Have you ever thought of your virtues? We often talk about our character traits, qualities or talents. We might think "What would our virtues still add?". Upon realizing that our virtues are our soul qualities, our inner treasures, our core, and to know that we, by giving them conscious attention, may have them to come flourish further, we can not help but delve further herein.
We were touched by this form of yoga, precisely because it touches our heart and we found the way Patty Jongemaets, the founder of this yoga, is able to stimulate the flowering of our virtues found, quite appealing. She combines yoga forms, including Kundalini, Hatha and Dru yoga, to address and practice the various virtues. In addition, Patty makes the philosophy of yoga, which is sometimes too large and complex to understand, very accessible and applicable to everyday life.
Linda Kavelin Popov was the source of inspiration for Patty. She is a Canadian psychologist who developed a method for raising children and also encourages adults to come into their power themselves. This project is called the International Virtues Project and was chosen by the UN as the best educational program ever and suitable for all cultures and beliefs. The 100 virtues, describes by Linda Popov, inspired Patty to develop Virtue Yoga.
Patty wrote three wonderful books, highly recommended for those who practices yoga and who teaches yoga: 1. Virtue Yoga
2. Virtue Yoga II
3. Virtue Yoga for children
4. Chakra yoga for children
In these three books, she has developed a curriculum in a personal and inspiring way around the different virtues such as openness, detachment, understanding, courage, compassion and love.
Each book is equally constructed. In each chapter, a specific virtue is explained in more detail on the basis of a reflection map. Additionally, Patty gives a personal introduction and tips on breathing, nutrition and wellness that are specifically aimed at the described virtue. Then follows a full yoga class with breathing exercises, mantras, meditation and yoga exercises, whereby the yoga exercises are explained with beautiful pictures and illustrations. Various forms of yoga are used: Kundalini, Hatha and Dru yoga and specifically applied to that virtue that is most supported by the specific type of yoga. That means more Kundalini yoga on the virtue Courage and Hatha yoga when dealt with the virtue Friendliness.
In short: a book with inspiring Virtue Yoga classes with balanced exercises to balance mind and body in your daily life. By giving conscious attenttion to your virtues during breathing and yoga exercises, you will learn to apply these properties in your daily life better and better. Virtue Yoga is literally a guide for a valuable life!
Meanwhile Patty teaches the official training Virtue Yoga Teacher, at her studio Dolphin Wellness at the Nieuwe Meer in Amsterdam. Already more than twenty-five teachers of Virtue Yoga teach at various locations in the Netherlands, click here to see for a location near you.
