Completing my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program was a profound milestone in my journey towards becoming a yoga teacher. Accredited by Yoga Alliance, this program not only deepened my understanding of yoga but also introduced me to practices that I had never encountered before. Dr. Hetal Nayak; Director Aum Yog Sadhna and Dr. Devraj Nayak; a leading Cardiologist by the day; and President of the non-profit Aum Ashram - his passionate project. They also happened to be the lead volunteers at Aum Ashram and became my primary teachers during this memorable yet transformative journey.
Before I delve into my experiences with these two incredible individuals, let me share a bit about my background. I had previously explored yoga at various renowned institutions like 'Akhil Bharatiya Yog Sansthan,' attended 'Baba Ram Dev’s Patanjali,' in person, practiced Silent Reterat at 'AOL - Art of Living.' and had the fortune of undergoing ‘Bhav Spandam’ with Satguru himself at 'Isha,'. Each of these experiences had enriched my life and understanding, but none had prepared me for what lay ahead at Aum Yog Sadhna, Aum Ashram, San Antonio.
Back in 2003 in Infosys, Bengaluru, India my days were marked by volunteering my Sundays to teach yoga to children at an orphanage through CRY (Child Rights and You). More on the profound love those kids showered on me for another article. But I do quickly want to mention that was my first volunteering experience ever and my fondest 6 months that I will always cherish!
However, it was during my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program that I encountered something truly extraordinary. Dr. Hetal Nayak and Dr. Devraj Nayak, my primary instructors, introduced me to two ancient and profound texts: Hathya Yoga Pradeepika (HYP) and Yoga Sutra. These were practices I had never read in my previous yoga explorations.
In particular, Yog Sutra a 20,000 years old ancient text written in Sanskrit, left a profound impact on me. She would complete dozens of Sutras in a single class. I would find each one so intense, that at home, I would feel soaked in joy at the first one itself, making it very challenging for me to keep up. Hetal Ji, with her in-depth knowledge and intense teaching style, completed intense HYP sutras too in just a few classes. It was as if she had been scheming to unravel the deepest mysteries of yoga, and we were fortunate enough to be part of this intriguing journey.
But the learning didn't stop at the Ashram. Dr. Hetal Nayak went the extra mile by adding other enriching weekly homework assignments. As part of this, she shared informative Zoom recordings on food, nutrition, and related topics. These sessions were designed to help us delve deeper into the practice of asanas (yoga postures) by understanding the profound connection between what we consume and how it affects our practice. These weren't your run-of-the-mill tasks but were designed to challenge us intellectually and spiritually. It felt like I had signed up for a 500-hour class instead of a 200-hour one. The anatomy and physiology by Dr. Smita Mehta were a treat. I wish what she taught was made mandatory at schools. Personally, I feel it's more important to learn about our bodies and how they function than all of the differential equations or calculus that I really never utilized in either my personal life as a mom or my professional life as a software engineer.
One of the most remarkable aspects of my time at Aum Ashram was the tradition of serving a freshly prepared, warm delicious vegan lunch every Sunday. This gesture was incredibly thoughtful, especially considering how physically and mentally exhausting our weekly practice and theoretical lessons could be. The nutritious meal became a lifeline, reenergizing us and allowing us to focus on our learning without the added burdening thoughts of having to go home and cook and clean.
My 3 month Yoga Teacher Training program at Aum Yog Sadhna was nothing short of extraordinary. Dr. Hetal Nayak’s passion, intensity, and dedication to imparting the profound teachings of HYP and Yoga Sutra left an indelible mark on my heart and mind. It was through their guidance that I made it clear how yoga was not just a physical exercise; but a holistic and lifelong path of self-discovery and transformation. The cherry on the top was receiving the certificate on graduation day which was handed by the Global Head of HSS - Sri Saumitra Gokhale ji. Saumitra ji has been invited to inaugurate the first Patanjali Mandir in all of the United States at Aum Ashram San Antonio.
I will forever be grateful to Aum Yog Sadhna and Aum Ashram for this remarkable and memorable experience.
Originally Published Here
https://original.newsbreak.com/@deepti-sharan-1697927/3151923007068-my-transformative-journey-aum-yog-sadhna-san-antonio
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