Exercise for the Mind, Heart, Body and Soul

by Justine Thomas – Stanford University

Living in Florence as a study abroad student means that many of my days are filled with art, food, schoolwork, travel and various other cultural activities that I wouldn’t usually find in the states.  I rarely have moments to myself, except for when I go to yoga class in the afternoon.  I had never practiced yoga before September, but it has become quickly established in my daily routine for multiple reasons. Though celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Madonna attribute their fit bodies to consistent yoga practice, yoga has proved itself to be much more than a passing Hollywood exercise fad.  At It’s Yoga Firenze on via dei Bardi, 21 (www.itsyogafirenze.it), I have found both a sanctuary from busy days and a great place to meet new friends.  Classes are taught both in English and Italian, meaning that I not only get in a good workout but also have an opportunity to expand my Italian vocabulary.  In terms of experience, the students range from inflexible beginners (like me—I could barely touch my toes at first!) to advanced yogis, but the classes accommodate all students by teaching the movements at varying difficulty levels.

“The chance to replenish the mind, body and soul comes each day with the first breath.  Sharing your practice with us builds our community and with that comes friendship, trust and unconditional love.”

Not only do I leave the hour-long sessions feeling relaxed after having let go of all of the tension in my body, but also physically exhausted from having stretched every muscle. In a city where running on uneven and broken cobblestones in freezing winter weather is often unappealing, the yoga studio offers a workout that helps strengthen every part of the body.  The instructors at It’s Yoga Firenze focus on a form of yoga called Ashtanga or Ashtanga Vinyasa.  The term Vinyasa refers to the alignment of movement and breathing that turns the basic yoga postures into a fluid workout.  The length of a full breath (both inhaling and exhaling) determines the transitions between postures and helps focus on the development of core strength.  Each movement is a challenge as you push yourself to breathe deeper and stretch further, cleansing the mind and the body.

 Here’s a list of yoga studios/classes throughout Florence:

 Istituto di Yoga- Firenze

via Pilati, 4b

Sivananda Yoga- Firenze

via de’Marsili, 1

Druma Yoga

via Luigi Lanzi

Jiva

via dei Bruni, 1

Florence Dance Center

Borgo Stella, 23

Palestra Ricciardi

Borgo Pinti, 75