Ely Waby

Your name/title

Elisa called Elywaby, the woman and soul behind "The Moga Yoga”

Where are you based?

In Toulouse, south of France

What is the story of your brand/work and how you would like it to evolve?

As a teenager and young adult, I suffered from anxiety and chronicle stress that pulled me down for many years. When I discovered Yoga during my art studies, it appeared as evidence, like the road I had to follow to embody my "dharma" (my mission in life). I decided to initiate, teach Yoga weekly in France and run some workshops to share even more this lifestyle!

I guess, what makes me feel unique and different, is the limitless curiosity that flows through my veins : I am deeply inspired by many forms of art, of creativity and movement. Inspirations I add in my classes and events.

As a guide, I want to explore more about ecology and yoga in action through travels, retreats in Europe and North Africa so we can deepen the connection between our internal values and the environment.

Also, writing and publishing my first poetry book, creating videos and always learning more about being alive!

What is the message or intention that you want to express through your work/product/service?

The intention I want to express through my work and art is that we all art part this whole universe, of this gorgeous planet. Our emotions, our fears, our ideas and dreams are all different forms of divineness. With authenticity, courage and devotion, we can master all these inner winds to build peace and balance.

I guess, the message is that... Everything is part of the journey, the good and the bad days, and that the keys are within to explore and shine our light. Like if we could all play in the same symphony while learning to be in harmony. The body is a vessel, let's move and breathe fully so we can grow peacefully , all together, still and moving, high and deep, all at once.

What inspires you and helps you get into a creative flow?

Music is one of the most powerful ways for me to dive into this creative flow every single day. According to the rhythm, I can feel my body invested in a specific energy, like discovering a new version of myself, of my ability to move and breathe.

Nature is probably the biggest source of inspiration in my daily life : the materials, the colors, the movement, the light, the silence. Everything is poetry for me in Nature. Mother Earth teaches us to welcome and embrace all these imperfections along the way, to focus on our goals while being open to the unknown. The cycles, the coherence and interdependance between all the elements are like written in my skin : Nature is us, we are Nature.

What daily rituals do you create for yourself?

Practicing Yoga, the asanas/the postures, the breathing exercises (pranayams) and dancing every morning to listen to the messages within : what does my being need today ? How do i need to plan my day ?

Writing my inner behaviours, my thoughts, my fears to step back and release what needs to be, so I can go on lighter.

All along the day, I take breaks to breathe, closing down my eyes to go inside and pause (with herbal teas in between, the best!!)

Walking in Nature is essential to me. Every week, at least once, I go in the wild to simply be, take photographs or sit and observe. Renewing, refreshing.

Finally, cooking homemade fresh meals is part of my routine even though I do not always feel comfortable with new recipes, I try ! It makes me feel very proud and enthusiastic.

What does surrender mean to you?

Mhmhm. For me, to surrender is to be confident. It is fun because in the french language, surrender is associated to the idea of "loosing", "capitulating" in a very heavy way for me. Like being helpless facing all the events of Life... In english, this word, surrender, sounds powerful and inspiring to me. It is like offering our vision, our dream, our expectation to something higher than our selves. Loosing this illusion of control. Believing, strongly, that all that happens in our life is necessary for us to grow and be the way we are : perfectly imperfect. Acceptance, confidence, trust.

What does sustainability mean to you?

To me, sustainability means wholeness : being aware that each of us as beings, as humans and as souls, are part of this huge puzzle that forms life. It means that our actions have consequences in other beings' lives, in Nature, in Universe. Sustainability means to be respectful to ourselves and the rest of the world through our thoughts, words and actions.

Making decisions according to this concept can be tricky sometimes as it is all based around the idea to reduce Ego and achieve "Eco".

A journey...

What does emptiness evoke for you?

Wow. I guess as everyone and especially as a Gemini, I have many ideas and thoughts that appear contradictory (even though I believe they are two parts of the same wave) so, emptiness is intense for me.

On one hand, I am inspired by the Buddhist vision of emptiness that offers us to believe that within this emptiness, dwells all the secret of Life. Our cells, our bodies, our cosmic environment is full of emptiness. This philosophy is very heartening to me as another part of me is sacred of this same emptiness.

The silence, the absence of message on the phone, the fear of loosing time, the fear of not knowing enough, not "using" my time properly if not doing anything in the day... it is about the ego, the fear of lacking, or loosing. I guess, through social medias and this consumption-based society, it is even more difficult to embrace emptiness as a strength and not as a default !

The yogic texts remind us that "what is hard for us is good for us"...