INDIAnj!

Rishikesh is known as the yoga capital of the world, and I’m so grateful that I got to experience it over the past few weeks! I started practicing yoga during my sophomore year at Cal in 2017 and then jumped right into 250 hours of yoga teacher training a few months after. Since then, the act of practicing, teaching, and learning about yoga has held a special place in my heart. In the search of more wisdom about yoga’s origins and eastern traditions, I visited Rishikesh for another 200 hours of yoga teacher training and an additional Ayurveda course. After now completing yoga training in the east and west, I have an equal appreciation for both—training in the west offered me a strong foundation for teaching and sequencing a class, and training in the east was more conducive to a spiritual journey and realization that yoga is a way of life, rather than just a physical practice.

I wrapped up my first year of medical school (woooo!) a couple of weeks ago, and then hopped on a flight 24 hours after finals with my friend Moorea—talk about doing both haha. We did our training at AYM in Rishikesh and stayed at the ashram for two weeks. An ashram is a sacred space “to nourish your soul, deepen your spiritual practice, and awaken to your true self.” All of our classes and vegan/yogic diet meals were held there, and we got to explore the surrounding area during the evenings and on the weekends. We went shopping multiple times in town, sipped on “honey lemon ginger,” went river rafting down the Ganges, and explored the great outdoors on a safari.

One of our favorite spots of the trip was Vashishtha Guha, an ancient cave that Sage Vashishtha (known as one of the great seven sages) meditated in for years. It’s located along the beautiful banks of the Ganges and surrounded by the Himalayas. Both the cave and its surroundings held a special energy and vibration that I’ve never felt to this extent before. We meditated in the cave during the morning and then explored the surrounding area of the Ganga.

Throughout the course of our teacher training, we focused on a few important concepts that have stuck with me since leaving the ashram:

~Vairagya is the Sanskrit term for “detachment.” It describes a state of bliss and harmony that comes from letting go of our desires and expectations, which create mental impurities and imbalances.

~Our mind is the only thing that rules over us. Raja Yoga describes the importance of managing our mind, such as through meditation practices. By controlling the mind, we work towards improved concentration, more creativity, and an ability to find joy in each moment.

~Karma yoga is the practice of selfless action. By serving others with no expectations or rewards for at least five minutes a day, we can start to decrease our ego, purify the mind, and find a deeper connection between ourselves and those around us.

Rishikesh was such an amazing experience, and I can definitely see myself visiting again! I felt more connected to my cultural roots than I ever have, and wasn’t expecting to gain that sort of growth when I signed up for yoga teacher training. For example, we welcomed every morning with 12 Aums and 11 Gayatri Mantras. Growing up, I used to open my eyes and make funny faces during these chants to the other “cool kids” around me—oh, how the tables have turned haha. I also found a deeper appreciation for my family for raising me with values and philosophies that align so well with the ones that I learned in Rishikesh. Thank you for following along with this little journey! If you have any questions at all or you’re thinking of exploring the area, feel free to reach out. :)