Gosia Mostowska, one of the most recognizable yoga teachers in Poland, mom to little Anulka, and a woman with a passion for healthy cuisine and an active, happy life. Enchanted by her naturalness and kindness, we invited her to our latest photo shoot. We talk to Małgosia about gratitude, yoga, sand in our shoes, and smiles.
You are a mom to 20-month-old Anulka and a yogi. You have your own YouTube channel, you record yoga sessions, run a blog, and lead workshops and classes. Tell us, how do you find the time for all of this?
You know, it’s not as if I fulfill every one of these roles every single day. I am a mom every day, that’s true. However, I don’t write, teach classes, or record every day. I try to do something for myself and for others each day—things that give me fulfillment and joy. Moreover, motherhood has taught me that not everything has to be perfect, and for me… it definitely isn’t.
After your daughter was born, did you continue doing everything yourself, or does someone help you?
I still do everything myself, but not because I think no one else can do it better. I just genuinely get a lot of pleasure from it all! Although I will admit that for my last workshops in London, I asked my beloved sister to help with the registrations, and who knows, I might ask more often.
How has your life changed since your daughter arrived?
Oh, a lot! It would probably be easier for me to list the things that haven’t changed! My daughter taught me to have perspective on myself, not to worry about things like dirty dishes in the sink or shoes full of sand. I gained more respect for my body and rearranged my priorities and values. I try to focus even more on the present moment—I know these moments will never return. And, of course, a new dimension of love has appeared—for me, incomparable to anything else. A love that gives you strength and motivates you every day to be a better person.
Where does your need to be a yoga teacher, to teach others, come from?
When I was a little girl, I had my own journal and played "teacher." I took attendance, quizzed people, and shared information. I loved doing it! Later in life, I tried out various roles, but I was always drawn to ones where I had the chance to help another person. I felt that I was just good at it, and when I discovered I could combine one of my passions—yoga—with teaching and helping, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do in life.
What does being a yogi mean to you?
Being a yogi in the classic sense means following many rules of yoga, and in that understanding of the word, I cannot call myself one. Looking at it with a kinder eye—a yogi is a woman who lives according to her values, inspires, sets an example, and treats others the way she would like her closest person to be treated.
You have built a strong bond with your viewers and have gathered a large community around you. How did you achieve this? What do you think convinces women to practice specifically with you?
You know, it’s interesting… I honestly don’t know! My goal when I started recording videos was to show yoga from a different side—a bit gentler and more practical. I wanted to have contact with my followers, listen to them, ask what they needed, and give it to them. And I think that this listening to people and showing them interest is what attracts them. Each of us wants to feel important and heard. I love giving attention to others, and maybe that’s it.
You invite people into your life, you are direct, you say and write what you think. This leaves you exposed to the judgment of others. How do you approach this?
In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. Different comments would appear—not always favorable. However, there was always someone who wrote something kind and supportive, so I focused on those positive words. Now that I know my worth and love myself, I know that writing about myself and my life is a way to show others that I am not perfect and that I accept myself as such. I want to convey that you don’t have to be perfect either, and that is absolutely okay.
You work two full-time jobs, yet you have time for a walk, a book, and exercise. It looks like you stretch time however you please. Maybe you just have to want to make time for yourself, and then you find it?
You know, when I read a book, it usually takes 15-20 minutes. I usually go for a walk with my Anulka. I practice in the morning—when Ania is still asleep. I work during her naps—and lately, when I leave her at nursery school for a few hours. I think if we really care, we will find time for it—perhaps just not as much as we would like.
In one interview, when asked about goals, you said you would like to become an ambassador for a recommended yoga brand. Now we are working together. Tell us, does everything you dream of and set out to do in life come true?
Yes, that’s true! I remember that interview—it’s nice to observe how your goals and dreams come true and manifest in everyday life. However, it’s obviously not the case that everything I dream of materializes instantly. I think it’s important here for our goals to be realistic and for them to be things we truly desire—from the bottom of our hearts. That they be our own, not those of our parents, grandparents, husband, or wife. If you truly desire something, you will find a way to make it happen.
What does being happy mean to you?
Being happy, for me, is living in harmony with oneself. In harmony with one’s own values and what the heart tells us. True happiness is built within you—it has nothing to do with what is on the outside. There are pleasures on the outside, yes. But it is within you—in your inner self—that a true sense of happiness is born, the kind you feel with your whole being.
Your YouTube channel and Instagram account enjoy huge popularity. Tell us about your viewers—what kind of contact do you have with them?
It’s incredible how important these people are to me. The most beautiful thing is that they are people from all corners of the world, of different ages and interests, and what connects us is yoga, the desire to take care of oneself, and to give oneself a little bit of love. Therefore, I try to listen to their needs and respond to them as best as I can. But I also know that it’s reciprocal. I know that I have their support, that they are on my side, and if anything were to happen, they would help me in any way they could. I truly believe in that, and I thank them for their presence in my life every day.
What brings you joy? Do you have any practice that instantly brings a smile and puts you in a positive mood?
There are quite a few such things; I don’t think I’ll surprise you with anything. First and foremost—my child. Her one smile, one look full of warmth, one hug—they can change everything. Leaving the house and connecting with nature, hugging trees, breathing in deeply and consciously, listening to the sounds of the forest. Cooking in my kitchen, because I love doing it. Sometimes all it takes is looking at fresh flowers in a vase or smelling my favorite essential oil. Other times, I sit down to meditate, focusing on the things and people I am grateful for. Depending on my mood, time, and possibilities, I find something that brings me joy, because by nature I am a rather serious person, and such joyful elements throughout the day are extremely important to me.
While writing, practicing, and leading workshops, what do you want to convey to others?
I want to inspire and show others that there is a girl in this world for whom human matters are important. For whom the person themselves and their feelings are important. I want to show others that they can be themselves, that just as they truly are, they are most beautiful—in every sense of the word. For I believe that every person is driven by good intentions, that every person is good by nature and wants to do good, only perhaps they have gotten lost somewhere along the way. And I want to be that person who reaches out a hand, helps you stand up, and look at yourself with a kind eye once again—just as we look at our best friend.
