Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers in Utrecht

Hiske

Iyengar yoga is so complete and innovative, and there are so many good, dedicated teachers worldwide, that Hiske van der Meulen does not expect to stop learning for the time being. She has an analytical mind, which she sharpened in her training as a linguist and her work in government. And a great interest in the physical that she developed as a fitness trainer and runner. Combined with the necessary challenges in the field of her own health, this ensures that you are challenged both physically and mentally in her classes to examine yourself.

She was trained in Amsterdam by Clé Souren, Charles Hond and Annemieke Post, and certified CIYT Level 3 (formerly Junior Intermediate III). When BKS Iyengar taught in Moscow she travelled there, she attended intensives with Geeta Iyengar in 2009, 2015 and 2018, and studies as often as she can at the Iyengar Institute in Pune. She has completed a 3-year training in therapeutic applications of Iyengar yoga with Stephanie Quirk, takes regular classes with Sheila Haswell and Gitte Bechsgaard, and with several other senior teachers at home and abroad.

Claas

Claas Hille is a filmmaker, journalist and yoga teacher. He has never been able to choose between these three interests. He integrates his journalistic curiosity in his lessons. Every body in his class is an object of study. As a filmmaker, he knows that there are many aspects to telling a good story. A good yoga class is like an action movie, a good tension curve and the necessary humor are indispensable.

Claas is still improving his teaching by studying with various senior teachers, and spends a month every other year studying with the Iyengars in India. He was trained at the Iyengar Yoga Instituut in Amsterdam by Clé Souren, Charles Hond and Annemieke Post, and holds the Level 2 certificate.

Tally

Tally Eldor started practicing yoga out of curiosity: you don’t know what you’re missing until you try… and she’s been trying ever since, every day. She loves the precision and detail of the Iyengar method, and believes that everyone can benefit from it. When she wanted to share her experiences with friends and family, she discovered a new angle to her practice: teaching others. With her background in finance, her analytical and problem-solving skills come in handy in her daily practice and teaching. She combined her passion for yoga and travel and took classes and workshops in several countries. She now lives in Eilat, but thanks to Corona we can still enjoy her (online) classes!

Tally followed teacher training with Berber Schönholzer in Amsterdam. In February 2014 she started training at iYoga Utrecht: she attends classes, assists in regular and ‘special needs’ classes, and she teaches. She is CIYT Level 2.

Annabel

Annabel Garriga is from Barcelona and had a passion for physical work from a very young age. In 2004 she came to the Netherlands to study art. During her art education she came into contact with yoga. From enthusiasm she started the Iyengar yoga training in 2008. Now she holds the Level 2 certificate since 2013. Yoga gives Annabel pleasure. In the beginning she enjoyed the physical effects such as strength, flexibility, energy and the revitalization of her body. Then she realized that yoga also offers her a state of calm and mental serenity. She also learns through yoga to develop attention. Annabel is an open and cheerful person and as a teacher she enjoys teaching and has a lot of personal attention for her students.

Daniela

Daniela Gfeller spends a lot of time in front of the computer as a web and graphic designer, and she finds that yoga keeps her body balanced and energized. She has been a dedicated yoga student since 2001. Daniela loves the active form of Iyengar yoga for its precision and the physical and mental benefits it offers. Her teaching style is challenging but clear and precise. In her classes, Daniela believes it is important to build a solid foundation and then gradually move to deeper levels. She helps students to develop their bodies and improve their relationship with their bodies. “I enjoy seeing the difference between how students lie in Savasana (the last relaxation pose of the class) and how they entered the class”.

Daniela holds a Level 3 certificate (from Intermediate Junior III) and continues her education through classes and workshops with many senior teachers in the Netherlands and abroad. She was trained in Amsterdam by Clé Souren, Charles Hond and Annemieke Post, followed a course in therapeutic application of Iyengar yoga with Stephanie Quirk, and studies with Gitte Bechsgaard since 2016 do deepen her studies of yoga philosophy.

Eeke

After high school, Eeke van der Wal traveled through South India. There she was captivated by the country and everything to do with India, including yoga. In 2010 she came into contact with Iyengar yoga through Claas and Hiske. Eeke loves the physical aspect of yoga and the precision that this form of yoga offers. Gradually she became fascinated by the effect that yoga has on your thinking and your (often subconscious) behavior.

