My Yoga Journey

I have practiced some form of Yoga (mantra, tantra, yantra) for as long as I can remember, in fact, from before I can remember. My mum studied Vedic Sanskriti while she was pregnant with me. But unlike the stories of the great sages in the Veda’s – I was not born enlightened. 

Gratitude

In my youth I did not always value Yoga.  Even though I had a regular practice, I treated it as a secret – maybe was even embarrassed by it, because it was so old fashioned compared to the trendy things that kids of my age were doing. Yet when I found my mum teaching my niece and nephews the “Gayatri mantra” when they could barely speak and when I hear of my aunts encouraging their grandkids to learn various aspects of Yoga – I am filled with delight. For I know that even if the kids find it arduous now… they will be filled with gratitude for this practice at some point in life. That’s just the nature of Yoga. Just as I will be forever grateful to my grandmother, mother and the amazing guru’s along the way who kept me practicing.

So even though my childhood and early teens were peppered with a love hate relationship to Yoga, things changed when I read a book by George Leonard called Mastery. As an impressionable 15-year-old, this book inspired me with youths full glory. I decided that Yoga was to be my path of mastery.

The Path Of Mastery

You see, George Leonard talks about 4 types of people – the Dabbler, the Obsessive, the Hacker and the Master – diagram below explains these 4 types. At 15 my focus was only on Mastery. 

Now, when reflect on myself, I realise that I express all 4 types in different areas of my life. 

The Dabbler

As an aesthete and wannabe artist – I have dabbled in numerous creative activities… from jewellery making to abstract painting. Apologies to friends and family who have received my handmade jewellery as gifts along this journey for here I will always be the Dabbler. 

The Obsessive

As a researcher – I am the Obsessive. When I am in the literature review phase of a new research project… You may want to avoid me. Its’ all I talk about. 

The Hacker

Good nutrition is an important part of my life. To me food is energy. Initially not a problem because I love cooking. But not the related chores that go with it, namely the cleaning up after. So, cooking felt laborious until I discovered one-pot-meals. Hence in cooking, I am the Hacker. My repertoire is not going to develop further than 1 pot meals. 

Although I did recently use my mandolin and air fryer to make potato crisps. Does this suddenly make me a chef?

Aiming to be The Master

But there are two things that matter to me more than anything else. Fortunately, they are closely related. Human Performance + Wellbeing and Yoga.  In these areas my desire to learn, my need to understand and hopefully my sincere practice will never end. I have committed these two areas to mastery. So those of you whom practice yoga with me know that I am tough and uncompromising…badass (I’m starting to like this word). And clients of my Wellbeing & Performance Health practice, know how strict I can be – with my diet plans, routines and constant nagging. Organic Apoteke is an extension of this wellbeing practice – so OA teams know how pedantic I can be about socially conscious business. And no matter how popular or unpopular this makes me – I am not going to change. Because what gives me the greatest joy in life is when I see that spark that exists in you – be kindled into your very own flame. And I will always do whatever I can to keep that flame alight. Express your truth, shine your own light.

To quotes Super Siah’s Shine Bright

“Reach high to the sky, take a chance don’t be shy… 

Like a star shine bright”