Last month, on the International Day of Yoga, I spent the morning busy teaching yoga to the school children. I taught for almost 3 hours, and after that marathon teaching session, I felt elated.
First Class of the Day, Grade 2
Yoga has become an integral part of my journey and life. Without it, I would not be where I am today. Studying yoga was the driving force behind this adventure, and every once in a while I am reminded of what a great gift it has been for me.
The Journey
Growing up, I was exposed to yoga, however it took a health scare to finally bring me to my mat. At the time, I was in a pretty unhealthy relationship, and it showed. I was the heaviest weight I had ever been, and teetering on the edge of a diabetes diagnosis. My mental health status was no better. Wracked with anxiety and prone to episodes of depression, I was in a pretty terrible place. I will never forget the look on the doctor’s face when she spoke about my next steps. In her hand a list of medications and programs that might be of help.
When is comes to medicine, I have always been stubbornly terrible at consistency, and I knew for me, that was not the right path. I begged for a few months, and promised to make some changes. I found my way to the mat once a week, and started to find some peace. Soon, I had ditched the relationship, and found a decent rhythm, between yoga, swimming, and walking, I managed to shed some weight and with it, I bought some more time.
Fast-forward a few years, my anxiety was beginning to rear its ugly head again. I started practicing 3-4 times a week. All of a sudden, I began to feel relief. Yoga had me hooked, and I had found my way to a beautiful practice. It helped me find my voice, and confidence. Over the next two years I began to notice natural changes in my habits. I was waking up earlier, I felt calmer, eating better, and most importantly I began to find my voice again.
Curled up in Shankasana
The Gift
Last month, when one of the children came up to me a said, “ Miss, you are fat but WOW the way you can balance, bend and move! Even I cannot do that and I am so small”. I could not help but smile and think of how far I have come. Yoga has given me the gift of health, peace and now the gift of adventure, and for that I am so grateful
