Yoga Pathways

Name: Beatriz Dominguez 

Age: 55 (today) 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳

Occupation: R&D Manager in a chemical company 

How do you know Jordanna?

I met Jordanna many years ago through a common friend. At the time Jordanna was teaching Zumba and I became an enthusiastic “dancer”. I have since joined several of Jordanna’s fitness offerings during the years.  

Which of her classes do you go to and how long have you been going to her classes?

I joined the Thursday evening class back in 2021 when it was run at the Hunter Club. Shortly after I joined the morning class too, it was initially 3 mornings a week, we now do it Mon to Fri, although I have to miss it at times because of work commitments. 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into yoga? 

Because of my sedentary work I am forever trying to introduce “movement” in my day to day. I am not designed for running, I find the gym boring, and I am useless at team sports so exercise classes are the thing for me. I have tested all types of weird and wonderful classes, with aerobics, step and Zumba (anything “dancy”) being my favourites.  

I first try yoga in my late 20s – at the time I didn’t think much of it and did not progress beyond a beginner’s course. When Jordanna told me she was going to teach yoga I was ready to try again, this time around I became appreciative of the benefits. 

Yoga Journey

What motivated you to start practicing yoga? 

After the dreadful experience of the Covid lookdowns I was craving both movement and social interaction. Jordanna’s 6-week yoga course at the Hunter Club delivered both. I soon was hooked – I like yoga for some of the same reasons that I like dancing: it challenges your body, but it also challenges your mind, you have to be present, you have to concentrate in following instructions, you have to remember “routines”. This works for me much better that series and repetition. I enjoy the fact that there is no competition and different people with different abilities can practice together. I like the concept of being able to work at my own level, without the pressure to fit into some stereotype of perfection. 

How has yoga positively impacted your life? 

I feel the benefits of yoga on a daily basis: I am more agile, my posture has improved, I am more aware of my body and more confident on how to move it. There are also “spiritual” benefits, in my case around acceptance and gratefulness.  

And, it goes without saying, there is the fantastic added benefit of being part of a vibrant community of like-minded yogis.  

Favourite Yoga Pose

Do you have a favourite yoga pose or sequence? Why?

I do like sun-salutations, anything “flowy”, really. I do like those combinations of easy parts with more challenging poses. I love anything restorative, but I also like when we work for a few weeks towards achieving a challenging pose. I very much enjoy the journey and the variety it brings. 

Least favourite yoga pose? Why?  

I find lots of poses challenging, including downward dog that I am still learning to love. My hips are strong but not very flexible so poses like pigeon are hard. I often blame my “short arms” for my inability to reach… I am shameless when it comes to use props, I love a prop! 

Off the Mat:

Aside from yoga, what are your other interests or hobbies? 

My number one hobby is to spend quality time with family and friends (if possible, in a foreign country with nice weather and lovely food). Besides that, my interests are quite introspective: I like going for walks (see previous sentence), I love reading, I like cooking and I enjoy anything “crafty” and creative. I have lately discovered the wonders of quilting – hobbies do not get much “nerdier” than that! 

How do you balance your yoga practice with other aspects of your life? 

No doubt, fitting a yoga practice into what is a busy life is a constant battle for space. Planning is key: I try to plan work around yoga but often it turns the other way around. And then there is family… I try not to overthink it too much, be gentle with myself and avoid feeling guilty if I have to prioritise other commitments over yoga (as long as it doesn’t happen too often…). 

Mind-Body Connection: 

How does yoga influence your mental and emotional well-being? Have you noticed any changes in your mindset since starting yoga? 

As important as the physical benefits, or maybe even more, are the “spiritual” benefits of a yoga practice. In my case, these came in the shape of acceptance and gratefulness – the sentence “thank your body for what it does” really speaks to me. I do find myself resorting to gratefulness at difficult times and I find that it really helps. 

Community Involvement: 

How did you become a part of this yoga community? Are there any community events or activities that you particularly enjoy? 

It goes without saying, in addition to all the benefits mentioned before, there is the fantastic added benefit of being part of such a vibrant community of like-minded yogis! I do enjoy all the “socials”, particularly the one-day retreats.  

Wellness Practices: 

Do you have any other wellness practices that complement your yoga routine? How do you maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle? 

I like to look after myself and find pockets of “me-time” during the week. I would argue this is not selfish – how am I going to look after my family and maintain a busy lifestyle if I am not looking after myself? An integral part of looking after myself is spending quality time with people I love, this really charges my batteries. 

As I get older, I find winter more and more difficult. I have to fight the urge to “hibernate”. I love spring, the extra light and the promise of warmer days to come.  

Personal Growth: 

Can you share a specific instance where yoga played a significant role in your personal growth? 

Being able to do things at 55 that I had not done since I was a child feels pretty great to me. 

Favourite Quotes or Mantras: 

Do you have any favourite yoga-related quotes or mantras that inspire you? 

The quote “thank your body for what it does” really resonates with me. Even the word “namaste” has taken additional meaning as time goes back. 

Advice for Others: 

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their yoga journey? How do you stay motivated to continue your yoga practice? 

Be gentle with yourself, keep your eyes on the mat, do not compare yourself to others, work at your level and you soon will notice the progress. Find an instructor you connect with. That, together with the noticeable benefits of a constant practice should be enough motivation. 

Community Connection: 

How do you connect with others in the yoga community? 

Really, how do not connect? We are blessed with a friendly bunch, who make everybody feel welcome to the class. Chit-chat is always encouraged – providing it happens before or after the class, so better to arrive a bit early. And events like one-day-retreats or pop-up sessions are fantastic to bond. 

Are there any yoga-related events or workshops that you recommend to fellow practitioners? 

For me, nothing beats outdoors yoga. Taking the zoom classes outside and the summer pop-ups are my favourites. 

Future Goals: 

Do you have any specific goals or aspirations related to your yoga practice? 

My goal is to keep going, to keep active and mobile and fit. Short and medium term I want to keep working towards achieving some of the challenging poses like handstand or wheel pose. But the long-term goal is to be able to get up from the floor well into my 80s.