In November we start a new series of workshops, around the central theme of ‘Building Your Practice‘.

These workshops are two-hour sessions, in which we both discuss a central idea or insight, apply it to our practice, and then practice a class with that concept in mind. Every workshop offers a moment to ask questions, discuss and practice together, in order to explore and deepen your understanding of what we are doing on the mat.

The workshops are once a month, on Saturday afternoon (13.30 – 15.30). You are very welcome to join, and can do so with a class from your pass.

The first workshop is Saturday November 22, and focuses on: A posture is not a shape.

The workshops build on the Ghosh Yoga workshop from last May 2025, and lead up to the Ghosh Yoga European festival that will be hosted at the studio from March 13-15 2026. More details further below.

You can step in and join one of the workshop from this series any time: you don’t need to have been part of earlier workshops, nor plan to join future ones or the March festival. Feel welcome, and enjoy the moment.

Building Your Practice: what does that mean?

You probably come to the mat every week for one or more classes. But have you ever asked yourself: “What am I actually trying to achieve with my practice?”

There are many possible answers — improving your health, building strength, finding balance, releasing tension through the breath exercises, silencing the noise in your head, or perhaps working toward a beautiful head-to-knee pose. Whatever your intention may be, this series of workshops helps you build a sustainable personal practice that supports your own goals.

Together, we’ll explore what progress means: clarifying what you are practicing, and what you want to achieve with it. And then figure out how these two – what you do and what you aim for – add up. We will also explore how, sometimes, letting go of certain parts of our practice can open space for growth. You’ll learn how to shape a practice that truly fits you — one that can evolve, adapt, and stay with you over time. Each workshop will explore a different aspect of the practice — cultivating strength, improving balance, deepening breathwork and meditation, and learning how to progress safely toward more advanced postures.

A personal practice doesn’t have to be solitary; it can be carried with you in a group setting, every time you step into the studio.

These workshops welcome all practitioners in the studio: whether you’re just beginning or have been practicing for years, whether you practice with a temporary or more long-term injury, or wish to explore more intermediate and advanced postures. These workshops are an opportunity to reconnect with your ‘why‘ and open a conversation with other practitioners in the studio. It’s a chance to turn your regular practice into something that grows with you — on and off the mat.

Practicing Function

December 20th, 2025

The second workshop dives deeper into Practicing Function. Building on the idea that a posture is not a shape, we pinpoint more sharply what it then means to practice a posture. What are we doing in the body, what are we trying to achieve?

The most simple way to say is that a posture is a combination of muscles engaging and muscles relaxing in bringing the body into a specific position. So, which muscles are we using (and not using) in each posture. What are the back and abdominal muscles doing in the Half Moon series: the sidebend, the backbend and the forward bend?

In this workshop, we work with the idea of ‘functionally moving‘ the body. This means we move the body by using the muscles of the joint to move that joint. It also means we move the body in a functional range of motion: within the range of what suits that joint. We interrogate the role of gravity in moving the body, and the impact of using the arms and hands in postures.

This approach of functional movement helps to make your practice more efficient by specifically engaging and relaxing what is needed for each posture. It builds strength and mobility in all parts of the body, and supports the body to function better.

We start with a warm-up, then take time to discuss and question the idea of functional movement. In the asana practice we apply and play with the insights we just gained. The workshop closes with a breathing and short meditation practice.

A posture is not a shape

November 22nd, 2025

The first workshop on November 22 focuses on: A posture is not a shape.

Why do we say that? Let’s take Balancing Stick as an example. A common instruction is to “make a T with your body.” It looks beautiful, and it can feed our ego when we manage to create that perfect shape — but what does it really mean? Does it mean that if you don’t form a perfect T, you’re not doing Balancing Stick?

In this workshop, we’ll explore how to move our bodies functionally to achieve the purpose of a posture. Instead of focusing on what it looks like (shape), we bring our attention to what you is happening inside your body. We are not so much interested in how a posture feels, but what you do. Using Balancing Stick as our example — a posture that balances the weight of the upper and lower body on one leg — we’ll see that the benefit of the pose doesn’t depend on creating a specific shape, but on finding balance, alignment, and engagement that works for your body.

The workshop will unfold as follows:

  • 20 min – Warm-up
  • 25 min – Discussion
  • 1 h – Asana practice
  • 15 min – Pranayama and mindfulness

Ghosh Yoga festival: March 2025

From March 13-15, Alma Hot Yoga is hosting the Ghosh Yoga festival in Europe. Simultaneous with the US-based festival in Tampa, European yogis can join a satellite festival in Nijmegen.

The programme at Alma Hot Yoga will run from Friday evening to Sunday late afternoon. We offer a range of asana classes, daily breathing and pranayama practice, discussions and reflections, and time to connect and share. Classes will be both through an online connection with Ida and Scott, as well as led by Ghosh yoga trained teachers.

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