The unforgettable wellness oasis for all yogis
Oct 13, 2020
How did you get your own cafe and yoga studio?
The vision to create such a place has slowly developed. At first it was a thought that I communicated at some point, and from this idea this room actually came into being.
How did you find this location?
It was clear to me that Room 18 should be built exactly in Stein am Rhein. When I accidentally discovered the aging paint shop, it was clear to me that this room was to be built at this location.
What inspired you to decorate?
I was primarily inspired by the room itself, i.e. the former factory. I wanted to preserve this charm at all costs. At the same time, I wanted to create a space where people could feel comfortable and relax. So I started to look for furnishing possibilities and objects that were inspired by nature, made of natural materials and create warmth. I'm sure it was also helped by the fact that I had run a furniture shop in Schaffhausen for a few years. So I already had experience in terms of contacts and sources of inspiration.
What do you wish for room 18 in the future?
I learned to live more in the moment during the lockdown. This is exactly what I would like to live and implement even more together with my wonderful team: to do and create that which fulfills us and makes us move. This will result in exciting events, retreats, yoga lessons or therapy sessions. My wish is that we all work more and more inspired by the heart and belly. I am full of anticipation and very curious to see what will come of it.
What schools, trainings and courses have you done?
I am a certified dance teacher and have completed the 200-hour yoga teacher training (Yoga Alliance) and the subsequent 300-hour training. I fulfilled my dream of combining yoga and dance in the USA. There I completed the training as a "Let your Yoga dance" teacher, also recognized by Yoga Alliance. Over the years, I have come to know and love Yin Yoga, so I have taken further training with Stefanie Arendt and Tanja Seehofer.
Are there any other dreams you would like to make come true?
At the moment I am in training as an Emotion Code Therapist according to Dr. Bradley Nelson. This training is about using simple test methods to get rid of emotional ballast. To integrate this therapy into the offer of Raum18 and to combine it with yoga and corresponding movement is my personal next step, which I would like to realize in Raum18.
What do you do in your spare time?
I practice Yoga in all its variations, love to dance and love to be in nature. I have also discovered hiking through Switzerland, for example the Way of St. James from Constance to Geneva. It is a wonderful mixture of nature, mindfulness and movement.
How did you discover your passion for yoga?
I've always been a movement person. Over the years, the aspect of introspection was added more and more, as well as the question of the meaning of our life. After my first yoga experiences, I thought that it would be too little action for me, but I always ended up with yoga and dived deeper and deeper over the years. In the meantime it is exactly this mixture of physical exercise and the spiritual aspect that fascinates me again and again. Yoga teaches me to always look at myself from a new perspective and to develop myself further.
How can you imagine "Let your Yoga Dance" and who are these classes aimed at?
"Where joy and fun meet deep and sacred" - with this sentence the American Megha Buttenheim, founder of Let Your Yoga Dance, briefly and aptly describes this unique mixture of yoga and dance. To music from all over the world and all genres we dance together through our chakras, our energy centres. No previous dancing experience is necessary: LYYD (Let your Yoga dance) is equally suitable for "everybody and every body". It is a training that activates our cardiovascular system through passionate dancing and keeps us mentally fit thanks to small choreographies. Dancing in the community opens our heart. LYYD is not least danced prayer and meditation, so that our soul dances too. It is healing, liberating and gives unbelievable joy!
How did you come across it?
Since dancing has fascinated and accompanied me since my childhood, but at the same time I feel a growing fascination for yoga, I was curious how and if I could bring both together. Among other things, I wanted to combine the depth and mindfulness of yoga with the lightness and creativity of dance. I tried a lot of things until I finally came across LYYD. This training was a wonderful and enriching experience and is for me a perfect opportunity to experience the essence of yoga and dance equally.
Do you teach any other yoga styles?
Personally I teach Yin Yoga and a flowing form of Hatha Yoga in addition to LYYD.
Yin Yoga is a really different kind of yoga experience. Here we address the Yin energy within us - that is, the calm and receptive side within us. By staying in the asanas for a long time, the deeper layers of the connective tissue can be addressed and, similar to acupuncture, healing impulses can be placed on our nervous and meridian systems. As we live a demanding lifestyle today, Yin Yoga is a recommended yoga style for most of us. Nevertheless Yin and Yang always belong to each other, so I advise all those who do not do much physical exercise in everyday life or who sit a lot at their desk to join a Hatha Yoga practice.