Yoga originated in India over 2,000 years ago and is a spiritual science of self realisation.
The word ‘yoga‘ comes from the Sanskrit ‘yuj’ – meaning to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as ‘union‘ – of mind and body and breath; the masculine and feminine energies; the individual consciousness or soul with the universal consciousness or Spirit.
The Indian tradition views growth and enlightenment as the whole body event, which is not possible until one has a pure and strong body. It takes into account not only proper growth, strength and tone of the different muscles of the body but also efficiency and functions of the basic factors of the constitutional health, namely the inner organs and the glands.
Yoga is both, a physical and spiritual practice that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost our wellbeing.
To me, yoga is a path I have chosen (or perhaps, yoga has chosen me 🙃) to feel great in my own body and understand my potential. I discovered the power of this ancient practice when I felt stuck in my acting career, which I had intended to pursue after graduating from a prestigious drama school in London. Although I had done a few cool jobs and hoped to advance in my career, it did not flow as I had hoped, and I felt highly frustrated. A friend took me to a yoga class, where I immediately felt liberated from my inner struggles, although I didn’t yet understand why I felt this way. I delved deeper into yoga and, after finding the incredible yoga teacher Tahl Rinsky, I embarked on her teacher training in Byron Bay, Australia. Soon after completing the training, I began teaching Vinyasa Yoga, transforming both my life and my classes into an ever-evolving playground. Teaching yoga is a privilege to me, one to which I devote myself and my service.
With practice you begin to get glimpses of this vast limitless state of inner peace which is our true underlying essential nature and tends to be covered up with all this ‘stuff’ (name, personality, job, family etc) we tend to identify with. Yoga is a means of dissolving the layers that have built up around ourselves. So then we can come to the realisation of our essential wholeness.
Books about Yoga I recommend:
‘The Spiritual Teachings of Yoga‘ by Jo Manuel and Mark Forstater
‘The Art of Vinyasa‘ by Richard Freeman
‘On Yoga‘ by Michael O’Neill
See you on the mat!
Love, Mia