Underwater yoga (and three more supremely relaxing classes to try in Cork)

Lost your zen?
Yeah; a busy week can leave you feeling distinctly un-namaste.
If you’re craving a little time to relax, stretch out and remember what’s important, a once-off class can be the perfect way to escape the daily grind. You don’t even need to sign up for a series – just pop in and pay as you go for a restorative treat with no strings attached.
Here are four intriguing options to sign up for in the coming weeks:
1. Watch Mantra, then chant along at Kirtan
When: Thursday, March 26th, 2020, 6:40pm
Grammy-nominated producer, musician and songwriter Dave Stringer and special guest Rónán O’ Snodaigh from Kíla are hosting “a magical evening of wisdom and devotion” at Yoga Loft Cork on the Monaghan Road on March 26th.
Kirtan is a folk musical form that arose from the devotional Bhakti yoga movement of 15th century India. The form is simple: a lead group calls out the melodies and the mantras, the crowd responds, clapping and dancing as the rhythms build and accelerate.
View this post on Instagram
“The intention of Kirtan is consciousness-transformative, directing the singers to vanish into the song as drops merge into the ocean.” they say.
Sounds relaxing.
First, they’ll be screening Mantra: Sounds Into Silence, “a film about spirituality not religion, it’s about people reconnecting with their true selves and finding meaning in their lives.” Tickets are €30 here.
2. Try yoga underwater
When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, 6.45pm
Flow With Me is hosting one hour of yoga in the pool at Club Vitae in the Clayton Hotel Cork. The yoga will be very low impact, making it an ideal way for people with joint pain to improve their strength, flexibility and range of motion.
This class is open to all yoga levels (swimming caps are required). Email sara@flowithme.com with any questions or buy a ticket (€12) here.
3. Salute Spring with a morning stretch
When: Sunday: March 1st, 2020, 11am
Ready to defrost after winter? Collective Cork on Tobin Street is hosting a salute to the spring this Sunday.
View this post on Instagram
“We will start the morning with 54 Surya Namaskars with a break between for a yoga nidra and some pranayama to set us up for the next 54.” they say. “It is not obligatory that you have to complete all salutations, just come and join in the atmosphere.”
Tea and cake will be served and tickets are €10/€7 students and unwaged here.
4. Attend a monthly Moon Lodge in Clonakilty
When: 8pm, Sunday, March 1st, 2020
A celebration of menstruation around the new moon, a Moon Lodge or “Red Tent” is a space where women can be amongst other women, reflect and get in tune with their bodies.
The Red Tent at the Flow Yoga Studio (Courtyard Clonakilty) is facilitated and held by Lisa Brinkmann. Guests are invited to bring whatever they need to be really comfortable on the ground (blankets, pillows, sheepskins) as well as a pen and diary.
“The meetings will be facilitated and guided, but also have plenty of space for co-creation.” says Lisa. “We will relax and restore, question and explore aspects of our womanhood and femininity, be creative and expressive, share stories and experiences, among many things more.”
The class costs €10 (€5 for teenagers) and it’s open to everyone. Find out more here.

