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As it is my first article on this platform, I’ll tell you a bit of my story. Being an occidental myself, I’ll give you a glimpse of my journey with Yoga and the evolution of my understanding of its nature.
This adventure started 10 years ago along with a massive lifestyle shift; I was moving to South Korea. Quiet a culture shock for the nineteen years old I was then. Korean culture is riche and I will develop on those experiences in articles dedicated to culture but concerning our subject it’s relevant to point out that Korean society thrives for perfection and efficiency, the approach of yoga I was first introduced to was a methodical fitness oriented one. My first lesson was daunting, nor my teacher spoke a word of English nor did I Korean, the closest I had practiced from yoga was pilates and I wasn’t in great physical shape! But after a few classes, something happened, unknowingly I was getting in touch with my body. Maybe because I could only observe and feel rather than interpret instruction. This first experience left me with a heighten consciousness of my body and sprouted the first bloom of this evolution. However I did not grasp the depth ofthis practice, that I simply enjoyed as any workouts.
Few years later, while I settled to Study psychology in a tropical Australian city, I discovered the joy to find a teacher, the kind you recognize in your heart. She was patient, careful, and specific. But most important of all she was the constant support as my practice enriched and grew. I practiced with her four years, and discovered much about my anatomy, muscles mechanics, will power, energies flow. I discovered that Yoga was creating communities through all its branches and various form, such as kirtan, tantra, kundalini and many more. Already extremely enriched by its native Hindu roots, Yoga has evolved through its appropriation by our western society and is practice around the globe, but it may have always been an international practice bearing many names.
Let’s take a break in that story a moment...
Do you know what does the word Yoga means ?
It take it’s roots in the sanskrit word "yuj" meaning union.
Yoga means unity or oneness.
It refers to the union of individual and universal consciousness.
It’s as easy to say and write as it is difficult to really apprehend.
During those wild years of university I moved and met many characters who broadened my perspectives of life and yoga alike. Getting lost between the various names, origins or movements that many hold for sacred; I would not find any sense of belonging to those practices or felt as an imposter. But we create diversity to suit our need, then all those different branches of yoga were simply created to assist various personality types of people seeking enlightenment.“All the roads brings to Rome” as its said. I could integrate to my personal practice all that ring truth to my being and values, I’ll belong to all.
To come in unity... that’s what yoga means !
And here I go with an epiphany, Yoga started integrating to my daily life, as an ecstatic dance of nature. At that stage I was living in a share house with an incredible bunch of people. We were all striving to develop ourselves and support each other. Bubbling up with dynamism and creativity, I was working 2 jobs while studying and enjoying a lush tropical nature. I still don’t know to this day how it was possible. It was like time stretched to let me enjoy the experience of life at the fullest.
Sh*t Happen, but it’s like the bicycle...
Not long after my sixth year of practice a dramatic event bombarded my life and all within it.
For a while I stopped practicing, until one day, I found myself in downward dog, like if I was breathing for the first time. Taking part at a festival I found myself drawn to an outdoor class, this young teacher was dynamic and my body was inspired to follow! I was rediscovering my practice with each breathe and made peace with myself. I remember tasting this feeling for the first time, when your muscles gracefully take a mind of their own and settle into a posture or a flow that is familiar almost intimate to the body, what a delicious experience!
It funny, I consider my practice as a wild beast not to be tamed but patiently befriended. To this days I am striving to harmonize and balance my practice and discover a new unity. Since then I have been paying more attention of my inner languages and listening what they were drawn to : Community.
The yoga of the heart or the art of giving.
Indeed community is an essential part of our life; caring and sharing our interest, knowledge and passions seemed to be an essential part of personal development. I didn’t know it at the time but I started practicing Karma Yoga. Thinking of the community I lived in and the social factors that could be impacted by simple solidarity programs. Many things happened since but I see that reflexion as a milestone in my journey and of the story telling for today.
Yoga is a way of living, made up of various practices that aim to develop awareness of the holistic nature of the relationship between our emotional, mental and physical aspect of our existence.
I invite you to discover many subjects, projects and communities accoutered during my travels and adventures and offer you a holistic approach of navigation on that journey we call life. Let’s envision a world of self-sovereign individuals, creatively collaborating toward a Sustainable future.
Mantra of the day
Advocating the use of Arts and Culture as a mean for change.
