Yoga/ Spirituality does not equal Esoterism Part I

Five years ago I broke up with my boyfriend, went to Rishikesh and explored the practice of Yoga. It changed my life. Ever since I am totally in sync with my inner goddess, I feel enlightened and also I am a vegan chick that frequently attends PETA demonstrations. I wear a crystal stone necklace that has been given to me by my guru after a meditation ceremony at the Ganges River, but mostly so everybody can see what a hippie I am.

Insert alarm bells. That´s a complete lie. THANK GOD.

Wow, you are still here reading this? Thanks, that means you are aware of the fact that yoga doesn´t only apply to the stereotyped spiritual or wannabe-spiritual person in a midlife crisis, but to any individual kind of person who is seeking for a deep physical and spiritual practice. Spirituality does not nessecarily equal esoterism.

I have been practising yoga for five years and I love it. I love it for so many reasons and I want to dedicate a little time to talk about it because I feel like even though Yoga has become well-known in western countries ages ago and has gotten super hip since people started waking up and engaging in a holistic approach to their lifestyle, there are still many stereotypes and prejudices against it that I´m not d´accord with.

Yoga-practice is scientifically proven beneficial on so many levels from healing physical injuries to reduce physical and emotional stress, building strength and flexibility, it helps you get a fit and healthy body to not only look good but actually rejuvenate your whole system from blood-cells to your organs, strenghen your muskles and joints, and the list continues... Furthermore it is a key-practice to spiritual growth.

I personally do have an issue with concentrating on stuff and having a constantly ongoing mind and tend to over-think, so Yoga helps me to shut off my mind completely and just be with the practice, feel my body and be totally present with a quiet mind. No Ritalin required. Whenever I feel stressed, imbalanced or moody I go to class and it works its magic, every single time. (Okay, sometimes I have a chocolate bar instead, it works its magic too, right on my spare tyre).

There are many different styles and they are all great. I have come to focus on Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga and Bikram since they just make me feel the best and fit me the most.

I enjoy doing different styles because they work on different parts of the body and mind. So Vinyasa helps me keep a relaxed mind and helps me decompress, Bikram on the other hand supports my focus and ambition on things and satisfies my need for physical exertion.

Vinyasa is more of a gentle kind and once the training is done I feel totally relaxed and strong at the same time, at peace and humbled. Bikram though is like military-boot-camp. First time I went to a Bikram class I just wanted to die and actually had to throw up. In my case the instructor would be an american super hot and ridiculously tough and rigorous chick that will scream at you as soon as you´d even start to think about not flexing your toes perfectly while your leg is somewhere up there, sweat is dripping down your nose and your standing leg is shaking like it will break any second. Once you have gotten through the class though you feel the rejuvinating effect kicking in instantly and can be proud of yourself for not being a lazy bum also. It´s like sweet hell and you´ll hate or you´ll love it.

When I was travelling in Asia I was practising almost everyday for 1.5 up to 4 hours a day (except for that time in Thailand when I strained my ankle and Bali got me a little distracted at times also...). I could feel how I have gotten more and more in tune with the practice and it felt amazing to see and feel how the body reacts and improves day by day. I guess that´s another part about Yoga that I love. It´s not about mastering the most crazy postures imediately but about your individual healing and strengthening progress, it doesn´t matter if it takes months and years for you to bring your hands to the floor or master a headstand because the practice itself, the commitment and the discipline is what it´s about. I´m fully aware that I´m not the fittest, strongest or most flexible Yogi but it doesn´t matter because I feel the progress my body is making step by step and the effect I get out of it on an emotional and spiritual level and that itself is amazing to me.

So yes. Yoga is awesome and it definitely doesn´t have to be seen as either some weird hippie shit or as a strict spiritual doctrine that one has to follow. I enjoy Yoga, I enjoy eating healthy and taking care of myself and I do focus on spiritual growth but I also enjoy going to techno parties, sometimes look like a girlie girl and have a steak. Generalizing and strict ideas about something/someone never apply. :)

There will be a second part following up soon, that will be a bit more specific about the practices so stay tuned.

I will go light an inscent now. Ohm shanti shanti. Just kidding. Will light something else though. Uuupward facing dog, dooownward facing daawg... XX