Tsvetina Vachkova

Tsvetina Vachkova

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Tsvetina, I am 29 years old from Bulgaria. I have been living in Malta since a year.

  1. How did yoga help you?

Yoga helps me explore my inner world, helps me better understand myself and maintain inner peace. Through yoga I have been discovering new life philosophy and world view. I am more and more interested in the mental and spiritual health. Every aspect of yoga helps me know myself, it calms me down and energises me.

  1. When did you begin learning yoga?

I have started practicing yoga ten months ago.

  1. Where did you learn?

I have been visiting Dada’s classes at Ananda Marga Center in Gzira, Malta. His classes are the only experience with yoga I have gathered so far.

  1. What are the benefits of yoga asanas and meditation?

Meditation in particular helps me concentrate better and helps me gain mental power in order to control my emotions and thoughts. Thanks to meditation I can better filter the important events in my life from the unimportant ones, which should be addressed with much less involvement. As a result, I am more resilient to stress and unpleasant situations.

The asanas help me feel flexible and lively, increase my energy level and positive energy load. In general, I feel better in my body and more self-confident.

  1. How many times a week do you practice yoga asanas and meditation?

Unfortunately, not as often as I would like. I try to go to yoga classes once or twice a week. At home I practice once or twice a week too. Lately I have been trying to do some stretching and some asanas before I go to work every morning.

  1. Does yoga help you for your work?

Absolutely, I feel less stressed with work-related events, some of which I realised are not worth my attention or energy. When I am doing yoga, I am forced to shut out all thoughts related to work. Once I come back to think about them they seem less important.

  1. Does it help you for health and mind?

Definitely. I feel my mind more powerful, I have the feeling I am more disciplined and organised in my mind, which affects every aspect of my life. Asanas, in combination with healthy eating habits have increased my resilience to sickness.

  1. Does it help you to manage your stress and anxiety?

Thanks to meditation and Dada’s lectures I see things in a more philosophical manner. I try to observe things from a distance in order to see what is really important and what not. In the case of unpleasant causing stress or anxiety I try to stay calm. For this yoga and meditation in particular help very much.

  1. Do you recommend others to join the classes?

I definitely recommend Ananda Marga center classes as they combine meditation, asanas but also lectures on healthy lifestyle and nutrition. In case of a health problem I turn to Dada for advice.

  1. What is your goal in life?

Whilst I have not identified yet the very specific goal in my life, my broad aim is to manage to maintain balance and fulfilment in every aspect of my life and never to stop seeking personal, professional and spiritual development. I would like to feel satisfied with my life and decisions as well as to be able to contribute to society.