Inspirational Yoga with Tara

How Yoga Inspired Me?

Before I discovered the bounties of yoga, I was a physical mess, learning how to manage bodily pain as a scoliosis sufferer (curvature in the spine). Every morning I woke up to debilitating lower back and hip pain, where it was literally a struggle to get out of bed. My only option was to physically roll onto the floor first, then do floor exercises to generate blood flow to my spine. Only then could I actually lift myself up and get on with my day. Lifestyle demands of working in an office, sitting in front of a computer for long hours over a period of 25 years or more, exacerbated the scoliosis condition - weakening my upper back, core strength and did absolutely zilch for my flexibility. When I discovered yoga in 2015, my quality of lifestyle has since been dramatically changed for the better. Although my condition is incurable, the practice of yoga has improved and completely transformed me, teaching me not to allow my back pain and physical weakness define or limit me.

Through a mutual friend, I was introduced to a wonderful Ashtanga Yoga Instructor, whose knowledge and tutoring ignited a passion and love for yoga. Although I learnt many yoga techniques, I still needed to listen to my own body to find my own way of practicing yoga. When I persisted with this, I found greater satisfaction and relief at the end of each class. I started practicing more than 1 hour 5 days a week. This helped with pain management and removal of flexibility blockages, enabling me to feel uplifted, strengthened and energized. As soon as I was able to get my head around the concept of the Mind, Body & Soul connection - I was able to catapult my yoga practice. Going from ‘0’ (zero) never practicing yoga in my life, to standing on my head in Sirsasana posture with under 3 months. Wow, I was truly amazed!!! It’s funny as I joked with my instructor saying, “You’ll never be able to get me to do that within this lifetime” - and there I was 3 months later – standing on my head.

This was a defining ‘lightbulb’ moment for me, where I thought to myself, “wow, I can actually do this”? “No, not just be able to stand on my head, but can actually do yoga and be an instructor?” I signed up for my 200 hours training, to become an Akhanda Yoga Instructor. I completed this course at the end of December 2015 and haven’t looked back since then.

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