A yoga student’s personal account of her experience doing weekly yoga with Uschi at ‘Vishuddhi Yoga and Meditation Centre’ in Christchurch a few years ago.

The first wonderful thing about your class is that you made sure that I was doing yoga from the inside out (if you understand what I mean!). You showed me it was more important to observe how my body was really feeling inside rather than tie me up in impossible knots, which is what happened to me in long ago yoga experiences. I love the way you are covering and instilling all the important basics, patiently without rushing.

Another thing I value is the focus on deep breathing - it’s had amazing results for me.  I’ve always unconsciously held my breath or breathed very shallow, and I think this has caused health problems with mental and physical tension/stress etc (including 2 rotator cuff ops). 

You have taught us about breathing over and over again every lesson and even several times within each lesson – it seems like a small thing but it’s made an absolutely enormous difference to me.  Even knowing when to breathe out and breathe in, makes everyday movements like picking up a heavy washing basket much safer and easier. These days I am becoming more aware if I hold my breath when I exert myself or when I’m concentrating on something, and I’m remembering to breathe and relax much better. 

It’s also useful for pain - I’ve been suffering from migraines for more than 20 years and they’ve increased in the last few, so this past year I’ve been off work trying to get to the bottom of it all.  The doctor has given me various preventative medications to try which have all turned out to be ineffective. I now use your deep relaxing breathing to get to sleep at night and even while I’ve got a migraine I get a certain amount of relief by breathing the way you’ve taught me – especially breathing out slowly. 

It’s also valuable any time I’m stressed and can feel tension bringing on a migraine attack – I am aware of tension because I can now recognize the signs more easily after practicing in your class.  So breathing is one of the most important things I’ve learned from you -  thank you for your consistency and patience in teaching that so well.   

The gentle stretching exercises have been really helpful too. A chiropractor recently showed me x-rays of some damage to my spine, and thought that this could be causing headaches and the persistent pain down the right side of my body which sometimes makes me limp.  Even after numerous sessions he couldn’t fix either of the problems and actually caused me more pain. After the gentle way you’ve told us to move our bodies, I would never go to a chiropractor again … He and my doctor both said that yoga would not be advisable for me*.

I felt drawn towards yoga and came to your class anyway.  I couldn’t believe the pain relief I felt after doing the stretches.  The day after yoga class is the only time for several years I’ve been pain free – it was unbelievable – just your very gentle stretches (and no drugs!). The stretches have also helped me to be aware of my posture – including not holding my head forward and trying to keep my shoulders and spine aligned properly. This also helps to avoid pain.

I admire the way you quietly observe every person in class and know what they need to make their position more comfortable. It shows that we all move differently, and that we don’t have to force our bodies to fit rigidly into a position someone else can attain - we can be gentle and adjust ourselves so as not to cause pain.

I like the way you always encourage everyone to focus on the importance of how their own body is feeling and work within that.  You have made me more self-aware, but for the first time in my life less self-conscious.  It’s so peaceful and stress free in your class, I can actually spend most of the time with my eyes closed doing things and trying to focus on how my body really feels – I think your quiet, gentle manner encourages this.

You allow the space and time for people to feel things and more than that, you seem to know what we might be feeling at different stages and can explain it at exactly the right time.  I think you’re a wonderful teacher.   

I find the guided meditation** very interesting and especially the idea of saying some kind of affirmation ( I can’t remember the name you called it) and how it can enter our subconscious while we’re meditating.  That idea is very powerful. 

The quotes on the board are inspiring –  I wrote out the one about using our will to pursue a way of life that brings out the best in us and makes us a blessing to others – it’s placed in my bedroom where I can read it every morning and night. There are so many things in that to consider.  

So I’m now finding yoga not only a blessing to control physical pain but also to make my thinking more positive. 

 … Thank you so much for being interested in what’s happening with me, offering me extra classes and for valuing my opinions.

 Have a lovely holiday period and then keep up your inspiring teaching!

- R. Otlett

 *Please note, Uschi does not endorse going against your doctor’s advice. There are many different versions of yoga being taught in NZ and different teachers have sometimes vastly varied experience, training and background. It is impossible for medical professionals to ascertain what to advise. Uschi would be more than happy to talk to your medical professionals if this should be deemed useful.

** the student is referring here to the guided deep relaxation meditation called Yoga Nidra.