#Interview of PRIYAL SITHTA – A YOGA TEACHER
“What is Yoga?”
“Yoga means union, union with the divine, the infinite spirit”, said Paramhansa Yogananda.
Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that involves physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. The main philosophy behind yoga is that – the mind, body, and spirit are all one and inseparable.
Yoga has innumerable benefits to both your physical and mental well-being. It helps you to achieve holistic well-being, a state of natural calm and balance.
Yoga is a complete path by itself – Sadhguru.
PRIYAL SITHTA – A YOGA TEACHER
Priyal Sithta, an ex-corporate employee and now a proud yoga teacher, found her calling towards yoga amid chaos in her personal and professional life.
I felt like something was amiss, my motivation to work was decreasing day by day, I would get anxious quite often. Then I left the job without knowing what exactly I want but I knew what I didn’t want. In the process, I did hit a rock bottom and that phase led me to Yoga.
Can you describe yourself as WHO ARE YOU? and not as what you do for a living?
Priyal: I am someone who never gives up on the things I feel passionate about, no matter how difficult it gets because I don’t want to live with “what if” and regret later in life. And I will never compromise on the way I want to live my life, just because it doesn’t go well with society’s norms.
Also, I lead my life by heart mostly, though trying to balance it and will always go to the war for my loved ones.
Which particular phase of your life do you consider as the hardest and if yoga has helped you to grow through it in any way?
Priyal: Okay! So, the last few years have been difficult yet rewarding. My whole perspective about life, career, relationships were shaken and crumbled down to bits. I did hit a rock bottom but it somehow helped to get closer to my inner self and Yoga, not just the physical aspect of it, the philosophical and spiritual aspect, specifically ‘Bhakti Yoga’ helped me to surrender to the Supreme and the situation, let go of everything and everyone that I no longer feel aligned with, without feeling guilty.
Is yoga more physical or mental?
Priyal: Yoga, is both physical and mental practice. It’s a tool that creates mind and body connection and balance. Sadly, in today’s world, when we say the word Yoga people mostly associate it with the practice of asanas, whereas in reality, it’s a holistic approach that includes a wide range of self-disciplinary practices, i.e., asana, pranayama, dhyana, mantra chanting, rituals, prayers, and abhayasa.
Therefore, it will be justified to say that
Yoga is both physical and mental practice, nothing more or less, but a balance of both.”
Can you briefly describe Meditation and how can it help us improve our mental well-being?
Priyal: Meditation is a practice in which one focuses the mind on a particular object, thought, and thing to stay present at the moment. It is the means by which we experience the love, peace, and stillness that is within ourselves by taking our attention away from the world outside and focusing it within.
And regular practice helps achieve a mentally clear, emotionally calm, and stable state as
the aim of the practice is not to push aside the stress and block the negative thoughts but rather to notice those thoughts and feelings, all the while understanding that you don’t have to act on them.”
Meditation also can help prepare the brain for stressful situations.
I struggle a lot with getting started with meditation, do you have a few pieces of advice for beginners in general?
Priyal: Discipline and Consistency are required for any practice.
And to begin with the practice of Meditation, there are a few things that one should keep in mind.
- Find a place to sit that feels calm and quiet to you.
- Set a time limit. If you’re just beginning, start with 2 or 5 minutes and gradually increase it.
- Notice your body. Make sure you’re sitting comfortably and in a position that you can stay in for a while.
- Feel your breath and follow the sensation of the breath as you breathe in and out.
- Your attention with leave the breath, and the mind will wander. Whenever it happens, always simply return your attention to the breath.
- Then slowly, when you’re ready come out of the practice and be mindful of everything that’s happening within and outside of you.
- Don’t force yourself to sit for a long time. Strive for shorter, but deeper mediation.
How do you think yoga can help us handle our daily stress effectively?
Priyal: Yes definitely, the combined practice of asana, pranayama, and dhyana make a great difference in handling the stressful situations in our lives.
Yoga asanas help in releasing any physical as well as emotional blockages. Apart from the physical benefits, the asana practice helps in releasing the feel-good hormones, that can positively affect how one handles stress.
Pranayama teaches us to relax, regulate our breath and breathe deeply. It increases mindfulness and improves sleep quality.
Meditation teaches us to stay present and aware of the moment, boosts concentration, and centers the mind.
To sum up it all, we’d really like you to share some daily yoga practices or asanas with our readers to keep their physical and mental well-being in check.
Priyal: First of all, I would like to tell all the readers who want to start the practice, that always start it under the supervision of a qualified teacher. Please don’t practice by watching the videos on YouTube or any other platform, especially when you’re just starting with it.
- One can begin with gentle stretches for the whole body and then practice a few rounds of Surya Namaskar as each asana in SN works on every part of the body.
- Every day after waking up and before going to the bed, sit in a quiet place focusing on the breath.
- Most importantly, make sure to spend some time in the Sunlight during the mornings.
- Keep yourself hydrated and eat the diet i.e., fruits and vegetables of different colors.
- Add a few rounds of Anulom Vilom and Kapalbhati in the morning.
Yoga is a holistic approach; therefore, it helps in becoming aware of the changing nature of our bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings, and teaches us to let go because nothing remains the same. And that “change is permanent.”
Interview By – DEEBHA SITHTA
1 Comment
Amazing read, especially for youngsters who are starting out. Watching YouTube has spoilt yoga and its benefits for people. It has made people want to be physically & mentally fit in only 3-5-7 days. Keep up the work Priyal 💫☺️