THE POWER OF NOW
by Maya Machawe
The Power of Now
My interest in yoga has roots from my childhood. I was born into a yoga family; and it was because of this that, from my childhood, I was witness to a community of masters, instructors and authorities in the arena of yoga. Their discussions and debates were always appealing to me and caught my attention. Their discussions regarding varied topics, such as the philosophy of yoga, implementation tactics and the benefits of the asanas, were like tales for me. Even though my perception of these profound topics was slight, listening to them used to bring me extreme pleasure. It was from those times that I heard of the benefits of physical or bodily movements, or the asanas of yoga, and the role of these techniques in being therapeutic in the treatment of many of the physical and mental disorders.
My curiosity concerning this matter increased day by day. In the midst of that, I became acquainted with an Iranian citizen who was performing research and studies in the field of the therapeutic effects of yoga on the mind. We decided to commence on an extensive research study with the help of one another.
That mission finally concluded in our marriage. After marriage, we agreed to move to Iran. I had built up incredible ideas in my mind before I got to Iran. But, in fact, at a first glance, everything appeared absolutely strange to me. The national dress code for females was very strict. Women were wearing loose clothing and covering their hair with head scarves. That was challenging for me. There were many other cultural differences, which made me nervous. I was vegan, since childhood, and traditional Persian food usually included meat. It was difficult for me to find vegetarian food at restaurants. I had always believed in Ahimsa (non-violence) and it was weird for me to believe in sacrificing sheep for religious purposes. The situation came as a blow to me, and the worst scenario was missile attacks because Iran was still at war with Iraq. I found no way to escape. At the very time of bitter disappointment, the golden words of Sage Patanjali grabbed my attention…
Atha yoga anushasanam
Now begins the study of yoga — Yoga Sutras 1.1
And that was the dawn of new era in my challenging life. I could embrace the core of Sutra with every cell of my being. I could feel the power of “Now”. I thought, being a yogi, I must have maturity and the capability to engage with both desirable and undesirable situations. I decided to take on the challenge of self-discovery and of full commitment. I began to learn a new language, associated with my new culture, and tried my best to get completely absorbed in Iranian culture.
Eventually, I dove in more deeply and started teaching yoga to Iranian people in their own language. I also utilized yoga for wellbeing and worked as a yoga therapist. Along with my husband, we established a joint yoga and psychology center with high standards of practice, multi-range activities, pioneering the setting of standards in teaching, training and practice. We also published the first yoga journal in Farsi. The results of all these efforts concluded in the innovation of a new style named “Cyclic Yoga”. Its applicability for well-being has been the subject of various scientific research projects in collaboration with universities and health programs in hospitals in Iran.
I owe my life to yoga. Yoga teachings helped me to cope and negotiate with contrariety. Yoga teachings led me to self-development, gave meaning to my life and changed me from a mere practitioner to a yoga trainer, researcher and therapist.
Namaste
Maya Machawe, CYA RYT Gold, C - IAYT
My interest in yoga has roots from my childhood. I was born into a yoga family; and it was because of this that, from my childhood, I was witness to a community of masters, instructors and authorities in the arena of yoga. Their discussions and debates were always appealing to me and caught my attention. Their discussions regarding varied topics, such as the philosophy of yoga, implementation tactics and the benefits of the asanas, were like tales for me. Even though my perception of these profound topics was slight, listening to them used to bring me extreme pleasure. It was from those times that I heard of the benefits of physical or bodily movements, or the asanas of yoga, and the role of these techniques in being therapeutic in the treatment of many of the physical and mental disorders.
My curiosity concerning this matter increased day by day. In the midst of that, I became acquainted with an Iranian citizen who was performing research and studies in the field of the therapeutic effects of yoga on the mind. We decided to commence on an extensive research study with the help of one another.
That mission finally concluded in our marriage. After marriage, we agreed to move to Iran. I had built up incredible ideas in my mind before I got to Iran. But, in fact, at a first glance, everything appeared absolutely strange to me. The national dress code for females was very strict. Women were wearing loose clothing and covering their hair with head scarves. That was challenging for me. There were many other cultural differences, which made me nervous. I was vegan, since childhood, and traditional Persian food usually included meat. It was difficult for me to find vegetarian food at restaurants. I had always believed in Ahimsa (non-violence) and it was weird for me to believe in sacrificing sheep for religious purposes. The situation came as a blow to me, and the worst scenario was missile attacks because Iran was still at war with Iraq. I found no way to escape. At the very time of bitter disappointment, the golden words of Sage Patanjali grabbed my attention…
Atha yoga anushasanam
Now begins the study of yoga — Yoga Sutras 1.1
And that was the dawn of new era in my challenging life. I could embrace the core of Sutra with every cell of my being. I could feel the power of “Now”. I thought, being a yogi, I must have maturity and the capability to engage with both desirable and undesirable situations. I decided to take on the challenge of self-discovery and of full commitment. I began to learn a new language, associated with my new culture, and tried my best to get completely absorbed in Iranian culture.
Eventually, I dove in more deeply and started teaching yoga to Iranian people in their own language. I also utilized yoga for wellbeing and worked as a yoga therapist. Along with my husband, we established a joint yoga and psychology center with high standards of practice, multi-range activities, pioneering the setting of standards in teaching, training and practice. We also published the first yoga journal in Farsi. The results of all these efforts concluded in the innovation of a new style named “Cyclic Yoga”. Its applicability for well-being has been the subject of various scientific research projects in collaboration with universities and health programs in hospitals in Iran.
I owe my life to yoga. Yoga teachings helped me to cope and negotiate with contrariety. Yoga teachings led me to self-development, gave meaning to my life and changed me from a mere practitioner to a yoga trainer, researcher and therapist.
Namaste
Maya Machawe, CYA RYT Gold, C - IAYT