Why Yoga Does Your Financial Life Good?
The benefits of yoga on the body are phenomenal. But just like the stretching poses used in the exercise, so too our bank balances can sometimes feel just as over-extended.
The juggle of life’s expenses can seem like ‘financial yoga’ for many women, having to bend and twist your budget to accommodate life’s little pleasures, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Today, WMS sat down with Livia to learn more about yoga and why the ancient practice does your financial life good.
AND we’re giving you a chance to win a free yoga holiday in Nepal valued at AED 4250. (Full details at the bottom of this post!)
Q1: Livia, can you tell us where you grew up?
I am from the beautiful sunny island Sicily, in the south of Italy. Here life is simple and people are known to be very warm and welcoming. I feel very lucky to have maintained my family roots and strong values that I have inherited from that part of the world, given my travel.
I lived in London for 10 years when I moved out of home at the age of 18 to study at university. Today, I am living in beautiful Dubai, married to a wonderful Welsh man and teaching the practice of yoga.
Q2: Where did your passion for yoga begin?
My passion began in London while I was still a student at 23 years of age, studying and with loads of energy. I wanted to explore an alternative form of exercise other than aerobics. So I looked into yoga. At first I was not left impressed and almost fell asleep out of boredom, but I kept with it!
And two years later, the true benefits of yoga came into play. I found myself severely stressed at work, and it was yoga that kept me healthy and sane. And so began my love for the amazing practice that it is.
Q3: Can you tell us about your career in yoga, your study and the career moves away from home?
Yoga was my savior. I had a successful corporate career, but while it may have been financially rewarding, it was mentally and physically exhausting. And so yoga became a refuge for me to stay sane and keep my health in check. I loved the grounding, balancing effects it had on my mind and body. This led to an interest in learning more about this science and art.
I took an intense 40-day teacher training course (300 hours) in Kerala in the south of India with an amazing lady who donates most of the cost to charity. Despite being immersed in a beautiful jungle, the physical pain was so intense that I started to question what I was doing in a remote Indian village.
I contemplated giving up after the first week but my teacher would not entertain any departures prior to the 40 days. By the end of my training, I was in tears and didn’t want to leave at all.
Q4: What do you believe is a healthy combination of lifestyle, exercise and diet? How does western society often fall out of sync?
Stress in the Western society is the cause of an unbalanced lifestyle. And exercise is a fantastic way to fight stress. My advice is to choose your favorite type of exercise above boring gym workouts – do something that fills your soul, such as dancing, a game of tennis, football and so on. Also, if you can, work at educating yourself on basic nutrition and relaxing methods to calm your mind while working.
Q5: How have your clients benefited from working with you?
I am both a transformation/directional coach as well as a health coach. In the last 4 years, I have helped my clients learn to focus, discover hidden passions and live happy, fulfilled lives. Many of them have also reported feeling lighter, more relaxed, and better equipped at coping with challenges that life throws their way.
Q6: How do you believe (and see in your clients) that being fit and healthy with a clear mind effects our finances?
Being fit and healthy is a life choice that can be relatively inexpensive – fitness can be carried out anywhere and free of charge.
A clear mind sometimes requires more investment in terms of tools and support from professionals. I find that clients who experience true personal development and growth are the ones who invest in themselves, either by taking up sports or by learning about good nutrition and continuing on their path of self-development.
Q7 How does yoga calm the mind?
Yoga is purely a science – the easiest way to explain how the mind is calmed is to identify the two nervous systems in the human body: sympathetic and parasympathetic.
The sympathetic, commonly known as the “fight or flight” system, causes the blood pressure to rise, the breath rate to quicken, and stress hormones to flood into the body.
In today’s world, we experience this response while we are sitting in traffic or feeling stressed at the office. When this system is overly stimulated, we can experience adverse health consequences such as ulcers, migraines, and heart disease.
The parasympathetic nervous system lowers blood pressure and slows the pace of the breath. When the blood no longer has to rush to the muscles, it is free to travel to the digestive, reproductive, glandular, and immune systems – systems made up of organs that are more necessary to long-term survival. The body now has time to heal the damage which has built up during our daily battles.
Studies have shown that long, deep breathing encourages the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system and allows relaxation and healing to occur. The yogi practices breathing meditations called pranayama, which encourage the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Q8: How can someone make the first step to into yoga?
Attend one of the Liv2lead outdoor classes, either in JLT or Springs – they are open to all levels and are a great way to enjoy the weather for 9 months of the year.
Research has shown that direct contact with nature leads to increased mental health and psychological development, faster recovery from stress and better breathing functions.
During our yoga trip, we take our guests on a journey of self-discovery where we use yoga to stretch, relax and warm the body to avoid any possible injuries. The body is then supple and ready to take part in trekking, water rafting and sightseeing while challenging the mind and body.
If the phenomenal benefits of yoga sound like something you would love to experience for yourself, this is your chance!
Livia and Mountain Quests have joined up with WMS to offer one lucky reader the chance to experience the healing benefits of yoga in a 6-day trek up the Himalayan mountains in Nepal.
I wish you best of luck on your yoga journey!
Janelle xoxo
Here is what the clients have to say:
“Thanks again Liv2lead for another truely inspiring travel experience, filled with all the warmth and enthusiasm that is Livia herself. Just waiting to see where my next adventure with them will take me……” Cynthia Varadan
How to Enter!
For your chance to win a Yoga trip to practice Yoga in Nepal valued at AED4250 - Fill in the enter our competition form below.
- Please note the Yoga in Nepal competition 2013 is for residents of the UAE only
- The trip will leave Dubai for Nepal in October 2013
- Flights are not included
- Insurance is at the cost of the individual
- The competition winner will be selected on 1/9/2013 and notified by email on the 2/9/2013
- If the prize is not claimed within 14 days and confirmed receipt via email, the judges reserve the right to select another winner.
