Sighisoara, 7.09.2017
„Connecting with yourself and the environment, energy, calming experience“ – Anna
„I like yoga very much. Very relaxing.“ – Mike
This is how our Greek volunteers describe their first yoga experience. But let’s go deeper. Let’s find out more about yoga from our yoga enthusiasts.
I am meeting Nurdinbek (Nurdi) and Kristiina – Estonian volunteers in Sighisoara who give yoga lessons – in their house. Kristiina is 20 years old, passionate about art and volunteering. Nurdi is describing himself with a sentence „Be the change you want to see in the world“. But we are not alone. Some other volunteers have also gathered around to hear more about yoga. A usually noisy house is suddenly quiet, and all eyes and ears are towards the calm Estonians.
Q: How did you find your way to yoga?
Kristiina: I go to art school and I am behind the computer all day every day. I don’t do much physical exercise. I was tired all the time and I wanted to do something active. So I tried yoga and I became completely another person. I started doing yoga almost every day and after that I had a lot of energy. It changed my life a lot and that’s why I wanted to share it with others here too.
Nurdi: I found my way to yoga through meditation. Meditation is like a passive way to find yourself. Yoga is like active meditation. I also had a problem with my spine because after travelling three months and carrying 20+ kg backpack damaged my back a lot. I found the way how to stretch my body. Meanwhile I realised that it is really necessary for every day life. I started doing yoga back in Estonia. I did yoga for a month almost every day. It was really amazing. I saw the results after the first week. Now here in Sighisoara I am able to bring it to ohters as well.
Q: Why should people practise yoga?
Nurdi: We live in a passive society. We work behind the tables and computers. We don’t move a lot. It’s nice when people find their way to the gym or go running once or twice a week but this is not enough. We need to move more and we need to stretch our bodies. There is a physical need that every person needs to fulfill. Also, yoga is good when you have had any traumas, any bad thoughts/emotions that are damaging also your physical body. Yoga starts with your physical body and moves up to energetic field. We all need it.
Q: Can everyone practise yoga?
Kristiina: Everyone should try it at least once.
Nurdi: Yoga and meditation should be included in all fields when we work. Starting in the morning and during the day, for example at lunch time and after finishing your work or studies. It is beneficial to all people. It calms you down and makes you see yourself from a different perspective. Yoga is for everybody, although not everybody needs it in everyday life.
Q: How many lessons you should do with an instructor before you can practise yoga alone?
Nurdi: It is different for different people. The important thing is to get the point how to do it. If you do it continuously, at one point your body starts to want it, need it. As soon as you know the basics, like how should your body be, your body starts to move by itself. So you don’t actually need a guided yoga after that because your body already knows what to do. You can do group yoga or you can do it alone, the point is to make it as much as possible until you start wanting to do it more and more by yourself. Mostly people need couple of months to really understand yoga.
Kristiina: If you are with a yoga instructor and you are doing something wrong then the instructor can adjust you. So it is better to start practising yoga with instructor.
Q: How it is to be yoga instructor?
Kristiina: At first I was really scared because I am scared of public speaking. But then I just went into my own bubble and it made me feel peaceful. When I saw others enjoying or at least trying to enjoy it, it made me feel good. After the class everyone was very positive, peaceful and grateful. All that makes me feel good and makes me want to do more.
Nurdi: I feel incompetent because I am not able to give what I have learned on my own. Teaching it to others is a lot of responsibility because you can really hurt another person. It is challenging to teach others the right technique.
Q: What is the best time to do yoga?
Kristiina: Doing yoga in the morning or in the evening both have their own benefits. For me it’s more natural to do it in the evening. But if you do it in the morning you will have more energy during the day.
Nurdi: I think it’s necessary to do it in the morning. When we wake up we are like on an autopilot, we are robots, we just start doing things. But if you do yoga you bring awareness to your body and to your mind. You do everything more consciously.
Q: Do you have something else to say?
Nurdi and Kristiina: COME TO YOGA!
Although Nurdi and Kristiina have finished their yoga lessons we still recommend you to find the way to practise yoga. Or at least try it. It’s good, it’s relaxing, chances are you might like it A LOT!
You can do it anywhere, anytime. Find your balance, do your daily yoga.
(Estonian practising yoga in a café bar)
Interviewer: Liina Punamae
