Yoga makes you fit and relaxed. What initially seems like an advertising slogan is Claudia's basic belief. She has been practicing yoga since the mid-90s - when yoga was still largely unknown in our western latitudes - and has made it an integral part of her life. Now it's no longer just a hobby, but also a job and how exactly it came about, Claudia from yourtimeout explains in an interview.
How did you actually get into yoga and why did you decide to turn what was initially a hobby into a profession?
I came into contact with yoga as a teenager. One of my mother's friends recommended her yoga class to us because I was having such trouble concentrating in school. I attended the course with the older ladies (who were probably all the same age as I am today ;-)) and really enjoyed the exercises. However, the concentration issue didn't improve because the focus in this group (or mine?) was more on the physical aspect than on the meditative aspect. Thank God I have to say, because I certainly wouldn't have been enthusiastic about meditation back then. After the course leader canceled the course, I spent a long time looking for alternatives, which was really difficult in the 80s. I even ended up in a very spiritual course and, feeling disconcerted, took off again. There was a big break from yoga until the mid-90s. When “Brigitte” put a video cassette on her newspaper, I went back to regular practice at home and was once again very excited. Over the years I practiced many styles of yoga and the deeper my insights became, the more fascinated I became by the relaxing effect yoga had on my mind. I was now working and most recently held leading positions in various dialogue marketing jobs, which I always enjoyed. In 2008 I became the mother of twins and quickly went back to work. Of course I had my hands full, wanted to do everything perfectly and please everyone. So I was running back and forth between my family, job, household, friends and many other obligations. When my health was finally threatened by burnout, I had to pull the ripcord. I quit my job as a department head and was looking for a way to change my hectic life. During this search I came across the idea of yoga teacher training.
From your perspective, how does yoga affect the body and mind?
Yoga makes you fit, but not only that. It saves me from back pain and tension. I now also benefit a lot mentally. I changed my entire outlook on life. I used to be a control freak, trapped by a lot of fears and worries about the future. Today I am much more relaxed because I (most of the time) manage to enjoy the moment to the fullest and become fully aware of how well I actually feel. And in all modesty: I don't need much anymore to be happy. A roof over our heads and something to eat every day is something we have to be very grateful for. I finally stopped wanting more, striving higher and further. And I love being able to experience today how, with this attitude to life, things come to you much more than before, when I wanted to force so many things. Meditation has also become an important part of my life and a constant source of strength and calm. However, if I don't practice for a few days, I notice it very quickly. I then become more irritable and tension sets in again. Unfortunately, there is no yoga loan that you can take out and pay off. Practice, practice and all is coming (K. Pattabhi Jois)
Are there any forms of yoga that, in your opinion, support a slow lifestyle better than others?
Absolutely. Unfortunately, the principle “higher, faster, further” has not stuck in yoga either. If you follow social media, there are so many yogis who draw attention to themselves with the craziest poses and encourage the ambition of students. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to horror reports in the press that yoga can lead to injuries. I don't mean to say that these attitudes are bad per se. However, they require thorough and sometimes long-term preparation in order to be able to be practiced well and safely. When it comes to SlowLife, I wouldn't necessarily want to limit myself to one style. I would say that it really depends on the teacher how the respective style is practiced. Ultimately, however, one can say that Yin yoga definitely fits the theme of slow lifestyle without restrictions and very well.
You also give outdoor yoga classes in the summer. What makes the combination of yoga and nature so special for you?
Yoga outdoors and in beautiful surroundings is something very special that appeals to all the senses. What could be more wonderful than letting your gaze wander over a lake or into beautiful oak trees or into the blue sky while doing yoga? Or to feel and smell nature in the form of sunlight, wind and sometimes rain on your own skin. At the same time it is a good exercise to be completely with yourself. Of course there are also noises, insects…. – Things that we all too often sort into drawers labeled “disorder” in everyday life. And this is a wonderful place to practice remaining neutral and non-judgmental. A noise is a noise and an ant is an ant. Nothing that kills us and just something that is there and part of life. The more you look at it like that and stay with yourself, the less it bothers you. I can highly recommend it. Feel free to visit us at Steinsee in summer...
As a mother of two, a yoga teacher and a project manager, your everyday life is certainly very busy. How do you manage to still make time for your own yoga practice?
I consciously chose a second job that allows this freedom, while consciously accepting “losses” in terms of finances, content and responsibility compared to before. Since the kids leave the house at 7:45 a.m. and my office job usually doesn't start until 10 a.m., there's almost always time for yoga practice in between - even if I can't extend it endlessly. If it doesn't work out, I practice not being angry about it and seeing that I had good reasons for it. Although that's not always an easy task when giving up my practice ;-).
Are there certain rituals that you regularly practice to create calm and mindful moments in your everyday life?
There are actually 2 important rituals that I consistently never let myself be dissuaded from. One is my cuddle session with my kids. The first thing I do is get up and snuggle up in my little mice's bed for another 10 minutes. The second is my morning tea. I drink a pot of green tea in the morning. I enjoy this carefully and slowly and try not to let it disturb me. Life is often raging around me, but I sit there and enjoy my tea. I once thought to myself that if the day starts with “waiting and drinking tea”, then that is a wonderful start. I also regularly listen to their meditations and fantasy journeys with the children, which they once recorded for me with their dad. A true oasis of peace and bliss.
Dear Claudi, thank you very much for this insight into your very personal slow lifestyle, which brings with it lots of great suggestions and inspiration.
Web: Your Timeout
Email: claudia[at]yourtimeout.de
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