New Yoga Classes in the Fez Medina

Yoga teacher Edna Vidal Ros 

Great news for local and visiting yoga enthusiasts - daily classes are now available in the Fez Medina from Monday to Saturday at 8 am  

Held at the boutique hotel Palais Amani, near the tanneries, the classes last for an hour and a quarter, and there is the possibility to stay for a 'de-tox' breakfast afterwards.

The teacher is Edna Vidal Ros, 27, who trained in yoga in Barcelona and India. "I was a ballet dancer from the sweet age of three, to the challenging age of 18," she says. "I had to give up due to an injury and, after years of searching for a new thing to fill the gap, I found yoga."

Edna took degrees in Event Management and International Finance, before switching to yoga. "I take the hatha/vinyasa approach, as I love adapting every practice to the people who are joining me that day. After all, our bodies are never the same and neither are our moods", she says. "I have worked with people of all ages, from relentless children to the dedicated elderly and absolutely adore the intimate, pure connections established with every soul that steps on a mat."

Edna invites you to join her at a class at Palais Amani.

Open Day on 23rd September at 8am:

Free introductory Amani Shala Yoga class on the rooftop, followed by a free detox breakfast afterwards in the gardens. Bookings essential: conciergerie@palaisamani.com


Essential Info: 

• The regular drop in rate is 250 dh per class. (Add 150 dh for detox breakfast).
• Locals rates and a September Special - any local can sign up at 150 dh per class. If they join a class during September, they can bring a friend for free. 
• Loyalty cards will soon be available online - 5 lessons for 1,000 dh, and 10 lessons for 1,500 dh. 
• Private classes available for 1 - 2 people at 500 dh per person  or for 3 - 4 people at 300 dh. (Add 150 dh per person for a detox breakfast.) 
• Yoga sessions on Mt Zalagh can be arranged on request. Contact Palais Amani for details. 

Further info and bookings: Palais Amani is at 12 Derb El Miter, Oued Zhoune, Blida, Fes Medina.  https://palaisamanifez.as.me/yoga or + 212 53 56 33 209. 

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A Luxury Yoga Retreat in Fez

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Yoga Weekend in Fez

Jardin des Biehn is holding a yoga weekend on the 19th and 20th of April with Rima Toutain

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Yoga Workshop in Fez Next Weekend

It's time to get moving again - stretch those limbs to banish the winter blues. A yoga workshop will be held on Saturday and Sunday February 1 & 2 at Jardin des Biehn

The yoga instructor is Rima Toutain, originally from Bangalore in India and now based in Rabat. The method she teaches is Satyananda yoga, named after the late Satyananda Saraswati, a guru and yoga teacher who founded the International Yoga Fellowship in 1956 and the Bihar School of Yoga in 1963. He wrote over 80 books on yoga methods. His practice attempts to integrate physical, psychological and spiritual aspects.

The workshop will be held between 9 am - 12 pm, and 3 pm - 5 pm next Saturday and Sunday. As well as exercises for the body, it will also incorporate breathing and vocal exercises and meditation.

The cost for the weekend is 1,200 dh. Places for the workshop are limited, so those who wish to participate will need to book very soon and pay a deposit of 600 dh.

When: February 1 & 2 
Where: Le Jardin des Biehn, 13 Akbat Sbaa, Douh, Fes Medina. 
Contact: +212 (0) 66 46 47 679 or +212 (0) 53 57 41 036 or contact@jardindesbiehn.com 
Website: www.jardindesbiehn
Cost: 1,200 dh

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Workshop in Fez: The Art of Arab Berber Movement

From April 28 to May 2, an Algerian choreographer based in Paris is offering a movement workshop with a difference. Saida Naït-Bouda calls it Oriental Energetic Technique 

Choreographer and teacher Saida Naït-Bouda

"This new method is the result of my research on the fundamental elements of the North African cultures and it is meant for everyone", Naït-Bouda says. 

The classes, which will take place daily on the roof terrace of Riad Fes, are"a kind of yoga for all". She explains that the technique uses the breath energy to connect with specific points of the body. "It's developed from three aspects of reflection on the dances of North Africa. It's based on Berber anchoring, Arab science and trance rituals."

Naït-Bouda says it can also be a form of healing. "Through fun exercises each person can take over the movement according to her or his abilities and level."

These classes are part of a larger dance workshop, and are available separately from other activities.

Naït-Bouda is an Algerian artist born in France, who has absorbed multiple influences including classical and contemporary dance, as well as Japanese Butoh technique. However, her special area of research is the dances of North Africa.

Since 2000, Naït-Bouda has created a series of dances, projects in schools and workshops. Her performances included The Barbary, and Made in Taiwan. From 2008 she lived in Mali for four years, and out of this came her performance Memory of the woman mare, performed in Paris in 2011. To see part of this performance CLICK HERE.  

"My workshop in Fez is dedicated to re-centering, space orienting, connecting with oneself and the others and grasping a collective ritual where body and mind participate," she says.

"Dance becomes a process of transformation and change."

What: Oriental energetic technique classes
Who: Men and women welcome
When: Daily from April 28 to May 2; 8.30 AM to 10 AM
Where: Terrace of Riad Fes, 5 Derb Ben Slimane Zerbtana, Fes Medina
Cost: 150 dh per class
More info: www.lautredanse.com or info@lautredanse.com  
In Paris + 33 6 95 77 34 93 or in Morocco +212 623 629 493 (from April 26)

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More Yoga Classes in Fez - Community to Benefit

While there are now a number of yoga and exercise classes on offer in Fez, United States Peace Corps Volunteer, Samantha Matty, will be offering something different  - yoga classes at Café Clock in Fez with the proceeds going to assist to local community groups in need.

