Studio Soetra is a new yoga studio in the heart of Amersfoort. In their beautiful space on the Appelmarkt, you can now escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. Would you like to connect more with your body and find more balance in your life? Charlotte and Michelle’s yoga classes will guide you further along the path to self-awareness. Would you rather relax in complete surrender? Then you can also book a massage with Michelle.
The first thing I notice when I walk into the studio is the nice, sweet smell that fills the room. We receive a warm welcome from Charlotte, one of Studio Soetra's two owners. She takes us upstairs, where there is a kitchenette and rest area.
The space has a warm, Eastern feel, thanks to natural materials, earthy colors, and cosmic artwork on the walls. While Charlotte is making tea for the group, she talks about her passion for yoga. Among other things, she teaches a style of yoga called Hatha, where I’ll be joining in on shortly. You can also take classes in Hatha Alignment, Hatha Flow, Yin Yoga, Lu Jong, and Restorative Yoga.
Back in the moment
Back downstairs, I see that everything is already set up. Next to each yoga mat is a yoga cushion, a sheepskin, a blanket, two blocks, and a weighted piece of fabric. I’m immediately curious where we’ll use all of this for! Everyone takes a seat on the yoga cushion to begin with a relaxation exercise. Guided by Charlotte, I focus on my breathing and consciously connect with my body and everything going on inside it. I return fully to the present moment. And the real class hasn’t even started yet!
Balance between Yin & Yang
After this practice, Charlotte takes us through the philosophy behind Hatha Yoga. In Hatha Yoga, the masculine energy, Yang, and the feminine energy, Yin, come together. This is evident in the way the class builds up. We begin with gentle, yet powerful postures close to the ground and slowly work our way up to some standing warrior postures.
How good is your balance?
Thanks to the awareness exercise at the beginning, I am with my full attention to the different postures. And thank goodness, because you literally need balance for this! And concentration. The class consists of a nice combination of challenge, relaxation and effort. We use the blocks here and there to improve our posture or make an exercise easier.
We end the session lying down on the mats. Charlotte places the weighted cloth over our eyes and the cubes for support under our legs. I feel relaxed and energized at the same time. We chat after with a tasty cup of tea. What a wonderfully zen start to the day!
Breathwork, cacao ceremonies and more!
Another fun thing: in addition to yoga classes, you can enjoy massages and inspiring workshops led by one of the (guest) instructors. I’ve always wanted to try a breathing workshop and a cacao ceremony myself! Studio Soetra is a pleasant, safe, and above all inspiring place for anyone interested in the rich culture of yoga.