Our daily lives are marked by the importance we place on the concept of productivity, and in the rush for achievement and personal goals, we often forget to take breaks and connect with ourselves. One of the useful practices for uniting mind, body and soul is yoga. This ancillary practice contributes to well-being, as studies have shown.

In addition to the many physical health benefits, there are many positive aspects to our mental health when we practice yoga. The main beneficial effects relate to stress reduction through improved attention and concentration (Evans et al, 2009). Also a systematic review by Hayes and Chase(2010) found several benefits of stress (Diamond, 2012) including:

• reducing anxiety;
• reducing symptoms caused by back pain;
• improving asthma treatment;
• improving the quality of life for older people;
• improvements in eating disorder control.

Yoga and meditation can give us more than that, though. It can give us a chance to find ourselves in the chaos around us, help us explore a new mental space and lead us down the path of self-discovery. There is also a living example of all this in Denis Dochioiu. Denis was the facilitator of the “Yoga with Affirmations” workshop at The Inner – Mapping Inside 2022 conference, where she gave us a short interview. In the lines below you can discover some information about Denis’ practice, but also her expectations about the workshop she was going to hold:

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you discovered your passion for what you do:

Namaste! I am a Conscious Living Teacher, that is, your guide to a conscious lifestyle through practices that come from the Himalayan culture (yoga, breathing techniques, energy cleansing, meditation and relaxation).
I travelled to India for the first time 8 years ago, following a real need for a lifestyle change, as I was experiencing a depression that was dragging me very low.
That action was actually a journey to myself, reconnecting with myself, my authentic strength and the joy of life.
Back home, I opened my studio (Life Yoga Center) and dedicated every day to personal development and supporting those who sincerely want to make beneficial changes in their lives through various classes, events, online programs and retreats.

How do you feel about the idea of this event – The Inner – and why would you recommend it?

The Inner is an excellent initiative, we need events like this to provide experiences of self-discovery and development, offering different perspectives through the power of personal example.

What should workshop participants expect and come to the event with?

My workshop will bring more clarity on the power of words and intentions. I’m sure participants will come with openness and enthusiasm to experience new ways of working with themselves.

Can you tell us more about the methods you approach in your daily practice? Why is it important to know as much information as possible about this practice?

My basic practice is meditation. It is an ancient technique that brings us into the present, helps us to overcome the limitations of the mind, to become aware of personal power, to live with more openness and joy and to calibrate ourselves in a good energy, synchronizing the two cerebral hemispheres, in order to use as much as possible of our brain’s capacity. It is important to live in the present, not the past or the future, without being influenced by the external environment, always finding the clarity, inspiration and resources we need.

Who do you recommend your workshop to?

To all those who are interested in overcoming their limitations and who wish to have at hand some useful tools for a state of balance and harmony.

What do you think are the most challenges people face today?

Today’s challenges are that people don’t know themselves well enough, don’t have enough confidence in their personal resources, which can make them easy to influence or manipulate in the wrong direction, but there are many tools that can help us grow, connect with ourselves and change our perspective and our lives.

Bibliography:

Evans, S., Tsao, J. C., Sternlieb, B., & Zeltzer, L. K. (2009). Using the Biopsychosocial Model to Understand the Health Benefits of Yoga. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 6(1). doi:10.2202/1553-3840.1183

Diamond, L. (2012). The benefits of yoga in improving health. Primary Health Care, 22(2), 16-19. doi:10.7748/phc2012.03.22.2.16.c8Hayes, M., & Chase, S. (2010). Prescribing yoga. Primary care , 37 (1), 31-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2009.09.009