So, how did yoga find Mariah?

“Yoga found me through some of my darkest days. At a time when I was deeply struggling with my mental health. My therapist suggested it as a physical movement and it inspired me,” Mariah said.

“Once I moved away from learning about the physical part and more towards yoga for my mind and spirit, my whole life changed and I knew I had to explore it further,” she explained. 

How did yoga help you?

“My yoga practice has totally transformed my inner and outer being. It has allowed me to take control of my life, as the younger me was controlled by the mind. It has helped me live happier, calmer, healthier & more at peace with life,” she said.

“It has eliminated my doubts, fears, struggles & pain. It has helped me cultivate a deeper connection with myself and others and most importantly, it saved my life.”

“My mind was a rollercoaster – severely damaged through repressed childhood trauma and the only time that it didn’t feel like it was running all over the place, was when I was on my yoga mat. It gave me the power to step into a new way of living life – happy, joyful & spreading light & love in everything that I do,” she explained.

And now, being a yoga teacher…

“As I started to learn more about my nervous system, meditation, spirituality and ancient yoga philosophy – I embarked on an inner healing journey,” she said.

“I was able to move away from conventional mental health medicine and I started to make peace with my inner self. The benefits were felt in all areas of my life so I was very eager to learn as much as I possibly could as I knew this was wisdom that most of us in the West had been sleeping on.”

“I knew that a lot of people, like me, struggled with mental health and since I’ve been able to turn my life around, it’s been my life mission to support others naturally!”

“We all deserve to live a happy, peaceful & healthy life. One which we celebrate each and every day!”

Of course, it comes with its own rewards and challenges

“One of the biggest rewards for me is community. Being able to meet with people that are going through similar life experiences and sharing our practices in a safe space has allowed me to enhance my life journey,” she explained.

“Yoga literally means communion, not only of the mind, body and soul but also with the people that can enhance our lives. The people that have shared their journey with me have inspired my teachings and allowed me to enhance my knowledge in so many different areas, not only yoga,” she said. 

She noted, however, that one of the biggest challenges she has faced in her yoga journey is cultural misappropriation.

“Yoga in the West has become very different to what is practised in the East and it is my mission to shed light on the spiritual, mental and physical benefits of yoga, not just on the mat but in our everyday life!” she said.

Yoga… for everyone?

“I recommend yoga for literally everyone. We are all constantly seeking a calmer and happier life and we all have been through our own, independent experiences that have piled up over the years,” she said.

“Whether it is for the many physical benefits (strength, flexibility and mobility), for the mental benefits, such as activating our rest mode & enhancing nervous system flexibility, or for spiritual purposes, such as connecting with our spirit and the highest consciousness – it has so many benefits that it’s hard to find a reason why we shouldn’t practice yoga,” Mariah explained.

“Whether as a form of meditation, as a self-love practice, as a way to deepen our inner awareness, to quiet the mind, to reduce pain and injury, to feel strong and powerful.. no matter what happens in my life, spending time on my mat fixes it all & allows me to have calmer life experience,” she said.

To celebrate world yoga day and the summer solstice, Mariah and Martha Galea, another fellow yogi, will be organising a free event at 7:30pm in Mellieħa tonight. 

The summer solstice event is going to be held at Għadira, on the jetty between the two bays. Head over to their Instagram profiles to learn more about it – @mariahgatt @marthagalea