What’s better than checking out the wonders of the deep blue sea at Atlantis The Palm’s ‘Lost Chambers’?
How about simultaneously checking in with your chakras in the beautiful underwater venue alongside the soothing company of the animals? We managed an early Friday at the aquarium for a stunning marine life-inspired yoga class.
Instructor Svitlana Davydenko already teaches Hatha Yoga classes on the Atlantis property, but none as cool as this (literally).
She thought to try something fresh for clients with an inspired setting, and ever since the sessions kicked off in November in one of the deep blue-lit chambers of the cavernous aquarium, they’ve welcomed a full house each time.
Mats, water and towels were already set up for guests right in front of Plexiglas barely separating
For some, a few standard selfies were in order; for us, it was hard not to just sit quietly and gaze on in awe of a ‘life aquatic’.
Eventually, the whole room caught on and willingly waited in silence for Svitlana.
We were personally quite used to the idea of, in yoga, “stoking the fire” by practising a more heating, energising form of pranayama (breath-work) – often experienced in various Vinyasa Flow-type classes, which are designed to heat up the body and really promote blood circulation – but not only is this class of a much slower, softer pace, riding on the water element that lay beautifully all around us, we practised just the opposite with a cooling breath known as Sitali.
Dive right in: The stunning Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis The Palm.
Funny enough, performing this breath – which involves making an ‘O’ shape with the lips, sticking
out and curling the tongue so that it makes like a tunnel in which you can “drink in” water-saturated air – kind of makes you look like a fish. But it’s worth the silliness and stifled giggles.
The Sitali breath calms any feelings of anxiety and settles the body in general, providing a fascinating form of deep-belly air conditioning.
As if the fluttering ‘wings’ of a group of rays scaling the glass right in front of us wasn’t soothing and beautiful enough to give us ease around the eyes, we were surprised by how much added chill and stillness we felt all over after just a few rounds of this type of pranayama.
It’s something we were most grateful to take away to practise further at home or in the office.
“This environment is so special,” Svitlana explained to us afterward. “We are so close to water, so that is the element I focus on when I structure this class, it’s very different from my typical classes.”
If you’ve also been curious about your chakras and their functions, then this class can teach you a
thing or two about that which sits above the pubic bone and below the naval and is said to fuel our creativity and emotional stability (the second chakra AKA Svadhisthana).
When this chakra is out of balance, a person may experience anything from fear of change to sexual dysfunction, depression or even addictions. This chakra also works in line with the water element, says Svitlana, so it pairs well with this class.
“When we practise this special breathing and while focusing on the water around us in the aquarium, we are actually activating and filling up that area inside us, this chakra.”
The word Svadhisthana can be translated as ‘the dwelling of the self’, and even after we lay back for our final Savasana, Svitlana urged us to tap further into that sweet spot by sitting up close to the glass on our own post-class to absorb the underwater vibrations that she insisted were further awaiting us.
“You might not realise it but sitting still and very close to the water, engaging with these fish, psychologists have proven it to be incredibly therapeutic. It’s both a very physical as well as psychological practice.
“If you’re living this crazy, active Dubai lifestyle, then this class is perfect to give you a sense of balance and calmness.”
All in all, we were pleased with Svitlana’s broad range of yogic knowledge to perfectly balance out
our morning with both a physical as well as mentally restful practice; and of course who doesn’t welcome the added bonus (and boost of endorphins) of being able to take in the rush of colours and activity of over 65,000 marine animals that call these 10 gorgeously themed chambers their home – all before the venue actually opens up to the public for the day.
Pretty magnificent, and now high on our lists of top Friday activities.
What: Yoga in The Lost Chambers Aquarium
When: Every Friday 08:00-09:00
Where: Atlantis The Palm Dubai
Cost: Dh120 per person (spaces are limited – booking must be made in advance).
Contact & Booking: www.atlantisthepalm.com , 04 426 1167
