Greetings from PORTUGAL #1
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CURRENT LOCATION: Lisbon, Portugal
LOCAL TIME: 17h20
LOCAL TEMPERATURE: 22 degrees
CURRENTLY READING: Love: new visions - bell hooks
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Hi there!
When I wrote about the “future” in my previous newsletter, I did not mention a very exciting thing that was awaiting me: finalising my training to become a certified yoga teacher! Back in February, I started a hybrid 200 hours training with Gaya Immersions. I met the founder, Sara Montes, back in Sumba and we stayed in touch ever since, leading me to embark on this amazing journey together.
The ‘Altar’ in our yoga shalla
Exploring Lisbon
I gave myself a few days to explore Lisbon before starting the course. It had been a few years since I visited and I hadn’t experienced the city yet in sunny weather. I felt welcomed by the warmth of the city’s atmosphere, its endless streets to get lost in and the proximity of the ocean. It was a good test, to get back into the 'travelling alone mood’. I was caught a bit by surprise that it proved to be quite challenging at first. I felt an ache to talk to people, find friends to hang out with or cling to my phone to connect with people that were not nearby. I had to remind myself that being alone doesn’t mean being lonely and that finding solitude is one of the greatest (and sometimes hardest) things in life.
Lisbon streets and the signature ‘azuljos’ that you can find everywhere
Close-up of an artwork I spotted at the Calouste-Gulbenkian with the same colours found in one of the buildings
Colour-coordinated laundry and the lovely patio of my Airbnb
Yoga chitta vritti nirodha - Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuation of the mind
Over the past months I started delving deeper into the wonderful universe of “yoga” through online courses on history, anatomy and the asanas (poses) I slowly became a little more familiar with all of what yoga includes. I diligently practised every morning, not always with a smile I have to admit, kept struggling with certain poses (doing a chaturanga (a crazy push-up-like pose) seemed to be impossible for me), was surprised by my improvements, discovered that biceps are not part of your leg, and that yoga is not simply a form of exercise.
So full of excitement, and a little nervous, I arrived for the 7-day in-person training that aimed to bring it all together with the other participants and finalise the course. We started slowly with an opening ceremony and an incredible sound-healing by Bruno to connect us all back to earth. During the week we started every day at 7h00 with 30 minutes of meditation followed by practising the Gaya sequence for around 2 hours. This sequence has been developed by Sara and is a slightly adapted version of the traditional Ashtanga sequence. It aims to balance the different elements (fire, air, earth and air) to find a deeper connection with oneself and with nature.
Casa da Frado, The beautiful home where the training is in Meco
The setup for the sound healing and a beautiful sunset to be witnessed afterwards
Yoga is a meditative practice that combines breath and movement. This means that whenever you move you breathe. For example: if you bend down you exhale, when you look up you inhale, you then jump to plank on an inhalation, to exhale during a chaturanga, and so on. This allows you to fully enter the practice and cease the fluctuation of the mind. To be in the practice and nowhere else. No internal or external distractions. Intention is key, why am I doing this pose and what is it doing to my mind and my body? The rest of the day was filled with theoretical and practical classes to learn more about cosmobiology, anatomy, the technical aspects of every pose, how to create a safe space for a class and the yogic philosophy.
An outside class on the moral framework of yoga and finding calmness at the end of practice in lotus pose
What is so interesting about having practised yoga intensely over the past months (and especially this week), is that although all the poses are the same every day, the practice never is. Your body is different, your mindset is different and your intention is as well. Gradually I have been able to commit more to it, with a clear peak this week. I have deliberately not touched my phone, allowing myself to disconnect from the outside world so I could rekindle the connection with myself.
A meaningful embrace with Sara after the ‘final’ practice and me assisting Alice with a backward bend
This week has been of extreme value to me and has set the tone for this next chapter in my life. I just finished my internship, and thus my master’s degree, and am in full preparation to leave for Sumba. And although exciting, it has also brought some feelings of fear in me, insecure about what is to come.
And that is why practising is so valuable. Yoga moves the waters in you, it brings up emotions, challenges you, pushes you and questions your limitations both mentally and physically. And this is not about doing a complicated pose to post on Instagram. It is about finding the contentment and ease in where you are and realising it is already perfect. Ease and steadiness, keeping the flow of the breath even when it is hard.
A final breathing exercise with Baaike, Alice, Thomas and me to close the week
I intend to adopt the yogic principles to further heal, find joy and thrive. Instead of connecting the practice to possible results and ego, I aim to approach it as a selfless action. I am so excited to further learn about the philosophy, and keep practising the sequence to further find my flow with all the poses. Gradually I hope to start sharing it with people around me, so they can as well experience all the great benefits.
Without boasting: I am a CYT now (Certified Yoga Teacher), and I am proud of myself!
Take care,
Hester
