Portrait of a smiling young yogini in the making: Aurelie Enggasser

I met Aurélie Enggasser through our email exchanges when she bought her yoga mat. She wanted a good, grippy yoga mat for her practice and took part in the competition held in partnership with the Yoga Passion blog. Aurélie is 30 years old, she lives in Alsace and recently discovered yoga during a retreat in the Landes. She immediately fell in love with yoga and is now training as an Ayurvedic therapist to continue her search for well-being. Aurélie is a real ray of sunshine. Everything about her exudes happiness and the joy of living. She promised to write us an article for our blog on Ayurvedic medicine.

Concerned about her well-being, it was only natural that I asked her a few personal questions about her yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today.

How did you get into taking care of yourself?

The word YOGA means UNION. Union of body and mind. I discovered and felt this concept for the ^first time in my life during a Yoga retreat in the heart of the Landes. For the ^first time, I was congratulated, encouraged. I was told that I did not have to force, nor to do if I did not want to. I found a refuge of kindness and peace. I know that I am still at the beginning of this path but I savor every step and I am in no hurry to reach the end!

I particularly like yoga because it is not a competition: neither with others nor with myself. It is not a source of additional pressure but simply a gain in well-being.

What practice for your well-being?

When I practice alone on my mat I always try not to think too much about the sequence of postures but to feel what my body needs at that present moment. This allows me to be much more connected.

What is the ritual of your practice?

Before I start I usually take a shower and massage myself with coconut oil.

After my practice I always end with about fifteen minutes of meditation. If I practice in the morning I meditate on my intention for the day and if I practice in the evening I think back to 3 pleasant events of the day and I try to physically soak them in.

In winter I really like to prepare a golden milk at the end of my practice. This is an Ayurvedic ritual with turmeric, also called the spice of life. It is a beautiful ritual that will bring sunshine back into your body.

What do you get out of it?

I try to practice yoga every morning because I have always found that it gives a certain scent to my day. A scent that will permeate my thoughts and attitudes. I simply feel soothed.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

A shea butter cream because I really like massaging my feet after a session.

I also bring a strap that allows me to adjust the posture to my body. Indeed, we must never forget that it is yoga that adapts to your body and not your body that adapts to yoga. And of course my new yoga mat,made of rubber and natural jute from the Eco Yoga brand recommended by Tayronalife

What is your favorite object/accessory?

An elephant pendant that a Sri Lankan guide passed on to my parents for me during their trip there.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Listen to yourself, be yourself, don't hesitate to say no and accept your dark side.

Where/how do you practice?

I practice at home every morning, in my living room or on my balcony, depending on the weather.

Every Wednesday evening I also go to a Hatha Yoga class.

On weekends I regularly take part in training courses.

I really like running and after each session I do some yoga positions to stretch well.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

 

"When the desire to take disappears, the jewels appear"

Patanjali, Yoga-Sûtra, II, 37