My Yoga journey and 30-day Yoga challenge: Day 0

My Yoga journey

My relationship with Yoga has been on-and-off throughout my life. I started taking Yoga seriously when I was in my twenties. Back then, my exercise routine consisted mostly of going for walks. Due to my activities, I used to walk a lot every day, simply moving from point A to point B. My legs were my main means of transport. I found gyms exhausting. Socially exhausting. I didn’t enjoy the pretend-you-are-cool atmosphere or the routines after which my body was left aching for at least two days. What was the point of suffering? None. I was, and still am, not a masochist.

I wanted something relaxed, calming, something that could benefit my body, mind, and spirit. Even if this sounds like a cliché, it’s actually true. Yoga accomplishes that, and more.

I was a teacher back then. The mother of three of my students was a Yoga teacher. She was lovely; I always felt relaxed in her presence. One day, I told her I wanted to join one of her Yoga classes.

I went to the first lesson after a long day of teaching. Somehow, I still had some energy left. At the end of the lesson, I felt incredibly well. I had a new kind of quiet energy, and my body felt relaxed. My mind felt quiet. I can still remember the feeling. She was an amazing Yoga teacher. That night, I slept so well and woke up without sore muscles or any discomfort. On the contrary, I felt great. I continued my Yoga practice regularly, twice a week, for some years. Then, her family moved to another city when her children started university.

I continued my practice with another Yoga teacher she recommended. He was a man in his late seventies, agile, flexible, and with a spirit younger than anyone else in his class. He was also a great storyteller, which was a plus. I continued improving in my practice. I was now also learning how to exercise the small muscles in the feet and understanding the importance of this. He walked one hour to his Yoga studio and one hour back home every day. He was an inspiration. One day, he didn’t show up to class. We later learned he had suffered a heart attack and suddenly passed away.

I found it impossible to find anyone else like my first two Yoga teachers. I decided to start practising on my own at home. I had learned a great deal from my two wonderful teachers, and I had also started reading books about Yoga and its health benefits. I remember reading a few books by Indra Devi, the first Western woman to study and teach Yoga in India. She lived to the age of 102, passing away in 2002. She is often referred to as the Mother of Western Yoga.

I moved to a new place near a Yoga Centre that offered Yoga and meditation classes, as well as Eastern philosophy. I registered for all three. I think that was the point when my view of life and myself changed. I was fascinated by everything I was learning and by how these new teachings were broadening my mind and my view of the universe. I started to feel a little wiser, if I may say so.

Time went by and my life changed dramatically. After my mother passed away, I left to start my life in a suitcase. In other words, I became a digital nomad. My Yoga practice was interrupted. Starting your life over requires all your time and energy, and I fell out of my Yoga routine. There is a period of my life where the memories are somewhat blurred, and I won’t make the effort to revisit them at this time.

My next Yoga memory comes from Prague, where I started practising again at home. I met a German Yoga teacher who was also a German language teacher. We were teaching at the same language school. When he moved back to Germany and I went to visit him, I joined his Yoga class, which I absolutely adored. He introduced me to Yoga for the eyes. After the relaxation session, he always served green tea to everyone.

Then, my life took another dramatic turn, perhaps during a time when I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I moved countries again. That’s what digital nomads do. I changed careers. I started using Yoga apps, then YouTube videos.

I became more active as a digital nomad, moving around more frequently. I had already changed careers some years earlier. I was now working full-time as a journalist and writer, remotely. Then the pandemic arrived. My life stopped and then changed dramatically yet again, this time without my consent.

Life became a little hectic and rather uncertain. More uncertain than ever before. Yoga became something I did every now and then, for shorter periods of time. That became the norm.

Sitting for long hours without moving my body enough started to give me back pain, which became worse due to high levels of stress. I am now trying to reverse that by doing what worked well for me before: Yoga. Today, I am starting a 30-day Yoga challenge. I’m returning to the basics, one short practice at a time.

I decided to write this to help myself, to remember how I got to this point, to keep myself accountable, and to document my return to Yoga. And perhaps, to help others start or restart their own Yoga practice.

Perhaps next I’ll revisit the benefits of doing Yoga daily for 15 minutes.

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30-day Yoga challenge: Day 0

My Yoga practice today: a return to the basics. A simple 10-minute morning Yoga routine for back and spine health. Perfect for starting the day, especially for anyone who spends long hours sitting and writing. It is also great for returning to Yoga after a long break. I especially like that she practises Yoga in nature; you can hear the morning birds in the background.