Yoga is a way of life for me. It is a journey that I began when I was 26 years old. I have always been active in various sports and somehow or the other yoga would enter my life at different points. As an avid rock climber I was first drawn to yoga in my late 20s. It was a great way to stretch and strengthen the body. It was a great way to keep the body limber and free of injuries. I have since scaled some of the world’s tallest rock walls such as El Capitan in Yosemite and climbed up mountains such as Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and glaciated peaks such as Mt. Rainier and Mt. Shasta. These accomplishments are not purely physical, but a whole lot mental and that is when I would draw on yoga as a contemplative and focused activity beyond asana practice.
For the last several years I have become a part of a community of cyclists who enjoy riding long distances in search of camaraderie and adventure, always seeking what lies around the next bend! The activity is extremely yogic, several hours on a bicycle allows for some very deep contemplation and keeping correct alignment in the body for a 15+ hour ride is of utmost importance! Off the bicycle, I find that yoga complements the rigors of riding. It allows me to stretch and strengthen the muscles that I use so extensively. With the help of yoga, I have been able to do several rides of distances greater than 200 miles in a day! I believe that without my yoga practice I would not be able to do these activities without risk of injury. I believe that yoga is a wonderful way of life that benefits the body and mind and allows people to reach their full potential. My extensive experience with outdoor activities places me in a unique position to reach out to a large section of the population who want to strengthen their physical and mental capacities.
Along with my athletic pursuits, I also enjoy exploring different cultures and lands. I grew up in London, Rome, Mumbai and Dhaka, so I am fortunate to have explored a large part of the world at a young age. My curiosity about the world led me to keep traveling and I have traveled to about 60 nations, sometimes seeking mountains, sometimes seeking nature, and often seeking people who are different from me, so I can learn something new.
I have been teaching mathematics at the college and university level for over fifteen years. Teaching requires great sensitivity, patience, understanding and passion. I have had students from all walks of life as young as 15 and as old as 70. I believe that my teaching experience will be a valuable asset in the teaching of yoga where I will encounter many different bodies and mindsets. Being able to reach and offer something useful to everyone in the classroom or yoga studio – that is my ultimate goal.
I believe that when I teach yoga, I will be able to teach it with a unique perspective. Having many passions and having traveled all over the globe, yoga for me will be about acceptance and appreciation. Appreciation of life, appreciation for differences among people, appreciation for everyone’s personal goals in life and most of all an appreciation for the wonderful gift that is yoga.
What People Say
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Walt Disney
It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
J. K. Rowling
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
Dr. Seuss