Yoga. Such
a magical word!
I will
never forget the first time I heard it. I was around 18 and I had no idea what
yoga was, I just overheard someone mentioning it on the street. And I felt
something moving inside me. I knew I had to learn more! I read a little general
information about it but at the time I knew I could not commit to it due to
college and working responsibilities. Kept it on the back of head.
Eight whole
years later, in 2009, I had just came to the point describing in my previous
post. I finally achieved being promoted in a managerial position which was my
dream for years and felt that everything I did to get there was for nothing. I
needed to start fresh, give my own self some time, get it all back together. I
started again dance lessons (which I had dropped for 2 years in order to focus
in my job and so-wanted promotion) and although dancing did make me feel a lot
better I felt I needed something more. One day I got a free Yoga DVD with my
local copy of SHAPE magazine, it was my first one ever. I felt that something moving
inside me again. So I got home, put it in the player and watched it. It was a
beginner’s power yoga sequence followed by the Five Tibetans Rites and a 15
minute relaxation in savasana. The setting was great, the background music was
amazing and the voice of the woman featured in the DVD (famous local trainer
that was one of the first to bring power yoga in my country) was peaceful and
calm. I liked what I saw and I decided that I would try it on the first day I
had enough free time.
That
Saturday night I didn’t go out. I stayed home, made some space in the living
room, lighted up 2-3 candles and an oil burner with jasmine incense, put a mat
I had on the floor (foam mat I had for crunches, not good for yoga) and put the
DVD on. As soon as I started I felt a strange kind of energy inside me, like
electricity. By the time I finished relaxation I was feeling lighter, less
worried, happier, tranquil. I could not explain how it was possible to feel
this way after just one hour of practicing but I didn’t care. The fact was that
I did. I was feeling that something is changing, I was feeling that what I did
was right and that feeling was way too strong to question it. I went to the
bathroom and looked at the mirror: you could see it in my face, I looked calm!
Next day I
ordered a yoga mat and I kept practicing with this DVD for a while doing my own
ritual: turning off most lights, lighting my candles and burning jasmine .
(Photo from here.)
