Winter 2016
I had been working in the corporate world for a year and a half, but it wasn't until now that I learned my team lead, Zuzka, taught yoga once a week in a meeting room a floor above us. "Come join, it's just a short walk and you'll get to try it out," she encouraged me. I went, but of course, I had to come up with excuses, commenting on how inflexible I was, lacking flexibility and strength, and my back ached—the typical excuses everyone gives when offered yoga, and I was no different. What should I wear, how long will it last, and how many of us will be there?
Zuzka gave us an introductory grounding session, taught us Sun Salutation A, and I couldn't remember anything, constantly looking at her—what on earth is a flat back, OMG. At the end of each session, it's customary to do Savasana—the corpse pose. We lay on our backs, letting our ankles fall to the sides, palms facing up, and just feel our bodies.
In that moment, in that room, in this position, I realized for the first time that I HAD A BODY THAT I WAS CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF. I started crying from emotion, having not thought in years about how my body felt and what I felt when I let it express itself.
I let the tears stream down my cheeks, savoring that moment of connection between my mind and body.
I started attending Zuzka's yoga classes at Namaste Yoga Studio, which was just across the street from work, and I even had a multisport pass there, so I began going 2-3 times a week. I got hooked because it was a physical activity set to music, and back then, Zuzka and the studio owner Kika had such fit physiques that they were my motivation—I continued for about two years.
**January 2019**
Kika from Namaste once shared an Instagram story, "Do you prefer static or dynamic sequences?" to boost engagement, you know how it is. I replied, "I LOVE BOTH!" and she immediately responded, saying, "You should take an instructor course if you enjoy it so much." HAHAHAHA, and for what? So I could teach yoga? Kika told me it's about deepening your knowledge and understanding of yoga, and teaching is just a bonus. They were just closing applications for a 150-hour PowerYoga course in Piešťany, which Kika recommended as she had completed it, so I had a firsthand reference. I had 3 days to apply, pay for the course, and show up for a weekend in Piešťany. I MADE IT. The course lasted 3 months, as it was only on weekends. Yoga history, functional body anatomy, physio yoga, asanas, it was amazing. At the end of the course, we had to pass both a written and practical exam. Additionally, there could be 7 volunteers willing to teach a full yoga class to the rest of the group—I signed up. I was so nervous, why did I do it??? Silly me. I created my playlist, designed yoga sequences, and practiced my routine.
**April 2019**
That day arrived, and I sat in the middle of the studio so I could see everyone, started my Spotify playlist, and began teaching. I felt stress and joy, nervousness and confidence. And then came the final Savasana—and once again, I had goosebumps all over my body, something I had never experienced before, but this time, I was the teacher.
Around May, we received our certificates, and I've been teaching since then—it's been 5 years. Since then, I've completed a 200YTT in Bali and a 300YTT in India. What's truly magical is that every time I teach, I still get goosebumps during Savasana.
And who am I? Someone who learns the principles of yoga every day and loves to share it with others.
Namaste, my yogis.
