Mindfulness Based Yoga and Relaxation in Ennis. Co. Clare

a group of women practicing yoga outdoors

Welcome!

I offer mindfulness based gentle yoga and relaxation sessions to help you sleep better, feel stronger, find ease in your body and peace in your mind.

My classes are held in a welcoming, non-competitive, accessible environment, where you can feel comfortable and supported in nurturing your overall well-being.

"I love Sofia’s gentle voice and energy as she leads us through each session. Sofia explains the poses and then takes us through them while asking us to be aware of how it feels, what sensations we are experiencing and then asks us to explore different aspects of the pose. We are given choices and allowed to have an individual fun practice within a group situation. It’s liberating and the time flies by and the class is over and I look forward to next week’s class already."

Martina Corbett

About me

My approach

I believe yoga is magic. A practice that gives you the opportunity to take care of your body, learn to manage your energy and understand you mind and emotions.

My classes are accessible and have just one goal in mind: to give you the tools you need to experience that magic.

Simple yet effective practices that will gently transform your life .

Some of the ingredients you might find in a typical class are:

Movement to energize you and keep your body strong and supple. No crazy contortion poses, I promise!
Centering and breathing exercises to regulate your energy and calm your mind.
Mindfulness meditation to get to know yourself and others with less reactivity.
Conscious relaxation to help you release tension from your body and mind.

And the spices:

A teaspoon of loving acceptance.
A pinch of self reflection and curiosity.
A drop a challenge and playfulness!

My story

Yoga came into my life in 2011, a much needed refuge that helped me come home to my body, still my anxious mind and understand my emotions. I always thought the tightness in my chest was normal until I discovered yoga during my third year of college. The sensation of tightness was then replaced with a light, spacious, and warm feeling. It took me a few years and some happy coincidences, such as finding Ramiro Calle’sGreat Book of Yoga in a second-hand bookshop, to realize that anxiety is not a natural state. Peace and joy are, and that is what the practice of yoga reveals.

Motivated to share the gifts of this practice, and with the help of Ramiro's book, I soon started leading informal classes with my family in our living room. Eventurally I realised this was something I wanted to share with more people, so in 2016 I qualified as a yoga teacher, and have never stopped studying and learning since then. Around the same time, I also discovered the mindfulness teachings of the Buddhist Thai Forest tradition. This led me to many silent meditation retreats that have greatly inspired my own practice and teaching.

For the last 8 years have taught yoga to people from all walks of life and levels of ability: athletes and desk workers, the young and the old, the big and the small, and the stiff and the supple. I believe everybody can greatly benefit from movement in their body and stillness in their mind. A regular yoga and mindfulness practice is a simple yet powerful way to access the natural joy that resides within us.

Some intresting facts about me...

I was naturally curious as a child, loving reading, daydreaming, and asking questions. My mother set a limit of three daily questions to help me refine and focus my inquiries. This passion for learning led me to pursue a B.A. in Philosophy, shaping my worldview and love of knowledge.
My name, Sofía Ananda, means wisdom (Sofía) and bliss (Ananda). This beautiful gift from my parents has guided my path, first to philosophy and then to yoga.
I have lived in three different countries: I was born in Venezuela and raised in the Canary Islands, but I've spent most of my adulthood in Ireland.
Although I now teach mostly a gentle and therapeutic form of yoga, I began with ashtanga yoga, an intense form of the physical practice, and even tried circus acrobatics for a while. This strengthened my body and gave me confidence, but it also led to some injuries and taught me that less is more!

At home practices from me to you

Here you can find some classes and guided relaxations recorded for you to practice at home in your own time. Enjoy! :)

Chair sun salutations. 5 minutes.

Short and sweet class to get your body moving whenever you need a short break.

Guided relaxation. 10 minutes.

Yoga nidra or a concious nap to do any time you need a bit of rest during the day or to help you go to sleep.

Neck and shoulder release class. 30 minutes.

Unwind and release held tension after a longday sitting at a desk.

Morning gentle yoga. 55 minutes.

Wake up without coffee! Gentle yet energising class to start the day.

Bed time restorative yoga. 56 minutes.

Sleep like a baby with this super gentle class designed to calm your nervous system.

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Classes

Schedule

All yoga and relaxation classes are held in two venues:

In Ennis, at Breakthrough Dance.
Near Lahinch, Inagh, Miltown Malbay and Ennisitmon, in Hidden Gem Retreat.
In Corofin, at Limestone Yoga Studio.

"Before I went to Sofia's yoga I was nervous because it was first time to experience yoga. There was a warm welcome. Sofia does not put any pressure on you. Her easy to listen to voice guides you to stretch, bend and breath and relax at a pace that suits you. I recommend anyone, any age to try it."

Jane Boland