Namita Nayyar:
You are a Yoga Acharya, run a school of yoga, and are an accomplished Bharatanatyam artist. How would you define fitness-body, mind & soul?
Yamini Muthanna:
In both yoga and dance, it all starts with getting the body ready, fit, and strong. Both disciplines are very demanding physically. In the process of learning the skill and meeting the demands of rigorous training and knowledge development the body gets tamed and the mind gets transformed into a well-nourished information system. The realization is eventual within the process of study. Age and experience enhance this knowledge which is the best part of the study of these ancient art forms. The mind gets stable, joyous, and content. The soul experiences a sense of freedom.
Namita Nayyar:
How and when Yoga happened to you? According to you how can it help women and kids in every aspect of their life?
Yamini Muthanna:
I was inspired to do Yoga at the age of 17. Life was overwhelming with a shift in the circumstances at home and family. Like any normal teenager, I was confused and anxious. Was so lucky to have been growing up in Mysore and by chance got introduced to Yoga. I found comfort and care for my feelings through this practice and learning. It got me curious as to why and how this practice has such a profound effect on me. I started getting deeper into the study of the theoretical aspects of Yoga.
Yoga just happened to me unplanned, and I felt extremely settled doing it. This has been my feeling ever since. Actually, everyone who practices Yoga does go through this experience. However, it is important to understand this experience, as it is easy to miss it when one is in the pursuit of physical goals only. It is easy to miss the mental and spiritual benefits if one is ignorant of what this practice has to offer. I initially choose to do yoga to help me in my dance practice. But what I received from it was so much more.
Yoga has helped me to be stable, balanced, and flexible- both in the mind and body. This is the kind of benefit Yoga practice offers and I feel everyone must take it!