Eeke is also concerned with human behavior in her work as an organizational developer. She is regularly faced with the question: how do you get people moving? – a question she can now also work on as a yoga teacher. She trained with Delilah King and Rembert Petrus in Amsterdam.
Before Eeke started yoga, she swam competitively at national level for 10 years. She did her MA in Change Management and Cultural Analysis. In her spare time, Eeke enjoys reading, doing partner acrobatics and writing short stories. She has had the Level 1 certificate since 2023.

Despoina

Despoina’s journey into Iyengar yoga started as a personal quest for healing and self-discovery. She believes that yoga is a transformative practice that extends beyond the mat. Through yoga, individuals can not only strengthen their bodies but also attain mental clarity and emotional stability. Join her class and experience it for yourself!

Despoina is training to be a teacher.

Kerry

When a student walks into a yoga class, Kerry Reinking believes they are searching for freedom. Maybe in the form of relief from physical pain or stress, or to explore big life questions. “I don’t believe that there is a ‘right’ reason to be practicing yoga – for whatever reason you come, I will do all I can to show how powerful of an ally Iyengar Yoga can be on your journey.”

Through his work as a portrait photographer and Iyengar Yoga teacher, Kerry knows how to balance art and technique.“ “My Job is to help my students discover their own body’s intelligence, and inspire them to build a strong and solid body and mind.” Kerry incorporates over 15 years of yoga experience to guide his students to create a positive change to their life.

Kerry teaches weekly in his hometown Broek in Waterland. Kerry completed his teacher training at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Amsterdam as well as the Iyengar Yoga therapy training. He has several years experience assisting in the Institute’s medical therapy classes. Hij is CIYT Level 3 (previously Intermediate Junior 3), and travels to India regularly to study with the Iyengars.

in memoriam – Leen*

Leen discovered yoga at his work as a mental health psychologist, There you could follow Iyengar yoga class as a ‘company sport’. Although that seemed rather out of his comfort zone, Leen tried it a couple of times and liked it so much that he stayed as a dedicated student ever since. And he integrated it in his daily life. Leen was certified Iyengar yoga teacher Level 1 since 2019. In addition to teaching at iYoga Utrecht, he also taught his colleagues in mental health care. In his work with clients, he liked to use physical (yoga) exercises, body-oriented interventions, relaxation exercises and mindfulness. Along with attention to breathing, this was an indispensable addition to his strongly cognitively oriented profession.

As a yoga teacher, he connected his experience as a counselor with the teaching of asanas to achieve a state of calm, balanced mind and a stable and strong body. Leen was creative in his yoga practice and as a teacher. He had an eye for detail and liked to do everything with a touch of dry humor. In his spare time he had singing lessons and you could often find him in, on or near the water, on the coast, in a lively city or in a gallery or museum with contemporary art.

Leen passed away on November 12, 2022. We miss him.

Willem

Willem was convinced by friends to try a yoga class about 10 years ago and after that first class from Claas, he developed a passion for yoga. From the moment he was asked to do a handstand in class it was clear to Willem that Iyengar yoga was the style of yoga that suited him best! Even now it is still the practice of inversions and arm balances that drives him to share his love of yoga with others.

Willem regularly follows classes by Nanda, Claas & Hiske as well as assists at the ‘special needs’ classes. He holds the Level 1 certificate since 2017.

Anne

Anne Hodgkinson came to the Netherlands from California to study music. She discovered yoga as a serious practice relatively late, when someone told her it would improve breathing techniques when singing. Gradually she found her way to Iyengar yoga. She is a bit tense by nature and so the peace you get from Iyengar yoga was a blessing for her, in addition to the physical benefits. With the ancient Yoga Sutra texts, yoga was also a good fit for her love of Indian culture. She appreciates how this text is still relevant today. Anne obtained a vinyasa certificate in 2012 and the Iyengar Level 1-certifcate in 2019. For her, teaching provides balance with her other work as a translator/corrector. She enjoys both the community feel at iYoga and the high level and space for humor in the classes.

Tobias

Toby does not have an Iyengar Yoga certificate, but just by his presence he makes an important contribution to the studio. Many students relax more while petting Toby than they do during their yoga class. We don’t know if that says more about Toby’s inner peace or about the classes, but his Adho Mukha Svanasana is certainly exemplary.