I didn't find yoga. Yoga found me.

Such a cliché of a title, I know. But hey, it's the truth. So I honestly find the title perfect to explain my yoga discovery!

I remember the moment when I first read about yoga. I’ve heard about it before but it never really hit me. Then one day, while I was working, I took a random magazine and that magazine changed me. I stumbled upon a whole section about yoga and something inside me started to shine. I remember being so caught up in the article and I somehow felt I was waiting for this.

I know it sounds kind of craggy, but in that period of time, I was honestly waiting for something to brightend a light in me. I was waiting for something new, something I saw a purpose behind, something that could teach me.

I went home later that day and researched all I could, brought my first book about yoga, got a yoga mat and booked my first yoga class. I was taking my first steps towards my yoga journey and I was beyond excited. I remember clearly the day, I was going to my first yogaclass. I was nervous. Could I be good at yoga? Me? the non-flexible type I am, I didn’t think so.

I was going back and forth the whole day, making up prober excuses not to go. But somehow I went in my car and I drove there. I was insanely close to just drive back home. But I also knew, that no matter what, I had to take my first step sometime. If not now, then when?

I know it sounds crazy, like it’s only a damn yoga class, for Gods sake. But to me, it was much more. It wasn’t just a new hobby. For me, it was something I wanted to learn completely, I wanted to create a new life with the lifestyle of a yogi. Anyway.. I went inside and the class begun. I remember being surprised, of how much my body was able to do. I was surprised of how much tension my body contains and how beautiful it hurts, when you stretch muscles, you might never have stretched before. I was proud of myself and I was feeling an entirely different feeling of relaxtion, I can’t recall ever have felt before.

Luckily I’ve been practicing meditation and breathing exercises before, so being focused on my breathing wasn’t a entirely unfamilier thing for me. I was able to be present in my yogapractice from the beginning. That somehow helped me realize, when I was feeling stressed, because I could feel the difference between being present in my practice or not. It helped me to question my well-being and being honest with myself and my feelings. Meditation, breathing techniques and my yogapractice helps me being totally aware of my state of mind and my body.

Yoga is much more than just psychical practices, because it helps us developing and explore ourselves outside of the yogamat. Everybody is practicing yoga for their own purposes and therefore it can be a little difficult, to explain what yoga is. Some is practicing yoga as a psychical fitness and health maintenance, some sees yoga as a way of detoxing the body while others uses yoga as a therapy and makes it a complete way of living. But no matter what purpose you have, yoga has the same benefits mentally and psychical.

I must be honest; I dont follow the complete lifestyle of a yogi. I value my freedom and I dont like being kept inside a cage. But I must admit, that I once read some inspiring guidelines to live a yogi-lifestyle. I have taken some of them to my heart and I want to share them with you. I’m sure you’ll be inspired as well, because these guidelines isn’t rules but soothing perspectives of life. It may expand your view of how life should be lived.

Ethical ways to live your life

• Ahimsa: No violence

Be nice to yourself and others. Talk nicely to yourself, to and about others. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Don’t practice violence against yourself through bad relationships, work or food.

• Satya: Truth

Live a life in truth. A life where you are honest to yourself and don’t lie to others. Tell the truth, but do it in a way, where it doesn’t hurt, if it can be avoided. Live your life through your values and create a life, you can wake up happy to every morning.

• Asteya: Don’t steal Don’t take more than you need. It goes from the buffet in the cafeteria to the energy of others. Take care of your time so you’re not online 24/7 and don’t steal others time, by always showing up late. Let others have their joys in peace and be happy on the behalf of others, without wanting to outdo or putting them down.

• Bramacharya: Sexual reticense

Don’t have sex if you don’t want to or with people you don’t want to have sex with. Consider sex as a delicious experience so it can uplift your energy. Avoid manipulating others through your sexuality.

• Aparigraha: Letting go Let go of things that no longer serve you, both psychical and emotional. See if you can let go of coffee, drinking, nicotine and big shopping trips or whatever you feel like, you are a slave against, so it doesn’t control you. (I’m not saying those things can’t be a part of your life, I still have those things (can't be without my wine) as a part of mine, but I don’t overdo them). Ask yourself if you truly need all those things. Life is about change. Practice to let go of the good and the bad in your life.

Spriritual ways to live your life

• Saucha: Pureness Be positive and clear in your thoughts and speech. Use yoga to keep your body pure and detoxed, keep yourself healthy through meditation and eat food that’s good for you and for the environment.

• Santosha: Satisfaction Be happy with what you have. Make peace with what is and don’t blame others; seek forgiveness. Keep pursuing forward - but do it in a way, that keeps you uplifted and being in the now.

• Tapas: Enthusiasm It’s amazing that you have something, you burn for. But teach self-discipline so you won’t just slide through and let yourself be tossed around. Let yourself be inspired and use your energy appropriate so you don’t burn out. Don’t let yourself be kicked out of negative people or outside obstacles.

• Swadhyaya: Self-studies Study selfdevelopment, where you observe and goes in depth with yourself. Learn to know your needs and your patterns. Try to break some of your routines, if they don’t work for you. Try to think differently and see the beauty in learning new things. See the world and the people in your life with new eyes again and again.

• Ishavara pranidhana: Spirituality Turn down your ego so it doesn’t control you and turn up for an open heart, where you always have confidence to the world around you and treat it nicely. Enjoy the nature and practice to feel, that you’re not alone but part of something much bigger than yourself.

These guidelines helps you being more peaceful and happy in your everyday life. You will expand your view. You’ll feel much more grateful that you are here and living this life, you are already living. You already have all the ingrediens to your own happiness – you just have to focus on them, embrace them and work yourself towards them.