With no means of getting to work from her home in the lockdown, Viji slept alone at her workplace, to continue to provide an essential service to people, and discovered a new version of herself.
Yoga - a mind-body connection is I feel a blessing to pursue. Firstly, I feel grateful to the Master that I am on this spiritual journey and can do my daily practices.
Banking in the Pandemic
The Covid-19 Pandemic has hit humankind so hard, mental agony has increased, depression has become contagious. Negative vibes are spreading faster than the virus itself. I was one among the millions locked down by this pandemic.
I work in a bank as an Assistant Manager. Since banking is an essential service, I have been working throughout this pandemic. My workplace is far from my home and because of lack of public transport, I was forced to stay alone at my place of work.
Online meditation revived my deteriorating mental health
Even before the pandemic, I suffered the worst heartbreak and could not come out of it. Physically and mentally I suffered a lot. My weight had gone several kilograms up, and mentally I faced lots of trauma, trust issues, issues with my family. I was struggling with my emotions. It seemed everything was given to me to enjoy all alone.
Then came my saviour, The 21 Day Online Meditation Challenge by the Art of Living. When I had many other challenges to face, I chose to be a part of this challenge voluntarily. There after I also particiapted in the 16 Day Yoga Challenge, and The 10 Day Meditation Challenge.
The more I was alone the more I started spending time with myself. I gave myself, rather gifted myself my precious time. I would regularly do yoga, Suryanamaskar, Sudarshan Kriya, and meditation.
The knowledge sessions by Gurudev impacted me so much that I started believing that when I change, I change the world also. I started meditating for worldly causes, taking a sankalpa (an intention) for this virus to disappear. I focused on my wellness and saw a change within me and around me. By taking baby steps I grew stronger and stronger each day. Each day my confidence grew. I challenged myself for a change and it was a positive one.
Overcoming Covid-19, loneliness and dejection
Soon I tested positive for Covid-19 too. However, I felt all the pranayamas I had done from 12th grade saved my life. I was once again forced by circumstance to be alone. This time in quarantine.
I thought I deserved that loneliness and rejection. Everything around me was a mess. I had so many reasons to hate myself and the situation I was in. My colleagues were not friendly, my house owner was a heartless fellow, my friends were not in my life anymore.
Only I was there for me.
When I had every reason to be sad, I chose to make life an art
The fear of loneliness and rejection shielded me from opening up and facing life. When life gave me so many reasons to be sad or depressed, I choose Art of Living as my way of living. I found the meaning of these powerful words, "Art of Living"!
For the past two months, I have been practicing yoga, meditation, and pranayama. It helps me break my shell and find peace within me.
With love, I accept myself
I have started accepting situations and people around me as they are. I found deep meaning in my silence. I have become self-sufficient. I have also accepted myself and my scars, fears, and my life, with love. I find peace with others also. I have stopped complaining and started channelising my energy towards the development of myself and the world around me. I have improved my empathy rather than sympathy.
Now, meditation is like food for my soul and I never allow it to starve for even a day.
I do yoga for my body's meditation and do meditation to exercise my mind. I am in harmony with myself. Patanjali Yoga Sutras as explained by Guruji makes so much sense and gives me clarity of thought. I have learned to spread love, care, and kindness to all around me and important to myself. Today, I feel a new version of me is sailing through this pandemic. A version with lots of love and peace.
A new version of me
I enjoy doing yoga and meditation and find that blissful smile spreading within me every day. I feel grateful to the master for having me and making me able to do this among millions. In this pandemic, I have helped many people learn meditation and feel the peace I have experienced. The pandemic has taught me that loneliness is not being alone but it is being with self to learn life lessons and grow beautifully.
"Yoga has been my tool to build and sculpt myself."
Written by Viji Bala
A little note: As community conversation facilitators, we believe in giving an individual the autonomy of expression. The views expressed in this piece are the author's own.
