About The Yoga Mentor
I’m Daphne Yoshida and a passionate yogini. I received a RYT 200 in yoga back in 2016. My background is in Hatha yoga and I am currently learning Iyengar yoga. I discovered Yoga twice in my life.
My First Discovery
The first discovery was that yoga is not just an exercise; it is a holistic approach to life and mental well-being. While I was back packing through North India, I somehow ended up in Rishikesh, without knowing that it was a sacred place for yoga. There I met great teachers in Hatha and Iyengar yoga teaching me the physical and philosophical side of it.
The first experience with Hatha yoga was with the teacher Ashish Sharma, in Rishikesh, where I developed an interest to yoga. In the class, I met a lady from Belgium who was about to attend to a yoga retreat. Since I had no plans, I joined her. The retreat she attended was at the Yoga-Gang Centre For Yoga Studies in Old Rajpur. It was there that I first experienced Iyengar yoga, and was mesmerized by the experience.
My Second Discovery
The second discovery was that yoga is a way to heal your body. After childbirth, I suffered from postnatal back pain. I was desperate because it was so bad that I could not do any poses.
After a chiropractic fixed my body to a state where I was able to do yoga again, I started to practice Iyengar yoga on a regular basis. After 3 to 4 months of training, my back pain was gone, and I felt better than ever before.
I experienced the power of yoga on my own body.
About Myself
I am Austrian, raised in Japan. I have two young children. I moved to Malta in search of better educational opportunities for my children.
Path To Yoga
Back packing through India in my late 20ies. This photo was taken in Mathura, the birthplace of Hare Krishna.
And after wandering around, I finally arrived at the holy city of Rishikesh.
At that time, I thought yoga was like aerobics and I was not interested in practicing it. However, I had the privilege of experiencing Hatha and Iyengar yoga, and ever since, I have been practicing yoga. This is how I encountered Iyengar yoga in Old Rajpur, Dehradun.
Received RYT 200 certificate in 2016, Italy.
How Yoga Changed Me
I am on cloud nine when I do wide leg stretches.
I feel great when I stretch my body.
I always think about the optimal posture, so I have no longer have hunchback problems.
Little problems don’t bother me so much anymore.
I have become more sensitive to my body and can immediately notice any abnormalities and can fix them with yoga.
It’s fun when you have good balance.
I’ve learned to let go and relax.
I don’t let emotions dominate me anymore, I am mindful and rational about my feelings.
I’m better at staying calm.