YOGA SHALA
The
Amandari
Story
Welcome to Amandari Yoga Shala; a tranquil, intentional yoga & meditation space in the picturesque village of Greyton. Amandari Shala translated from Sanskrit means 'house of peaceful energy' or 'place of peaceful spirits'. Amandari came into being through my strong wish to create just that: a tranquil space where people can find a feeling of belonging & connection. To feel inspired, practice, take a pause, come back into balance & experience a profound sense of well-being. Yoga & meditation practice creates self-awareness, shifts energy in our body and transforms us. Although it's possible to practice anywhere, ideally the space in which we practice should enhance & support this movement of energy and transformation. If a space is right, you can feel it. You’ll feel at home, comfortable, protected, grounded. The atmosphere, the energy, the smell, the sounds; all this allows us to connect to the lightness inside us. With a fireplace and underfloor heating, Amandari is a cosy winter space and breezy & cool in summer. If you feel like you need to take a deep breath and connect to like-minded people, come and join us for yin & vinyasa yoga, yoga nidra, sankalpa, mindfulness meditation, a bit of ayurveda knowledge or a reiki consultation.
What's happening
at Amandari
Explore our schedule for weekly classes and special events.
Read more about Greyton's Spring Awaken Yoga Retreat​​ 15 - 19 September, 2024​
Or check out Amandari Nida - and shape your own wellness journey
Our Offering
Yin Yoga
Yin yoga is a slow, contemplative form of yoga which results in a wonderful feeling of serenity & well-being. Longer-held postures work deeply with fascia, connective tissue, ligaments & joints and targets improved energy flow to the various organs. Science-backed benefits of Yin yoga: It calms & balances the mind and all body systems (endocrine, nervous system, etc.), improves sleep, reduces stress & anxiety, increases circulation, releases fascia and improves joint mobility & flexibility.
Sankalpa
What is Sankalpa? We all make hundreds of decisions every day, but 95% of our daily decisions are made by the subconscious mind. Sankalpa is a yoga practice which deepens our understanding of our intentions & goals, helps us become conscious of what we really need, what is important to us, what our deepest heart's desires are, and who we want to be. And helps us to get there as effortlessly as possible. Why is living with intention important? Because living with intention creates an awareness & mindfulness of our thought process. And what we think, we become.
Integral Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa differs from other styles of yoga, which focus on holding each pose in a steady, static position. Vinyasa is more like dance or tai-chi in that it's a creatively sequenced series of poses linked together as one fluid practice, using the breath to guide the pace & movement. Integral Vinyasa takes into account the seasons, time of day & dynamics of the group, and includes elements such as a class theme or intention, pranayama (breathwork) & meditation. Science-backed benefits of Vinyasa yoga: develops core strength, stimulates the cardiovascular system, improves balance, promotes flexibility & improved mobility, reduces anxiety & enhances mood.
Mindfulness Meditation
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Mindfulness Meditation is everywhere these days, but what is it actually? Mindfulness meditation is a form of sitting meditation practice which helps us focus on what is happening in our body & mind. With practice, we become aware of what we are sensing, thinking and feeling, without judgment or reacting. This reduces emotional reactivity and slows down our busy mind. It teaches us to let go of negativity, feel more tranquil and become more self-aware. Scientific-backed benefits of mindfulness: the benefits of meditation are well-documented and there are thousands of articles on the web, but a few benefits are: reduced stress & anxiety, improved sleep, enhanced mood, improved self-awareness, increased concentration & attention span, reduce memory loss, increased empathy & kindness.
Yoga Nidra
Nidra mean 'sleep' in Sanskrit. Yoga nidra or yoga sleep is a fully awake state of deep relaxation. Yoga nidra affects the brain by shifting brain waves into a beneficial state of regeneration and repair. An hour of nidra is equivalent to 4hrs of deep, restorative sleep. I love teaching Yoga Nidra because it always works, no matter how you feel. I create a safe, warm & comfortable environment and all you need to do is lie down, relax and listen to my voice. Yoga nidra is like a nervous system reboot. It restores & heals and is beneficial for anyone who finds sitting meditation difficult or struggles with ADD, anxiety, insomnia, trauma or depression. It’s also perfect if you're looking for a bit of TLC, or curious about meditation. Science-backed benefits of yoga nidra: taps into autonomic nervous system which regulates heart rate, blood pressure, digestion & metabolism. Balances endocrine system (hormones) reduces effects of stress, anxiety & insomnia.
Reiki
Reiki consultations are available on request. Reiki sessions promote health and rest by inducing deep relaxation and reducing stress levels through its gentle, non-contact healing approach. The deep relaxation balances the body's energy flow, potentially aiding in pain relief and supporting natural healing processes. Improved relaxation from Reiki sessions can lead to better sleep quality and emotional stability, helping to alleviate anxiety and depression. Reiki contributes to overall well-being by fostering a sense of calm, enhancing relaxation, and supporting both physical and mental health.
Hello!
My name is Maja Heynecke. I’m a wife, mum & yogi, and a few other things besides. I live off the grid in the mountains and go into Greyton to teach yoga & mindfulness.
I believe that kindness is the most important quality in a person, and paying attention (really listening to the person you are with) is the best way to show respect. I enjoy stillness and nature, and believe natural food is our medicine.
I'm happy when I'm nurturing, which is partly the reason I am involved in natural healing and teach yoga & meditation: it makes people feel good. Teaching it keeps me immersed in my own practice, connected & aligned to my values and the lifestyle which flows from it. Yoga & meditation are my therapy: it keeps me balanced, grounded, makes me a better person. I'm grateful for that. And that's the feeling I aim to create in my classes: a feeling of balanced wellbeing that can be taken off the mat, into our days.
Our crazy-busy modern lifestyle means finding quiet time isn't always easy. One of our biggest challenges is to find balance between activity and rest. Unfortunately, the lifestyle choices we make aren't always the best when we're rushing around. Sometimes we lose sight of how we can bring ourselves back into balance and tap into our own potential for healing. The yoga I offer is not power yoga. I believe our life is generally already filled with enough 'yang' (activity), and people are hungry for peace & quiet, for ease of mind. Amandari's offerings are intended to bring calm & balance to the nervous system, bringing the body back to natural health and create a sense of well-being.
I guess this is also the bit where I put my credentials. :) If you'd like to see those, please visit here