The Many Benefits of Yoga & How It Changed My Life
Photo by Conscious Design
As many of you may have noticed, I’ve taken a couple of weeks off from writing for The Fearless Nomad. Since I’ve come back to Canada I have been working on a couple of film and TV projects that have all but taken most of the hours out of my day. Trying to balance film and writing music / pitching my other projects and running the blog has physically and emotionally run me into the ground because I’ve completely lost any little ‘me’ time that I had. So I decided to take a break, trusting in that there is enough content on this site to keep you entertained in the meantime.
The reason I decided to come back with a post about yoga is because it seems to be the go-to medicine for pretty much any and every issue that has arisen in my life in the past five years. Right around the time I went on hiatus with my posts, I got back into doing yoga (which I haven’t practiced since January 5th when I crashed my scooter in Bali and injured my shoulder). The time had come when my shoulder joint finally healed enough for me to be able to support my weight and I desperately needed something to offset the long hours in the studio and to have a moment to just be with me, not on social media or on the phone or staring mindlessly into Netflix (which is just about the only thing I had energy left over for) .. also ironic because at the moment I’m working on a Netflix series .. (it’s literally taken over my life).
Enter yoga my old friend! My journey with yoga has been quite an interesting one. It definitely wasn’t love at first sight … but rather a brief meeting and then a slow .. VERY slow burn which took years - when I realised that this practice was something that I needed in my life. I was first introduced to yoga at the age of 15 and took about 8 classes (filled with mostly women and men in their 50s). You can just about imagine how interested I was … not very. Then eight years later I took classes again, in Toronto, ever so briefly. This time I noticed that yoga seemed to calm my nervous system quite a bit - I liked that, but not enough to commit. Then a few years later after exiting an extremely toxic relationship - yoga found me again, and this time we fell in love. When I rediscovered yoga I was bouncing back and forth between three disciplines - Vinyasa Yoga - Yin Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. Between these three disciplines I managed to resurrect my sense of self, reconnect to my body, heal my body, give it a whole new shape and definition, cleanse my mind, focus my thoughts and regain control and understanding of my emotions. It really was hard to believe that moving my body in fluid poses and focusing on my breath could wield such astonishing results, but it did. It changed me as a person, in the best way possible.
Photo by Eneko Urunuela
I put off writing this post for a very long time because the practice of yoga is so precious to me and there is SO much to say about it that no post I could write here would do it justice. Also, as an Eastern-born but ‘Western - raised’ individual I do not feel like I have any authority whatsoever to act as an expert of any sort on yoga - I’ll leave that to the people whose culture has birthed this incredible tradition. As for me, I’ve done my western 200hr yoga teacher training in Ubud, Bali to deepen my understanding of yogic philosophy and to better align my asanas (postures). I have implemented this knowledge in my own everyday life and draw on it whenever I am in need.
Even though in the West we have butchered the heart of what yoga is about with $100 leggings (of which I myself am guilty of), with our striving for the ‘perfect body’ (also guilty) and ‘adaptations’ - I mean … Beer Yoga? Come onnnnn. Although we collectively have mutilated what yoga is really about, I believe that even in it’s watered down, misguided and misunderstood form, it has been of great benefit to Western society and to the world as a whole. This being said, I would still really recommend studying the origins and the philosophy of authentic yoga practice if you really wish to connect with the true spirit of the discipline… out of respect.
What is yoga at it’s core? The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite'. As I was taught during my teacher training, the highly physical forms of yoga such as Vinyasa (asana/posture practice), are actually considered the ‘lowest’ form of yoga. The ‘highest’ form of yoga is actually meditation. It is in preparation for meditation - to sit still and focus the mind - that the highly physical disciplines of yoga come into play. Physical yoga is meant to train and align your body and energy in such a way that genuine meditation can be achieved. So no, it’s not about how many pretzels you can twist yourself into or how toned your body looks, or whether you can do a handstand … it’s really about preparing your physical body for a spiritual journey in stillness. Learning this sure put things into perspective for me.
Also, you don’t really need a mat, leggings, straps or blocks (if you do, I make some suggestions at the end of this article). These are truly the byproducts of the western commercialization of yoga. In fact you don’t even need to go to classes. When I started doing yoga I was going to class several times a day, but as my practice got deeper I started doing yoga at home. This is when I really fell in love with it and established a true connection with the practice. Classes are great, and there are some fabulous teachers out there (and a lot of shitty ones too), but the pressure of doing poses ‘as well as everyone around you’, being as flexible as your neighbor or doing a head or a handstand to consciously or unconsciously show off, can and does take away from the practice.
The basis of Yoga are the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In it, Patanjali recommends a two-step way. The first stage is the development of positive ethic qualities (the ten yoga principles). Without positive qualities in meditation inner peace will break through the chaos of the outside world again and again. The second stage of the yogic path is to practice meditation. One can say, that Yoga in the essence is based on positive thinking and meditation.
