From the warrior in the stretch jump and back

Behind the semicircle of torches, 20 sports enthusiasts rolled out their yoga mats. Surrounded by a school class and couples, which let the day fade away on the Elbe, the first task drives the pulse in the air: From the supine position roll on the feet, jump up, lie down again, up again - until all one after another until loud have counted ten. Only then can we briefly breathe in the dog looking down, before continuing with the next exercise.

With their new training concept "Yogaletic Moves V.7.0", the Hamburg fitness coaches Marco Santoro and Hans Figueroa want one thing above all else: to challenge the participants. And they can do it - with 90-minute units at unusual times (including: 5 o'clock in the morning or 11 o'clock) in different places. "At first we made a virtue out of necessity with the training in the open air, because we were missing the rooms," says Hans. The fresh air fits well with the holistic program: Under ever new conditions, our senses are better trained and irritated differently than in a closed room. Be it because something else happens around you, or because you have to do the exercises with sand under the yoga mat.



© Jessy Figueroa

For each lesson, the trainers consider a new series of exercises with other impulses. Hans is responsible for the yoga elements, Marco for the athletic part. Combining both - for example, from a warrior to a one-legged stretch-jump with the knee on and back or from the sprinter to the push-up - results in interval training of complex movements that simultaneously strengthen and stretch.

"Yogaletic Moves V.7.0" is aimed at these seven focal points:

  • Spirit
  • force
  • coordination
  • condition
  • balance
  • stretching
  • meditation

These are the classic components that train athletes in preparation for a competition. Such a training also makes sense for hobby athletes: "We want to make the participants fit for everyday life, because it also offers enough challenges," explains Hans. Yoga is functional training anyway, because it involves the whole body. The same applies to the athletic exercises: instead of strengthening muscles in isolation, as many muscle groups as possible are activated simultaneously.

With their combination of yoga and athleticism, Hans Figueroa and Marco Santoro want to bring mind and body into line, "because then you are more versatile," says Hans. That's why they understand their program as "Ying Yang Concept". So far, there is the "Yogaletic Moves V.7.0" only in Hamburg - but it should not stay that way. The dates announce the coaches in their Facebook group, one hour costs ten euros.

Warrior stretch (March 2024).



Marco Santoro, Hamburg, yoga, yoga, yogaletic moves, functional training, full body training, marco santoro, hans figueroa