How did that Madonna interview eventually turn into a complete change of life for me?
I often ambitiously describe how finding Vinyasa Flow was like coming home, like landing in myself, but it was a very physical love at first.
And after the first initial in-love phase, when I was aiming to conquer pose after pose, there was something more creeping up.
At first it was very subtle and I couldn’t at all put my finger on why I liked this way of moving so much.
I knew I liked the challenges, and how trying out, and failing, all those advanced, crazy poses made me feel like a kid again, playing around on my mat.
But I still considered it a workout. And it was a great one, because I grew stronger than I had been when going to the gym, at the same times as my flexibility reached new heights -what could possibly be better?
At that time I only did yoga, basically. Or I did some running, and some strength work at home, but I had stopped going to group classes at the gym.
And when I for some reason decided to return to the gym, I felt like something was missing in those group classes.
What was it? Why didn’t they feel as fun anymore?
Then I understood what it was.
I realized, that yoga offered something more. It wasn’t just movement, it wasn’t just a workout (even though it’s a great one)
I realized it was that intention we set at the beginning of class, the theme the teacher created for us, the deep roots in the yoga philosophy, and the ancient wisdom that seeped into everything we did on the mat.
When I realized that that’s where the magic was, I dove in.
I began meditating every day, I bought piles of books about yoga philosophy, but also about personal development, spirituality and finding yourself (yes, yes, it’s cheesy I know)
And with that realization, that yoga was a lifestyle, a method that could help you change your life for the better – I began feeling that I wanted more people to know.
I wanted to teach this to others, and eventually I felt I wanted to educate more teachers that could spread it even further.
So what started off with an idea of me getting as fit as Madonna when I was over 40, turned in to a life-evolving adventure that has made me kinder, more patient and more loving towards the world (as well as fit as hell at 46 😄🤸)
It made me switch career paths and go for my dreams, aim to make a difference in people’s lives, and try to make the world a little bit better.
I could never have imagined that this would be the result of reading that Madonna article in 1999, and I’m forever grateful for how it inspired me to start this journey.
You never know where the smallest things will take you, but you can always choose to be open for the glimmers and sparks that appear in your mind.
If you feel a little spark that you want to become a yoga teacher, send an email to emilie@vimyogaacademy.com , and I’ll give you more information about our 200hr Vinyasa Teacher Training.
❤️
Emilie
