1. How it all began
I still remember it very well. I had just turned 20 and felt full of energy and vitality. I had just returned from a six-month stay in Australia, where I had enjoyed everything life had to offer, including lots of food (not always very healthy). When I got home, I remember that my mum had started attending a new weekly yoga class and was tirelessly trying to convince me to join her. Without much enthusiasm or desire, I decided to give this practice a try, which she said was enlightening. I still remember the first class, it was a beginners’ group, I remember the first downward dog and the first sun salutation sequence. At the end of the class, I stopped to chat with the instructor, and that’s when she said something to me that I didn’t understand at the time but which now rings so true: “In yoga, it’s not you who makes your body perform the poses, it’s the poses that move your body, and the body simply settles into them thanks to the breath”.
That first class and that sentence awakened something in me. I decided to enrol in the course and so began my journey into yoga. I couldn’t imagine where this path would take me in a few months’ time, yet I knew I was doing the right thing for me at that moment of returning to my usual routine and habits.
2. How yoga can change your mind and body
After just a few lessons, I began to realise that this was not a sport, it was not a way to exercise (sure, it was that too, but not only that). It was a real philosophy of life, a way to approach life differently, with a clearer and more aligned vision. That’s right, that’s right, practising yoga had started to free my mind, to help my mind stay more focused, calmer, not to overload it with a thousand useless and superfluous thoughts. In practice, it helped me to be more focused and determined towards my goals. Yes, because in yoga, as in life, it is consistency, patience and listening that make the difference. I learned that the more I listened to my body and my breathing, the more I observed my muscles in the various bends and asanas, the more my body surrendered to my mind, and with my mind I could take 100% control of my body.
It seems like something very basic, but realising that I could have complete control over my body, and that anything that starts in the mind and passes through the breath and listening can be transmitted to the body, was a great revolution for me. For the first time, I realised how important the connection between mind and body is and that it is something to be actively cultivated.
3. The change in perspective
In a short time, I became passionate about yoga and the whole philosophy behind it. I started reading many books on the subject and practising on my own, wherever I was, with or without a mat. I listened to my breathing, concentrated on it and, through it, I was able to convey to my body exactly where and how I wanted to move. I also began practising a lot with my eyes closed, precisely to focus my mind even more on the sensations of my body and my inner feelings, rather than on my surroundings.
I realised that all the concepts I was learning on the mat, I had begun to bring into my everyday life. Whenever I found myself in a stressful, nervous or angry situation, I was able to detach myself from it completely, simply managing it with my breath and peace of mind. This proved to be successful in many everyday situations. I no longer got angry if I was stuck in traffic for hours, if I missed a train, or if my colleagues didn’t listen to me. Everything simply became relative and external; I had created my own safe place and had peace within me. And that, in almost everything in life, makes you invincible.
4. My relationship with food
It may seem unbelievable, but this strong connection with my body and my inner self soon led me to change my diet and the way I approached food. I started eating much healthier, realising that taking care of my body made my mind feel good. I became very passionate about vegetarian and vegan cuisine and decided to almost completely eliminate gluten, refined sugars and processed foods (with some exceptions, of course, so as not to give up all life’s pleasures). All this brought me positive energy, inner strength and mental clarity I had never experienced before.
Never before had I realised what the phrase “we are what we eat” meant, but it is so true. The more I gave my body healthy, good fuel full of love, the more my body radiated all of this. And the more my body radiated this positive aura, the more everything I had always wanted came to me like a magnet (and here we could open another chapter on the law of attraction, which I will spare you for now).
5. Yoga over the years
Almost 10 years have passed since that fateful day when I innocently decided to take part in my first yoga class, 10 years of ups and downs, moments of total listening to my body, and moments of complete distancing from yoga. Perhaps not the best way to pursue a passion, but certainly the most natural one for me and my mind. One thing, however, has never changed in these 10 years: my new way of seeing life and things. Thanks to yoga, I know that everything in my mind can be transmitted to my breath, which, thanks to my body, can transform it into reality. In recent years, I have achieved many goals that I am proud of, and I have had many doors slammed in my face, which I am equally proud of. In short, I have lived slowly, without fear, without hesitation, and for this I will always be grateful to yoga, which has transformed the way I live my life.
6. Rediscover a new version of yourself through yoga
If this brief summary of my approach to yoga has intrigued you and if you see yourself in who I was before and aspire to the change I have described, then I will be delighted to welcome you to Bali at Kavo Maison surf & yoga. Here you will find a peaceful environment, both profound and light-hearted at the same time, ideal for beginning your journey into the world of yoga and within yourself. This makes us the best surf camp Bali for a surf and yoga retreat Bali. And if surfing is not exactly what you feel you need, we have created a package that is just right for you, our wellness & yoga pack. Relax in an oasis of peace amidst the rice fields, enjoy every day from sunrise while practising yoga, get closer to yourself through meditation and breathwork, and pamper your body with a Balinese massage every day. For those who want to try the waves, we can arrange beginner surf lessons Canggu while you enjoy your surf camp Bali experience.
One thing I can tell you for sure: it will only be the beginning of a long, very long, but incredible journey, outside and inside yourself.
