Meditation helps with mental health: Cynthia Grixti
By Acarya Shubhacetanananda Avadhuta

1. Please introduce yourself.
I’m a 35 year old woman who started her awakening at the age of 33 after years of unknowingly suppressing her real nature behind masks and coping mechanisms, which led to endless depressions, sadness, loneliness and not-understanding herself.

2. How did yoga help you?
At the time of my life-changing few months, I started attending yoga/meditation classes at Ananda Marga and it continued cementing the positive feeling I was having about my decision to change my lifestyle. I felt that the teachings of Dada and Didi were matching my frame of mind and it encouraged me to know that what I was doing was leading to the right path.

3. When did you begin learning yoga?
2 years ago approximately.

4. Where did you learn?
Ananda Marga. And I’d like to add that I doubt I would feel comfortable trusting my spiritual path into someone else’s hands because yoga has nowadays become so commercialised that everyone is doing it for money or to become better in the more difficult asanas…yoga and meditation in fact, are not about money or image and at Ananda Marga I find that the service of Dada and Didi is offered for the greater good of society. Their teachings and customs aim to improve one’s lifestyle. It’s also important to mention that part of the profits go towards their philanthropic foundation.

5. What are the benefits of yoga asanas and meditation?
Leading a calmer, healthier, more spiritual life that is of greater value. Moving away from the traps of modern society like killing yourself working to be able to afford things you cannot enjoy because you’re always at work. Moving more towards a life of bliss, of enjoyment with the simple things, of fostering loving kindness.

6. How many times a week do you practice yoga asanas and meditation?
Meditation and mindfulness every day. Yoga unfortunately not so often but I’m looking forward to start again hopefully soon.

7. Does yoga help you for your study and teaching work?
Because I never kept a regular schedule for yoga practice I cannot say that I saw benefits in this area but I definitely saw benefits with meditation. I’m sure that the both combined could greatly improve my life quality.

8. Does it help you for health and mind?
Yes, definitely, especially for my mental health.

9. Does it help you to manage your stress and anxiety?
Yes, yes and yes.

10. Do you recommend others to join the classes?
Yes, Dada and Didi have different programs at different times of day so it’s easier to find a slot which fit one’s schedule. I recommend to anyone who’s decided to start attending to keep an open mind and allow themselves to receive the positive, pure energies and vibes that are created during the classes.

11. What is your goal of your life?
Ever since I started this journey a few years ago, I started moving towards a life of love and I’ve come up with the following few words that I repeat to myself at the start of every day and during each meditation. I believe that if this is applied by everyone, we will heal the world. LOVE AT THE ROOT OF EVERY INTENTION; EVERY THOUGHT, EVERY WORD, EVERY ACTION.

12. Any message you would like to give to people about practicing yoga asanas and meditation
Try it, it will help you become a better version of yourself. Namaskar!