Yoga for every body
Maci Prats
Ibiza born and bred, Maci Prats spent the last 30 years of her working life in hotel management. She lived and worked in the Dominican Republic for six years before returning to Ibiza to raise her children so they could experience the bond of family and the beauty of an island childhood. Maci had previously tried yoga in various gyms, but it wasn’t until a friend gifted her a weeklong pass to Hot Yoga Ibiza that she became a full-blown yoga addict. That was six years ago and today her addiction is as strong as ever.
What kind of yoga do you practice at Hot Yoga Ibiza?
I do Bikram, Hot Yoga and Core 40. I like to combine the three because they each complement the other and challenge me further.
How would you describe these styles to someone who has never practiced?
All three of them require a certain level of mental and physical commitment. You have to have the willpower to practice. You keep learning and each time you do the postures you feel like your body is getting ready. Then one day you reach a concentration so deep that you lose the consciousness of time and space. Is it meditation? I don’t know… but you feel fantastically well!
What were the biggest challenges you faced in the beginning?
At first it was hard for me to come to the studio, to breathe, I felt awkward. However, after every time I felt better, so I kept coming.
What made you persevere with the practice?
The practice helped me realise that I wanted a change in my life. It gave me the confidence I needed to make those changes.
How often do you go to class?
In the winter, I go every day. In the summer, I can only manage to get there two or three times a week.
What kind of physical changes have you noticed since you started yoga?
All the pain I had in my back and my knees has gone!
What changes have you noticed emotionally?
Well, in short, I am a lot happier.
How do you see your practice progressing?
I want to keep practicing because it helps me. Not only physically but also at a personal level. It really helps me to have self-acceptance. And I enjoy the challenge it provides.
How do you feel if you miss a class?
I don’t like to miss a class. When work and family commitments allow, I will organise my whole day around the class timetable so I can go.
What do you like most about the Hot Yoga Ibiza studio?
I feel like I am at home here. It’s part of my life. There is a very special bond between the classmates. We are all very different. We are many nationalities, professions, ages… yoga unites us.
How would you describe Sebastien’s teaching style?
Sebastien is sincere and respectful and he knows all of us really well. He pushes us to leave our comfort zone and always with a smile. He is almost like a psychologist, a friend, a guide. Sebas is definitely one of the most important people in my life. In the six years I have been in the studio, I have witnessed how he has continued to deepen his own practice and knowledge to convey it to us.
What is your relationship with him like?
He is my friend. My teacher. He is family.
What do you know about the philosophies of yoga?
My personal philosophy is that yoga is a way of life. It is always giving your best. It is doing good and living in accordance with the laws of nature. Taking care of body, mind and spirit.
Where do you see your practice going in the future?
I just want to keep practicing as much as I can.
