Yoga Taught Me How to Fail and Restart Better

It has now been four years since I became convinced that the most effective way for the body to experience the benefits of yoga is through daily, gradual and consistent practice. 

In the spring of 2020, as everything came to a standstill due to enforced isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, relationships, work, social interactions and lifestyles underwent peculiar transformations.

Faced with an uncertain future, many people pondered how to navigate this unfamiliar situation, wondering whether the restrictive measures would persist for days, months or even years. 

Many lives were lost while the survivors grappled with the erosion of their soul and spirit, prevented from coming together to mourn and plagued by loneliness.

It was during these times that I discovered 30-minute daily classes called "Yoga in Everyday Life."

The sessions became a means to kickstart my day and boost my daily energy which proved transformative.

IranWire stands by you in this new series of yoga sessions by renowned yoga teacher Mia Togo, ensuring that everyone can experience the remarkable effects of this practice on their lives.

Mia has taught yoga for 20 years in London and Los Angeles, conveying her challenges and other life experiences through the language of breath and movement. 

Breathing

"Wherever you find yourself becoming distracted during meditation, center your attention on counting your breaths." 

Focusing on the breath is a simple method to alleviate nervous or panic attacks and bolster concentration amid the chaos of daily life.

"Yoga serves as a practice to consciously connect with our inner selves,” Mia says in a video dedicated to the art of breathing in yoga. “By shifting our gaze from external stimuli to our internal world and honing in on our breath, we embark on a journey of self-discovery."

The initial days of consistent yoga-focused breathing proved to be a profound experience for me. 

It dawned on me just how shallow and insufficient my breathing had been. As I engaged in long, deep breaths extending from the pelvis to the nape of the neck, followed by slow exhalations through my nose, I sensed a gradual smoothing and elongation of my upper body.

Simultaneously, it felt unburdened, void of tension. Counting each breath became a way to reel my focus back in whenever my mind tried to wander.

Sitting in Yoga

We often adopt poor sitting habits — hunched and tense — without realizing the consequences until joint, bone and muscle pains make themselves known. 

I vividly recall the discomfort in my wrists and right shoulder after the birth of my child, a consequence of carrying my baby. 

It was only through yoga and the acquisition of proper sitting techniques, coupled with exercises aimed at fortifying my wrist and shoulder muscles, that I bid farewell to chronic pain a year later.

Simple sitting poses are a fantastic starting point for yoga beginners, as demonstrated in Mia’s second video. 

Sit flat on the floor, bend your knees so that both feet are positioned in front of you. 

Aim to sit with the heel of your left foot touching your right ankle, avoiding overlap. As you maintain a straight spine, Mia advises, "Listen to your body. The body speaks to you." 

She’s right, the body both communicates with and responds to your actions.

In the stretching movements featured in this video, follow the cues of your body.

Whenever you encounter stiffness or resistance, move gently in the same direction to promote flexibility and release tension.

The Sun Salutation

As I mentioned earlier, I used to engage in a half-hour daily practice during the early hours of the morning. 

As daylight broke, I and the other women in those classes stood perpendicular to the ground to greet the sun.

The Sun Salutation, as shown elucidated in Mia’s third video, encompasses a sequence of stretching and interconnected movements. 

Over time, the changes in your body's position, heightened flexibility, and improved muscle memory that you will cultivate through the practice of proper sitting and standing will manifest.

Your body learns to sit with grace, stand with strength and radiate beauty.

Peeling is not Easy

"Small steps lead to significant accomplishments" was a mantra echoed by my yoga instructor. 

Incorporating yoga into daily life is no easy feat, but I often remind myself: "Out of 24 hours in a day, can't you spare half an hour for yourself?"

Balancing various roles — being a wife, a mother, a friend, an activist and a journalist – is demanding. 

For that half-hour, allow yourself to feel weary and sit on the mat, extend your arms and stretch your legs. 

Arch your back, sink into the practice, take a deep breath and awaken every lumbar vertebra.

Invigorate the often overlooked, small and forgotten muscles in your head, shoulders, arms and wrists. It rejuvenates, untangles knots and dispels fatigue.

Seeking Shelter in Drishti

Mia’s videos emphasize on keeping the eyes open and fixed on a point, near or far, throughout the movements.

In the realm of yoga, the practice of fixing one's gaze on a specific point holds a philosophical significance, known as Drishti.

This focal point becomes pivotal in maintaining balance. When our equilibrium is disturbed, leading to a potential fall or slip, the act of fixing our gaze allows us to reconnect with that point and reestablish stability. 

The process of staring, falling and repeating continues until we grasp the intricacies of our gravitational center and achieve balance.

Through the discipline of yoga, we not only learn to find our balance on the mat but also gain insight into seeking equilibrium in other facets of life. 

When we falter or slip in our lives, knowing where to direct our focus becomes a valuable skill — an essential lesson learned through the repetition of the Drishti practice.