How Yoga changed me and still does…

How Yoga changed me and still does…

Yoga changed so many aspects of my life: physically, mentally and spiritually. It didn’t happen overnight, and it is still work in progress!

I remember my first yoga class. I was maybe 12 years old and my mum suggested to attend a nearby yoga school  to “calm me down”.  Indeed, I was a very nervous and restless  kid. So I went … And thought what a strange experience. And why is the teacher mentioning all those animals? I also thought that yoga was for old people…So boring! Instead I chose to focus my energy on dancing lessons and Taekwondo.

And here I am 20 years later writing an article about how yoga changed me 🙂

I started my yoga journey in a London gym offering a variety of classes. As my first yoga experience wasn’t very successful, I was a bit reluctant to try again but I thought I’d give it another chance. And I’m so glad I did !  

Surprisingly, I discovered that yoga could be quite an intense workout and I started to go regularly, at least once a week. I remember getting hooked by one particular yoga teacher. After her class, I felt different, somehow calmer but full of energy and a feeling of happiness in my entire body and mind. 

My passion for yoga got serious when I moved to Dubai 3 years later. A friend of mine recommended a yoga studio and this place became holy for me for the following 7 years. I discovered great teachers who were not only focusing on the asana aspect of the practice but also on the mind and soul.

I faced many different challenges while living in Dubai.  Dealing with deception in relationships, heavy workload, stress and frustration, I felt comfort and peace when I was on my yoga mat. Even though at times where I could have just skipped it and stayed longer at the beach with my friends, I knew somehow that I needed yoga to explore, to learn more about myself. Yoga was somehow always there for me, bringing a sense of balance and stability to my inner soul. I remember at times crying during classes, feeling like something somewhere just surrendered in my body. Then,  I decided gradually to increase my yoga practices and eventually did my 200 YTT. It is where I learned much more about the philosophy of yoga, meditation, pranayama and anatomy. I somehow got to know myself better, reconsidering my values, my beliefs and my life’s choices. Yoga taught me and continues to teaches me everyday how to be more present, more grounded, how to love myself and love others. And there is still so much more for me to discover.