My First Encounter with Yoga

My journey with yoga began more than twenty years ago, almost by chance. At the time, I was going to a gym for weight training, and on Saturdays they also offered yoga classes. One day, as I walked past the studio, I noticed the door was open and stopped to watch. The postures and the way people moved caught my attention. When the class ended, I approached the teacher and asked if I could try a session. The following week, I attended my first class. Although everything was new to me at the beginning, I felt something special. From that moment on, I was hooked. Like everything in life, it was a process: little by little, I learned, improved, and discovered all that yoga could bring to my life.

A Journey of Continuous Growth

I often say that yoga is like learning any other discipline. You don’t arrive on the first day able to perform every posture perfectly. Just as when you start running and can barely manage a few minutes, yoga is also a step-by-step journey. Over the past twenty years, I have progressed not only physically but also in the way I understand the practice. For me, it has never been about achieving the perfect pose for a photograph, but about enjoying the journey itself. At first, you might only achieve thirty percent of a posture, but over time you gradually go further. What truly matters is the progress you make and everything you learn along the way.

Dani and a Turning Point in My Practice

After practicing with different teachers over the years, I eventually found Dani, with whom I have been studying for many years now. For me, there was a clear before and after when we discovered the work of Martine Le Chenic. Before that, my practice was more gymnastic in nature, focused mainly on strength and the external form of the postures. Through Dani, I began to explore a completely different dimension of yoga—one that is deeply connected to breath, body awareness, and inner work. I learned about concepts such as the kidney cavities, the pelvic floor, and the opening of the diaphragm. I don’t know whether I perform the postures better or worse today than I did before, but I do know that I experience and feel them in a completely different way.

Growing from Within

One of the most important things I have learned is that yoga is not about using force to hold yourself upright. What I experience feels much deeper, as if I am growing from within. When I work with my breath, diaphragm, and pelvic floor, I feel an inner energy that naturally supports and sustains me. It is a sensation that is difficult to explain until you experience it for yourself.

What’s more, these techniques do not stay confined to the yoga class. Many times, while reading a book, working, or simply relaxing at home, I reconnect with that way of breathing. It has become part of my daily life, helping me feel more grounded, present, and connected to myself.

Yoga as a Tool for Life

Over the years, yoga has become so deeply integrated into my life that it accompanies me in many everyday situations. Whenever I feel stressed or anxious, I turn to the breathing techniques I have learned through yoga and notice how my mind begins to calm. Even before going to sleep, I often spend a few minutes breathing in this way, and it helps me rest much more deeply.

That is why I believe yoga has a powerful therapeutic effect. It not only improves the body but also brings serenity, balance, and a different way of facing the challenges of daily life. It has taught me how to slow down, reconnect with myself, and approach difficult moments with greater calm and awareness.

Una Práctica Que Me Acompañará Siempre

Hoy no imagino mi vida sin yoga. Empecé por curiosidad, también porque tenía problemas en una rodilla debido al fútbol, y con el tiempo se ha convertido en algo imprescindible para mí. Voy a clase un par de veces por semana, pero también intento practicar en casa aunque solo sean unos minutos. Lo comparo con aprender un idioma: no basta con ir a clase, hay que practicar un poco cada día. Cuando estoy cansado o sin ganas, muchas veces hago yoga y termino sintiéndome mejor, con más energía y más claridad. Por eso estoy convencido de que el yoga debería enseñarse desde la infancia. No deberíamos esperar a tener dolor, ansiedad o algún problema para descubrir todos los beneficios que puede aportar. Para mí, el yoga ya forma parte de mi vida y no creo que lo deje nunca.