I’m Timo, a Finnish-American Iyengar yoga teacher living in Helsinki, and part of Team Yogobe in Finland. My yoga journey is typical for a man, it started with a debilitating injury (back in 1999), and I was told that yoga could help. It did! In the beginning, I saw yoga as nothing more than a physical exercise that was good for my body. Yet almost immediately the practice brought a gentle euphoria along with it that was very different from other exercise. As my body strengthened, opened, and became calm, I found that a cold winter wind would no longer cause my shoulders to tense, that my body was not so stiff in the morning, or that just breathing felt surprisingly delightful. In short, little everyday pains and stresses disappeared while I discovered ever more simple pleasures.
Through my years of practicing yoga this awareness has only grown. My body has become ever more sensitive to what makes it feel good and what does not. This in turn clarifies my decisions to let go of what causes misery and stress in my life, and to build upon what brings me joy and contentment. For me, this is yoga: Reducing suffering and increasing happiness.
I would love to hear of your experiences and learn how yoga has touched you. Or if you are new to yoga, how did you find this practice and what are your questions and expectations? Sharing our stories we learn and grow together. This one of the many reasons I’m excited about Yogobe. What is your yoga journey?
Cheers!
