My journey deepened with studies in Vipassana meditation, Transcendental Meditation, and several Art of Living courses taught by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I also volunteered as a School Governor and Chair of the Parent-Teacher Association at Eastbury Comprehensive School, finding purpose through seva—selfless service—raising funds and working closely with children to support their literacy and growth.

The turning point came when I completed my 300-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at Nirvana Yoga Shala in Mysore, South India. There, I had the honour of learning from Mr. Nandasha and Guruji Shashi. They taught us not only Indian philosophy but also how to live and embody those teachings through practice—a balance I consider essential. During this training, I also studied deep breathwork, meditation techniques, chakras deeply and began integrating this knowledge, into my teachings and healing work.  

Around this time, I discovered the work of Dr. Arielle Schwartz, PhD, whose writings on Decolonizing Yoga inspired me greatly. She urges us to recognise the cultural appropriation of yogic traditions in the West and to honour their ancient roots in India. She shares this beautiful quote by Nandani Narayanan, which resonates with my own journey:

“If yoga is a tree, it emerged in the subcontinental land of Bharat/India enriched in the history of Vedic and other native traditions. When this tree of yoga branches out to reach new lands, and its roots are severed from the Mother Tree, we risk losing the depth of spirituality that is the sap within these practices leaving us with deadened or hollow wood. However, if we cultivate and tend to the roots of yoga by honoring that connection to the Mother Tree in India, our yogic tree retains its powerful energetic, herbal, aromatic, medicinal qualities from root, to bark, to leaf, to sap, to flower to fruit to its seeds.”

Currently, I am completing my MA in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation at SOAS University of London. Under the expert guidance of Professor Ulrich Pagel, my understanding of yoga’s deep philosophical roots has grown tremendously. Some of the ancient Hatha Yoga breathwork explored during the MA was brought to life through practical application during my 300-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in Mysore. This academic study beautifully complements my personal practice and teaching, enriching my ability to share these traditions authentically.