Issy🔹Yoga & movement teacher

It’s happening and we’re super excited!!!! 300HR YOGA & MOVEMENT TEACHER TRAINING will be in my motherland, Thailand🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭 This isn’t just another teacher training—this is a course we’re truly excited to share with you! If you know me, you know I’m all about mobility, strength, and freedom of movement. That’s why we’re bringing together traditional yoga philosophy with modern movement practices like strength training, calisthenics, animal flow, and functional fitness. At the heart of it, we’re still deeply rooted in yoga philosophy, pranayama, meditation, and self-inquiry—the stuff that truly transforms your practice from the inside out. And we have an incredible teaching team joining me on this journey: 🌟 Devrim – A dedicated yogi with 20+ years of teaching experience, owner of Baantalay & New Heaven Diving School, and a wealth of knowledge in pranayama, breath science, and deep yogic study. 🌟 Maxime – A calisthenics trainer and anatomy expert who will help us bridge movement science with traditional yoga. Together, we’ve crafted this experience to not only deepen your practice but also expand your understanding of movement and the body in a way that makes sense for modern life. If this speaks to you, we’d love to have you! Comment ‘300’ and we will send you all details!

Come with us to Nicaragua for the ultimate Yoga & Calisthenics Retreat this April 2025! 🌞 We’re down to the last two rooms—so if you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time to join us. 🧘‍♀️🤸‍♂️ Picture yourself flowing through yoga sessions with ocean views, leveling up your strength in calisthenics, and unwinding in paradise. You’ll get to meet like-minded people that come from all over the world! There are also so many activities you can do like surfing, horse riding, volcano hike, chilling at the pool and massage. This magical place has it all! That’s crazy Who’s ready for a week of movement and good vibes? Let’s do this🔥 #NicaraguaRetreat #YogaAndCalisthenics

Last slide was very unexpected! 🦎 Little did we know hosting a yoga and calisthenics retreat would be such a wonderful combination. Three groups of enthusiastic people from all over the world came to Koh Tao, Thailand to join us. The oldest participant was 67 and the youngest was 17 with all various backgrounds. This confirms what we always believe which is ‘Movement should be for everyone’. Because the purpose of this retreat is not about how many pull ups you can do or whether you have flexibility or not. Yoga is not about making beautiful poses and flows. But it is to discover and explore yourself, reconnect your mind and body. Building up strength physically, mentally and spiritually. And we are so damn proud of these people. To witness them getting out of their comfort zones, pushing their own limits and knowing when to step back to find the balance in life not just in fitness but also health and diets. We appreciate local cuisine and cultures. Not the kind of low fat/carb diet kind of retreat. Food is fuel for the body & nourishment for the soul. We also want to help people find the balance and improve better relationships with food. Thanks to our hosts and wonderful staff @baantalaykohtao for taking good care of us. This place is absolutely beautiful surrounded by nature. And last but not least, everyone got to see turtles😆 Corals are magnificent in those crystals clear beaches. We enjoyed every sunset and hiking. Making these retreats such a memorable experience! If you don’t want to miss out for our next retreats. Comment ‘retreat’ and we’ll send you DM❤️

Here is one of my favorite routines to improve upper body flexibility, mobility, and strength—with a little extra resistance, because why not? Adding weights and resistance bands takes these movements to the next level. 📌Slide 1: Shoulder Opening with Dumbbells Here I am using a 5kg dumbbell to challenge stability and control. You can start with a lighter weight for control and build up to something heavier as you get stronger. 📌Slide 2: Shoulder opening & lunges I naturally put a lot of pressure on my low back, so here I focus on engaging my shoulders and upper back instead. Adding a resistance band makes a huge difference! It helps strengthen the shoulder joints, recruit more fascia and connective tissues, and build overall resilience. If you want it easier > Hold the band wider apart. If you want more intensity then grip the band closer together. I love mixing these lunges with twists because it just feels so good—and it also tests your stability and balance as well. 📌Slide 3: Deep Squat with Spinal Rotation You already know how much I love deep squats with spinal rotation. This combo opens up the hips, spine, and thoracic area, while keeping control in the movement. 📌Slide 4: Proprioception & Body Awareness Here, I’m working on isolating movement and controlling my body like waves. This really helps with thoracic stiffness and overall coordination. 📌Slide 5: Resistance Band Cat-Cow Good old Cat-Cow—but we make it spicier. The resistance band adds extra work to the thoracic spine, strengthens the upper back, and improves spinal mobility. This routine mainly targets the upper body—shoulders, upper back, and thoracic spine—but I always like to incorporate hip and full-body movements for good balance. 🔥 Try it out & let me know how it feels!

When you really think about it, we don’t move for the same reasons forever. Movement shifts with the seasons of our lives. At one point, we move to gain confidence—to feel good, to look good, to prove something to ourselves or others. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Then, we move to heal—to repair, to reset, to process things words can’t explain. Sometimes out of sadness. Sometimes out of joy. Other times, we move to find ourselves—or to reconnect with the version of us we lost along the way. Whatever phase you’re in, movement always meets you where you need it most.It’s no coincidence you found this today. At some point, our reasons for movement aligned. For me, it started as healing. Then strength. Then confidence. Then fulfillment. And that cycle keeps evolving, just like life itself. What stage are you in now? Why do you move?

