Croatian Yoga

By Kirsten Chong
11 September 2009 03:53:00

Croatian Yoga

I'm sitting around the breakfast table in a small green garden surrounded by like minded yogis who have come together on a large island off the coast of Croatia to learn the symbolism of asanas. The tree shading us is an olive tree and looking out over the valley with the sea in the vast distance, groves of olive trees and grape vinyards wash down the hillsides. As we sip green tea and wait for our host to join us we introduce ourselves and meet our teacher, a Croatian woman living in Prague. One woman has driven all the way from Germany and has only tried yoga a few times. Another woman is French but has lived in Chicago for nearly 30years. She tells us that she practices ashtanga yoga quite often but is hoping to slow down and have a more clear understanding of the yoga poses. A young girl from Finland tells us she has never done yoga but has come to begin a search for what is most important to her. The only man in our group is an astro-physist studying in Sweden but was born and raised in Central America. He once studied martial arts and remembers his sensie would close their practice with corpse pose and he wanted to learn more about the calmness of yoga. I had come to be a student after many months of being the teacher.

We are looking forward to a week of yoga, morning and afternoon, and the opportunity to visit the historical sites of this island. The island draws many tourists for it's beauty and natural resources. Our breakfast table is laid out with a huge bowl of fresh  fruits, olives, and homemade bread. The fruits and olives come from an orchard belonging to the house and we are promised that later in the week we will get to pick our own lunch and dinner!

As our host joins us the young Croatian woman who will be our teacher for the week begins to explain that many of the asanas, or the yoga poses , are symbolic. If we look within ourselves we will find meaning, strength and encouragement.  She gives us an example of shoulderstand looking like a candle and asks each of us to think about what comes to mind when we think of a candle.

Taking turns around the table we all suggest the following: light, flame, guidance, calm, peace, and hope. She reminds us that the pose places the weight of our bodies on our shoulders, aleviating the burden from our feet and legs. Physically we are supporting our entire being, bathing our organs with blood and nutrition. Symbolically we are tall and strong, full of calm and peace.

For the next week as a group we will continue to learn of different asanas and their meanings and how to incorporate the meanings into our lives, carrying yoga with us always.

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