About the big changes during the pandemic

Waking up in Paradise

I am walking barefoot over warm stones, I can hear the birds singing and behind me the panorama of three volcanoes immerse in the light of the setting sun. The lake in front of them lays calm. Far from civilization, I am finishing my advanced yoga teacher training at one of the world’s most beautiful lakes as named by National Geographic. It is here where I first hear about the virus. First, I am exploring my options to stay longer in paradise, as knowing coming home now, would mean no work. Not the most promising outlook. All the yoga studios I work for as a freelancer, are closed at this point in early 2020.

Returning to Copenhagen

Then the situation is getting more severe. Guatemala is closing its borders. My planned return flight in mid April got cancelled. Maybe staying isn’t such a good idea anymore? I consult my friend and we find out about an evacuation flight with the German embassy. A few days later I am on a 3 days journey back to Copenhagen.
Back home earlier than planned, I find shelter in my friend’s house. From where I tried to figure out what’s next. Fighting the darkness and the change in climate and its impacts on my mood in the Danish winter. This is not how I planned it. I try to put myself together and start redoing my website. That is a proper project for the lockdown.

One of the studios I am working at starts with online classes. A very welcomed task in my weird routine as a guest in my friend’s house. I found my own way back to the mat. It was hard after coming back too early, from paradise to Danish winter in lockdown. But now I am back, as a student and as a teacher. I often just walk the 5km to the studio. It feels great to be there for my students again.

Making the best out of unforseen change

Spring is coming and things are getting slowly a little bit more back to normal. The studios open and I can teach in person again. What a wonderful feeling to see the relaxed faces and feel the good vibes of my students after the practice.
Going through the summer taking as many classes as possible to make up for the loss in spring, I give myself fully to my profession. After having an unfortunate disagreement about my payment at one of the studios I have been working at for about 2 years, I decide to leave that place and explore new places to share my teachings.

I find a new place, with sweet students and managers who fill genuine about my teachings and we share visions for that studio. One night I come home late after a long day of teaching and I receive some unexpected news. No more classes from tomorrow. The place went bankrupt and I am losing a rent worth of monthly income in a heartbeat. In the same week 2 more major yoga studios are closing their doors for good in Copenhagen. Where are all the students going, where will be their sanctuary now? We need safe places now more than ever, mental health can easily become the next pandemic (if it isn’t yet…) if we do not take it seriously.

At this point I am honestly a bit fed up about depending on others to pay their bills for my teachings. I have been sending it out to the Universe for some time now, that I want my own studio. On Instagram I see a beautiful room and contact the owner. The next day I visit the room and in just a week I open my own studio in the heart of Copenhagen: Warrior Princess Yoga at Kronprinsessegade 20. Selling memberships to old and new students, the place with focus on building a community, a yogi family, and teaching not only physical yoga, is off to a good start. About 4 weeks in, I have to close down. No savings. A lot of loss during the summer and bills to pay.

Born in crisis

I am standing here now. I have to be creative. Not only to keep my business, my baby – the reason why I am on this planet – alive but also to hold space (it turns out to be a virtual space) for my students in this challenging time. Yoga is a great way to learn to accept situations we cannot change. It is a great way to calm your mind from all the worries this uncertain time brings and it is a great thing to strengthen your willpower, immune system and body to rise like a phoenix from the ashes after we open again.

Take mental health seriously

Mental health is a serious issue here, and taking away a safe space for some people especially in times where people lose jobs and physical connection, can have tremendous effects on the individual. Yoga has been considered a rather safe activity, especially the slow forms and meditation. Enough space between mats, nose breathing (which releases NO (Nitric Oxide) which is antiviral) and good ventilation after class. But the government doesn’t seem to want to see how important the work of yoga teachers is and how low the risk is especially compared to all the health benefits yoga brings. Yoga studios are nothing like a gym. I feel if more people would do yoga, they would understand that it is not a workout, but a work in.

Exploring new ways of teaching

I start an online program. Different types of classes to meet the needs of my students. Even a beginner course. I start to host workshops online and invite guest teachers from all over the world. Some students stay, some leave, some support me with donations and some new students find their way to Warrior Princess Yoga. I keep the online membership low in price so as many students can join to help them through the lockdown.

I also initiated the sponsor a stranger program, for students who cannot afford the monthly membership of 99kr.

How to help your yoga teacher?

Stay a member if you can. Give this online thing a shot – it really ain’t that bad. Tell your friends about it. You keep your mind sane and your body strong and you support the teachers to still be there for you (or your sister or mother or who else of your close ones loves their yoga and wouldn’t go without) after the lockdown. A little contribution in sending love, referring to a friend or colleague (hello, office yoga) or staying with your teacher (or discovering a new one), can go a long way in the community. Also you can leave them some loving words on any review platform they are on (e. g. Trustpilot, Google, Facebook)- share and like their social media posts. Trade your skills; maybe you are a graphic designer, photographer or writer and you can collaborate with your teacher.

Stay strong, we are all in this together. Let’s reach each other’s hand.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How to best deal with setbacks

Are you a failure because you experience setbacks?

Of course not dear! Just because you didn’t do what you wanted to do, doesn’t mean you are a failure.
We all have setbacks. They are normal. Important is on how do we move on from them?

Improve your heart health with the Ornish program in Denmark

My week as a coronary heart disease patient One week I have lived according to the Dr. Dean Ornish program during my yoga therapy certification course for heart conditions. I had the privilege to study with Lutz Hertel, who worked closely with Dr. Dean Ornish himself...

The strong connection between intuition and alignment

Following our intuition in yoga encourages us to sometimes step out of alignment, embracing variations of poses, and allowing our body to move and groove to its own rhythm rather than that instructed by the yoga teacher.


Happy Students

Warrior Princess Yoga

Reviews of students

Georgiana November 1st, 2022

Google
I met Julia at a retreat and she is an amazing teacher and a really lovely human. I loved how she didn't rush through the process and we really went back to basics, while at the same time learning a wide variety of things about yoga, from how to do a certain asana to yogic wisdom. It was obvious that Julia knows a lot and she is also really good at sharing it with others. She redefined in my mind what a good yoga teacher is.

Eve January 22nd, 2020

Facebook
Julia is one of the most precious yoga teacher I’ve ever had! I would recommend all her practices with a special mention for her yoga nidra. I got so relaxed and so deeply calmed down by her voice during each session, she helped me letting it go towards either a tight sleep or for restful nap. Very powerful experience and human being. thank you Warrior Princess!

Agnieszka January 21st, 2020

Facebook
I have had the most relaxing beautiful experience in the yoga Nidra class. Thank you so much 🙏. You are so knowledgeable and your voice so soothing

Sarah February 14th, 2020

Facebook
Julia ably and effortlessly led a vinyasa class with clear instruction and really helpful assists. She spoke about philosophy just the right amount, there was still plenty of space and quiet to really get into the practice. Thank you Julia!! I loved it

Majbritt May 3rd, 2020

Trustpilot
The best yoga in Copenhagen. They are very skilled at Hatha yoga, Yin, and yoga nidra. Julia has a good personality, an she is one of my favorite instructor.

Kim April 1st, 2020

Google
Julia is an amazing teacher. I have had three classes with her so far and she already improved my asanas a lot. I appreciate her hands on experience and eye for detail. Thank you Julia. Big hug! (by the way: her guided meditations are the best!)