This photo in the end got me laugh on my own feet all the time. I thought I was weird girl that I couldn’t even fit my feet in any shoes, let alone beautiful high heels and I swear that was my size😂 Most people know wide feet help with balance and stability, but it’s not just about shape—it’s about how you use your feet! I grew up running on dirt, stepping on rocks, and only wearing shoes when I had to. My feet were almost always in direct contact with the ground. (I know I was lucky to grow up in a warm country—being barefoot is harder in cold places! 😭) Even after moving to Belgium, I still go barefoot at home (except in winter). Socks and slippers make me feel disconnected from my feet and muscles. Your feet aren’t just feet—they’re your foundation. Like a tripod stand, they stabilize through three key points: heel, big toe, and pinky toe. A wider base means better balance, smoother movement, and more control. Feet also act as shock absorbers, reducing impact on your joints. And I use my toes constantly—to grip, stabilize, and help me shift weight effortlessly. Of course, wide feet are partially genetic, but lifestyle plays a huge role too. And foot strength isn’t everything—some movements, like a deep squat, also depend on body proportions (torso-to-thigh ratio). But no matter your structure, strong, engaged feet will always improve stability and control. Train them, use them, strengthen them—because they are literally your foundation. Want to learn how to strengthen your feet and improve balance??

We always hear, “Don’t give up, keep pushing.” But sometimes, real courage is in stopping—not because we’re weak, but because we’re wise enough to know when pushing through will do more harm than good. In yoga philosophy, Satya (truthfulness) and Ahimsa (non-harming) teach us to be honest with ourselves and honor our limits. For me, that means listening to my body and knowing when it’s time to step back. It takes true bravery to pause and trust that starting again isn’t failure—it’s a choice, and a strong one. Our ego tells us to keep fighting, to push through pain and discomfort, which can be good sometimes. But if we don’t know when to stop, we risk hitting walls—injuries, setbacks, burnout. Stopping isn’t quitting forever. The real challenge is knowing when to quit… so you can come back stronger. Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is step back and start again.

This week’s flows are all about nourishing my hips and spine—building strength, control, and space in the body. I’ve been moving through deep squats with spinal rotations, side lunges paired with cobra extensions, and some juicy hip mobility work like lunges with twists and ankle-focused squats. It’s less about holding static stretches all the time and more about exploring movement. But I do love holding still positions too—there’s something powerful in the pause. Both static holds and dynamic movement offer different perspectives and benefits. In dynamic flows, there’s this unique focus that comes from catching up with the movement, paying attention to what each part of the body is doing in real time. Sometimes I pause in these postures just to observe how my body responds and feels in that moment. Both approaches are equally valuable. Both teach me something different. How’s your body feeling this week? What’s been in your flow?

Straight spine or rounded? It depends. Some bodies feel more supported with a straight spine in a forward fold, while others find relief in rounding. For me, rounding my spine in a forward fold feels better for my lower back because of how my body is structured. But when my hamstrings are super tight, I’ll keep my spine straight—it really depends on what my body needs that day. Depends on the context. If you’re dealing with a spinal injury or a bulging disc, rounding would not be the best choice. And if you’ve been sitting passively with a rounded back for hours, your body likely needs a variety of movements—back extensions, twists, and gentle dynamic motion—to restore balance and improve circulation. The takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. It all comes down to your body, your structure, and your goals. Stay open and adaptable—movement isn’t black and white.

What I’m Doing This Week for My Hips (and My Back) **And I want you to read the last part which is actually the most important one. This week, I’ve been focusing on movement that actually makes my hips and spine feel good—not just sitting in stretches but flowing through positions that build strength, control, and space in my body. This routine includes elevated active pigeon pose to strengthen my outer hip, spinal articulation, back-extension, active twists and side lunges to explore range in all directions It’s not about just holding positions—it’s about using movement to connect with my body, strengthen what needs support, and create space where I need it most. And a reminder—not every movement is for everyone. Some of these can feel intense, especially if you have sensitive knees or hips. Social media is full of people sharing what works for them, but that doesn’t mean you have to copy everything exactly as you see it. Always listen to your body, modify where needed, and move in a way that makes sense for you. For me, movement isn’t just about doing the motions—it’s about being mindful, intentional, and using movement as a way to connect my body and mind. Try it out, adjust as needed, and let me know how it feels!

Deep stretches can be helpful—but only if they align with what your body actually needs—they have their place, but they’re not the only way to improve flexibility. What matters most is balance, variety, and understanding what your body actually needs. For example, if you have hypermobility, sinking into deep stretches without control might not be ideal. But if you lack flexibility? Yes, deep stretches can be useful. It’s all about context and intention. I still stretch, just not as deep as I used to. I prioritize movement, strength, and control—because in the long run, being strong in how you move matters just as much as how far you can stretch. How do you balance flexibility and strength in your practice? Let’s talk in the comments!

My favorite combo❤️🔥 Which part of the flow do you find it most difficult? Let me know in comments, I’d love to do the break down for you😀 #movement #flowmovement