Guest Blog Post - How Yoga Practice helped me..

Today's Blog Post is by a dear student / friend , Nithya.
I met her an year ago, we started meeting for practice every week.
She has grown so much in the last year, physically stronger, mentally & emotionally more balanced.
This is her description of how the Journey with Yoga has helped.
Her dedication, consistent practice , acceptance of new ideas and applying them have been amazing to watch :)
I hope it inspires you to be consistent with practice and enjoy this journey :)

This blog has been pending for so long now and today is the day. I met Asha a year ago through one of our common friends in the neighborhood and my friend introduced her as the yoga teacher.

I’m a person who loves to exercise and I was suffering from knee tendinitis for the past 2 years at that time due to over exercising like Zumba and Kick boxing.

I had also started a new job in February 2015 which was a huge challenge both physically and mentally. I was, and am still commuting almost an hour and a half each way. 

With all this going on I thought, ‘Why don’t I start yoga?

It is right there in our neighborhood and Asha said she can do late evening classes too. 

Finally, I met with Asha and the beautiful journey in my life began..

I started my individual therapy classes with Asha and I cannot explain in words how far I have come from last year. 

People look at me and say, “Oh you have lost a lot of weight!” 

I feel happy when I hear that, but Yoga is something beyond physical.

I have grown so much mentally with Asha’s amazing lectures and soothing pep talks. 

Most of my initial classes were just talking my heart out with Asha, and honestly, after I come out of the class I would feel much more relaxed and happy. 

Last year I was not able to do many of the poses and today I’m able to do some of the complex poses like Ardha Chandrasana(one of my favorites). 

Even though it is not a Facebook picture perfect pose, I’m really proud and happy to even attempt it.

The underlying meaning is that the poses become easier when your mind is lighter.

 As Asha always says, social media is the perfect outside picture of people in order to please others and get infinite likes and comments, but I have learnt and understood now that Life is beyond all this.

Of course, I’m not enlightened yet and I can never be and that’s ok. 

Growing up mentally is a great happiness that anyone can give to themselves. 

I cannot and have not changed my personality but I have learnt how to manage and let go of many things in life. This has helped me to reduce my physical pain drastically.

I would like to thank Asha for coming into my life and God for showing me this path. I would like to continue this journey and breathe deeply forever. Love you Asha.

- Nithya.