"It all started in Milan in a cute little yoga studio."
Feb 03, 2021
What made Larissa start yoga after seven years of fitness and why she realized after the first class that yoga will change her life, she revealed to us in the following interview.
Dear Larissa, how did you get into yoga?
I've been doing yoga for almost two years, so I started when I turned 23. Before that I went to the gym and did fitness for almost seven years. Since I was in Milan a lot this year, I was looking for an alternative to the gym and ended up in a cute little yoga studio hidden in a courtyard in the middle of the city. The very first class marked a turning point for me. Even though I didn't understand half of what the yoga instructor was saying in Italian, I realized that this practice had done something to me - to my body and my mind. It was as if I had had a date with myself again after a very long time. I knew I just had to get on with this practice - I was incredibly curious about where it would take me, but somehow I knew it was going to change my life.
What forms of yoga have you tried?
I have already tried styles such as Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin. My current practice is mostly a mix of Vinyasa and Yin, as I really like the flowing and powerful movements of Vinyasa, but also the more static asanas and depth of Yin Yoga. That's why I like to call my practice Yinyasa - the best of both worlds!
Do you practice other sports and other hobbies?
I still go to the gym a few times a week. There I also do yoga, but mix it with a bodyweight workout or sometimes train with light weights to maintain and build strength throughout the body. Besides sports, I am very interested in everything creative. I love to paint, cook, bake and try new recipes. These are all activities that are somehow also part of my yoga practice. Fulfilling my passions allows me to live fully in the now, and that in turn is a main component of a conscious and mindful lifestyle. The practice takes place not only on the mat, but everywhere.
How often do you practice yoga? In which moments is it especially good for you and why?
I try to get on my mat every day - sometimes it's ten minutes and sometimes it's two hours of practice. There are days I love jumping on the mat and sometimes I really struggle with lack of motivation. Often, though, those are often the days I need it the most and I always end up feeling grateful and happy that I stepped on my mat. That being said, my body needs rest days and I totally enjoy those too. I think it's super important not to feel guilty when you take a break, otherwise you won't recover the way you should.
What fascinates you about yoga?
Yoga is not just another form of keeping your body fit, it really is so much more. Doing yoga is a great way to get stronger, work on flexibility and mobility, and gain control over your entire body - but that's only part of the whole. For me, a main aspect of my practice is also gaining control of my mind, which can be a big challenge in our busy daily lives. Yoga encourages quieting the mind and letting the soul speak to bring body, mind and spirit into alignment. This is what inspires me the most - that yoga combines the training of the body and the mind and that it allows one to connect with the self.
Has yoga changed your outlook on life?
My practice has definitely changed my outlook on life over time. Consistent practice has helped me to listen to my body better, and thus be more aware of my body's needs than before. Yoga has given me a safe space to go to whenever I feel out of balance. It also encouraged me to explore related topics such as meditation, spirituality and mindfulness. So I began to educate myself on these topics and change the way I see and observe things. This enabled me to perceive life from a completely different perspective and change my attitude. I changed a lot during this time - from the inside out - and also started eating a plant-based diet.
When did you start eating vegan and what inspired you to do so?
I've been eating a vegan diet for a little over a year now. I used to be a big meat eater and consumed dairy on a daily basis, so going vegan was a big change for me. Before that, "I could never go vegan" was my daily excuse, although it didn't really feel right because I pretty much knew it wasn't the best thing for the environment, my health, and clearly not for the animals. As I began to realize that everything in nature is interconnected, I began to feel more and more empathy towards other living things. This, along with some documentaries about veganism, opened my eyes and inspired me to make the switch. Luckily, I didn't have to do it alone because my boyfriend accompanied me on this journey.