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The impact Yoga has had on my life A person that took my Ashtanga workshop asked me: “I've in some ways seen how yoga brings change to one's life, but I've never really fully heard and understood its full impact…. My experience with it has been mostly physical and I'm wondering if you would be willing to share with me how it's impacted your life beyond that.” It is true that the first thing most people notice is the physical aspect of yoga. Being more flexible and stronger while having better stamina. Still on the physical level, but not as noticed, yoga is a cleanser. All the twisting, curling and stretching really take out any extra fat from those inner organs and allow us to be lean within. The breath is the bridge between the body and the mind.Deepening the breath, letting it flow smoothly allows us to feel calmer, have more oxygen (and all its good effects on body and mind), and a point to concentrate on, which helps us focus our minds. The Drsti, the yogic gaze, is another aspect that connects the body, the eyes, with the mind and beyond. The single pointed concentration develops our ability to stay focused and soft at the same time. The Drsti and the breath help us stay present with where we are. Balancing poses help us balance our body and mind. In order to practice stability on one leg, one needs to find a stable mind. Arm balances require a strong core and strong arms, but mostly they require a sense of trust and courage. This is true for inversions as well. These poses can lead to a sense of empowerment, of “I can do this”, or better yet, “I am doing this!” Yoga for me is an anchor. While living in New York City, running a Photography studio, being an artist and a fashion photographer with all the craziness that came with that (for me), Yoga was a rescue. It was my refuge. I knew I was going to practice every morning. I knew the studio was a safe a place where I would receive support, a place where I no longer needed to worry about anything. The practice of breathing in Yoga was like a meditation in movement. I breathe everywhere, all the time, but never do I take such purpose in staying aware of it. The physical practice has started to show effects in my overall health and sense of happiness. Many books are written on what yoga poses could do. I never practiced it for a specific reason. It just happened. After a few classes I was feeling so good with no side effects I just kept going. The deeper I got into the physical Yoga, the more obvious it was I had to go deeper on all other levels of yoga. Understanding the eight limbs of Yoga, and starting with the Yamas and Niyamas, (self restrains and moral conducts) I began to put more emphasis on what I was doing and why, throughout my life. Work could no longer be just what I enjoyed, but I asked myself what good was I bringing to the world. I was more aware of what I was eating, how I was walking down the street and what I was talking about. It was a combination of the practice of Yoga and long hours of meditation in the Zen tradition. While practicing Yoga, I began meeting more people that took similar interest. We started going to Kirtan (chanting) evenings, and practicing breath work. My eating habits have changed and so have my sleeping patterns. I waned to go to sleep earlier so I can have a good practice the next day. After a while it just felt good, and I would eat better and sleep better almost as an instinct. I found myself going on retreats and travel that involved yoga and meditation. I was feeling clearer, stronger in the body, sharper in the mind, and softer in my attitude. I found myself feeling more Joy more of the time. It was so powerful that eventually I took it as a mission to pass the word around. I learned cooking and nutrition to supplement my Asana and Pranayama (physical and breath practice). I wake up every morning with a sense of meaning in my life. As I practice I feel gratitude and when I teach I feel at service. Yoga is what keeps me out of trouble, what grounds me and what lifts me. It has shown me great friends and has encouraged me to make crucial changes in my life. I am grateful for Yoga and its tradition, for all the teachers that inspired me to keep practicing, and the fellow yogis on the mats around sharing their energies and sweat. I could not have done this without them.
"The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking." --Albert Einstein Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Materials and products presented on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. ©2008- 2011 Doron Hanoch |
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Big Sur, on the road to Esalen