How yoga brings calm to my life

Bernelle Du Bois | Photo credit: Jane Nurse

Who are you & what do you do?

My name is Bernelle Du Bois and I'm an Accounts Clerk. That's my job basically from Monday to Friday - eight to four.

How long have you been practicing yoga for?

I have been practicing yoga for probably at least eight years.

What draws you to yoga and inspires you to continue?

The sciatic nerve - that problem. The idea was to find poses or exercises that could help strengthen the nerves and the lower back. Just to ease of the cramps and the tightness. So I discovered yoga and I stuck to it and it has helped over the last few tears. And it has also helped me to relax and calm my thoughts a little after a long day of work.

How does yoga influence your life off the mat?

Off the mat it does help a lot. If I'm having problems sleeping at night I will try a little meditating or legs up the wall. Anything that I can focus on whether it is my breathing, how my toes feel, my fingers feel to distract the thoughts from every day action. You know, what I need to do. What I don't need to do. The to-do-list. So meditating and certain poses again help off the mat for relaxing sake. And it does bring a sense of calm when I do practice it.

What's your favorite yoga pose and why?

I like and selected eagle pose because it stretches the muscles in the shoulders, which is necessary since tension often builds up in those areas. Also, it tests my ability to balance while stretching the back. Personally, I think it's a combination pose that can be achieved by all yogis once they're comfortable balancing.

What advice would you give to someone who's getting into their first yoga class?

Don't push it too hard. Don't expect to get it perfect in the first try. You need to gradually find what's comfortable for your body and listen to how your body feels and you will eventually get into the pose. So it's not about getting it perfect the first try. It's just basic and bit by bit you will be better and better at what you do. That would be my advice.

If you could practice yoga in a unique place, where would that be and why?

Oh that would be on the beach or anywhere that has a kind of earthy, flowery garden scene or landscape. That would be the two places - by a beach or a forest. Maybe even by a river. But my most favorite is the beach. I would say my favorite beach is BBC beach because it is usually very calm, there are a lot of trees and a lot of shade, a little bit windy and as I said very calm!

Read About Bernelle's Choice for Pose of the Month
Eagle Pose