I was born in Panama, which is known as one of the sunniest countries in the world, and for having one of the happiest populations. I had a nice and fulfilling childhood, despite the country being under dictatorship which ended in 1989. As new opportunities presented itself, I decided in 1990 to do an enhanced French course in Switzerland, subsequently followed by my university studies in Economics. I returned back to my homeland in 1998 and embarked on a career in banking. I met my husband in Panama and we decided to move to Germany, leaving my family, friends, career, sunny climate and the golden beaches behind. Although it was a huge life changing step, I do not regret the move. We have two great kids and I have encountered extraordinary people in our home town Hochheim and have formed really good friendships.
However, a couple of years ago I didn’t recognise myself. I was experiencing a lot of stress in my daily routine. I have to admit, I’m not overwhelmingly spontaneous like the majority of Latin Americans. Maybe the years in Switzerland have made me logical and structured in my approach. I tried to have everything organised, did too many things at the same time and dedicated all my energy to my family. Helping my kids with their homework, taking them to their activities, cooking and doing the household chores, made me feel in control and organised. However, at the end of the day, I was extremely exhausted. Undertaking routine exercises didn’t help me to switch off, because my mind was planning my schedule for the next day.
A couple of years ago, I underwent surgery which made me pull the breaks on my life. I was forced to slow down and to be patient, which was a hard thing to learn. I was lucky my husband and my kids were helping me, but my mind was under a lot of stress. I felt I couldn’t help them (or maybe I wasn’t able do the things I was accustomed to), in order to have our routine under control. My patience was giving up on me, sometimes with a bad temper and feeling homesick for Panama.
Thanks to my dear childhood friend Mylene Pezzotti, a great yoga teacher in Dubai, I decided to give yoga a try. As Patanjali wrote in the Yoga Sutras: “now, the practice of yoga begins”, my first yoga class was my “NOW” moment. I remember it was a Yin Yoga class, a slow-paced practice in which various postures are held for longer periods of time. My mind became calm and I really enjoyed the stillness. It was one and a half hours of wellness for my mind and soul. It was the moment my yoga journey began. Usually, it might take people a couple of classes before they begin falling in love with the yoga practice. I felt I really needed this philosophy in my life. I began to practice frequently, and tried different styles of yoga. I watched videos to understand the postures and I even tried to learn the names in Sanskrit. It was incredible to see how my body was gaining flexibility as well as my patience. Yoga means to yoke, which is often interpreted as union, bind or connection. When you practice yoga, you learn to unite, to bind or to connect your body and mind. You become mindful, being able to be complete in the present moment, giving you awareness to listen to your body and understand it’s needs.
In 2018, I began my Teacher Training at Julianne Yoga Centrum, Hochheim. I had the great opportunity to undertake the training based on Ashtanga Yoga, were you follow the same sequence and series of poses in a precise order. You might think how boring it is to do the same postures in every class. However every yoga practice is different and by doing the same asanas you can see and assess your progress. It is one and half hours where you do not think about your dinner plans, the children’s homework or that meeting you experienced at work. Normally, our mind is all over the place and yoga helps us to come back to the present moment. When you practice, you get to connect your body and your posture to your breath, trying to find a space of inner calm.
Have I felt a difference since I began my Yoga journey? Of course!
I have learnt to be patient, not only “on the mat”, trying to get my headstand or my crow pose, but also “off the mat”. It means applying the calmness in my daily life, bringing me to “what’s happening now” and giving me awareness. It is not easy, but if you take a moment out in your busy day and find your balance, like you would do, while holding a posture in your yoga class, it generates a feeling of strength and stability from within.
There are a lot of reasons why we should practice yoga. We are under a lot of stress due to the news, work and our busy lifestyle. Yoga helps you to get in a better shape, boosts your immune system, soothes back pain, works through difficult emotions and relieves stress. A yoga class will bring you into your “Now” moment. It keeps you moving through poses, making your mind quieter while concentrating on your breath. It is a flow which needs your full involvement, loosing track of time, helping you to connect to your true inner self.
I invite you to practice yoga. I heard once a yoga teacher saying: If you don’t have time to practice, try doing one sun salutation a day. A sun salutation is a series of postures, used as warm up to build energy, warmth and to awake the body. I promise, the feeling afterwards will stay with you, making your day much better. I’m sure you can allow space in your daily life for yoga, like me: Mom has time for yoga!
Namasté, the light in me, treasures and honors the light in you.
Maria Neuhaus assisting Mysore Ashtanga Class, Tuesdays 20:00 Julianne Yoga Centrum, Hochheim am Main, Germany
