By Temmi Ungerman Sears
I recently
experienced
a major
milestone.
It was
the 20th
year anniversary
of my
yoga practice.
I first
discovered
yoga during
my university
days,
and it
has since
been a
major
component
of my
life.
It has
remained
a constant
throughout
all of
the life
stages
that I
have passed
through.
My yoga
has evolved
with me
as I matured
from a
young
single
woman
into marriage,
pregnancy
and parenthood.
Yoga,
in all
its manifestations,
has enabled
me to
live my
life with
grace.
Throughout
the past
20 years
I have
successfully
woven
yoga into
the fabric
of my
hectic
life,
and it
has greatly
helped
to sustain
me. 
As
a 41-year-old
professional
and mother
of three
young
children,
the struggle
to achieve
a sense
of balance
in my
life is
ongoing.
In addition
to nurturing
myself
and my
marriage,
providing
for my
children’s
needs
and schedules,
managing
the household
and housework,
I also
run a
business
and teach
weekly
yoga classes
and workshops
to kids,
adults
and families.
I am blessed
to have
discovered
many valuable
work-life
balance
tools
which
I strive
to daily
implement
in my
journey
towards
balance
and wholeness.
Yoga
is a Sanskrit
word that
literally
means
“yoke”
or “union”.
Through
the process
of yoga,
we bring
into unity
the three
aspects
of the
self:
mind,
body and
spirit.
We also
create
a balance
between
active
practice
and passive
surrender.
Harmony
is created
inside
of ourselves
as all
aspects
come together
like the
different
performers
playing
a symphony.
Over
the past
few years,
yoga has
moved
rapidly
into the
mainstream.
However,
the very
essence
of what
yoga is
at risk
for becoming
lost due
to the
commercialization
of yoga.
Yoga is
about
so much
more than
the attractive
appearance
of the
superstars
and models
doing
yoga and
the vast
array
of props,
products
and paraphernalia
available.
The 5000
year tradition
of yoga
is becoming
diluted
as yoga
offshoots
and hybrid
forms
of yoga
are being
developed,
as studios
pop up
on every
corner
as quick
money-making
ventures,
and as
the advertising
industry
at times
misrepresents
yoga in
campaigns
that distort
its meaning
and value.
As the
marketing
of spirituality
and the
false
pursuit
of the
body beautiful
is promoted,
people
believe
that enlightenment
and inner
beauty
can be
bought.
So for
the average
woman
interested
in pursuing
yoga,
how can
she understand
what yoga
is really
about?
And how
can she
learn
to apply
its richness
to her
life?
Temmi
holds
a Masters
degree
in Expressive
Therapies;
a Bachelor
of Education
degree;
and a
Bachelor
of Fine
Arts degree.
She is
a registered
Art Therapist
with the
American
Art Therapy
Association
and a
clinical
member
of the
Ontario
Association
of Consultants,
Clinicians,
Psychometrists
and Psychotherapists.
Temmi
has over
twenty-one
years
of yoga
experience
and is
a certified
Iyengar
yoga instructor
and member
of the
Canadian
Iyengar
Yoga Teachers
Association.
She is
the Director
of YogaBuds™
studio
established
in 1994.
Temmi
is also
a wellness
workshop
facilitator
of lifestyle
and health
seminars
in corporate
settings.
The YogaBuds™ Studio is located
in Toronto, Ontario.
Phone: 416.785.7888; Email: temmi@yogabuds.com
