My Journey from Yoga Therapy to Therapeutic exercise and back to the Yoga roots

6 days ago

3 min read

Life is a journey.

This perspective gives me the ability to be able to enjoy every day as if I go somewhere; as if I go to a new place, as if I have a new experience. as if there is something new to explore.

Over the last few years my life's journey has gently 'forced' me in a way to enjoy the noticeable menopausal transitions as every woman in my age. I won't focus on the apparent physical symptoms and the hormones play 'loud music' during inadequate times; rather, I want to talk about the transformative phase that all these changes bring in our life. There are definitely biological and neurological shifts which are apparent in the physical, motor level but also the psychic and energetic level.

Yoga, through milemnia and the texts indicates the concept of fire (Agni) which sits at the low level of the abdomen and has to do with the metabolic and digestive procedures. The fire burns erratically when we approach new stages of life manifesting as hot flushes, brain fog, joint pain or a disrupted sleep.

That is to say as per foundational Yoga texts and particularly Taittiriya Upanishads that all the levels (the koshas) are disrupted. The Annamaya kosha (the physical body), the Pranomaya kosha (the energetic body), the Manomaya kosha (the mind and emotions), the Vijnanamaya kosha (the intellect, the mind) and the Anandamaya kosha (the spiritual body).

When we practice Yoga, moving the body and joints supports Annamaya kosha; Breathing techniques, Pranayama, target Pranamaya kosha; Mindful and/or meditative movement focuses on the practice stabilizes mind and emotions - Manomaya and Vijnanamaya koshas. The practice of meditation itself shifts the whole being into more spiritual realms, the Anandamaya kosha.

Practically speaking, studying these texts, maintaining my own practice as well as working with so many people around the world have helped me-and still do- to understand human needs holistically; human as a complete system that is not only the body, but so many deeper layers that makes us who we are and how we function in everyday life. Our past experiences shape the way we respond to all stimuli of the present. How do we live now, day after day, moment after moment.

Hence, as I grow older and my needs change, considering where I live, I need to make the necessary adjustments that will help myself and people around me to live a more fulfilled life. But...what does fulfilled life mean? We are different and we all have different needs and priorities in different stages of our lives. Yet, fulfillment or contentment (or Santosa in Yoga Sutras) always point back to inner peace. Eventually, it leads towards a spiritual life, but modern lifestyle requires the cultivation of inner peace. And for me, this is a paramount factor that may one day bring more for the benefit for oneself but also to the others around.

What can bring peace to the body and mind? Essentially, the more equilibrium there is in the following 5 factors, the more we cultivate inner balance and peace.

~ Sleep ~ Food ~ Exercise ~ Stress Management ~ Social Interaction

All 5 factors are worth addressing, there are dedicated health professionals for each of them.

My personal path and expertise which is grounded in experience and academia focuses particularly in exercise.

The way our body moves reflects both on out physical habits but also our mind's needs. What do we need to learn, re learn or un learn in terms of our habit movement patterns? And how often we should address exercise in our everyday life? What do we truly want to achieve?

I'm here to support individuals in finding equilibrium and functional daily life through exercise.

We can work together to address: