When starting training, the two key words are purpose and balance

Yoga teacher and Casalli ambassador Gina Bergmann knows that the key to achieving all goals is in each person's own hands.This applies to both starting and being consistent.

Gina has worked as a group trainer in sports clubs for more than a decade. Her heart belongs to body and mind training, and especially to yoga, which she has been practicing for just as long. “The courage, skills, and knowledge that were needed to share yoga with others came later when I realized that my experience could help others. I have been a yoga teacher for five years,” she says of her journey.

By tuning in to yourself

Yoga has taught Gina so much and developed her in many ways. “Yoga has made me a better person, a wife, a mother, and a friend. It has supported my personal development and helped me find a lightness and strength that I didn’t even know I had,” she says.

The big advantage of yoga is that it not only keeps the body in shape, but also greatly nourishes the mind. "We are all looking for balance in our busy everyday life. Yoga is a way to take a moment to take a break, look inside ourselves and around us, and make choices that make us happy. Sometimes we lack self-confidence or knowledge, or we are simply so busy with everyday life that we no longer notice what we are thinking or feeling. Yoga is a great opportunity to tune in to ourselves and disconnect from everything else, so that everyday life and work don't overwhelm us," she says.

Diversity creates balance

Yoga plays a big role in Gina's life, but she says that to achieve a balance between mental and physical health, she needs diversity. "When I'm not teaching, I can be found in the forest on a treadmill or studying - developing myself as a coach and yoga teacher. I work as a nurse and I also see the strong impact of this profession on people's self-esteem and healthy lifestyles," she says, citing examples from her own lifestyle. “Just as we need Saturdays in addition to Mondays, we also need diversity in our workouts. Find a workout that you really enjoy, because it is not sustainable if you force yourself to do something that you absolutely dislike. When the obligation has been replaced by joy, then you are there: you have found the workout that makes you happy,” the woman advises those who are still looking for a suitable way of exercising.

The opportunity to focus on yourself

In fact, small details play a role in achieving a great self-image. Including what you wear on your back and feet. Gina has preferred Casall. “Casall is dynamic, innovative and functional and supports my lifestyle in training and elsewhere. My active day includes strength training, yoga and running. Wearing one brand makes me feel comfortable and supported in all my training sessions. I often find myself wearing yoga clothes in my free time, too,” she says. “With the arrival of autumn, my favorite has become the Casall wide leg weekend jumpsuit and hoodie, which are so nice to put on from training to training and when going home over yoga clothes.” For Gina, Casalli yoga clothes and equipment are not justone of many, but a reflection of her personalvalues, attitude towards herself and a healthy lifestyle. “Simple, modest, less is more. It is not the size of the title and the variety of colors that are important, but the quality of the products, which supports me and allows me to focus on the most important thing while doing yoga: myself,” she describes.

Casall helps you exercise at home

In the last few years, more people have started exercising at home than ever before. Casall comes to the rescue here too and helps to make home workouts more versatile. Their training equipment is primarily designed for yoga enthusiasts, butis equally suitable for general physical training. “In my home, you can find all sorts of tools that support yoga practice: yoga mats, blocks, yoga wheels, cushions and massage rollers of different sizes. When sports clubs were closed, I started to adapt to the changes by helping my students at home and using Casalli flex bands. These small rubber bands can fit in your pocket if necessary and give you the opportunity to train all muscle groups at home,” explains the yoga teacher. Her new favorites are small massage balls, which are good helpers for trigger points and muscle and connective tissue stretching after more intensive training days. “Attention, all parents! My home yoga tools are so popular that I sometimes find them in my son’s room – he uses them while playing with car tracks and skyscrapers. A good example of functionality,” smiles Gina.

A quality yoga mat is an investment

If you want to start practicing yoga at home, you should first get acquainted with yoga styles and teachers to find the right one for you. From the equipment, you should first purchase a yoga mat. “It is worth investing in a good and high-quality yoga mat, because it will last a long time. A yoga mat is something very personal for me. When I step on the mat, I create my own magical space, disconnect from other distractions and am completely present with myself. A yoga mat is like a toothbrush that we don’t want to share with everyone,” he compares. In Gina's experience, a good and suitable yoga mat has a good grip and non-slip, provides sufficient support and shock resistance to protect the joints. "A yoga mat should be easy to clean and the thickness should be between 3 - 6 mm. I like that Casall yoga mats offer the best features and a wide range of choices. Customers often ask for a recommendation and all yogis who have bought the Casall PSTN 4 mm yoga mat have always been satisfied," she points out, adding: "A small product that I also always have in my bag: Yoga Mat FRSH spray. It is a good tool to clean and refresh the mat immediately after class."

You can improve yourself.

According to Gina, the benefits of exercising can be endless. They may be slightly different for each person, but the magic wand that helps you stay active and consistently take care of your body is in your own head. “It seems to me that the countless suggestions – get new workout clothes, try group training instead of personal training, go exercise with a friend – don’t work in the long run. There’s no need to make simple things complicated. If you don’t have the initiative and desire, then neither modern apps nor a friend at your side will help,” the yoga teacher believes. He is convinced that everything starts with thinking. Thoughts take shape through action, and action changes thinking. “Two key words to keep in mind when starting training are purpose and balance. What is your goal? To be a professional athlete, to lose weight, or to feel good about your body? If the desire is human and does not deviate from reality, then the will to act for it will not disappear. As long as there is a will, there is always a chance to start again. There is only one thing in the world that you are absolutely able to improve, and that is yourself.” Finally, Gina gives a recommendation for a beautiful day: “Get up before the sun, move, meditate, breathe, be mindful, thank your friends, tell your loved ones that you love them, hug a lot, play, laugh, drink water and treat your body with kindness. Notice that life is more full of life.” Text: Merilin Piirsalu

Photos: Iti-Pätrik Järve