Going out of your comfort zone - on and off the mat

Looking at social media it may seem that yoga is all about beautiful skinny yogis smiling on the beach and looking perfect on Instagram. You don't usually see the real side of the practice, the sweat, the fatigue, the tired muscles - it’s all very real and not always so pretty. If someone is a yogi, it does not mean that they are always full of energy, smiling all day long, that just like that they’ll go into an instant split or take their leg behind their head. It also does not mean that all yogis are always super motivated or that managing this intense practice every single day comes easily to them. The truth is that it's hard, it is a lot of hard work.  In time we're working to develop a 6-day a week practice, taking a break only for moon days and ladies holidays. Maybe for some yogis this might be easy, but it has never been for me. Just like in life, there are better and worse days. I find that it’s important to make it a routine, part of your day, just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. You just do it, no questions asked.  This way, even if there is a day when you feel no motivation whatsoever and are not feeling up for anything, you still roll that mat out and do what you can.

If you are practicing yoga according to the Ashtanga method, your practice starts shorter with easier asanas, slowly building up over time, together with your physical and mental strength. It seems that however far you go into the series, however beginner or advanced you are, there will always be some asanas that challenge you. The asana practice is not all sun salutations and pretty postures in which you can manage a smile, there are hard moments, hard times. We are trying to keep a steady ujjayi breath through the whole series, but some positions are so intense for the body and mind that this is not simple. Many people ask why do you do these crazy positions every day? Why the struggle, why put yourself through that?   

For me the answer is simple, we learn to deal with the struggles, the hard moments every day to stay strong, to become stronger. By this I don’t only mean the physical strength, but the strength of the mind; day by day we become stronger versions of ourselves. I roll out my mat 6 days a week and do my practice, if I feel good or bad, strong or not so much, I give it my best, I try. There are a few postures in the primary and intermediate series that are so intense for me, that I always have to take a moment before attempting them to tell myself it’s ok, I did it yesterday, I can do it today. These are the moments when I feel I am totally out of my comfort zone, both in body and mind. At my first attempts I would totally loose that steady breath, but in time I am learning to relax my mind and find myself getting comfortable in the most uncomfortable moments. This does not always work, but I try as best as I can. The ashtanga system is prepared in such a way that there will always be that posture you struggle with, once you find yourself finally feeling okay in this position then there is always a next one waiting for you, new asana, new series. However advanced you get, there will always be something more to deal with, to struggle with, to teach you about your strength and weakness, about not giving up, but also about learning when to let go. Just like in life, there will always be a new struggle, a new problem you have to face. The daily ashtanga practice teaches us to stay strong in the midst of the scariest and most uncomfortable moments. To be brave and give it your best. So that after practice, you can go out into the world with an open mind, facing life with courage, the good and bad moments alike.

People like to be comfortable in life, it’s great to have a steady job, nice flat, everything simple, as little stress as possible. But things change, life happens, and we have to keep a clear head and just deal with it. A lot of situations are thrown at us and it’s just about giving it the best you can.

I used to be that person in that comfortable moment in life, I knew what to expect from the next day, month, year, everything was planned out and it all worked so well. It was very comfortable, but I always felt I wanted something more than that, to have an adventure, see places, live in different places, experience the world. Together with my wonderful husband, we have decided to start that adventure by moving abroad, starting anew. For the last two years we have lived in London, and are now wondering where will our journey take us next, who knows? 

Career wise I have studied to become a microbiologist, tried many different jobs in between, to finally find myself as a yoga teacher and am absolutely loving it. In order to study yoga, I traveled on my own to India, to a totally new culture, taking a leap of faith. If someone told me ten years ago where I would be today, I would not believe it, but here I am. I have chosen the scary adventure, I have chosen to go out of my comfort zone and feel I am a stronger woman today than I ever was. I believe we can be whoever we like, we don't neccessarily have to stay on our once chosen path, if it does not inspire us anymore. Find something you are passionate about. I believe in going after your dreams, jumping in however scary it might be, taking the risk. 

In the past I would always like to have my life planned out, knowing where I will be in five or ten years. Today I have no idea, but I am ready for this journey. Where will life take us next? I hope it’s somewhere warm and sunny, a little too much rain in London.