Yoga becoming more popular for physical and mental fitness

By Kayla Isaaks

If Nash Cajee hadn’t stumbled into yoga nearly a decade ago – while flipping through a yoga book written in Croatian – her life would not be what it is today.

Cajee, Lululemon ambassador for Metrotown, Burnaby and owner of Oxygen Yoga & Fitness in Maple Ridge, began practising yoga in 2002. Three years later, she has achieved the dream of making a career out of something she loves.

After a year of practicing on her own, Cajee knew she wanted to become a yoga teacher. Attending classes ritually, she decided to sign up for her teacher training. She began her teaching career in 2005.

“I already had that vision that I wanted to open up my own yoga studio,” says Cajee.

Oxygen Yoga & Fitness opened in 2008 and ever since has been riding the wave of yoga's growing popularity as a route toward both physical and mental fitness.

Cajee admits there was a turning point in her life that sparked an interest in yoga. She lived in Croatia at the time, immersed into an unfamiliar culture where she didn’t speak the language. Experiencing horrible back pain and taking medication after the birth of her son, she came across an illustrated yoga book written in Croatian.

“I was going through a rough time in my life,” says Cajee. “I thought, okay I’m done with taking painkillers.… Let’s give this a try, see if it will help.

“Within a week of doing it everyday, I noticed that my back wasn’t hurting as much. I wouldn’t be there for my son if I were on painkillers all the time. Yoga really helped keep me calm and make very clear choices. That’s when I decided I should do this for a living. I remember thinking that. I thought if it could help me, it could help anyone.

“I believe (yoga) helps heal stress and any kind of emotional baggage that you’re holding onto," Cajee adds. " It helps you become more of who you want to be.”

Prior to yoga, Cajee worked out with weights. She said she chose yoga over other types of fitness because within three months of taking up yoga, she lost a significant amount of weight and felt more energized.

“You don’t need the fancy gym equipment or the fancy membership anywhere. You can just practice at home. It’s inexpensive and fun,” says Cajee.

Daniel King, a participant in Cajee’s class, is a recent yoga convert himself. Although he practices yoga recreationally, his background is mainly in competitive soccer. He decided to join yoga for rehabilitation reasons after injuring his knee during a soccer game three months ago.

“My physiotherapist told me I should try yoga,” King said. “It’s harder to heal a torn muscle than it is a broken bone. The muscle needs time, and it can only mend itself through strength exercises.”

King said yoga has dramatically speeded his healing. He's noticed his knee can now withstand more impact and shows more flexibility and balance.

“Six months ago, if my coach asked me to stand with one leg at a 90-degree angle, touch my toes, and balance for a long time… I would laugh,” King said. Even his coach said he's noticed King is more agile during practice.

“It seemed somewhat intimidating,” said King, about the first class he ever took.

“I was kind of disoriented and unsure at first. I had never actually concentrated on my breathing pattern, and I also didn’t realize how much co-ordination was necessary. It’s way harder than it looks,” King said.

King said he began using muscle groups he “didn’t even know existed.

The mental side of yoga also produced benefits for King.

“It brings a lot of focus, and eases stress and anxiety. I’m able to concentrate on one thing at a time now, without being overwhelmed about what I have to do next. It’s true, what the yoga teachers say about being in the present moment. There’s nothing more important than that.”

King says his physiotherapist encourages him to keep attending classes because of improvement in King’s knee mobility. With soccer season in full swing, King says he is anxious to play, but insists on working through his injury by doing yoga in the meantime.

As a teacher, Cajee says she has witnessed students transform before her.

“I’ve seen people heal themselves,” Cajee says of a student who was told by doctors that she would never be able to fully rotate her arm and needed surgery. Within six months of yoga, she had complete mobility.

“People can rebuild themselves and love their bodies, regardless of their shape, height, or weight,” says Cajee.

King was one of many people who had a preconceived idea of what yoga was, prior to trying it.

“I thought it was this boring class for pregnant ladies and women who wanted to be flexible. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. But now that I’m doing it, I can honestly say that I go to class for my own enjoyment, as well as rehabilitation. I think it’s cool to see celebrities like Sting doing yoga. Its really becoming mainstream.”

Cajee said many people have misperceptions about yoga.

Check out Oxygen Yoga & Fitness’ YouTube channel for exercises taught by Nash Cajee.