Professional Firefighter Started Yoga after an Injury and Never Looked Back - Jasir Ali

Oshunjo
Feb 5, 2021
2 min read

Jasir Ali is a certified 200-hour yoga instructor who has become so inspired by yoga that he traveled all the way to its known birthplace — India. He got into yoga after an injury on the field as a professional firefighter and wanted to find another way to workout than the usual gym routine. He had no idea that yoga would take him on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. He has now incorporated yoga into his everyday routine and became a certified 200-hour yoga instructor from Kashish Yoga Institute in India. He is trained in multiple yoga styles and even uses his love for martial arts in his yoga style.

Tell us more about your yoga journey. How long have you been doing yoga? Where did you start? What made you want to get into yoga? Where do you mainly practice?

I got into yoga initially because I had experienced injuries due to my current career as a professional firefighter. I wanted to change the way I worked out since I had prescribed to the western philosophy of fitness for so long, it was time for a change. So in 2018, I made the decision to incorporate yoga, I loved it so much that I decided to travel to India and live there for a month to study it and become certified. Now I practice mostly every day at home in a room dedicated to my practice and it was most certainly one of the most life-changing, mental, physical, and spiritual decisions I’ve ever made.

Please tell us, how has yoga helped you along your self-love journey? How has yoga changed you as a person?

I believe that yoga in its essence is about self-love. It was most certainly an experience of self-discovery for me. After self-discovery comes an appreciation for that which you’ve learned about yourself. For me, it’s an ongoing journey, understanding the mind/body connection and how we as humans are interconnected with everything around us. This concept helps us to understand and love who we are and where we are at that present moment. Value and appreciate this moment because we will never be there again. Learning this awakened my sense of gratitude and compassion and I saw my capacity for patience and empathy increase immensely.

What advice can you give to help those who are just getting started with yoga?

Take your time and appreciate your process, open your mind and your heart. Yoga is truly a journey toward self-love, and through self love your capacity to love others will indeed grow.

What do you do outside of yoga? What is your career field? What are some of your credentials if any? (Ex. Degrees, certifications, etc.)

I am a professional firefighter, 10 yrs now. I’m also a certified personal trainer with certifications in biomechanics, speed, agility and quickness, core conditioning, functional training as well as animal flow level 1.

Jasir is currently offering in-home and virtual yoga sessions! Reach out to Jasir on his Instagram: @apezen_by_ali.