Non-violence (ahimsa) No killing other beings. Be meek. Be peaceful.
Truthfulness (satya) Live in the truth. Basically, be honest with yourself and others. Also no little lies of convenience. A lie is permissible only in well justified situations, for example, if you save with a lie the life of another human being. A Yogi is silent in doubt. Those who consistently lives in the truth radiate truth. Their fellow men trust them.
Righteousness (asteya) Not stealing, not cheating. A Yogi is in professional life generally honest. He does not seek unwarranted advantage, but he is looking for fair trade.
Wisdom (brahmacharia) Live in the spiritual focus (in the light/in God = Brahman). Do not serve the money (outer luck) but the inner happiness (God, Brahman, enlightenment). Be centered in your inner happiness and peace.
Simplicity (aparigraha) Be moderate in external enjoyment and consumption. A spiritual person lives modestly outwardly and inwardly rich. A Yogi uses his energy not in outer actions, but lives so peaceful that it turns inward and cleanse his body from the inside. One day, he lives permanently in the light.
Worship of the spiritual goal (ishvara-pranidhana) Thus we do not lose our spiritual path, it is necessary that we remind ourselves again and again to our spiritual goal. We can worship an image (Goddess, Shiva, Patanjali), we can bow before a statue (Buddha, Jesus, Shiva) or speak a mantra (prayer).
Sacrifice the ego (shaucha) Purification / cleaning. The way into the light passes through the crucifixion of the ego. Without a crucifixion there is no enlightenment. True sacrifice is an art. He who sacrifices too much braced themselves internally. Who sacrifices too little, does not solves his tentions.
Self-discipline (tapas) A clear goal, a clear life plan and a clear way of practicing. Tapas means to lead a disciplined life.
Reading (svadhyaya) The daily reading (mantra, meditation) keeps us on the spiritual path, cleanses our spirit, connects us with the enlightened masters and makes us to spiritual victors.
Contentment (santosha) Satisfied with what one has. credit: wikibooks
Photo by S Migaj
The commercialization of yoga has also led to some misconceptions about the practice …. like - that yoga classes are primarily for women and require little physical effort. Any man who has ever stepped into a Vinyasa class will tell you that they were in for a rude awakening. Vinyasa Level 1 and 2 , or even Moon Hatha - don’t look very complicated, but every once in a while you will find a ‘bro’ dropping in on a class with a smirk … and 15 minutes in - huffing and puffing and half fainting their way through some pretty basic poses. It always makes me giggle. Slowing down and holding asanas/postures, especially ones that are targeted to unlock and massage certain energy junctions in the body can literally make a grown man cry. Speaking of crying, I used to bawl through the final resting pose of almost every class I attended in my first month of serious practice …. why? Emotional release. Yoga unlocks the body, unlocks energy centres and meridians, releases trapped energy, trauma, you name it. I walked this earth for 25 years going through all sorts of shit, never really connecting to or listening to my body. So when I finally dove deep into practice my body, screamed and cried and laughed and trembled and in the end a new me emerged. A calmer, wiser, kinder, more peaceful me. That’s what yoga did for me.
There are endless schools of yoga you can try out. Here I gathered some of the more popular disciplines of yoga that you may wish to explore. There is no yoga that fits all tastes. Everyone I know gravitates to their own style. My favorite yoga is Kundalini - it’s literally life-transforming. Kundalini has the potential also by many accounts to be the most dangerous type of yoga because it taps into and awakens certain energies in the body which can harm the practitioner if the physical body and mind have not been properly prepared. In yogic circles such preparation takes decades. Kundalini yoga is sort of for lack of a better term - the Olympics of yoga, not because it’s competitive … in fact physically it’s much easier than many other disciplines - but because it literally unlocks VERY powerful forces within you and once those start moving, you better be physically, mentally and emotionally prepared. The first time I awakened my kundalini energy I couldn’t sleep for three days straight and burn marks magically appeared in a symmetrical pattern around my spine. So it’s no joke, and definitely not a discipline to fool around with or take lightly. My teacher actually stopped offering Kundalini classes a month and a half into our practice out of integrity and consideration for the students’ safety, as he did not deem himself experienced enough to lead us any further up the path. To this day, I respect him for this immensely.
I absolutely adore a good Yin yoga practice. Yin yoga stretches and targets both the deep connective tissues between the muscles, and the fascia throughout the body. It’s considered to be a ‘feminine energy’ practice. Not because it’s solely for women, no, but because in our dual masculine and feminine nature (which is present in every man and woman), it’s a more passive practice than it’s ‘Yang’ counterparts.
And finally, I love a good Vinyasa class, especially when I’m in need of exercise. Vinyasa is a dynamic type of yoga which synchronizes movement with breath and may be referred to as a “flow class.”
