Student Diaries… Words from the Heart!

Yoga Teacher Training programs, especially in Ashtanga Vinyasa, can be quite intensive for many students. The changed routine from their daily lives - the adjusting to a foreign location and culture; the lifestyle change (no alcohol, no smoking, no non-vegetarianism); the physically and mentally demanding regimen – all of these, bring out deep changes within.

There would always be differing experiences – from those who find the courses wonderful to those who don’t feel confident to teach as yet. This is quite natural and to be expected.

But whether one feels confident enough to teach or not, the fact is that almost everyone feels self-evolved both physically and psychologically and increasingly find themselves in a different, more peaceful position – a position that they never want to leave and often leading to a whole new way of life and living!

It has been much the same with students at Ajarya.

Presented below are some “words from the heart”, an unedited flow of how students have felt as the courses have progressed… and how they have found themselves change during their stay at Ajarya.


First, a poem from a student:

“I traveled alone to a foreign place.. To build up my life with Yogic embrace.. I met the greatest ladies and friends All with colours and perfect bends All this experiences has learned me a lot about life That a banana can taste better than ever before This place made me realize what I really adore India India – Aum Aum Aum Aloma Viloma Samastiti – Greater than this can it never be. I traveled alone to a foreign place This ended up to be the best in life stays!!”

Another student, expressing her overwhelming experiences...

"India/Rishikesh + Yoga = love, compassion, simplicity, fun, detachment, connection with God, calmness, friendship, Om Shanti, asanas, meditation, chanting, Nidra, Patanjali, Pranayama, Ganga, assignments, vegetarianism, curry, masala chai, chapati, paneer, spices, dust, smells, cows, beeps, hitchhiking, happiness and more love! don't want go home!"

The Impact of Yoga teachings on yet another.

"Learning The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.. which is, in brief, the processes & practices of living a moral life, a better life, in harmony in body & mind.. closer to SPIRIT ? I think this ancient traditional text of Yogic wisdom should be taught in schools.. in place of some of the crap subjects they teach! If everyone had this knowledge I am sure the world would be a more peaceful place to live. ? PS. The Ganges experience was ALL TIME! I jumped in & now I'm fresh!! & blessed!"

More students notings, as the course proceeds..

"I'm 3 weeks into a Yoga Training Course here in India & I cannot tell you how much it really is changing me.. changing my life! Now I've found true yoga & experienced it's effects (even in the early stages!) I will never stop practicing!... No other form of exercise can heal you like Yoga can. It's not a miracle.. it's simply what YOGA does! It heals! :)) NAMASTE"

Discovering & Imbibing, all the time.

"Thanks to our Yoga Teachers for a wonderfully enlightening spiritual afternoon visiting the Samadi Ashram & joining in a very wonderful blessings ceremony on the water front of the Ganges.. It was an experience I will never forget! Rishikesh ... you've changed me! With one week left here in this beautiful town... I am already starting to feel sad to leave! Feels like home"

Even as they prepare for their self-led class as first-time teachers.

"Today has been like my knowledge of Ashtanga Yoga, meditation and Pranayama (breathing exercises) by holding my first class for qualified Indian Yoga teacher and much of this in a totally different language-Sunscrit, which is extremely complicated but fashinerande. Yoga exercises are just a small part of the meaning of Yoga as a means to find the ultimate consciousness and happiness! To reach this stage requires initially needs to find itself and its balance/concentration in life. and let all dependencies fall so not tempted for anything that has to do with the mind, or to feel pain/feel bad (sickness, depression), through it all I learned during this time, I have now got a bit along the way. The philosophy behind this wonderful sense of "The path of Yoga, Patanjali Sutras and the Bhagavadgita is put to the test on Saturday, when it will be 2 hours of writing-but not so nervous about this as I was today. To sleep with a clear conscience and charge for training at 05.00 tomorrow early!... India rocks!!! "

These and similar experiences are what you can expect as you go through the Ajarya Yoga Teacher Trainings at Rishikesh... either way you would experience a transformation within yourself, one that you would always hold close to your heart!!