Press – Avantika Kochar

How I started my yoga journey?
My initial phase of the yogic journey was an academic inquiry in the UK whilst completing MA in Dance Cultures. The bodily evolution in all dimensions was my intention and I translated it later by teaching movement around the world.

How to stay active and consistent?
‘Active’ is a refreshing and motivating word for me at the minute. For instance an active mind could create narratives and an overly active body maybe injuries.

In my experience, every body needs a discipline. It could be a strong dynamic physical method or a relaxing mindfulness exercise. Whatever the body has resistance towards - that’s your go to discipline. The alchemy to change form or gain better performance in the body lies in the everyday movement awareness. I strongly believe in conditioning the body through improving proprioceptive and interoceptive skills. So yes consistency is key.

Personally my consistency lies through training my muscles in many disciplines like Classical Ballet, various contemporary dance techniques, Muay Thai, Capoeira and of course Yoga. However even with these tools sometimes consistency is hard because over the years I noticed the key for my body personally was to create stillness at intervals for recovery. I lacked rest and it caused many times for my body to collapse. So last couple of months I have been consistent with my meditation practice and yin - breaking a pattern of only training the muscle and not engaging enough in stillness breath work.

Consistency is working best when the improvement is seen in joint mobility, good alignment, your energy levels for day to day activities and intelligent involvement with sensory receptors.

aviratsundra
Humans Of Quarantine 075

How are you?
Avantika said, ‘ I’ve been better ‘. Everyday I get better. This is something I keep reminding myself if someone asks me this question because usually I’m the one asking this to others. I’ve been in self solitude for the last 5 months. I’ve been on an academic lifestyle these past few months and I have been in isolation with solitude. This time became a self discovery.

What were your thoughts when you first heard about COVID-19?
Avantika said, ‘ there was a lot of fear and anxiety ‘. I was in Rishikesh at that time and I was cleansing. It’s been a mind changer more than a body changer.

Did the forced lockdown evoke any kind of emotion in you?
Avantika said, ‘ to be honest it’s been about living for me ‘. I have been living in different parts of the world. For me to find isolation in my birth country, to live with my family, to understand and to re-understand what is ? In solitude you can show feelings towards people who you really care about but not in isolation.

She added, ‘ in unbecoming from one to another language plays a very important role ‘. Language is both verbal and physical. It’s a state of mind. It’s an affair.

What changed after COVID-19 arrived?
Avantika said, ‘ it’s been a great time to self discover ‘. Professionally, I’m glad that I have this break because I was running a marathon. My body is grateful that I can just be.

I am trying to listen and reevaluate what kind of information do I want to indulge in. There has been a massive shift when we speak about the community/city.

One things that’s kept me optimistic is that, there is truthfulness. This is the real yoga and not be living in fear. We have a lot of hope for the future because we have the means to practice right now.

MESSAGE : What we look at and what we see are two different things.