Published:
-
-
Author: Bernie Ni Fhlatharta
~ 3 minutes read
A unique not-for-profit yoga studio in Salthill is working to make the Eastern practice and its many health benefits available to everyone.
BERNIE Ní FHLATHARTA hears how Yoga Darsana was founded and how its popularity is growing, thanks to its sliding fee scale, its work with local charities and its weekly community sessions.
This is the time of year when people make resolutions to get more active. And, increasingly, many of us are opting to take up more mindful pursuits, such as yoga. Though the practice of yoga has recently become hugely popular in the West, it’s had a long association with esoteric, alternative lifestyles and spiritualism.
And while this might appeal to many, it can put others off. However, more and more studies show that activities that make us more mindful are as important for our health as physical fitness is.
Yoga goes a long way to addressing both and community, not-for-profit yoga is now available in Galway.
Yoga Darsana in Salthill was founded two years ago as the world emerged from the Covid pandemic, with the aim of making yoga available to everyone.
Darsana is the Sanskrit word for mirror or reflection and the studio’s name is inspired by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – an ancient collection of Sanskrit writing about the theory and practice of yoga. It represents how yoga is like a mirror, reflecting a person’s soul through their thoughts and actions.
Community Yoga has become a popular concept worldwide and the Galway version was started by Tara Duffy, an American who settled here after travelling the world. She has since returned home for family reasons but hopes to be back in Galway for the summer months, to temporarily instruct and hold workshops at the beautifully located centre, which was formerly the Salthill Driving Range.
Meanwhile, Tara has left the centre in good hands, with Eva Du at the helm.
Eva, a yoga instructor, who is now the administrator at Yoga Darsana, is in her element.
Having travelled a great deal in the years before Covid, she spent the first few months of the pandemic in India and managed to get on the last flight out of that country when it went into lockdown, months after Ireland had effectively closed its borders.
Eva spent some of the second lockdown of 2021 in Portugal teaching yoga and on her return to Galway, she met Tara, who was in the process of setting up the community yoga centre.
Its location in Salthill, adjacent to the Prom and overlooking Galway Bay, the Aran Islands and County Clare, is idyllic.
There’s even a deck outside the big glass windows, where classes are held in the open air when weather permits.
Pictured: Instructor Eva Du, the administrator of Yoga Darsana, has a law degree from UCD. She began training as an yoga instructor while she was on a student programme in India.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune:
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
Galway sees second biggest jump in January car sales in the country
Galway saw the second biggest surge of any county in Ireland in new car purchases during the mont...
Galway business leaders raise €217,091 for COPE Galway’s homeless service
The 44 brave souls who took part in the thirteenth annual COPE Galway Business Leaders’ Sleep Out...
Crowdfunding will help get storm-ravaged food business back on its feet
Aonghus Ó Coistealbha agreed it was ‘mad’ to venture outside as Storm Éowyn was doing its worst a...
Galway's new TDs weigh in on Government response to Storm Éowyn
This article first appeared on Galway Bay FMGalway's newest TDs have been weighing in on the Gove...
Galway companies showcased at tourism promotion event in France
This article first appeared on Galway Bay FMAran Island Ferries and Killary Fjord Boat Tours have...
Night-time initiative for young people returns to Galway for 2025
This article first appeared on Galway Bay FMA night-time initiative designed for young people is ...
Updated information of city and county Community Response Hubs
This article first appeared on Galway Bay FMShowers will remain available in Galway City Communit...
Dunmore native Caoimhe Glynn, otherwise known as Reylta, competes at Eurosong Final tonight
This article first appeared on Galway Bay FMDunmore native singer-songwriter Caoimhe Glynn, also ...
Galway gears up for global Marching Band Championships
This article first appeared on Galway Bay FMYou might have heard during the week that Galway has ...