Lot of people around me wonder seeing a new me in recent times not just interms of looks but also towards life in general, I don't shy away sharing this secret since Yoga has played a very major role in my life to bring this noticeable difference.
Many ask me today when did I first got introduced to yoga and how did this happen?
I have been introduced to yoga as a child but never understood the real meaning or depth of this form of life. I used to practice 'Sun Salutation' or few asanas when growing up but never took yoga practice too seriously. Being a hard core sports person and fitness enthusiast I was very regular with my running, cardio exercises, stretches and warm ups but used to think yoga may slows me down and only good for old people and never took it very seriously. Not that I didn't live a healthy lifestyle over the years but before pandemic for few years was not able to invest enough time on myself as much I wanted to since most of the days I was preoccupied and drained in my hectic city life.
During my recovery process from ACL tear back in 2017(Ligament tear - a detailed blog of my Hampta Pass trek where and how I got injured) is when again I got informally introduced to yoga and was told by my physio therapist how it will help me recovering from my problem without getting operation done. I started working a lot more on my knee and overall strength build up but still it didn't resonate with me to introduce yoga actively in my life. This has only happened during the pandemic when I first self taught myself how to practice yoga at home.. I started practicing regularly for over an hour or two everyday since going out during the first lockdown was not an option. With whatever limited knowledge I gathered online I started enjoying these daily practices but still I felt their is something a miss. After few months of self practice I moved to Rishikesh where I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life since I took a sabbatical in my career- I had big decisions to make that felt scary and overwhelming.
I think these outside forces brought me back to yoga - the second time around, something just clicked. I was formally joined a Yoga school in Feb 2020 in Rishikesh where I first did my 200hr TTC (Teacher Training Course) and opened the whole new chapter in my life.
As I mentioned I like being physically active and enjoy running in outdoors and trekking in mountains.
However, even though I knew I was somewhat flexible and strong, I was still nervous going to my first yoga class. I didn’t know what to expect. But I realized that there were also a few other new starters in the class and while there were others who were certainly more “advanced” or experienced than me, each of us had different things we were working towards. I remember being strong in some areas, but with still a lot to learn in other areas. I think it’s important to remember that we all have to start somewhere. We all begin as beginners, even yoga teachers!
The first class I went to in my Yoga school was a hot ‘Vinyasa flow’ class. Vinyasa yoga, also referred to as Flow classes, Dynamic Flow or Vinyasa Flow, is a modern style of yoga that draws from Ashtanga and Iyengar. Like Ashtanga, moving with the breath is an integral component. The hot element means that the class rooms are heated to help warm up the the muscles during class. However, after the completion of my TTC I decided to continue with my advance practice and reached out to some of the best teachers in Rishikesh to learn a few different styles like Hatha and Iyengar style yoga.
Today, I teach Hatha + Ashtanga form of yoga to my class. I also work with students who are aspiring to trek upper Himalayas in higher altitudes so that it helps them to perform better while trekking. I tend to guide students in moving from one posture on an inhale and to another posture on an exhale. If you are interested in going to a yoga class, I would recommend trying out a few different styles and seeing which one resonates with you. You may not like or even love it the first time, and that’s OK. What you may like now, may change over time which was certainly my experience. I found that trying out different styles of yoga strengthened my practice because it showed the gaps in my own learning.
How yoga has helped me mentally?
The practice of yoga helps me to work through my own daily mental and physical experiences. Because yoga brings awareness to our inner bodily sensations, it reflects what’s happening in our mind. Let’s take anxiety for example: anxious thoughts can show up in the body. For example, if you receive criticism from your boss, your heart might start racing; you might become sweaty; and you may have a strong urge to yell. This example illustrates what happens to our bodies when we perceive a threat: our autonomic nervous system (ANS) – which regulates important functions of internal organs like our heart, stomach and intestines - activates our sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which then goes into fight-flight or Freeze mode. Stress in life is inevitable but too much stress can be harmful to our body and mind. Yoga works at relaxing the body. It tells our ANS system to rest and go into digest mode. It kick-starts the relaxation pathway in your body which in turn, relaxes the mind.
Why discipline is important in Yoga?
Yoga teaches an individual how to relax and come into our body but that doesn't mean that yoga is easy. It can be an uncomfortable process teaching our body to replax and let go. Our body can hold a lot of stress and repressed emotions that we are not aware of. We do not pay attention to the signs from our bodies that tell us we are doing too much or are out of sync with ourselves. When we start to delve inwards by stepping on our yoga mat, we may be surprised to find out what we've been ignoring. We might feel this physically through tightness or we may feel calmer, lighter even, after a yoga class. The beauty of practicing yoga is that our own experience is the real teacher. We ourselves find that unpleasant sensations or emotions are only temporary and that regular practice will build not just physical strength but also, emotional resilience:-)
How has yoga helped me in my everyday life?
Regular practice is the key. How we experience the world when we are off the mat is reflected in our yoga practice. So how we practice yoga can teach us to live more emotionally balanced lives. People in cities are on autopilot. They’re like; “Do! Do! Do! Go! Go! Go!” They are disconnected from their own body’s experience. I cant blame them since I lived that life myself back in cities. I do struggle sometime to explain them how to feel and experience yoga the way I feel after my daily practice. A mind-body practice such as yoga forces you to slow down and take a look at yourself. To actually be with yourself. This has had a huge impact on how I relate to the outside world: I feel calmer, less reactive to stressors, have increased focus and energy. I'm sure that I am a much nicer person to be around and nicer towards others too:-)
Is yoga for every - body?
Yes! Yoga is not about being the most flexible and bendy person- though the more you practice, the more flexible and bendy you will become. Just start from where you are now and see where it can take you.
What I recommend to beginners?
A lot of people learn by simply dropping into a yoga class but I think a beginner’s course is a great place to start because you build knowledge from the ground up. Beginners’ courses usually offer one class a week for 4-5 weeks. Yoga takes time and cannot be learnt in one class. It's a lifelong learning process because ultimately, it is learning about yourself. If you can approach a yoga class with an open mind, the benefits will come easily. I am a learner for life and I have lot to learn in this process to keep getting better.
