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Eco Yoga Sanctuary offers organic therapy
Words like ‘organic’, ‘eco-friendly’, and ‘sustainable’ aren’t just hippy conversation starters anymore; they are the way forward, whether you’re considering what you eat and where it comes from, or where and how you work, play and live. This is the belief behind Eco Yoga Sanctuary (EYS), a stunning ladies-only yoga and relaxation space now open in the heart of Jumeirah.
This week we stepped into the Middle East’s only sustainably-designed and managed yoga studio to get a feel for the future of yoga in Dubai and beyond...and it is gorgeously bright.
Indeed there is an immediate feeling of love and lightness the minute you step into EYS’s chic dark wood reception area, which is exactly what you want before rolling out your yoga mat for an inspired session.
The EYS manager is Elaine Kelly, a certified yoga teacher and wellness coach with 20 years’experience in the Middle East fitness industry. In 2010, Kellyfounded Yogafest ME, the largest free body and mind festival in the Middle East.
She said: “I am extremely passionate about yoga and sustainability. EYS combines both in a holistic way. We are here to offer women a haven of peace where they can learn and create inner strength and ease in their bodies and minds through the medium of yoga and tread lightly on our planet as they do so.”
She added: “All our instructors have a minimum of one year teaching experience and receive regular assessments to keep our standards high. They come from around the world and are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and continuing to learn and grow. For us, yoga is a way of life, not just a class.”
Here, clients are urged come a few minutes before class to ensure sessions aren’t disturbed once started, as well as so yogis can “cosy” into the experience, which should be calming yet invigorating.
In fact, you’d want to come well before that to take advantage of the relaxation area, decorated in soothing, stylish colours and textures, and frequently replenished with freshly-made herbal teas and fruit-infused water, all ingredients organic of course. There’s even a self-service kitchen with plenty of filtered water (they encourage bringing your own bottles) and recycling bins to get clients into the regular habit of living consciously.
The lounge is also unique in that it is decorated with hydroponic plants from Germany that are meant to ward off any unpleasant smells and insects, not to mention they produce more oxygen in the environment than the average plant.
EYS has one cutting edge, airy studio but it gets good use from 10 instructors who lead up to 30 unique classes and yoga studies a week – from Kundalini, Hatha and Hot Yoga to Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Sivananda, the latter which we tried with the pleasant and present Arezu Karoubi, also a reiki and crystal healer with a background in art therapy.
“We even offer Body Balance, Zumba and other styles of dance. We also introduced Pre-Natal Yoga…and each week we run specialist courses workshops, the next one being ‘Sound Journey – A Concert of Balancing and Healing’ this Saturday,” added the soft-spoken Iranian.
The studio is fitted with special padded anti-bacterial flooring from Germany, and naturally all mats and equipment used are eco-friendly, down to the mat cleaners, which are made in-house – an infusion of eucalyptus, vinegar and tea tree oil.
The most incredible feature of the studio for us though is the infrared panels on the ceiling which, during EYS’s signature hot yoga classes, heat the body from within rather than heating the room into the hazy, sweaty box one typically tolerates in heated classes elsewhere.
This technology also makes for a quicker transition from a steamy, heated room to a cool one for other classes.
We’d also urge clients not to dash off straight after class and instead spend some time chilling out in EYS’s awesome changing facilities, its highlight attraction being the crazy chakra-balancing shower stalls.
Their LED-powered Chromotherapy (colour therapy) rainforest showers may look futuristic but they’re actually inspired by an old system used in ancient Egypt in which colour responds to the different chakras in the body.
Karoubi said: “Simply use the remote control to change or choose a colour. Green, for example, is harmonising and works on the heart centre. Each colour gives you a vibration or feeling that is ultimately beneficial to the body.”
Everything here – like everywhere else in the sanctuary – down to the flooring is considered carefully – it’s anti-slip. All soaps are chemical-free, taps and hand dryers automatic to reduce paper and water usage.
There’s also a neat little retail space featuring, as expected, organic and sustainably-made yoga wear and gear, as well as massage and aromatherapy oils.
It really is a place one could call a home away from home, and ‘sanctuary” is a fitting word. “This is our gift to UAE ladies,” Karoubi said. “It’s called the Eco Yoga Sanctuary and so we created an environment where people can walk in and get that energy and feel that vibration of peace, a place to get away from the office and daily stresses, a chance to really relax.
“Sustainable living is directly linked to the yogic perspective of life and we really put that into practice here as well as encourage others to do so.”
Eco Yoga Sanctuary’s official launch is on October 18 with a full day of complimentary classes, nibbles and even a film screening. Check the website for full details.
What: Eco Yoga Sanctuary
Where: The Village Mall, 1st floor, Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai
Contact: Call +971 4 385 6633 or log on to www.eys.ae
