004: Why Yoga?

Yoga has been in my life since 2003. I engaged with it as a means of relaxation and physical exercise. The classes left me with a positive feeling, which was incentive enough to maintain my practice

However I’ve always had something in the back of my mind, an unspoken question that there was something deeper than what I was experiencing. It was as if I could feel there was a hidden dimension to Yoga that I hadn't grasped yet.

Throughout my journey, I’ve explored countless studios, various styles and learned from so many different teachers. Each class left me with valuable takeaways. There was always something special in every session.

It wasn’t until I crossed paths with a young teacher in Montreal in a beautiful hidden studio close to my house that I started to grasp what was the essence of Yoga. I realized that yoga is not merely a practice confined to the mat; rather, it's a lifestyle that extends far beyond those boundaries.

Yoga calls for devotion, detachment, and love. It humbly invites us to embrace these qualities as we navigate our practice and our lives. I’ve come to understand that it’s not just about mastering poses, but about experiencing an inner transformation that ripples outward in our daily life.

It’s an invitation to explore the powerful connection of our mind, body and spirit.

Yogananda defines yoga as the science of self-transformation. To me Yoga is the language of the Universe, stands out as an invitation to transcend survival and embrace a profound sense of realization, it equips us with tools designed to awaken our inner truth.

With each step I took in practicing and delving into its philosophy, I found myself uncovering deeper layers of my own being. I began to experience a profound connection with myself, and a powerful way to nurture self-awareness. I gain the ability to not only recognize my challenges in a deeper and clear fashion, but also to embrace my inherent gifts acknowledging without fear the uniqueness that resided within me.

Have you ever thought of how unique you are?

Your journey is yours alone, and the lens through which you perceive the world is a view only you can share.

Often, we seek additional courses, more diplomas, and external validations. There is nothing wrong with that, but we often look for that from a place of scarcity and lack. Society often implies we are incomplete, and we’ve internalized this notion.

However, this belief is far from true.

You are whole, enough, special and unique just the way you are. Exactly where you stand at this moment.

And Why Yoga?

Because this is how I feel on the mat. Even struggling with challenging poses, I am not there for perfection. Rather, I’m there to experience myself, I am there because in every asana I feel alive and every practice I am moving towards mastering myself - my thoughts, my breath and my body.

The magic behind that? I get to carry that feeling out in my life. As if life was becoming my giant yoga mat. I find myself less concerned about others' opinions, I open myself to dream and realize more, I feel safe taking risks and I feel extremely supported by life. I live from the premise that the Universe has my back and I truly mean that.

Scientifically, the brain doesn’t distinguish between real and imagined experiences, and incorporates these elevated states into its operational framework. As a result, these positive emotional and mental states become more readily available to us in our regular lives.

Not only that, but Yoga also helps to release trauma stored in the body, certain poses can help to release emotions that we couldn’t really deal with in the past due to its intensity.

So YES… Yoga is a powerful tool to balance your nervous system, heal and exercise your body. It helps you to re-shape your life if you practice with intention and carry its teachings to life.

We all have different paths and I am not here to tell yours, but please follow your heart.

Believe you are powerful, believe you can, because you can.

And whatever you do, do with love. Do it for yourself. Even if it’s something you don’t like, the energy you put behind your actions will uplevel your next cycle.

Not sure about your next step in life? Begin working on yourself. Maybe Yoga is for you, maybe not. But don’t wait. Start now. The world needs you. Don’t wait for the world to get better for you to step into your amazingness. It won’t happen. Step into your amazingness and the world will get better.

Happenings

Observing Nature

I am intentionally receptive to the teachings of nature. Recently, my family and I embarked on a hike to Volcano Poas, just about 1.5 hours away from San Jose airport (Costa Rica). At the very beginning of our hike, a beautiful message caught my attention, and I would love to share it here with you:

“This forest is an outdoor classroom, a sanctuary where the soul rests and knowledge grows. Let’s open our minds and sharpen our senses so that we can enjoy the wonders, big and small, that nature wants to teach us today.”

Nature has all the answers, if we learn to connect and listen we get them all.

Mastermind Event

I am getting ready to participate this week at this amazing private mastermind event happening at Playa Tivives - Costa Rica. Where incredible minds will gather for inspiration and collaborative creating at its finest.

I am happy to be part of the team, supporting their days and practices with some embodied movement and Bioenergetics Medicine Sessions.

Who We Are Celebrating This Week: Sonia Wilke

YESSS!! Celebrating my MAMA! She is an amazingly wise woman that decided to shift gears in her life after 60. Is this inspiring or what?!!?

She just launched her third book where she shares deep and profound content about the Universal Laws in a very simple language for kids and parents. I know… it’s all in Portuguese for now, but soon it will be translated to English and probably Spanish and of course I will post it here.

For now you can check the work by clicking here. ​

Here's What I Want to Share This Week:

Want to harness the power of creating a Mastermind?

By the way, do you know what a Mastermind is?

It's so powerful when two or more minds get together to work on a specific outcome. Use that in your favor, create a small group with your friends and start talking about what you want to accomplish and how you can support each other. It's powerful beyond words. For that, I recommend the genius Napoleon Hill. If you haven't read any of his work, try this one out: ​

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Food for thought

If you are looking for something to read I am now reading “The Science of Religion” by Yogananda. It gives a lot of food for thought. It’s a small book full of wisdom. You can check it out here.

This work represents Yogananda’s initial lecture upon his arrival in the United States in 1920, about the introduction of Yoga to the Western world. I am amazed by his clarity and wisdom and all his definitions around what religion is and what we seek in life.

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And... lastly I recently acquired a new yoga mat crafted from cork that I am really happy with. This mat stands out for its natural composition, enhanced grip, and even its self cleaning attributes. You can check it out here. Maybe this is your first step towards your self-development practice. Getting a new Yoga mat :) Even though you don't need that to start anything :P

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