Balancing body, mind and soul

Silvia Marti (58) from Walchwil offers a new combination of herbal medicine and yoga. She is not an esotericist, however.

Yoga teacher Silvia Marti, who lives in Walchwil, wants to achieve a balance from inside and outside with her latest project ‘Herbal Yoga’. Her motto is: Perceiving, recognising and changing. "It is important to me that everyone has the opportunity to relax and rest, especially at this difficult time," she stresses. She came up with the idea of combining her knowledge of medicinal herbs with her yoga experiences following her thesis in medicinal herbs. "Yoga itself promotes inner balance. The medicinal herbs complement and support this process".

Silvia Marti is now introducing Herbal Yoga to Central Switzerland. She has researched this topic and found a similar version of yoga in Munich, she reports. From there, she also obtained a book about herbs, which provided her with an extensive overview. Despite her good feelings about it, she does not call herself an esotericist. "I often work according to my feelings. Experience has shown that my findings have helped patients”.

A meeting provides insight
The first part of the process consist of a meeting, which helps to identify the problems and burdens of the patient and to show a possible way forward. "I work with individual programs, so that I can respond to the individual. I am also looking for the right herb to support the program”. In most cases, she can suggest an effective medicinal herb to the customer, and this is available in a normal pharmacy, says Marti. She also make a few ointments and creams herself.

Yoga teacher Silvia Marti offers yoga lessons with a medicinal herb advice at her home in Walchwil.

"My patients can call me at any time if they need advice, as it’s important to me to accompany them during the time of their course of treatment". In most cases, a treatment consists of ten sessions, which are available at a price of CHF 350. After these sessions, you could theoretically continue the yoga exercises alone, but it is often helpful to have an experienced person with you to correct you, or show you new movements.

Satisfaction comes first
"Herbal yoga knows no restrictions with regard to the fitness of the customer, and can be an enrichment for everyone. I want to not only appeal to people with specific physical or mental issues, but also to healthy people who could tolerate a little more peace and quiet," says the 58-year-old. The only prerequisite is the will to change something in personal attitudes, in your body or in your life. The well-being and satisfaction of the people is paramount.

"Natural means such as onion wraps or vinegar socks have always interested me. If my parents or grandparents managed to get along with such simple remedies, why do we need strong medication?" the yoga teacher asks. That's why she took the course on healing herbs, and now knows numerous herbs for all sorts of ailments. "If your nose is clogged, for example, just insert a sage leaf into your nose, and the problem is solved." The seasons play a large role, because the yoga expert recommends local herbs, which that may not grow over the winter. You may therefore have to use different things in winter than in the summer.

A good balance to everyday life
"Yoga is not a typical sport, because it works at three levels, namely body, mind and soul," Marti continues. "In most sports, you breathe through your mouth. Yoga focuses on breathing through the nose, because this keeps the energy in the body." Yoga is a good balance to everyday life right now, because you can do it at home and you don't have to go out among people.

Basically, it is about reconciling a person's body, mind and soul. "I give people the tools for their well-being. After that, they can decide for themselves how much help they still need or how disciplined they want to be in carrying out the exercises. In any case, they can always come to me if they need support," says Silvia Marti.

More information can be found on www.storkasch.ch.

Indian Alternative
Bikram Yoga has also recently been offered in Hünenberg. According to the provider, Olivier Burger, it is the first of its kind in the canton of Zug. Bikram is an Indian type of yoga performed at a high room temperature. On the one hand, the new studio offers "Inferno Hot Pilates". This offer includes intensive interval training, which strengthens the circulatory system and general muscles, explains Oliver Burger. The other offer, the actual Bikram Yoga, is exercised for 90 minutes at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. According to Burger, this also serves to build up the muscles and the flexibility of the spine. The immune system, concentration and balance of body, soul and mind are strengthened.

More information can be found on www.bikramyogazug.ch