Portrait of Marie Claude Estrade, yoga teacher
Let me introduce myself, my name is Marie and I am a yoga teacher. I give classes in three associations in my region outside of my professional activity.
I completed two yoga training courses of 200 hours each, the first in Hatha Yoga in July 2019 over 23 consecutive days and then in order to deepen and enrich my knowledge I continued with distance learning during the pandemic, from April to December 2020, which gave me the opportunity to discover Kripalu yoga, a compassionate and caring yoga.
In perfect synchronicity, it was at this moment that I was able to put a word to my ailments by discovering that I was a hypersensitive person, that is to say that I am endowed with a sensitivity stronger than average.
Today, through my journey as a simple yogini, I would like to bear witness in a portrait because I think that some of the Tayrona yoginis could find themselves in this personality trait which concerns approximately 1 in 5 people.
How did you get to take care of yourself?
Since I was little, I have felt out of step with others. I do my best to blend in and not make waves while all my senses are hyperstimulated, I feel my emotions and those of others without a filter, my environment oppresses me and tires me. I am often on edge, on edge, a sponge, an emotional roller coaster. I relive, ruminate, the little hamster in my head never stops turning in its wheel.
My personal and professional entourage has constantly asked me to protect myself and to put my vulnerability and susceptibility "under a handkerchief".
In order to manage my stress and anxiety, I was advised to do yoga. At first, I saw it as a kind of gentle gymnastics a bit like pilates and stretching. Except that my encounter with the philosophy of yoga was much more than that, it allowed me to find those moments of introspection that my body needed.
What practice for your well-being?
For my personal practice, I make sure to always be in communion with my breathing. It is my ally, my anchor and my balance. My movements are in sync with my inhalations and exhalations. I breathe in energy, I breathe out and I let go of everything I no longer need.
What is the ritual of your practice?
I sit down daily, 10 to 30 minutes during a break that I give myself to disconnect from the outside and reconnect with my inner self. I generally do an instinctive yoga, a kind of meditative dance where my body, my mind and my soul are united and in perfect harmony. I invite my body to explore the postures it wants at that precise moment. My strength as a highly sensitive person allows me to let my body express itself and to manifest all its creative expression in a space of total freedom.
And sometimes I let myself be guided by another yoga teacher in a yin yoga session.
What do you get out of it?
Yoga has enormous physical, psychological and spiritual benefits, this is even more true for people like me who have increased sensitivity. Each session allows me to regain flexibility of body and mind, to realign myself, to have better sleep, to reduce stress and anxiety, to have better self-confidence and self-esteem, to recover good circulation of energy and vital breath and finally to control my mind and my thoughts and to act positively on my emotions.
What do you carry in your yoga bag?
My mat and the essential accessories for my practice: 1 strap and 2 bricks. I also have 2 insulated bottles for my hot drinks, herbal teas that I drink throughout the day.
What is your favorite object?
I have two, a mala and a moonstone bracelet.
What would be your advice for Tayrona yoginis?
Take the time to listen to yourself. Practice compassionate, caring and safe yoga for your body. Take inspiration from yoginis who have a yogic sensitivity close to yours and who can correspond to your values.
Where and how do you practice?
Most often at home in a space specially dedicated to my practice, a haven of peace in which I enjoy finding myself, a decompression chamber to recharge my batteries.
What is your mantra, your favorite phrase?
My mantra: Moola mantra, a mantra of protection and liberation from all suffering, compassion, love, peace and joy. It releases negative emotions blocked in us.
My mantra when I wake up: May my life be calm, fluid and serene😊
Don't let anyone, especially you, disregard your sensitivity.
Your sensitivity is not a disease, nor a handicap and even less a curse. Recognize it and accept it.
Make this facet of your personality a strength. Consider yourself lucky to have this asset within you for all your hypersensitive qualities such as your empathy, your compassion, your sympathy, your creativity, your intuition.... This makes you the greatness and beauty of your human being.
Remember that your sensitivity is, after all, completely human.
This subject is particularly close to my heart, I who discovered my hypersensitivity late, at 50 years old. Since I was little I saw that I was different. I thought that I was not born on the right planet.
