Yoga has become a way of my life: An Interview with Pratibha

Pratibha is a young yoga practitioner and instructor. She has been able to overcome the symptoms of anxiety and negative body image with the power of Yoga. Healthroom got a chance to converse with Pratibha to know more about her journey!  Read the full interview here:

Hello Ms. Pratibha. Welcome to HealthRoom!

1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.

I am a 23-year-old yoga practitioner and a teacher. Early in my self-practice days, I realized that yoga is not about just getting our bodies into complicated postures but so much more at a mental and spiritual level. To expand my understanding further I trained to become a yoga teacher from Rishikesh right after completing my graduation from a management college. I am now thriving to specialize in yoga for mental health and I teach how to combat anxiety using the simple tools of yoga on and off the mat.

2. How long have you been practising yoga?

I have been practising yoga for 4 years now.

3. Where does your passion for yoga stem from?

Yoga was introduced to me by my friend when I needed it the most in my life. I picked it up to cope with the symptoms of anxiety and negative body image during my college days. Initially, as I started, getting upside down on the mat gave me an endorphin rush and pacified stress levels. As I dove deep into consistent asana practise, meditation, pranayama, and Journaling, it helped me to let go of my physical and mental rigidity. I started to become more aware of my body, thoughts, and emotions. I could connect well with myself and learned to listen and respect my body and safeguard my mind. It is becoming my way of life.

4. What are some of your favourite asanas to relax your body and mind?

A few of my favorite relaxing asanas are Savasana, Balasana, Goumukhasana and Matsyasana. All of these postures activate the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the Rest and Digesting function of the body. Doing these before bedtime calms the mind, relax the muscles, and boosts melatonin hormone leading to an improved sleep cycle.

5. Do you view yoga as more mental or physical?

I view yoga as a bridge between the two. Personally, I started my journey by practising asanas which helped me strengthen my body and made my mind flexible and open to welcome new changes in my life because teaching your body to do something that it couldn't before requires mental preparation as well. However, when I dove a little deep into meditation and pranayama it became more of spiritual for me leading to a lot of self-inquiry. Hence, it starts with the physical but navigates to the mind and increases spiritual awareness.

6. To conclude this interview, please tell readers what steps you take to include yoga in your daily routine to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

I often tell my students to practice gratitude and conscious breathing along with spinal stretches first thing in the morning. Initially, to start off we don't need a mat and an hour-long practice to be doing Yoga. We can include yoga in our daily life by:

1) Sitting in the silence, watching the breath, becoming aware of our emotions
2) Eating mindfully while connecting with the food we eat
3) Practicing Aparigraha (Minimalism) by letting go of things, people, and beliefs that do not serve us and simplifying our lives.