Nelly Naseva is one of the most balanced and calm women you will meet in Sofia – a fact I explained to myself by the fact that she has been practicing yoga for almost 10 years. What surprised me though was the fact that in parallel with her successful personal business project – two yoga studios, Yoga Vibe, Nelly continues to practice law. And not just any law, but corporate.
I don’t know many people in the corporate world who have even a fifth of her composure, so I was more than curious to find out how she achieves this balance in her life, how she maintains it and what motivates her to keep going.
Let’s start from the beginning: how and when did you start practicing yoga?
I got into the yoga hall nearly 8 years ago. I had tried different yoga classes before, but from that moment on the practice became a part of my life. I practiced yoga 2-3 times a week after work, I felt the benefits of the practice immediately and it made me committed and consistent.
Yoga is getting more and more relevant and modern – what is the reason for this?
The need to take care of ourselves in order to live better, to be healthy, calm and in harmony – this is current and modern. And yoga is one of the ways to do it. It is not the only one. But yoga is a good and effective way to care.
And the fact that it is modern and up-to-date is because of the increasing stress we are put through in our daily lives. People’s worries, diseases, fear and tension are increasing. Therefore, the need for practices that neutralize this is increasing.
Usually in most sports and training regimes there are different levels: beginners, advanced, professionals – in yoga I have not noticed any of the latter, why is that?
Very true observation! The ultimate goal of yoga is not the physical poses and asanas, the execution of the most complex positions, balances and stances. The deep meaning of yoga practice is connection, acceptance and spiritual growth.
And in that sense, we will never be advanced enough to call ourselves professionals. Yoga begins with physical exertion to make our body beautiful and healthy and prepares us for more complex spiritual practices. Spiritual growth, mastering and getting to know our body and character, is something that each of us strives for for the rest of our lives.
Recently, the popularity and charm of the East and Eastern teachings and practices are making a comeback – do you think this is another trend or?
Self-care will always be trendy. It’s just that right now, more than ever, we need it. I believe this trend will continue to deepen. There are many practices and teachings for growth. Yoga is an affordable and easy way to master the body and mind.
What do yoga, meditation and aromatherapy give you? What do you want to convey to others and what do you think is important for them to know?
What I try to say to the people I meet in the hall every day is that it doesn’t matter where they are right now, how lean or flexible their body is, whether they’ve ever tried meditation, whether they’re healthy or not – everyone can start today and make their life nicer, happier! It requires a little persistence, a great desire and willingness to change.
Everyone strives for something different, what is your goal?
We created Yoga Vibe studios with one goal – to help more people take care of themselves, be better and be happier! I am committed to this goal every day when I teach classes and meet with students and practitioners. Yoga practice teaches us to be kind to ourselves and to others. This is also my goal – to help people who have taken this path.
Can you separate mind, body and spirit – or are they all connected?
Unfortunately, they are not connected for most of us. Our actions are mainly driven by the mind, our connection with the body is completely lost, and the care of the spirit and the pursuit of the spiritual is forgotten. With regular yoga practice, we can strengthen the connection between the three, so we feel complete and happy.
How should one prepare before starting to practice yoga?
He doesn’t need to do anything to prepare. It is enough to have the desire to try, to have no expectations and to leave it to practice. It is important that everyone gives themselves the opportunity to try more than once – it takes time for a person to find a style and teacher that they like best.
What should be known when practicing at home?
Practicing at home can be extremely beneficial, but also very risky. It is necessary for beginners to go to a teacher for some time until they learn to perform the positions correctly. They bring many benefits to the body, but can also be very harmful if not practiced correctly.
What is the role of the teacher or instructor and why is it important to attend a practice instead of experimenting at home?
The role of the teacher is huge. Teachers not only guide the student in the physical execution of the poses and guide them with knowledge of the body, but also motivate, inspire and serve as an example. As a teacher, I have an extraordinary responsibility to people. Once they decide to entrust me with the care of their body, it grows into the care of their spirit.
Is there a diet that is good to accompany the yoga practice?
I leave that to people’s discretion. There is nothing mandatory about yoga. By strengthening our connection with the body, everyone begins to feel for themselves what harms them and what makes them fly. The choice becomes instinctive, one becomes addicted to feeling good, in control of their body and full of energy.
Is there fashion and trends in yoga?
There is. Now, the trend is to have active physical practices that absolutely replace training in the gym. It is trendy to do handstands, complex transitions, it is fashionable to master the body, to demonstrate strength and mobility at the same time. In the coming years, this will change. Meditative practices and various breathing techniques will become more and more relevant.
How do you train/practice?
I have always been physically active over the years. From skiing to deep diving, I still do some more extreme sports to this day. But yoga is the only thing that makes me complete – the feeling that the whole body has been actively worked to the limit of its strength and yet it is calm and relaxed. 30-40 minutes on the mat are enough to feel a flow of calmness, strength and energy. No matter what time of day. We don’t need any equipment.
And how do you relax?
I relax daily by practicing meditation and other spiritual practices – this is a must in order to be full of energy and strength to inspire others every day. And otherwise, as far as the conventional understanding of relaxation is concerned – I travel, I like to go distant places, to immerse myself in different cultures.
At the end of the conversation with Nelly, I want to take away a lot of the advice that I indirectly or quite directly absorbed, but it seems that I want to remember one thing above all: regardless of where I am today, how I feel and what I think I am – there is always tomorrow, which I better start thinking about right away.
I want to focus on the important things, on how much better I feel when I take care of myself and put the needs of my body and soul on an equal footing (and sometimes maybe not a bad thing) or before those of others. I won’t be mastering complex handstands anytime soon, but at least I’m taming my temper and impatience.
Namaste!
Photographer: Miroslava Dermendzhieva
Makeup: Rosina Georgieva
