Name: Alfredo Mendez
Profession: Engineer
Other interests: Running, Golf, and debating controversial topics with people.
How long have you been practising yoga?
Around 7 years, with many breaks in between due to injuries and surgeries related and not related to yoga.
What classes at Nilaya House do you attend?
Ashtanga Yoga, Mysore style.
Why do you practice yoga? What benefits does it bring?
I practice because yoga helps keep me more active during the day. I feel a lot more calm, kind and it keeps me grounded and connected to all things in my life. Because of my practice, my eating habits have changed substantially. Yoga for me has been a great journey that is not just the practice, it feels as though the moment the universe is perfectly aligned to provide me with everything that I need: the bond I feel with my teacher, the place, the people, the energy, and the connection with the earth.
What is your favourite posture and why?
Utplutih – because of how different it feels each time to take the same 10 breaths. Also because I am just moments away from taking a rest and embracing the post-yoga feeling of calm every single time I practice.
What’s your advice for people wanting to start yoga?
First of all, delete the need to be flexible and that the practice is too boring for you. Yoga practice is not only the physical postures. Yoga needs patience and consistency to see results. Yoga means union, which is integrating the mind, intellect, ego, senses, emotions, and body with one’s source. However, all of this isn’t going to happen quickly with just bending and stretching the body.
