“But it was only when I remained alone that I discovered a new world in this field, a world without aim and without competition, where the body can start again to function naturally and happily, allowing expansion to take place in space . ”

Vanda Skaravelli in Awakening the spine

Yoga is my passion. I don’t claim to be a professional, but when something gives me joy it becomes an obsession.

My adventure with yoga started during the lockdown. The beginnings were not easy. In fact, I would even say modestly that it was a period full of challenges and failures. My poor physical condition and the shame of practising in front of my household (without comments…) held back my enthusiasm. However, I slowly and clumsily gave up my doubts and started, despite my lack of coordination and poor balance, to practice yoga.

Confident, I decided that yoga wasn’t that difficult (bah!) and I didn’t need anyone’s help (it’s called an oversized ego or imaginary confidence). In the age of YouTube, Instagram and Google, everything is at my fingertips (yes…?). It turned out that my, almost astonishing, enthusiasm was causing a lot of injuries; and those sore backs.

I wanted to see the results of my meagre work too quickly and was not focusing on the process itself but on the effects of my practice. This was taking away the joy of experiencing transformation, and the resulting frustration and sense of failure. And after all, isn’t that the basis of yoga practice?

It wasn’t until a year later that I recognised (well, finally!) that something was wrong after all.
That’s when I came across a certain book (a stroke of fate, I guess?). Awakening the spine by Vanda Skaravelli. My suggestion to any rookie. Yoga is not supposed to be ‘pretty’ and the author explains the principles of gravity and breath, as well as the importance of listening to your body and mind.

This time I started to focus on ‘listening’ to my own body. I decided that more important than the destination of my journey was the path itself that led me there. I stopped having injuries, my back ‘felt’ relieved and the practice itself started to feel more satisfying.

Yoga has helped me to become friends with my own body. It has shown me, also, how precious it is and how much it offers me.

Yoga practice became a contemplation of my limitations as well as possibilities. Moreover, I came to appreciate my curves and to like my imperfections. It probably sounds trivial, but yoga helped me see myself from a completely different angle. Suddenly I started to like myself. And even though I still have a long way to go, I am positive about the next challenges.

I believe that yoga is for anyone who has a bit of courage to face their doubts and thus accept as they are.

Yours L.