Finding Happiness, Health And Purpose The Yoga Way
MY YOGA
I practice different styles of yoga, it all depends on what I need at the moment. Sometimes I feel like I need a restorative and relaxing Yin yoga session; sometimes I need something activating and powerful like Ashtanga yoga; sometimes I need to be close to water then I do SUP yoga, that is yoga on a stand up paddle board; and sometimes I need some weightlessness then I do Areal yoga.
However my all time favorite style is Smai Tawi, also known as Kemetic yoga, African yoga, Egyptian yoga or Pharaonic yoga. A 7000 years old spiritual practice from Kemet and the rest of the Nile Valley. I don’t think in boxes and labels, which is also expressed in my yoga practice, where I like to switch and merge styles. But Smai Tawi is my favorite because it’s very empowering for me as it connects me to my ancestors. This feeling is unmatched by other yoga styles.
THE ATTRACTION
I heard about yoga for the first time when I was very young and I imagined it to be something mysterious and mystical. Also, It was clear that yoga had its roots in India. Years later, after becoming a certified yoga teacher, I began to see on Instagram beautiful yoga poses that deeply resonated with me, and they would usually have the hashtags #kemeticyoga and #smaitawi. These poses remninded me of images of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses, the history of Egypt being another interest of mine. The poses were very rectilinear, symmetrical, and sublime.
I started my research and ordered books by Muata Ashby and Babacar Khane that show the connection between yoga and Africa. I discovered that Yoga is indeed from Africa, Nile Valley to be specific. My heart was filled with joy with this discovery, and I am very happy and grateful that I found this rather unknown part of my African heritage.
HAPPINESS, HEALTH AND PURPOSE
Yoga has helped me to find my happiness and that is very essential to wellbeing. Meditation, which is a big part of yoga, helped me a lot in experiencing gratitude and detaching myself from minor matters. After meditation I feel a lot more calm, focused and well balanced. My thoughts are even sharper than before. I think one reason is that you create space while meditating by getting rid of useless stuff that is occupying your mind and heart.
Beyond that mental state of wellness is physical health. Strong physical health is a nice side effect of practicing yoga. You strengthen the body while practicing Asanas (yoga postures). The Asanas set your posture right and more flexible, and it creates more space in your torso. Your internal organs are able to function better when they’re not compressed, which they are in a hunched posture. With a healthy posture, your energies flow freely and easily, and your lungs work much better to provide your body with enough fresh oxygen. Good and deep breathing is an essential part of Smai Taswi. In Kemet (ancient Egypt) it was said that one can increase one’s universal life force with deep breathing.
I must admit that many people in the West are only interested in the physical health benefits of yoga but not in the spiritual and philosophical part of it. As a result, many yoga teachers find themselves answering to these physical needs of their students, cutting out other essential parts such as meditation and breathing techniques from their classes. I try to teach as holistic as possible, integrating all parts of yoga and highlighting the benefits of the not-so-popular exercises. So the students understand the entire value and are motivated to appreciate the whole purpose of yoga.
