A lot of people ask me how I became a yoga teacher, and I never quite know how to answer. Not because I don’t want to share, but because there isn’t one neat, clear-cut answer. It’s not a straight line or a single moment. It’s more like a chain of events, each link connected to the next, leading me here. And perhaps, one day, another chain of events will lead me somewhere else. You never really know where life will take you.
This year, I felt life’s fragility in a way I never had before. Losing my father was the first hit—a sharp, undeniable reminder that time is finite. It left a void but also a deep sense of urgency. His passing made me question everything I thought I understood about life, purpose, and what truly matters.
And then came the passing of Sharath Jois, a teacher whose work and legacy have been a cornerstone of my practice. Though I never met him personally, his influence shaped the way I approach yoga and, by extension, life itself. His death was another reminder—a nudge to honor the people and teachings that mold us.
It’s in moments like these, moments of loss and reckoning, that the path forward seems to unfold in unexpected ways. Yoga has always been a thread, weaving itself through my experiences, grounding me in difficult times, and giving me a way to process the world. Becoming a teacher didn’t happen all at once. It wasn’t a planned decision or a sudden epiphany. It was a quiet, gradual unfolding—like the petals of a flower opening, one at a time, until the full bloom reveals itself.
In many ways, teaching yoga feels like a way to honor those who have shaped me—my father, my teachers, and even the students who trust me to guide them. Their presence, their absence, and their lessons are all part of this ever-evolving story. It’s a story that’s still being written, and every day I step onto the mat, it takes on new meaning.
So, how did I become a yogaa teacher? The truth is, I’m still becoming one. Every practice, every person I meet, every challenge and triumph—they’re all part of the journey. And while I can’t predict where it will take me next, I know that for now, this is where I’m meant to be.
