehen kann und soll. Schön wie Du das vermittelst."
Carolina Medina
"Tanias Unterricht war für mich die grundlegende Hilfe auf der Suche nach innerem Frieden. Sie erschien in einem äusserst schwierigen und empfindlichen Moment meines Lebens. Nach einem Jahr Praxis, zwei Mal pro Woche, wurde ich jedoch eine stärkere und selbstbewusste Person. Es ist einfach sensationell ! "
Gisele Hertzog, Apothekerin
"I have known Tania Sturzenegger since 2000. Since then, Tania and I have become close friends and colleagues. I have participated in group yoga classes that she has taught, and find that she has developed a very unique, effective and agreeable yoga style, based on her many years of yoga experience and body work. She has a very good eye for the body and posture, and a clear explanation of how to execute the movements. Her strong point is definitely with yogic breathing exercises, which she carries out with sensitivity and expert awareness of what is needed for the person.
I have also, on several occasions, received Thai Massage from Tania, and have noticed how she is developing much expertise and sensitivity for the movements, and positions of the massage each time I do a session with her. I quite enjoy her massages.
I feel that Tania is an excellent Yoga teacher and wish her much joy and success teaching her students."
Cheryl Bernardi, BIRTHLIGHT
Classes-Workshops
