Unveiling the Power Within: A Conversation on Yoga with Liina Puustinen
Let’s delve into the world of yoga and wellness with Liina, a passionate yoga teacher from Finland who recently led a fantastic free yoga class for our HIP members! Liina is the founder of Yoga Mundi, a beautiful yoga studio located right here in Heidelberg.
Q: Liina, you hail from Finland, a land known for its stunning natural beauty. What initially drew you to the practice of yoga and to Heidelberg?
Long story short. I started practicing yoga in the end of 90’s in Finland when the yoga boom had started all over Europe and US. I was drawn to yoga when looking for a self care method that would be more than just a physical exercise. At first I was shopping around various yoga styles: Ashtanga Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, Shivananda Yoga, and so on. But was having difficulties with an old sports injury in my knee, as no alignment was taught. Then I came a cross with the method of Iyengar Yoga and started learning to align and work my legs in an optimal way. I overcame the knee pain and could do many things I never imagined being able to do. This included yoga poses but also many issues in my life started unfolding. Yoga gives me physical health, mental stability and connection to the universal spirit. To quote B.K.S. Iyengar: “Yoga helps to cure what can be cured and to endure what cannot be cured.” I moved to Heidelberg in January 2022 after having lived already ten years abroad. First in London for one and a half years and eight years in Düsseldorf. In London I was frequenting the Iyengar Yoga institute, and when living in Düsseldorf I was doing further education and studying therapeutic Iyengar Yoga in my teacher’s institute in Cologne. Through the years I have also studied several times, staying a month or longer, in the main institute of Iyengar Yoga, in Pune, India. I am certified as a “senior” teacher, teacher educator and yoga therapist. Living in Düsseldorf I did not have my own studio, as I was twice a week teaching and studying at the institute in Cologne. I was teaching in many different places and doing also private classes. It was autumn 2021, end of lock down time, and I had many students still online, when Diana Weiss invited me to Heidelberg to start a new Iyengar Yoga center. Diana is a student of mine, also an Iyengar Yoga teacher originally from Lithuania. Diana’s husband and his business partner had bought and renovated an old tobacco factory right by the bank of Neckar, and they were offering to rent a beautiful yoga room with an amazing view to the river and mountains. I also could live in the same building. It was a very tempting offer, and I said why not.
Q: The turnout for your recent HIP workshop was incredible! What motivated you to share your expertise with our professional female community?
Maybe the infatuation is mutual, I love HIP 🙂 The first time I took part in an HIP event was the international womens’ day in April 2022. I was new in town and had a need to make friends and create professional networks. I felt the vibrant energy of this group of ladies, and felt that this is my kind of people. This group is empowering it’s members. We all come from different countries and walks of life but we share the experience of being expat women in Germany. Also, there is a lot we can learn from each other. As women and expats we face a lot of difficulties and struggles on our paths. Many are experiencing stress in every day life. Yoga is helpful for staying healthy, coming back to the present moment, and staying connected with one self. Once we are connected with ourselves we replenish our own energy reserves, and we have much more to give to others. Like in the airplane emergency instruction it is advised to take the oxygen mask on yourself first, then help the others.
Q: Beyond the physical postures, yoga offers a deep connection to the mind and spirit. Can you share a key takeaway you hope our members gained from your class?
Yoga is empowering us to be agents of our own lives. The contemporary life style results a lot of stress and poses often contradictory requirements to us women. We may find ourselves as objects or victims of the circumstances. Regular yoga practice transforms not only our body but our mind set. It teaches us to be the subjects of our lives, to take responsibility of our own body, mind and spirit. But also to recognise when we need to seek for guidance and help. It is important to realise that we need do our part, but we do not have to do it all on our own.
Q: Yoga Mundi offers a welcoming space for yogis of all levels. What makes your studio stand out in Heidelberg’s wellness scene?
YogaMundi is a multilingual yoga center with highly qualified teachers, and it is “the most beautiful yoga studio in Heidelberg”, say our students. We are offering teaching in German and English (as well in Finnish). All teachers are certified Iyengar Yoga teachers, which is a trade mark for quality. The first level of teacher certificate takes three years of studying of yoga poses, breathing exercises, anatomy, physiology and yoga philosophy. I, as the leading teacher, have a senior level certificate, and am offering remedial Iyengar Yoga and one-to-one classes for those with health concerns who could not participate a regular class in group. I am also training new teachers, and this offers a possibility for the students and teachers to make progress from the beginner to advanced level. The room is light filled with a splendid view to the river and mountains and the studio is fully equipped for Iyengar Yoga with mats, bricks, belts, bolsters, wall ropes and other props.
Q: Inspired by your workshop, many are eager to learn more. Can you share a glimpse into the yoga journeys you curate at Yoga Mundi?
We are offering weekly classes for all levels, considering also the age and condition of the students. Also, I am offering online classes. If you are new to yoga or have done other than Iyengar style of Yoga it is good to start from Basics classes. I promise you will not be bored, the Iyengar method is more systematic and detailed than others. Also there are general classes are for all levels. On Tuesday mornings I teach a womens’ class, where issues like menstruation, pregnancy and menopause are taken into consideration. On Thursday nights takes place the remedial class for specific health issues. Every new student will first be interviewed and will receive a personal program. I have two other teachers assisting me to instruct the students, and the number of students in class is limited up to six. We are offering every month a mini-workshop of 2,5 hours to get started with basics or to deepen the practice. Moreover, we are hosting workshops with top guest teachers e.g. from India.
