Portrait of Sydney Fierro yogi and opera singer

Sydney Fierro is a lyrical singer, yogi and Vinyasa Yoga teacher . He is also a Practitioner in Nutrition, Healthy Living, Ayurveda massages and Master Practitioner in Humanist NLP. He co-hosts courses and workshops at the crossroads of Yoga and other disciplines (Singing, Dance, Ayurveda, Art therapy...) in a holistic vision of the Human Being.

It was only natural that I asked him a few personal questions about his yoga practice, which I am sharing with you today. 

How did you come to take care of yourself? 

I had many years of a life completely disconnected from my needs. Alcohol, cigarettes, junk food, drugs, stress, toxic relationships... For a while, the body and mind endure and then one day, it cracks. It was because of an “existential crisis” that I decided to take matters into my own hands. 

First through a psychotherapeutic approach, and then with a little more awareness, through the body, meditation and so on... Body, soul, spirit, the three are linked! 

Today I thank this “flaw” which allowed me to open my eyes: in a society where we are constantly asked to be efficient, strong, beautiful, infallible... There is little room for imbalance, the fault, which brings us back to our essence, to Life, to our strong fragility! 

What practice for your well-being? 

Singing of course. But also my daily relationships with those around me, my family, my friends...living! For me, Life is a daily practice! I like to walk alone in Nature, I need it...and then of course, Yoga. 

But not just on the mat...Yoga off the mat is just as important. 

How do I behave? With myself, others? What do I do - say? 

And then, Ayurveda, which guides me towards a better understanding of my body and finally sport, meditation...without forgetting laughter which is a real therapy! 

What is the ritual of your practice?  

I like to “cleanse” myself before practicing. I splash cool water on my face and scrape my tongue to remove the whitish (or yellowish/grayish depending on the day) layer called “Ama” in Ayurveda. 

I brush my teeth, then I do a mouthwash with sesame or coconut oil, then I clean my nose and sinuses with a Lota and warm salt water, then I drink some warm water. Then comes the turn of kapalabhati , Uddiyana and Nauli ... 

Finally, I practice Asanas and there, it’s “freestyle”! 

I trust my instinct and what my body demands. 

It can be an intensive Ashtanga or Vinyasa session or just a slow, meditative practice...whatever you feel. 

What do you get out of it? 

Practicing allows me to gather myself. When I practice, I feel like I enter another notion of time. I forget the concerns of the moment, I empty my head and I focus on the moment, the breathing, the movements, the alignments...just happiness! 

What do you carry in your yoga bag? 

A mat, a towel, sometimes a bottle of water. 

What is your favorite object/accessory? 

I like to use a strap and a brick to help me with certain postures. 

What would be your advice for Yoginis? Tayrona ? 

Become your own teacher. Practice. Make mistakes. No one knows you as well as you do, and no one can tell you what you need. 

Listen to your inner voice! 

Where/how do you practice? 

I love the energy of Dawn, the freshness of the early morning, when Nature wakes up, so it is the best time for me to practice. I practice at home, or whenever possible outside, in nature. I also like to connect to the energy of a group and practice in class or during workshops/retreats.