yoga

78

december 2018 / january 2019

yogajournal.com.sg

ART DIRECTION: ANUJA BAGADE, PHOTO CREDIT: VALERIE FANECO

BY VALERIE FANECO

The way I came to yoga is not different from

the way most people come to it: a corporate

job, too much stress... and the realization that

“something is missing”.

This realization happened to me when I was

living in Hong Kong in 1993. I was 25 years old

when my boyfriend (now my husband) took

me to my first yoga class. It has been 25 years!

As I am about to turn 50, it is interesting to

reflect on how yoga has shaped my life these

past decades.

The milestone that changed my life happened

in December 1999 in Melbourne. I was a freshly

certified teacher, having completed a one-

month YTT course before moving to Australia

with my husband. I signed-up for a one-

week seminar led by TKV Desikachar, son of

Krishnamacharya (hailed as the “grandfather” of

modern yoga). The seminar was titled

antar-anga-sādhana,the process of meditation

as outlined in Patañjali’s Yoga-Sūtra—and this

piqued my curiosity because it suggested that

what we called meditation was actually a part

of yoga rather than a separate practice.

Relationship

According to Desikachar, the key definition of

yoga is “relationship”. First, there must be a

one-to-one relationship between a student and

a teacher for any kind of growth and learning

to happen. “If there is no student, there is no

teacher”: it might seem obvious, but still worth

remembering in the era of virtual learning

platforms. Secondly, we should seek conscious

relationships with what surrounds us: family,

friends, colleagues, the environment... And

last, but not least, a relation to our Self, which

is given various names in ancient texts: the

embedded jewel(antaryāmin),the soul

(ātman),pure consciousness(cit), etc.

My connection with Desikachar started very

well: I was struck by his sharp mind, his

kindness, and his skill in making the ancient

teachings of yoga practical and current, yet

never simplistic. I was impressed by the depth

and breadth of theYoga-Sūtraand aspired to

go deeper into it. I was delighted when he

accepted my request to teach me privately in

India the following year.

But soon after that I became pregnant and

we moved to Europe for my husband’s job.

I could not go to India, so I asked Desikachar

to recommend a good teacher in Europe. He

replied without hesitation: “You must go to

Frans Moors”.

So I signed up for Frans’s four-year teacher

training course (the minimum European

certification standards are four years). A new

chapter of my life was opening: pregnancy,

motherhood, a new country... and a long-term

course of yoga studies!

Transformation and Protection

I would describe the four years that followed

in two words: transformation and protection.

I gave birth to two children, lost my father

and moved again (to Singapore). Like a good

soldier, yoga did its duty and protected me

through these upheavals. Indeed, for the

average adult, the function of yoga israkshana,

to hold and protect.

By the end of the third year of my yoga course

in Belgium, we were settled in Singapore and

I was pregnant with our second child. I was

determined to complete the course and so flew

to Liege several times for week-end classes

until the end of my pregnancy. My husband

was very supportive. Everyone admired my

commitment, but to me it was nothing special.

I felt like I owed it to myself for I knew that I

could rely on yoga’s constant positive impact

on my life no matter what happened and

where it took me.

At that point I was already very close to Frans. I

was learning what it meant to study under the

guidance of a solid humble teacher, anāchārya:

someone who is committed to yoga, follows its

principles, has experienced ups and downs in

life and still walks on the path. Our relationship

continues to this day.

Practice and Study

Of course, during those years I was facing

the same challenges, doubts and frustrations

as every new mother. I was also grieving

for my father. It was not always possible to

dedicate as much time to yoga as I wanted

but the connection was there, and thanks to

the kindness of my teacher, I learnt to accept

the situation. I also learnt the importance of

dharma: performing one’s duty. These were

valuable life lessons.

MY STORY, MY CALLING

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