Classes will be held on Fridays and Sunday at 9.30 am. The cost per class is sixty dirhams (which includes an after class smoothie) and all proceeds from classes will support local organisations that work with vulnerable populations. At this stage the organisations to benefit are still being decided, but it is hoped that sufficient funds will be generated to do more than simply buy yoga mats for women in a women's shelter. There are many charities in Fez, such as the orphanage and the girls' home, that are in desperate need of assistance.

Ms Matty has over 10 years of experience in practicing various types of yoga as well as a Master of Social Work degree. Matty is interested in the relationship between yoga and the influence it has on one’s emotional and physical health. Samantha Matty strongly believes that yoga has benefits for everyone and that yoga should be accessible for all. She hopes to build a vibrant yoga community in Fez.

She will be teaching Vinyasa-style (connecting breath with movement) yoga that will be accessible for all levels. Classes will be taught using a variety of sequence of poses to free both the mind and body with an emphasis on strength, flexibility, and flow.

Call in to Cafe Clock for more details, or visit their site.

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Free Yoga Lessons for Women in Fez

FREE AUTUMN YOGA SESSIONS

Dynamic Yoga lessons begin again this Tuesday with classes taught by yoga enthusiast and qualified teacher, Nora, in Ziat, just 2 mins walk left of Fes et Gestes on Derb Fidayli.

Classes will be twice a week @ 11 am on Tuesday and Thursday for an hour followed by tea and cookies. Classes are a mix of Hatha, Ashtanga and Sivananda styles and can be adapted to all levels and ages.

To sign up just call 0661650017.

Come the chill the location will move into the heated yoga shala at Riad
Verus in Batha.

Sessions are female only and you'll need to bring with you a mat or rug (limited number are provided) and a bottle of water. There is also an onsite crèche so you can leave your babies and young kids to be looked after.

Private lessons available on demand for just 50 Dhm an hour.


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Yoga in Fez - at last!

A new yoga class has begun in the Fez Medina and is already proving popular, reports organiser Vanessa Bonnin.

Serge Bukasa, a Belgian fitness instructor (pictured above), is holding group classes twice a week on the upper terrace at Fez Cafe. Fez Cafe is located in Le Jardin des Biehn, 13 Akbat Sbaa, Douh.

Serge teaches Iyengar yoga, a form of Hatha yoga, which focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through the development of asanas (postures). Through the practice of a system of asanas, it aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. This discipline is considered a powerful tool to relieve the stresses of modern-day life which in turn can help promote total physical and spiritual well-being.

Standing poses are emphasized in Iyengar Yoga. They are said to build strong legs, increase general vitality, and improve circulation, coordination and balance, ensuring a strong foundation for study of more advanced poses.

Unlike more experiential approaches where students are encouraged to independently 'find their way' to the asanas by imitating the teacher, an Iyengar Yoga class is highly verbal and precise, with misalignments and errors actively corrected. Serge is a dynamic and enthusiastic teacher and assists all levels of participants to achieve the correct postures and push themselves to the best of their ability.

The classes are held on Wednesday morning from 9-10am and Sunday evening from 6-7pm. Instructions during the class are given in both French and English. Group classes are 70dh, or 300dh for five sessions, which brings the cost to 60dh a session.

Serge is also available for private classes and if any riad owners have guests wishing to do yoga during their stay, he is happy to visit individual guest houses to hold classes on their terrace. For prices for private/tourist instruction please contact Serge directly on 06 53 49 02 84 or at sergebukasa@hotmail.com.

Namaste!

International Women's Day in Fez

The upcoming International Women's Day will be celebrated in Fez over three days - not just one. Culture Vultures has put together an interesting and stimulating programme of events for 6, 7 and 8 March, at venues across the city.

All events are free of charge, except the Divas Dinner. Here's the programme:
Saturday 6 March:
15h00-17h00 Literature readings at Cafe Comedie, Rue d'Espagne, Fez Nouvelle Ville.
19h00-midnight Divas Dinner: a Roman banquet conjured up by chef Fern at Dar Touria near Bab Guissa in the medina. DJ Collie-Flower will preside. Tickets are Dh250.

Sunday 7 March:
11h00 Yoga session at the ALIF Riad in Batha.
15h00-18h00 Gala of Performances at the ALIF Riad.
18h00-19h00 Documentary screening Where the Water Meets the Sky, at the ALIF Riad.
Launch of Women's Blog: www.women4morocco.moroccoblogs.com

Monday 8 March:
09h30-noon Presentations and Debate: Moroccan Women - the Way Forward at LGCMS Lab in the Faculty of Arts, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University
17h00-18h00 Student Writing Competition: Women of the Future at the American Language Center, 2 Rue Ahmed Hiba, Fez Ville Nouvelle

For more information, contact Jess at Culture Vultures on 0645 223 203.

Yoga in the Fez Medina

Feel like a bit of toning, stretching and relaxation? While yoga classes in Fez are not easy to find, The View from Fez reports on the sessions held at Cafe Clock.

Leonora Vero (known as Nora) is a yoga teacher from the UK who now lives in the Fez medina. She is a trained Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher who studied under well-known yogi, Godfrey Devereux, and also spent time in a Kerala ashram learning the Sivananda Vedanta techniques.

"We combine a few breathing exercises, sun salutations, sequence postures and balances, and end with some relaxation," says Nora. "The aim is for participants to have fun, stretch out, try some new asanas (yoga positions), tone up, detox, build strength, lose weight and enjoy themselves."

Classes are given from 10h30 to noon every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday on the terrace at Cafe Clock in Derb Margana off Tala'a Kebira, opposite the Bouanania Medersa. There's a canopy to keep the sun off, and the classes cost Dh50. You don't have to be an expert - all levels are welcome and mats are provided.

An inverted yoga posture at The Clock

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news