Illona Tschopp is a yoga teacher based in Nyon, Switzerland and Mauritius.
Photo by David Meyer.
1. What style of yoga do you teach? And, where are you located?
I teach a very fluid flow, that comes close to a Vinyasa class but we also take the time to arrive in the pose correctly.
I also teach Yin to balance out my yang practice. I am based in Mauritius Island (about 2 months per year) on the west coast and in Switzerland, near Geneva in a little town call Nyon for the rest of my time.
2. What is your intention behind teaching?
The reason why I teach is that I want to really emphasis on creating a deeper connection with our body. I feel, and see, that a lot of us are super disconnected from our bodily sensations and therefore we disconnect from our external body as well.
My main aim is to create a safe place for people to allow their feelings to come up, accept them and release them. My intention is always to have my heart open for whatever comes up without judging what is taking place.
3. Who are your mentors in yoga?
My mentors in yoga, interestingly, there's a few that I really connect to their physical practice such as Ashley Galvin, Mc-yogi, Meghan Currie, Travis Elliot, Amergia Ganone, Daniel Aaron and Michaela West. And, others that I connect with, “off the yoga mat”, such as Om Swami, Max (Healingmotions on IG), The Law of One, Teal Swan, Zack Horrell
4. What have they taught you?
They taught me to be authentic, true to your beliefs and values and also to live from the heart.
5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you?
The heart of Yoga T.K.V Desikachar
Jivamukti Yoga - Sharon Gannon and David Life
A Handfull of Love - Om Swami
Yoni Shakti - Uma Dinsmore-Tuli
6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice?
•To embody first what I want to be sharing and teaching about.
•Developing my energetical body in ways that it will transmit what I am looking to create.
7. How often do you practice?
It's a funny question, because my yoga off the mat is something I practice daily, even hourly during the day.
My physical practice, I make sure to move consciously every day at least for a little bit and then there's just times where I can spend hours practicing yoga, trying out new sequences or simply allowing myself to fall into poses (more of a yin practice then).
8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana?
Very happy with this question because to me yoga is much more than just the asana.
Here is what comes to my mind when I read this question: Sharing love, constantly checking on how you sound and what tone I use, opting for a plant-based diet (ahimsa big time), I stopped buying what was unnecessary, No more medicine - when pains arises I take the time to breathe and land in the ''pain'' with all my attention, visualization, manifestation, and belief! Always being thankful for what life has brought to me or hasn't.
9. Why is being present so important to you?
Because this is where we LIVE!!! You can only live right now, so why bother being in your past or future? Plus, it creates stress!
10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?
My IG - miniillo
My facebook page - Illona Tschopp
Although you'll hear much more from me on IG, not posting as much but stories big time.