| Yoga in Zagreb: the New EU Frontier: Empowering People to Make Conscious Choice By Jane Pahr Yoga means union of that which appears separate. It challenges us to grow in ways that acknowledge our individuality with recognition that each of us is but a ripple upon the sea of existence. From the shores of Trieste, Italy one can see the Dalmatian Coast across the bay. Given to Tito as part of the territorial division following WWII, a reward for being on 'our side'. it is now the shore of the new European Union. The sea of course touches the shore without differentiation. At first I thought of all the neighboring countries Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia- as simply the former Yugoslavia, grouping them together in ignorance of their differences. Tito ruling with an iron hand in a velvet glove held them together. However, after his death the Yugoslavs had to face the fact that despite language, ancient ethnic roots, and the shared experience of foreign oppression, they had little in common. Serbs and Croats possess widely divergent value systems and political cultures. Unfortunately, the new constitution of Croatia changed the status of Serbs to a national minority rather than a constituent nation and a bloody war ensued. A stereotype said with pride by either side says that in a conflict "the Serb reaches for the sword and the Croatian for his pen." Now is the time for healing and a new union of choice. A journey across borders offers the opportunity for exploration and discovery, Yoga on the New Frontier. The first time we tried to go a freak blizzard made the highway impassable. After sliding into a guard rail while braking to avoid hitting another car, crunch! Ouch! To the pocketbook but no injury, we returned home. (My husband the driver who kindly consented to accompany me in this journey.) Though I questioned when we had to turn around in spite of my determination to get through to meet a writing deadline whether it meant not to go at all, a month later it seemed that the obstacles had disappeared. The sun shining, an easy two and a half hour drive and were in Zagreb. Timing really is everything. Approaching Zagreb you drive past the inevitable shopping center, which is becoming a part of the European landscape on the periphery of cities. Progress? Anyone over 30 I'm told remembers shopping trips in Trieste where one could find among other precious items unobtainable, Levi Jeans. Well, it is no longer necessary to come to Trieste to get things that were for a long time unavailable in the former Yugoslavia. However, passports are still necessary to cross the border even though the EU flag is flying next to the Croatian as we enter the city I'd just begun thinking about Croatia when I opened Mark Whitwell's book, Yoga of Heart. to find after the Preface, prior to the Introduction - Reflections, short statements on this journey of Yoga. The very last, 'Domagoj Orlic, author Iskustovo Joga, yoga teacher, Zagreb.' Soon thereafter through the internet I made contact with him as well as NAVA: Power Yoga Croatia and Yoga in Daily Life, Zagreb. Domagoj arranged a hotel room at Hotel Ilici, simple, a bit strange but affordable, close to city center and quiet. Domagoj, pronounced "dome- a- goy", speaks English perfectly but at first seemed a bit guarded, hard to know if this is natural reticence or speaking another language. He quickly warmed when the subject was Joga. Walking through a park he said, “ I've always been interested in Yoga but I studied alone until I met Mark. Then I knew I'd found my teacher. " It is evident that he loves his teacher and the practice, Yoga of Heart. GO ON HOME |