I pulled brief breakdowns of each yoga style from the internet to give you an idea
of just how many different disciplines are available out there.
Hatha Yoga
In Western culture, Haṭha yoga is typically understood as asanas (postures) and it may be practiced as such. In the Indian and Tibetan traditions, Hatha yoga is much more. It extends well beyond being a sophisticated physical exercise system and integrates ideas of ethics, diet, cleansing, pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation and a system for spiritual development of the yogi.The practice involves breath, body, and mind, and classes are usually 45 minutes to 90 minutes of breathing, yoga poses, and meditation.
Anusara
Founded in 1997 by John Friend, Anusara combines a strong emphasis on physical alignment with a positive philosophy based on a belief in the intrinsic goodness of all beings.5 Classes are usually light-hearted and accessible, often with a focus on heart opening.
Unfortunately, Friend is no longer associated with Anusara due to his personal indiscretions. Anusara is now a teacher-led yoga school and Friend has started a new yoga style called Sridaiva (see below).
Ashtanga
Ashtanga is a fast-paced, intense, flowing style of yoga founded by Pattabhi Jois in the 1960s6. A set series of poses is performed, always in the same order. This practice is very physically demanding because of the constant movement from one pose to the next and the emphasis on daily practice.
It was one of the first yoga styles embraced by a large number of western students and had been very influential in the evolution of yoga in the past 30 years.
Baptiste Power Vinyasa
Baron Baptiste is a power yoga innovator who studied many different styles of yoga, martial arts, and meditation before coming up with his own unique yoga method, Baptiste Power Vinyasa.
His style is based on 5 Pillars: vinyasa, ujjayi pranayama, heat, uddiyana bandha, and drishti. Classes, which are conducted in a heated room, are typically strong and sweaty.
Bikram/Hot Yoga
Hot yoga was pioneered by Bikram Choudhury, whose name became synonymous with yoga classes taught in a room heated to 95 to 104 degrees. The heat facilitates the loosening of tight muscles and profuse sweating, which is thought to be cleansing. The Bikram method is a set series of 26 poses, but not all hot classes make use of this series.
CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga is a chain of hot yoga studios founded in Denver in 2002. The brand is rapidly expanding throughout the United States. Expect consistent instruction in an upscale gym-like setting. A membership is good at any of their studios nationwide.
Iyengar
Based on the teachings of the yoga master B.K.S Iyengar, this style of practice is all about bringing the body into its best possible alignment, often using props such as yoga blankets, blocks, and straps to assist students in mastering proper form.3
Iyengar practices usually emphasize holding poses over longer periods of time instead of moving quickly from one pose to the next (as in a flow class). Iyengar has been very important in the development of modern yoga asana.
Jivamukti
This style of yoga emerged in the 1980s from one of New York City’s best-known yoga studios. Jivamukti founders David Life and Sharon Gannon were influenced by the rigor of Ashtanga yoga in combination with chanting, meditation, and spiritual teachings. They have trained many teachers who have brought this style of yoga to studios and gyms, predominantly in the U.S. and Europe.
Jivamukti classes are physically intense and often include an inspirational theme selected by the teacher.
Forrest
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Forrest Yoga is the method taught by Ana Forrest. The performance of vigorous asana sequences is intended to strengthen and purify the body and release pent-up emotions and pain to encourage healing of physical and emotional wounds. Expect an intense workout with an emphasis on abdominal strengthening, inversions, and deep breathing.
Kripalu
Kripalu is both a yoga style and a retreat center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Kripalu is a yoga practice with a compassionate approach and emphasis on meditation, physical healing, and spiritual transformation that overflows into daily life7. It also focuses on looking inward and moving at your own pace, making it a good practice for people with limited mobility due to age, weight, illness, or injury.
Integral
Integral is a gentle hatha style of yoga based on the ideas and principals of Sri Swami Satchidananda, who sought to give followers guidelines on how to improve their lives. In an attempt to integrate mind, body, and spirit, classes also include pranayama, chanting, and meditation.
Moksha/Modo
Moksha hot yoga was founded in Canada in 2004. In 2013, they changed the name of their affiliated U.S. studios to Modo Yoga. Both styles are based on a series of 45 poses done in a heated room. The studios are expected to adhere to environmentally conscious building and cleaning standards and to foster a sense of community for their students.
Power Yoga
In the mid-1990s, several prominent teachers who were well-trained in traditional yoga were looking for ways to make flow yoga accessible to more people. The resulting classes came to be known by the umbrella term of power yoga.
Power yoga was initially influenced by the intensity of Ashtanga but allowed for variation in the sequencing of poses at the discretion of the teacher.6 Contemporary power yoga classes are essentially vigorous vinyasa flow.
