Tara, 20 years old, attended her first asana yoga class at the age of 8. At 16, she felt the urge to get back on the mat, and at 18, she began practicing regularly. In the following article, you'll learn what fascinates her most about yoga and why she wants to bring yoga and meditation into the classroom.

How did you get into yoga?

My father is from India, so yoga has always been a part of my life, mostly in the form of devotion, mantras, and yoga philosophy. I took my first asana yoga class when I was eight, after my mother, who practiced Iyengar yoga, put me in a class one day. When I was 16, I felt the urge to get back on the mat. I was going through a difficult time in my life, with anxiety and illness in my family. I always thought I was too inflexible to do yoga. Finally, at 18, I took the plunge and unrolled my mat again after suffering a sports injury. My doctor advised me to take a break from tennis and running in favor of yoga. At the same time, a friend of mine had just become a certified yoga teacher, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to attend her classes.

Yoga has transformed my mind, body, and soul, and I have never felt so good.

Do you do any other sports besides yoga?

I used to be a long-distance runner, but a knee injury forced me to stop. In retrospect, this injury was a blessing in disguise, because without it I might not have started yoga. I love being outdoors in nature, especially in the mountains. Skiing in winter and hiking in summer are among my favorite pastimes. I'm incredibly grateful to be able to live in Switzerland! I also enjoy practicing yoga outdoors, with all the beautiful lakes and mountains we have here. I'm also interested in photography.

How often do you practice yoga?

I practice yoga 4-7 times a week, usually in the evening. I know many people prefer to practice in the morning, but I like to practice when I know I have nothing else to do for the day, because then my mind can truly switch off and I don't have to set a time limit for my flow. It's really important for me to practice when I'm feeling stressed. During stressful times, I often don't feel like practicing, but that's when I need it most, and just stepping onto my mat makes me feel better and forces me to work through all the emotions I'm feeling in that moment.

What fascinates you about yoga?

The most fascinating aspect of yoga for me is the way it truly connects spirituality and movement. Yoga is not only profoundly beneficial for the body, but it also transforms the mind. Unlike most other sports, where the results are primarily physical, yoga truly changes the mind and the entire being. Yoga has not only made me stronger and more flexible, but it has also calmed my mind and helped me manage my anxieties. It has allowed me to accept the flow of life and let go of fear of the future. My yoga practice isn't confined to my mat; it extends to everything I do, from the food I eat and the way I interact with others and nature, to how I cope with difficult times. Yoga has made me a better, kinder, and more balanced person.

Has yoga changed your outlook on life?

Oh yes!!! When I was 15, I developed really severe anxiety that paralyzed me for many years. I felt like I had lost the positive and joyful person I once was. Around the same time, my mother became ill, and even after she recovered, I was always terrified that she might get sick again. I spent a lot of time worrying about the future. It took many years for me to find myself again. Yoga definitely played a big part in changing my outlook during this process. Yoga forced me to heal past traumas and accept what I cannot control. It's still a journey I'm on (and probably will be for the rest of my life), but I've never been so happy and balanced. For the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to what life has in store for me instead of dreading it. I've never felt so positive and so connected to myself and the people around me. Yoga has taught me so much self-love and completely opened my heart to others and possibilities in my life.

Would you like to complete a yoga teacher training course so that you can teach yoga classes yourself?

I would love to do a yoga teacher training course. I was actually supposed to do my 200-hour YTT in Rishikesh, India, this August, but I had to cancel it because of the pandemic. I'm really looking forward to going back there as soon as things have calmed down. At the moment, I'm practicing my yoga teaching skills with my family and friends.

What are you currently studying and what would you like to do after graduation?

I'm currently doing a bachelor's degree in education. What I want to do after graduation keeps changing :D I could go into primary school teaching, which I find very exciting, but I could also do a master's in marketing in London – which I'll probably do. My dream is actually to bring yoga and meditation into the classroom to help children cope with school stress.

How did you get into using Instagram more actively?

In the spring of 2020, during the first lockdown, I started posting more yoga content. Everything was closed, I had finished my exams, and I couldn't meet up with friends due to the restrictions. So, I started going to the lake every morning and doing yoga at sunrise with my camera and my LUVIYO mat. Posting content on Instagram helped me connect with like-minded yogis, and a small community slowly grew.

What do you want from your Instagram account in the future?

I'd like to expand my small community even further and share more content via Instagram. I'd like to talk more about how yoga can help overcome difficult life situations. I also want to start offering meditation courses on Zoom and perhaps, once I've completed my YTT (Yoga Teacher Training), yoga classes as well.

Is there a motto you live by that you'd like to share with us?

"Blessed. Even on my bad days." is a quote I've written down in my notes and read every day. It reminds me that I'm blessed with so much, no matter how hard life gets. It gives me the motivation to weather every storm that comes my way and see the sun in the end.

What do you wish for in the future?

I wish to continue growing as a person and to be incredibly happy! Hopefully with a job I love, maybe with a husband and children – who knows? Of course, I also hope that my next 10 years will be greatly enriched by yoga. I trust that life will unfold as it is meant to for me.

My tip for beginners and those interested: This is why I recommend you start with yoga...

...because it will change your life for the better, whether physically, spiritually, and/or mentally. Find a studio you like and try out a few flows on YouTube. The most important thing is to listen to your body and not compare your yoga journey to others.