Here I share the story of Why Yoga, Wellness, and Art in all forms hold a special place in my heart, a little bit about my personal journey so far, and the reasons for establishing Sayoga.life.
” As a lifelong seeker of experiences, from the depths of scuba diving to the heights of skydiving, from the rhythm of dance floors to grinding in the gym, I have always embraced movement in its countless forms. ”
What got you interested in yoga?
It all started with a desire to bring balance to my physical body – especially my posture, which had room for improvement – and my curiosity about the fascinating nature of yogis.
As I thought about it, I realized that I wanted to feel better, live a healthier life, and achieve those awe-inspiring yoga asanas. I made a conscious decision: if I was going to spend time on social media platforms like Instagram anyway, I could at least make it productive. I began to actively search and follow all kinds of accounts related to yoga – be it just appearances or styles that resonated with me – I gradually immersed myself in the world of yoga, seeking inspiration and knowledge to enrich my journey.
In my twenties, I was travelling widely across Europe as a truck-mounted platform operator – yes (picture on the left)! A very unusual role for a woman in a male-dominated environment. I enjoyed being a pioneer, but I missed the physicality of dance from my youth, which had kept me fit since childhood. I was looking for ways to lose weight, quit smoking, and improve my overall well-being. Early adulthood is often a time of trial and error for many of us, and I was no exception. I was inspired by the healthy lifestyle and fascinating movements I saw.
How long have you been practicing yoga, and what has it brought for you?
My journey with yoga began in my twenties, but I didn’t officially start my studies until my thirties. As my work took me all over Europe and Nordic countries, I was looking for a simple but effective way to strengthen and balance my body in the midst of ever-changing rhythms. At first, I turned to online resources for guidance, but it wasn’t until I was on vacation in Bali in 2016 that I truly immersed myself in the practice.
At the end of 2018, I heard from a friend about the opportunity to study yoga at a Western educational institution. Inspired by this, I decided to make a significant change by settling down and studying yoga in Australia. Sydney changed from a travel destination to a new home. At the time, I didn’t know what kind of introspection journey I was going to embark on with yoga. Even though I faced uncertainties and other challenges, my determination was growing and my desire to feel better kept me going.
The comprehensive two-year training (approximately 1600 hours by the standards used for yoga, Certificate IV and Diploma in Yoga teaching) brought an understanding of the history, different styles, anatomy, and philosophy of yoga, and laid a solid foundation for my future journey. Yoga gradually became an integral part of my life, and the practice changed from a mere posture to a profound journey of growth and understanding introspection. This all shaped my perspective and led me towards finding and accepting myself.
During my studies, I dived deeper into the world of yoga. I attended events, studied literature, and met new people, which opened the path toward my own previously unrecognized traumas – deep-rooted repressed emotions and events. These have been, and still are, central to my journey, which is full of both challenges and empowerment, reminding me of the balancing act of yin and yang. In the past, my struggles manifested as delusions, where I tried to cope with emotional distress by denying my feelings, which eventually led to a battle with bulimia in my twenties. Luckily for me, I was empowered by empathetic people who helped me find my way to healing. As I reflected on that period later through yoga, I recognized the mind’s ability to mask pain and the power of self-deception to create diseases in our bodies —causal connections between illness and emotional factors. My self-esteem was low, but I was ready to face it.
At the same time, I adopted a broader understanding of karma – a philosophy that promotes awareness, compassion, and personal responsibility towards ourselves and others. In particular, I looked at my inner emotional part of myself – I had always been hard on myself and I thought this was the reason which led to bulimia – decisive steps towards healing and growth.
This new consciousness changed both my perception of myself and the world around me. Yoga opened my eyes for a higher universal power that is inherent in each of us – this realization was both confusing and calming – even before my yoga studies, an inner force was pushing me forward and assuring me that better days are ahead… now the difference is how to maintain a balance and have a joyful life yet keeping curiosity to evolve.
yoga for life – union – sayoga.life
Kind regards
– Saija 🙏🖤✨