Restorative
Restorative yoga makes use of props to support the body as it relaxes into poses over the course of several minutes. The idea is to stay in each pose long enough to encourage passive stretching. Seated forward bends, gentle supine backbends, and twists are examples of the type of poses that can be adapted to be restorative with the addition of props like blankets and bolsters.
Sivananda
The first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center was founded in 1959 by Swami Vishnu-devananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda. There are now close to 80 locations worldwide, including several ashrams. Sivananda yoga is based on five principles, including the practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation. The mastery of twelve carefully selected poses is at the core of this practice.
Sridaiva/Bowspring
After leaving Anusara Yoga (see above) in 2012, John Friend started Sridaiva with Colorado studio owner Desi Springer. This style introduces a new alignment system, which they call the bowspring. It's pretty different from other types of yoga in that the knees stay bent in many poses and the pelvis is always tipping forward to maintain the spinal curves. Proponents say they find a new source of strength and power from this alignment.
Viniyoga
Viniyoga is the term used by T.K.V. Desikachar to describe the methodology that his father, revered teacher T. Krishnamacharya, developed late in his life.8 It is based on an individualized approach to each student, creating a practice that suits his or her unique stage of life and state of health. Even in group classes, Viniyoga is adapted to fit each person's particular needs.
Thanks to Mind Body Green for the above breakdowns of the different styles of Yoga. I hope that this post has inspired those of you who are curious about practice to delve deeper. Yoga really has changed my life and become an ally in my well being and self love regimen. It is not a religion as some may have been convinced or a cult. Yoga is a tool, just as meditation is a tool … to join the physical with the spiritual and to help better understand and connect to your body, mind and spirit.
When and how do I practice yoga?
When I’m traveling I do online yoga classes - most of them are free. There is a stellar yoga teacher by the name of Briohny Smyth who has free class offerings through Alo Yoga. This 30 minute Level 1 Power Vinyasa Class is my go to routine virtually every day after work. She has several class structures on offer and I absolutely adore her teaching style and vibe.
When I am in Bali I take classes at The Practice - a stunning Hatha Yoga Studio in the District of Canggu. Occasionally I will drop by the Yoga Barn and do group classes with my favorite teachers Murni, Greg and Made or have a private class.
You really don’t need a mat to practice yoga but if you’re looking for one I strongly recommend Manduka mats. This is not an ad :) I just love their products this much. When I travel I carry the 1.5mm eKO Superlite Travel Yoga Mat . “The eKO mat is a natural yoga mat made from sustainably harvested tree rubber. Unlike other rubber mats available today, the foaming agents used to create the eKO® are non-toxic. What this means is that no toxic chemicals have gone into the manufacturing process to soften the rubber.” I love the portability of this mat but it is very thin. It’s literally good for grip (not padding), so if you’re going to settle down somewhere and practice every day this is not the mat I would use, you need a second to go underneath.
When I’m home I use the King of all yoga mats - The Manduka Pro 6mm Mat . It is so comfortable, solid and has an amazing grip. It is on the heavy side, it’s not a mat I’d carry around with me, but it is* the Best. It comes with a hefty price tag compared to other yoga mats ($158 in Canada), but I found mine on sale for $69 at a Winners store and have not looked back ever since. Even at its full price it’s 100% worth the investment if you want/need the best yoga mat on the market. Let me say this again though. You do not need ANY of this stuff to practice yoga. These are Western comforts. A yoga mat to me is like a child’s safety blankie - my attachment to it is more mental and emotional rather than practical.
What do I wear when I practice? Honestly lately I’ve been wearing loose fitting cotton shirts that I tie around my waist and loose cotton pants. This is a departure from what I’d usually wear - tight fitting leggings and yoga bras. And no judgement, whatever makes you comfortable. In the land of leggings my favorite practice leggings have been the TNA Atmosphere Cotton high rise Legging ($25 CDN) , they’re comfortable and feel organic on the body. In the land of ‘spandex, lycra etc’ my favorite leggings have been Anything by Teeki - they make their leggings out of recycled plastic and they’re InSanely comfortable, breathable and silky and last forever and ever, you don’t even feel them on your body. They come in crazy fun prints but have a high retail price ($109). And last but not least I just discovered Lululemon for the first time and you know what - their yoga wear is wonderfully comfortable, so now I get the hype. My favorite legging from them is the Align 28” Brushed Legging - it reminds me so much of the TeeKi material, it’s light, breathable and comfy. I got it on sale for ($90). Honestly though, I’m just as happy in my old cotton pajamas. It’s not about the apparel, it’s about the practice.
So there it is.
I mean, there is so much more to say about the practice, I barely skimmed the surface….and maybe I will follow this article up with more in the future. But for now, discover yoga for yourself, even once, even as an experiment. I promise you, it will enrich your life.
In Partnership with Tropical Nomad Coworking Space