Yoga does not try to turn a person into someone else - it helps you become a better version of yourself

For yoga teacher and practitioner Gina Bergmann, yoga is much more than just physical exercise - it is a practice of balance and presence. Gina explains how yoga helps keep both body and mind healthy, why consistency is the biggest challenge, and how good habits and discipline support the journey toward better well-being and quality of life.

You have been practicing yoga for fifteen years now. Has your yoga practice and understanding of yoga changed in recent years?

In recent years, I have focused more on mental health, which is an important part of yoga. If we only work with physical postures, then it is simply exercise, not yoga.

I have learned to take more time and space for myself - to take care of my own needs, because working with people requires longer recovery. When I feel good within myself, when I have time for loved ones and hobbies, then I also have something to share in the classes I teach.

In the last three years, I have learned that you cannot develop and improve your body if you don’t work with your mental health. I have realized that how you do one thing is how you do everything. Whether we see life in abundance or scarcity is a choice we can make ourselves. I have gained confirmation that we are much more capable than we think. I have learned that the courage to be vulnerable and ask for help is not weakness but strength.

Self-love is a daily practice and investment in yourself.

Have your yoga habits changed as well?

Challenging physical postures have moved more into the background. Just as on the yoga mat, I also notice in life that it is not important whether I stand on my head, but how deeply I create connection with myself and the life around me. Less comparison, less rushing, more honesty and presence. Consistency in practice is what has remained and helped me experience and make sense of the changes.

No matter what mood I am in, I step onto the mat and practice at least ten minutes. Yoga is not meant to “fix” anything, because yoga never begins with the assumption that we are broken. Yoga does not shame anxiety, stiff hips, or a restless mind. Yoga mirrors these things back to us as feedback about ourselves, not as failures.

Yoga does not try to turn a person into someone else - it helps you become a better version of yourself.

What classes are you teaching this autumn?

I teach Vinyasa yoga classes. It is a dynamic and flowing yoga style that focuses on synchronizing breath and movement. Life energy always flows, but between activities we also need pauses. Over fifteen years, I have developed my own class structure that also includes calmer, Yin-yoga-style longer holds in poses.

The classes offer the opportunity to develop strength, flexibility, softness toward your own expectations, balance, increased energy levels, and support for mental well-being.

Who are your classes suitable for?

The classes are suitable for everyone. I always find a personal approach to support each individual’s development according to their experience, injuries, and health condition.

I recommend trying a personal yoga session if you are just beginning your yoga journey. In that case, we can clarify the basics of postures and breathing to avoid injuries.

Why try yoga if you haven’t done it before?

I have not encountered any other exercise system that supports both physical and mental health so harmoniously. If I need muscular effort, deep relaxation, stretching, support for anxiety, or an energy boost - yoga gives me all of that.

If I feel stuck or unmotivated, it is always a sign to roll out the yoga mat. Nothing gives me better mental clarity or helps me feel better.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start yoga?

If you don’t know how to begin, just walk through the door of a yoga studio. We have all taken that first step once.

You don’t need to be flexible to start - flexibility is a result of yoga, not a requirement. Don’t fear other people’s judgments, because in yoga everyone is so focused on themselves or busy with their monkey mind that there is no time to analyze the person on the neighboring mat.

Yoga never asks whether you are enough. Yoga gives you the knowledge that you are enough.

What is the greatest benefit of yoga for you?

Most workouts - and life itself - are goal-oriented. In our lives, there should be something that helps us be in the moment.

Yoga is not goal-oriented. It is not about shaping the perfect body, but about complete acceptance. We all have an inner critic who lists our failures and scolds us for not being perfect. Through practice, we learn to quiet that inner critic - without the illusion that we can silence it completely. We learn to accept that we are who we are and that our body is our body. Neither is perfect, but both are worthy of love exactly as they are.

This is a step toward a more honest and empathetic relationship with ourselves - which is the foundation of a more empathetic world.

What is the most challenging thing about yoga?

Maintaining consistency. To choose again and again to step onto the mat even when you don’t feel like it. Yoga can be very routine, and in our everyday lives - where dopamine is one finger tap away - it can seem quite boring.

Just like achieving fitness results requires structure and discipline, and you can’t start every morning with fresh pastries, you also cannot expect every yoga practice to be your favorite or that you will always leave the class feeling light.

Consistency shapes a lifestyle - and it is the path to a better life.

Do you do any other training besides yoga?

Strength training has been part of my routine for as long as I have been a trainer. Being a 40+ woman, strength training is extremely important in slowing down the aging process, helping maintain muscle mass, bone density, hormonal balance, and brain health.

I also run, play padel, and hike. Since my son plays basketball, I often end up trying three-pointers on the basketball court.

What do you like to do in your free time besides sports and movement?

I am happiest when that free time is spent with my loved ones. In my free time, I am in my home well-being oasis. My social interaction levels can decrease, and my nervous system can recover.

I read books, sit in the sauna, listen to a professional podcast, or plan my next trip. Traveling is our family’s love language.

What role does equipment play in yoga, and what is most important about it?

When we were children spending summers in the countryside, if we complained about poor washing conditions, my grandmother always said: “Conditions don’t wash, water washes.”

It’s the same in yoga. I have practiced yoga on a towel in a tiny hotel room, in airport waiting halls, and on not-so-pleasant-smelling studio mats. I always choose yoga, even when tools are missing - but of course, there is a little aesthete in me who appreciates high-quality equipment and skin-friendly materials.

You have used Casall products for a long time. Why do you value this brand, and what are your current favorites?

Casall has been my long-time love because the brand supports well-being and a healthy lifestyle, which aligns with how I live. Excessive colorfulness and information noise is tiring for me.

Casall combines Scandinavian minimalism and functionality. Skin-friendly and breathable materials allow me to move comfortably in yoga. The logo is discreetly hidden so that the product design can shine. The clothes are brilliantly versatile - I’ve found myself wearing them outside workouts as well. At my last theatre visit, I received compliments on my Casall Open Mesh top, and Casall clothing is also wonderful for traveling.

It is also great to take resistance bands with me on trips as convenient workout equipment.

My special favorites are Casall yoga mats, which offer excellent grip, cushioning, and design. When you open the trunk of my car, you’ll find all the colors and designs there. I admit - yoga mats are my weakness. I am a collector of Casall mats. One of my recent favorites is the 5 mm Grip & Cushion mat.

Text: Rasmus Piirsalu Photos: Taaniel Malleus