Connecting with Yourself Through Yoga: An Interview with Yoga Instructor Sara
7 min
©Blue Bamboo Studio
Yoga makes it possible to be more present, detach from daily stresses, and move your body with the flow of your breath. Beyond all this, yoga can also improve our relationship with ourselves and others and strengthen our sense of community. That’s because the goal of this age-old discipline is not to be the best, but to always be growing and developing.
But how do you get started with yoga? What exactly is the philosophy behind it? And how can it improve mental well-being? Our interview with Sara Ciscar, yoga teacher at Blue Bamboo Studio, will give you all the necessary tools to incorporate this practice into your life.
Though dynamic Vinyasa style yoga is Sara’s speciality, she’s also a flight attendant and a huge sports fan. Teaching yoga at Blue Bamboo Studio enables her to stay connected to the people around her and improve the well-being of her community.
Yoga knows no age or gender and can be suitable for all, no matter your fitness level. How does yoga bring all people together? What are a few good reasons everyone should practice yoga regularly?
Yoga is characterized as a simple sport that’s designed to bring people together. Because it’s practiced with the most basic tools—your body and your breath—the door is open for anyone to give it a try. That would be the first reason. After that, yoga is great for a general audience because it enables us to let go of our preconceived notions. It allows us to become more flexible in both our body and life. Instead of thinking, “I want to see how far I can stretch,” we’re encouraged to ask ourselves, “why not see how far I can go?”
How long have you been practicing yoga? How did you discover this sport?
I started doing yoga out of curiosity. I’ve always loved sports and I like to try a variety of different activities. Yoga was love at first sight. I believe that’s because it’s a discipline that leaves an impression. Even if you’ve only taken one class, that’s all it takes to realize how much it can improve your life. In my case, I started to become more aware of how I was working with my body. My breathing improved and I became physically and mentally calmer as a result.
Yoga connects the body to the mind like no other sport. Each posture has a meaning and also reflects a mental attitude. In your opinion, how does yoga affect our mental health?
Yoga can have a positive effect on our mental health because it creates space for us to recognize how we’re feeling inside. Certain positions allow us to correct bad postures we carry around in our daily lives, which releases tensions we might not have even realized were there. When we pause, listen carefully, and breathe, our mind calms down just as much as our bodies. Because we’re more in tune with ourselves, we can look at our fears from a calm point of view. Whether your yoga session is short or long, these are the effects you’re likely to experience.
Have there been any difficult times or moments in your life when yoga has provided you with support and strength? How has this presented itself?
Yes. The more you practice yoga, the more you’ll notice its effects on your mood. Yoga has been like a balm for my soul and a support to lean on, especially during difficult times.
No matter how anxious I was or how much my worries overwhelmed me, my yoga practice gave me the space to feel my feelings. It taught me to embrace the emotions I experienced, even frustration and sadness. Sometimes doing it felt like getting a hug from a good friend.
You never leave your mat with the same state of mind that you started with. Yoga always changes how you’re feeling.
Why did you become a yoga teacher? Why do you love teaching yoga classes? How important is a sense of community in a discipline like this?
I was unable to continue working as a flight attendant during lockdown, so I found a new passion in yoga. After a while, I was driven by my desire to share the benefits of the discipline with others. Now, I’m lucky enough to have found an online community that feels the same as I do.
Blue Bamboo Studio holds regular retreats where people can train and share their experiences together. What significance do these events have on the participants? Why do you enjoy them?
Blue Bamboo is a digital yoga and training platform that creates motivation from working together as a community. We also host retreats and events for people to meet in person and share their values.
What does a typical day in your life look like? Do you have any rituals or routines that you absolutely can’t skip?
Since my yoga classes are held at different times and on different days, I’ve developed a routine that helps me stay focused. I get up early and devote the first few hours of the day entirely to myself. I make a nice breakfast with coffee, look at my to-do list for the day, and adjust my tasks according to what I have time for. Aside from that, I like to cuddle with my cat. Her purr is so soothing and peaceful.
I start my day by focusing on my tasks. One day I might clean my house and another I might get ready to go to the gym. During my workouts, I combine strength training with yoga flows and poses to relax my muscles and mind.
A balanced diet is essential to our physical and mental well-being. Do you have a favorite foodspring product that you like to eat before or after your yoga practice?
I love the entire foodspring fitness food line — especially the Protein Cream. It’s so yummy with pancakes.
After a yoga session or in between yoga classes, I like to eat a Protein Bar to refuel. My favorite flavor is hazelnut and amaranth.
Try Sara’s favorite bar for yourself
Yoga is so much more than a workout for the body and mind. It’s also a way of life. How has yoga influenced your perspective on life? What impact does yoga have on our relationship with ourselves and our relationships with others?
The more we practice yoga, the more we realize that we cannot control everything. Discovering this makes it so much easier to go with the flow of life and not let our thoughts get in the way. Yoga also helps us realize that we are one part of a whole, and that can be a huge confidence booster. And everyone is encouraged to go at their own pace. You simply can’t help but apply these lessons to the rest of your life.
Yoga is a path to self-awareness that’s entirely in your control. It’s up to you to see the benefits for yourself and others, to relate better to those around you, and to feel more connected to the world.
We often let the stress and business of everyday life overwhelm us. Can you share a breathing exercise or technique that helps you calm down in these situations?
Of course I can! One exercise that’s simple and can be done anywhere is to simply observe your surroundings. It can be the sky, a tree, the landscape through the window or even just the ceiling. The goal is to observe things without judging them and take deep breaths throughout the process. It sounds cliché but it works. Focus on one thing without having any expectations. As you do this, breathe in as slowly and deeply as possible and breathe out slowly and gently. The body will adopt the rhythm of the breath. Take 3 to 4 more breaths. This technique will help you clear your thoughts for a moment and look at things from a different perspective.
What advice would you give to someone who has never done yoga but wants to start? What is the best way to begin? What are some things to keep in mind?
I would advise that person to remember what it was like to learn something new in the past. Experience shows us that learning is all about taking things one step at a time. The same thing applies to yoga. It’s also important to remember not to compare yourself with others. Yoga is for everyone and it isn’t a competition. Above all, it’s important to practice yoga with the intention of not demanding too much from yourself.
It isn’t necessary to jump right into the most difficult poses. start right away with difficult yoga postures. What’s so much more important is to make a meaningful effort to connect with your feelings. Therein lies the beauty and simplicity of the first steps in yoga.
As you get started, pay attention to existing injuries or anything else that might limit your practice. Then adapt your practice accordingly. In the beginning, it’s best to practice under the watchful eye of a yoga instructor to prevent injuries. They will show you how to perform each pose properly and move through a flow. They’ll also clarify any questions and dispel any preconceived notions you might have about yoga.
Thanks to the advent of digital yoga classes, it’s easy to find a great teacher through Blue Bamboo. Our online yoga classes accommodate different skill levels, including an option for beginners—and allow you to connect despite the physical distance.
Additionally, we offer workouts of varying intensities that will help you develop more flexibility and mobility in a healthy way.
We teach yoga in a way that won’t overwhelm you from the start. We will give you any guidance you need. It’s like having a yoga teacher right in your home.
Our tip: Want to try yoga but don’t know where to start? Check out our special article on yoga for beginners. It will give you the tools to start gently incorporating yoga into your life. Namaste!
Sources for this article
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