My name is Kashvinder and I work as a clinic operations officer. Before starting yoga, this I had signed up for adult ballet classes but I didn’t feel the challenge after a while and craved for more. I even joined the gym but I found it mundane to run on the treadmill, use the stationary bike and do weights 3 times a week.
I never tried yoga before because previously I thought it was just stretching till I came across a random pose of a yogi doing the Garuda pose and I was totally wowed. I was adamant to practise yoga. After joining Shani’s 1st class, my muscles were trembling from head to toe but I got hooked. I wanted more. I’m struggling a lot with flexibility and strength,but I know it’s a slow and steady pace and working with my body.
But, I can say that there are definitely a lot of changes I notice in my body. Bending down and picking up something off the floor is so much easier and even sitting cross legged has become more enjoyable and less uncomfortable. I am able to carry more than 10kg grocery bags and I even have better sleep. No more insomnia! Yay!
Back pain had plagued my life for so long because of the deskbound job and also bad posture while sitting or standing. Nowadays I no longer have back pain and I even reduced my chiropractic sessions significantly (I used to go twice a week) now I only go once every 2-3 weeks. And I can sleep well! My posture has improved too! Whenever I start to slouch, my back muscle starts to ache and reminds me to sit up straight.
Certain beliefs about yoga I had in mind were that Yoga is for a certain body type I am not flexible and I won’t be able to do this. I lacked strength to do certain yoga poses and curtailed it to a gender type. After the classes I saw a transformation in my thoughts. I thought yoga was just stretching and relaxing but I was so wrong! The amount of tears my body has cried during classes, only I know. I thought people who went to the gym and lifted weights had strength because I challenged a friend to hold a handstand and he couldn’t find the balance! Practicing yoga and mastering the balance, flexibility and strength is a whole superpower on its own!
I have been attending classes since late June 2020. I love how Shani mix it up! Every class is something new and exciting because we move through various techniques, poses and target different muscle groups. Though I’m still struggling with flexibility and strength, I try to do the best I can. No 2 classes are the same and I’m always excited before every class cos I try to guess what would be the theme of class that very day but I’m always surprised! My body always feels great after and puts me in the best mood ever. But I must say my favorite part of the class is when we lie in Shavasana because that’s when I know the class is over and I celebrate because I did it! I attended class, moved through the various poses and carved out time for myself and my body.
I would definitely recommend her classes to anyone and everyone who wishes to start their yoga journey! I may be biased but she is an amazing teacher. Be it strength, flexibility, balance, grounding oneself and centering oneself. Her class has it all. I always feel incredibly grounded and centered.
