MANASSAH, the need for a change in life

Author: Dagmar Reinhard

Manassah is from Chicago (Illinois) and has lived in Uvita for five years. She left behind her job as a court reporter, well paid, and no less stressed in the metropolis of Chicago with a population of nearly 3 million people. The need for a change in her life was prevalent. After volunteering at the Cascada Verde Hostel in Uvita in 2009, she decided to focus on moving to Uvita permanently.

She had the same repetitive dream in the US for a time; she observed herself running in a triathlon. She began training to compete and an injury forced her to visit a massage therapist who recommended yoga. From the first class in 2005, she was impacted by the practice and decided to learn a lot so that she would be in front of a group of students herself one day. She was fortunate to study with the Hindu Master Yogi Hari.

Hari is a renowned Swami, a disciple of Swami Sivananda, a spiritual teacher, yogi, Hindu guru in Vedanta doctrine, and the Divine Life Society founder.

In parallel, Manassah, for several years, learned Thai massage and the Trigger Point technique. The combined training and years of practice make up what Manassah is today: a dedicated yoga teacher and a great therapist.

In a typical class, Manassah begins with pranayama (breathing exercises that lead to mental concentration) and a short meditation to quiet the mind, followed by the practice of asanas.  There are twelve basic asanas to build a strong foundation , including the well-known salutations to the sun.

A well-deserved Shavasana (relaxation) and the intonation of a mantra, such as OM, end the invigorating session.

Manassah loves the simple life; she learned Spanish and now even teaches in the language, she enjoys the surf in Uvita and rides her beloved bike everywhere. She radiates a lot of peace and friendship and follows the yoga commandments Give, Serve, Love, Purify. 

Every Sunday morning at 8.30 am, you can enjoy a class with her at the new Yoga Maya Center in Bahia. Drop in rate: $12, packages of 5 and 10 passes available .