I wrote recently about working out and I have a confession to make: I am a yogi! I do not mean yogi in that I can fold myself like an origami figure, I just simply LOVE doing yoga! It all started about three years ago when my mom talked me into going with her to yoga.  I was skeptical, but my mother reassured me the teacher came highly recommended. After the first class and my realization that I had almost no flexibility (nor did I know very many body parts or muscles by name), I was hooked! One of the first things I bought when I moved to the Netherlands was a yoga mat and I continued doing yoga following videos on YouTube and recommendations on Pinterest.

Although I wanted to join a yoga class in the Netherlands, the language barrier really REALLY intimidated me. How could I possibly understand the explanations in Dutch? It wasn’t until I met another fellow Mexican who was here visiting friends and traveling that I got the courage. This friend was going to all sorts of work out classes not knowing any Dutch, and she didn’t seem worried or troubled by it. Thanks to her, I got the courage to just give it a try and have been a happy Dutch yogi for about a year now!

Instead of just giving yoga-related vocabulary for this post, I thought it would be more interesting to choose my favorite positions and describe them in Dutch. Its an interesting exercise because explanations can vary so join me and give it a try!

De Berg

Dit is de meest basis positie voor yoga. Je moet recht staan. Jou rug moet recht staan en jou armen moeten boven staan alsof je de lucht wilt aanraken.

De Berg
(photo by Run Mizumushi-Kun taken from Flickr.com)

Downward Dog

Dit is mijn favoriete positie want ik heb veel rugpijn nadat ik op de computer heb gewerkt. Je moet op jou benen en handen staan en jou rug houden zodat jou licham een driehoek maakt. Jou knieën en armen moet recht zijn maar je moet altijd onspannen. Breng jou bovenlichaam naast jou benen om je rug een beetje meer te onstpannen.

Downward Dog
(photo by Taro Taylor taken from Flickr.com)

Upward Dog of Cobra

Lig op jou buik met jou benen recht. Met jou armen, duw je jou bovenlicham op. Jou benen moeten op de grond blijven. Als je kan, zet jou gewicht niet op je bekken maar op jou dijen.

Upward Dog or Cobra Pose
(photo by Mathew Ragan taken from Flickr.com)

Warrior

Sta met jou benen gespreid zodat zij een driehoek maken. Breng jour armen omhoog, parallel met de grond. Kijk naar de rechterkant. Jou linker been moet gestrekt zijn terwijl je je rechter been een beetje buigt.

Warrior pose
(photo by Dave Rosenblum taken from Flickr.com)

Give it a try and describe one of these poses (or another one if you are a yogi like me)!