What is yoga? Although it originated in ancient India many years ago, today yoga is done all over the world for multiple reasons.
But the word yoga is from the Sanskrit language, and it means union. It is the union and connection of the mind, body and spirit as one.
I have been practicing yoga for about seven years now, and it has become an extremely significant part of my life.
It is something I do every day, whether it be on my own or in a public class.
Doing something, anything, every day will absolutely have some kind of influence on life—and I can honestly say yoga has changed my life.
This summer, after going through some big changes in my life, I decided to do something I have always wanted to do for myself: become a yoga instructor.
Erin D’Aleo / Graphics Editor
After speaking with some local yoga instructors and searching online, I found the program—and it was just my luck that the latest training session was to be held here in Keene.
I began my training in November, and I will be certified by June. It has been such an eye-opening journey.
I have learned so much thus far in this course.
From different deep-breathing techniques used during class to help stay connected and concentrated, to more calm, conscious breathing during mediation, I have learned the value and influence that the breath has on my body.
We are studying anatomy, because we need to understand our own as well as our future students’ bodies and how to keep them safe in class.
The training also includes learning to teach Hatha and Vinyasa flow, which are two different styles of yoga classes.
Hatha focuses more on postures and Vinyasa is more movement-oriented and fluid.
The physical postures are definitely my favorite part of yoga, but that is not what this is all about.
Although they are great outcomes, yoga is about so much more than helping one get fit or getting a “yoga butt.”
It goes so far beyond the poses. I won’t deny that I appreciate the physical abilities such as strength and flexibility that come with my yoga practice.
But for me, on top of that, yoga is about understanding my physical body, and connecting it with my mentality.
It’s amazing to see what I can do with my body and how that changes with practice everyday.
When it comes to the poses, certain ones I was unable to do just weeks ago I can do with ease now.
Sometimes, I’ll decide to randomly try a more difficult pose for fun and discover I am already able to do it. It’s unreal to see first-hand how much we are really capable of.
When it comes to meditation, the more often I meditate, the longer I can sit in a thoughtful, conscious state undisturbed. The evolutions through habit are fulfillingly endless.
I love yoga for so many reasons. Between that and meditation, I have found I am much more peaceful with myself and my surroundings.
Discovering and balancing the connection within myself has made me feel so much more grounded than I ever have before.
At the risk of sounding like a yogi-nerd, yoga has genuinely changed my life in the best possible way.
Patanjali, the composer of the Yoga Sutras, was not mistaken when he said, “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds.
Your mind transcends limitations; your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.
Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
Danielle Mulligan can be contacted at dmulligan@keene-equinox.com