You are only as young as your spine said a wise man.

The ongoing Covid-19 in 2021 has caused an unprecedented impact on all our lives. Majority of the corporate work has been moved to our beloved homes obliterating the boundary between work and personal life.

The recent research says work from home can cause permanent damage to the spinal cord. Can everyone imagine what a damaged central support structure could bring us?

Disc hernia, couple of years ago, shook me and made me realize the importance of healthy lifestyle, right posture, stretching and strengthening.

I discovered yoga and it gave me a new perspective.

Patanjali, the father of yoga, stated in his 'Yoga Sutra-s,' that "Yogaḥ chitta vritti nirodhaḥ" meaning yoga removes the fluctuations of the mind. He has given a curriculum, a 8-fold path, which consists of Yama (Moral conduct), Niyama (Discipline), Asana (Physical postures), Pranayama (Breathing), Prathyahara (Feeding the senses right), Dharana (Concentration), Dhyana (Meditation), Samadhi (Oneness with the object of meditation).

The goal of yoga is to attain blissfulness. To seek that, we need to train our body to practice meditation for long hours.

That’s where asana-s come into play, the most popular and widely preferred path. Spine being the main vehicle of the body, needs to be strengthened regularly. Yoga is not just a complex set of postures that you see in the media today. It has the power to calm the monkey mind and bring the balance within.

Practice of asana-s include all the spinal movements, balancing postures & inversions. They help in straightening the spine which in turn facilitates the flow of energy. Particular sets of muscle like face, neck, shoulders, lower back are deeply connected with emotions. Asana-s help to relax the body and mind which are interconnected by the prana-s. A strong body, radiant skin, vibrant energy, blissful mind are the other takeaways.

Yoga practice, for me, is nothing but being one with whatever I do. It’s about understanding the imbalances & bringing in balance using the tools that had been prescribed in the Indian culture which dates back to more than 5000 years. Mahatma Gandhi’s tools, ahimsa and satya, are the first two yogic practices of yama.

My dinacharya (daily routine) consists of yoga to understand what’s happening within and without, in the cycle of nature. Along, with ayurvedic practices that supports me to be efficient throughout the day.

Also, yoga is not one-size-fits-all. The best yoga practice will depend on one’s individual composition, needs and goals. This is where having a good teacher to guide one through regular practice helps in improving in all aspects.

I work keenly with all my students understanding their needs. It is deeply fulfilling to be a part of someone’s health journey for good.

I am Eshanye, a yoga trainer & ayurveda therapist living away from the hustle bustle of the city, managing Hemakoota Homestay in Sakaleshpur. I do conduct yoga retreat for interested people, in the midst of western ghats of Karnataka. For more information, reach out on +91 7975576350 or find me on Instagram @Eshanye gowtham.

Om

Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ |

Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ |

Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu |

Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet ||

Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ ||