My Yoga Journey
with Sandrine Rossi-Fornelli

Sandrine Rossi-Fornelli is a yoga teacher from France. In this interview with Ayurooms, she shares her yoga journey and offers inspiration and motivation to practice yoga. 

Like a lot of people, I had that funny image of yoga of people sitting in a circle and chanting Om. So, to me, who was that busy bee working in a power job in the City of London, it more or less sounded like a waste of time at best. A sect, at worst. In all honesty, I would never have tried it by myself . . .  That first class I did – very reluctantly - completely changed my view. I discovered a strong physical practice...  I discovered an energy I did not know was there. I discovered new muscles. And I discovered that wonderful feeling after chanting Om. 

Interview with Sandrine Rossi-Fornelli

What does yoga mean to you?

To me, Yoga has been the best thing that ever happened to me. What we learn on the mat, we take with us when we leave the mat. It means facing our fears, our frustration, our anger sometimes. It also means surrendering. Which is the hardest thing to do. Letting go of our emotions, good or bad, letting go of our judgement – of others but also of ourselves - surrendering to the pose after we have done our best to get there. Surrendering to our breath. Surrendering to the present moment and letting go of our expectations.

​I never leave the mat the same way as I came to it. There is always a shift, whether it is physical or mental, or both.

​When did you first start practicing yoga and why?

I discovered yoga in London 20 years ago completely by accident. My friend had organized for us to go to a weekend retreat in the countryside but had failed to mention it was a yoga retreat. At the time, I was working in the Finance industry, in a very pressurized job, was going out a lot and was heading for a burn out. I initially did not participate in the retreat as I was angry to have been tricked there.  But the next day, I decided to go for the morning practice. And something powerful happened on that mat. When I came back to London, I was peaceful and happy. And I realized it had not happened in years.  So I took up a regular practice and that gave me strength and stability to approach my job differently.  The more I practised, the more I discovered about myself, about my body of course, but also about how I responded to stress, to difficulties in my life. And it became my moment, my time for myself. And, if I may say, my therapy.​

Were you ever resistant to learn yoga? 

Like a lot of people, I had that funny image of yoga of people sitting in a circle and chanting Om. So, to me, who was that busy bee working in a power job in the City of London, it more or less sounded like a waste of time at best. A sect, at worst. In all honesty, I would never have tried it by myself.  That first class I did – very reluctantly - completely changed my view. I discovered a strong physical practice – and how hard controlling your breath can be.  I discovered an energy I did not know was there. I discovered new muscles. And I discovered that wonderful feeling after chanting Om. All the things you only can experience by stepping on the mat.

How has yoga impacted your life?

A few years ago, in Asia, I dared following my passion and resigned from my job to become a yoga teacher. So I can say it has turned my life 180 degrees! I started travelling around South East Asia, did my RYT500 teacher training in India, discovered Traditional Thai Massage – also called Thai Yoga Massage – in Thailand and became a therapist.

I guess yoga gave me strength to make that jump into the unknown. To let go of a life that did not suit me anymore. To trust myself and my intuition. That trip lasted 30 months and I learnt more about myself in that period than in 18 years of Finance.

Why should someone practice yoga? ​

The benefits of yoga are immense. I have experienced it for myself but also observed the difference it made on other people’s life. Since I started teaching, I have come across people with various conditions, ranging from back pain and stress related problems, to serious pathologies like fibromyalgia, myopathy or Parkinson. Regular yoga practice has made a big difference, not only on their physiology but also on their nervous system. On the way they made peace with their bodies and use breathing techniques and meditation for the pain.

I would advise anyone to try yoga and see for themselves. They might be in for a big surprise!

What are your favourite asanas and why?

Tadasana –  I love this pose after a few sun salutations. It grounds me and I can feel the energy circulate all around my body

Balasana – because it stretches almost every muscle in the body and gently opens my hips. It also allows me to scan for tight spots and where my body needs attention before practice.

Trikonasana – This pose feels so good for me. I feel the grounding in my legs and the lightness in my upper body. I feel the wonderful stretch on my hamstrings, I can breathe on the side of my ribdcage and feel it open slowly.

Ado Mukha Svanasana – What can I say...just watch a dog or a cat do this and you will understand immediately! ;-) 

Follow Sandrine on Facebook or visit her website. 

What is a yoga massage?

Thai Yoga Massage or Nuad Bo Rarn is an ancient art, which was brought to Thailand by Dr Jiwaka Komaraphat who was a renowned Indian physician serving Lord Buddha and the monks in his time. He brought his precious knowledge of medicine to Thailand, along with the notion of Prana, or Life Force, and the five elements mentioned in the ancient vedic scriptures. 

Thai Massage works on the Sen Sib -- the 10 main nadis in Thai — and uses acupressure points and yoga stretching techniques to free the energy trapped along the meridians. It also works with the breath of the Giver and the Receiver -- again, Prana or Lom Pran in Thai -- to enhance and increase the flow of the Life Force for the recipient. 

On a physiological point of view, the pressure is applied on the tendons and ligaments along our central and peripheral nervous system lines, increasing blood flow to the muscles and improving mobility. 

How have you integrated yoga into your massage practice?

​It is very difficult to be exhaustive on this topic because it is so vast and complex. My massage practice integrates Ayurvedic principles — such prana, the nadis, the five elements — and also utilizes herbal pouches to treat certain conditions such as arthritis. It also involves  Chinese medicine -- because of Thailand’s history — as well as yoga teachings through the vedas -- such as the notion of Koshas, etc. The essential idea is that the Giver (the therapist) helps energy to flow inside the Receiver (the patient), so as to enable Cosmic Energy to enter and help the person heal.

How is your massage style different from regular massage therapy?

"Thai Massage is the Art of Giving from Two Hands and the Heart". Its history is interwoven with the history of the Thai people. From the dissemination of Indian and Chinese teachings. It is also well documented in the Buddhist Canon. It is at the heart of Thai traditional medicine and often prescribed by physicians. Although it has some similarities with Marma massage and acupressure on the vital energy points, or Chinese Tui Na with the elements, it is unique in its movements, sequences and stretching techniques. 

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