What is Yoga?

I was initially introduced to yoga at the age of 18 by my friend. I tried it out of pure curiosity without really knowing anything about it.

The first thing that was taught was Dirga Pranayama: inhale through the nose, fill the belly, chest and neck, and exhale in the reverse order.  I must admit, this type of breathing made me feel quite dizzy at first. After the dizziness faded, I felt inspired, relaxed, and grounded. I immediately knew that I wanted more of that enlightening feeling.

One of the things that seemed so appealing to me about yoga was the fact that it always made me feel like I belonged. Like no one was judging me, and like I was doing something good for my body. Only recently I came to the realization that that “something good” was the pure act of self-love.

What amazes me the most is that although I’ve been practicing yoga ever since (on and off), I still manage to learn something new after every-single-practice: it has helped me be patient with my body, love it, listen to it, appreciate it and challenge it. It has helped me understand that each practice will feel differently, physically and emotionally. It has taught me to do my best and believe that it is enough.

So what is yoga? Yoga to me is flexibility (physical and emotional), strength, piece of mind, meditation, focus, silence, challenge, breath, grounding, flow, inspiration and creativity.

It is quite often that after a yoga practice I would come out with a new idea, a solution to a problem, an opportunity, or an inspiration.

Yoga helps me see things from a different perspective. A deeper perspective where I feel more in-tune, raw and real.

I do not know the scientific explanation of what yoga is (other than what we have learned in our previous teacher training session: unity of the body and mind), but I know that I want to understand it better, because there is still so much left to learn.

I am excited to deepen my yoga practice and to be able to share my knowledge and inspire others.

Whether you’re sitting in the train practicing your Ujjayi breath, or practicing your shoulder stand, or sitting crossed legged meditating, it’s all yoga. Yoga is life.