About
My Yoga Journey
My Yoga Journey
In 2008, I was diagnosed with severe hypothyroid. Prior to my diagnosis, any exercise I dragged myself to do felt like torture, it didn’t seem to have any effect on my stubborn weight and left me in a state of perpetual fatigue. I later learnt that these were symptoms of my condition. When I went for my first yoga class, I felt like I had had a ‘mental spa’ treatment. I came out of the class feeling relaxed and at peace. The space it created in my mind is indescribable and I wanted to repeatedly access that beautiful spaciousness. Yoga quickly became a part of my routine, something I thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to. Through consistent practice, my weight eventually dropped by 20 kgs. Although my initial objective was to loose weight, feeling good in my body and mind soon became my priority.
In 2008, I was diagnosed with severe hypothyroid. Prior to my diagnosis, any exercise I dragged myself to do felt like torture, it didn’t seem to have any effect on my stubborn weight and left me in a state of perpetual fatigue. I later learnt that these were symptoms of my condition. When I went for my first yoga class, I felt like I had had a ‘mental spa’ treatment. I came out of the class feeling relaxed and at peace. The space it created in my mind is indescribable and I wanted to repeatedly access that beautiful spaciousness. Yoga quickly became a part of my routine, something I thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to. Through consistent practice, my weight eventually dropped by 20 kgs. Although my initial objective was to loose weight, feeling good in my body and mind soon became my priority.
Gradually, my practice affected my daily life: I stopped monitoring my weight, gradually reduced my negative self talk, reduced my habit of looking for flaws in my body or the way I looked. I became more mindful, self-aware, enjoyed my food more, became more mindful about what suited my body as I was tuned in to how I was feeling. I realised that my satisfaction with food was not linked to the quantity I consumed, but the quality of what I consumed and the attention and attitude with which I consumed it. I realised that the food I ate influenced my mood, had the ability to nourish, energise me. I stopped having meat and felt lighter, less sluggish, more energetic, my mood improved.
Gradually, my practice affected my daily life: I stopped monitoring my weight, gradually reduced my negative self talk, reduced my habit of looking for flaws in my body or the way I looked. I became more mindful, self-aware, enjoyed my food more, became more mindful about what suited my body as I was tuned in to how I was feeling. I realised that my satisfaction with food was not linked to the quantity I consumed, but the quality of what I consumed and the attention and attitude with which I consumed it. I realised that the food I ate influenced my mood, had the ability to nourish, energise me. I stopped having meat and felt lighter, less sluggish, more energetic, my mood improved.
I breathed better, felt less on edge, more at ease, comfortable in my skin, comfortable in who I was, comfortable to be authentic, to draw my boundaries. I could concentrate better, stay on task, my mind wandered less and I was able to stay more present.
I breathed better, felt less on edge, more at ease, comfortable in my skin, comfortable in who I was, comfortable to be authentic, to draw my boundaries. I could concentrate better, stay on task, my mind wandered less and I was able to stay more present.
After 4 years of practicing yoga, in 2012, I decided to go for a Hatha Yoga Teachers training course in an ashram in Kerala, India, to immerse myself further into my practice. Thereafter, started teaching whilst continuing to learn and expand my knowledge. I also trained to be a teacher in Yin Yoga and I attended various courses, immersions, trainings, workshops in yoga anatomy, mindfulness, emotional regulation, meditation, vipasana, breathwork, yoga nidra, amongst others.
After 4 years of practicing yoga, in 2012, I decided to go for a Hatha Yoga Teachers training course in an ashram in Kerala, India, to immerse myself further into my practice. Thereafter, started teaching whilst continuing to learn and expand my knowledge. I also trained to be a teacher in Yin Yoga and I attended various courses, immersions, trainings, workshops in yoga anatomy, mindfulness, emotional regulation, meditation, vipasana, breathwork, yoga nidra, amongst others.
The practice of yoga has transformed my life in many ways. The tools embedded in the practise are powerful and the transformation is enabled by just staying true to the practice. When we use our body, mind and breath in synch through our practice, we train to ‘be present’. Very simply put, simply ‘Being present’ is ‘The Elixir’ of happiness. Although conceptually simple, being present requires the mind to be trained. This training is enabled through a consistent, diligent, sincere, uninterrupted practice of yoga. Yoga is a way of life. The motivation to stay at it is the enjoyment in practicing it. When we start enjoying it, we are motivated to keep coming back to it.
