Tuesday 24 January 2017

I'm 43 Years old - A Yogini in the making

10 years ago I thought I was too old.

I was deeply in love with a guy who clearly make me understand that I was "too old" for him. As a result he married and had a kid from a youngest lady who was 25 years old.

My life was taking a new direction. I was about to leave my comfortable job for becoming a Pilates Instructor after meeting Martine Curtis Oakes on September 2006 who basically changed my life. She does not know about it, but it all started from her.

So I was 33 years old and resetting my life once again. It was my second shot, the first one was when I was 24 years old and move to Canada for 7 years.

I thought I was too old because I felt rejected. And it did got worst when I was taking acting class with Michel Galabru, I was the oldest student and then they were casting me for all role of mother.....

Later on I met my second teacher who did have a huge impact into my life, Gérard Arnaud. He is the one who brought the Vinyasa Yoga in France early in the 80s. At that time I was more into the Bikram Yoga method and was thinking of attending one of their training. Fortunately I did not follow that path.

Ashtanga Yoga came to me later. When I was ready for it.

In 2013 I moved to India after meeting 3 Yogis who provoked a tsunami into my life and by all means changed my way of thinking and becoming. 
I can say that I am a complete different person, I have grown up in a way I never thought it would have been possible. When you live in a foreign country your perspective changed a lot but when you live in India where everything is not the way you are used to with 3 yogis coming from a Gorukulam not even your environment changed but also your approach of life is changing.

In 2016 after practicing on and off the Ashtanga Yoga I have signed an oath with myself. What if from now and then I dedicate all my yoga practice to the Ashtanga system?

And so I did. I started on January at the  BNS Iyengar school and then attended an intensive retreat with John Scott for 3 weeks, from there I did Sarawasti and Sharat in Mysore.

And I am completely hooked to it.

I am 43 years old and more flexible than 10 years ago, not only in my body but also in my mind, my spirit, my brain, my nervous system.

I am 43 years old and I am stronger than 10 years ago, not only because of my new biceps and bigger trapezius but also in my behaviour, my way of thinking and managing my emotions.

I am 43 years old and because of my regular practice I am becoming wiser. I don't really read yogic books because I am lazy and need a good story to be entertain but by my regular practice I do understand the concept of the 8 limbs of Yoga and I completely surrender to the "Sthira Sukham Asanam" of Patanjali.

I am 43 years old and finally I am connecting with myself, knowing me better.

What I learnt since the last 10 years is that it is never too late to start a new project, a new journey. Only the sky is the limit. We should live outside of the boundaries and create our own paths. I am in my 40s and I am living the best part of my life.

The next 7 months I will be travelling to Bali, Thailand and Greece to practice with different Ashtangi (Iain Grysak, Manuel Espinosa, Mark Robberds, Kristina Karitinou).

I will be forever thankful to that guy who broke my heart 10 years ago and told me I was too old for him. It was hard to digest at that time but it was a necessary step.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Stephanie.. This is Anu.. and i hope you remember me.. first of all i have a deep admiration and respect for your openness in sharing your most sensitive story of life in order to convey others the lesson learnt and how our weekest moments can also become our strongest moments. I am 44 and it never bothered me.. i think we are as young as we feel.. there will be all kinds of people as we go on with our journey called life.. some not as wise as us, ignorant and dont mind crticising people and making them feel little.. we all go through that and are wise enough to let go, smile at the sheer ignorance of that soul and move on.. hoping they get enlightened some day :) You have been such a wonderful soul. The first day i came to samyak yoga..my first ever journey away from home for a month..you sensed my fear and told me .. you are a star. Believe that you are a star. It was very touching and intense. I saw you take care of that i think it was a baby bat or something.. excuse my memory.. and we kept it very gently on the palm leave hoping the mother would come to it rescue.. that was a divine gesture that you did.. you have so much of divineness in you.. such a blissfilull soul.. i wish you the very best in life.. may you be surrounded with loads if love and enlightened souls.. you will alwats have a special place in my heart..

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    1. Of course I remember you, I still have your bracelet on my wrist, except when I am practicing. Thank you so much for your comment. Take good care and without any doubt you are definitely a STAR ;-) xxx stef

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