From penitentiary police to yoga
Yes. I simply had to listen. I'm kidding, it wasn't easy at all. In the meantime, because I had to find the courage to ask myself the question 'is this really how I want to spend my life?', but then when I did, the answer was simple. Honestly... nope.
For years I changed the "daisies' mantra" she loves me-she loves me not, into "permanent work contract- impermanent work contract". So, after eight years wearing a uniform, a few months ago the time came to address the issue and start making the necessary changes to the BIG change.
In a heartbeat, the most important one: take off my uniform that was now fitting too tight ( and not because I had put on excess pounds. At the old age of 29 I'm still super fit :)).
Now I live at my parents' house and enrolled at university. And to support myself, I teach yoga lessons in the living room of the house that I turned into a small shala, which now shines with its own light... As a good Filipino, I have genetics on my side. Just kidding! During the year I spent in the Navy I spat blood during the most unthinkable washing shifts. Nothing to do with genetics!
Well yes, I did wear the sailor's uniform for a year and even then I felt it tight on me. I should have figured it out then that I feel better off walking bare feet rather than wearing some uniform so dissonant with the artist, hippie, anarchist and dancer that I am!
Ah, yes! Yoga!
I really got into it after embarking on a teacher training with Hari Om school. At first it was almost for fun; then I tasted its beauty and I wanted to deepen my knowledge, so I enrolled in various master training hosted by the school. And to date, on balance, I am satisfied with every day spent with them, staff and classmates, to whom I owe part of the determination that I needed to embark on a life that looked more like the one I wanted.
A heartfelt thanks goes to the teaching staff (curator included). To their charisma and their energy. To the desire to share the their philosophy, which I naturally decided to embrace, that is, to make a "living through pleasant activities, perhaps carried out with the people you like to have close by." – m.m. (taken from 'yogabeyondyoga').
This new approach led me to put people and relationships first and foremost ; to value the right people and to consider good relations as the source of happiness. And I can say that feeling well with others, I'm feeling good with myself.
Anthony Veri