The practice of yoga has transformed my life in many ways. The tools embedded in the practise are powerful and the transformation is enabled by just staying true to the practice. When we use our body, mind and breath in synch through our practice, we train to ‘be present’. Very simply put, simply ‘Being present’ is ‘The Elixir’ of happiness. Although conceptually simple, being present requires the mind to be trained. This training is enabled through a consistent, diligent, sincere, uninterrupted practice of yoga. Yoga is a way of life. The motivation to stay at it is the enjoyment in practicing it. When we start enjoying it, we are motivated to keep coming back to it.
I feel so blessed to have found this practice and tremendously grateful to all my teachers along the way. I feel if everyone learnt to use the tools embedded in this practice, the world would be a harmonious and happy place and the quality of our life on this planet can be greatly enhanced. This is why I teach - if I can help people experience even a fraction of the benefits I have, it would bring me great joy and fulfillment.
I feel so blessed to have found this practice and tremendously grateful to all my teachers along the way. I feel if everyone learnt to use the tools embedded in this practice, the world would be a harmonious and happy place and the quality of our life on this planet can be greatly enhanced. This is why I teach - if I can help people experience even a fraction of the benefits I have, it would bring me great joy and fulfillment.
Training, Retreats, Immersions, Workshops attended:
Training, Retreats, Immersions, Workshops attended:
2012 - YTT 200 - Hatha Yoga Teacher’s training - teacher - Bhooma Chaitanya, Arsha Yoga Vidya Peetham, Kerala
2012 - YTT 200 - Hatha Yoga Teacher’s training - teacher - Bhooma Chaitanya, Arsha Yoga Vidya Peetham, Kerala
2014 - YTT 100 - Yin Yoga Teacher’s Training - teacher - Victor Chng, Yoga in Asia, Singapore
2014 - YTT 100 - Yin Yoga Teacher’s Training - teacher - Victor Chng, Yoga in Asia, Singapore
2016 - Silent Meditation retreat - teacher - Ajahn Brahm, Jhana Grove, Buddhist Society of Western Australia
2016 - Silent Meditation retreat - teacher - Ajahn Brahm, Jhana Grove, Buddhist Society of Western Australia
2017 - Yoga Anatomy & Physiology training - teacher - Dr Trish Corley, New Angle Yoga, Singapore
2017 - Yoga Anatomy & Physiology training - teacher - Dr Trish Corley, New Angle Yoga, Singapore
2017 - Rebirthing breathwork workshop - teacher - DP Mahesh, Master trainer, Rebirthing Breathwork International
2017 - Rebirthing breathwork workshop - teacher - DP Mahesh, Master trainer, Rebirthing Breathwork International
2018 - Sound healing workshop - Naad yoga - teacher - Gunjan Trivedi, Wellness Space
2018 - Sound healing workshop - Naad yoga - teacher - Gunjan Trivedi, Wellness Space
2018 to 2019 - Yoga philosophy - a study of the yoga sutras - teacher - Subba Vaidyanathan, Being Sattva
2018 to 2019 - Yoga philosophy - a study of the yoga sutras - teacher - Subba Vaidyanathan, Being Sattva
2020 - Buddhism & Modern psychology course - teacher - Robert Wright, Professor, Princeton University
2020 - Buddhism & Modern psychology course - teacher - Robert Wright, Professor, Princeton University
2020 - Retreat - Turn Your World around, 3 steps for emotional transformation - teacher - Pema Chodron, Prajna studios, Shambhala Publications
2020 - Retreat - Turn Your World around, 3 steps for emotional transformation - teacher - Pema Chodron, Prajna studios, Shambhala Publications
2020 - Immersion - Kundalini yoga - teacher - Jaidev Singh
2020 - Immersion - Kundalini yoga - teacher - Jaidev Singh
2021 - Compassion Cultivation training - teacher - Mary Doane, Certified Instructor of Stanford University Compassion Cultivation Training
2021 - Compassion Cultivation training - teacher - Mary Doane, Certified Instructor of Stanford University Compassion Cultivation Training
2021 - 8 week Immersion - Mindfulness Meditation - Opening to our lives - teacher - Jon Kabat Zinn
2021 - 8 week Immersion - Mindfulness Meditation - Opening to our lives - teacher - Jon Kabat Zinn
2022- present - Training in the Buteyko Breathwork method
2022- present - Training in the Buteyko Breathwork method