Wisdom on Success and Purpose | The Guru's Word
Wisdom isn't just about asanas. Here, I share the principles that define our path at Bodhi—finding your purpose, staying present, and choosing peace over the noise of modern life.
Many people are searching for mental peace, and the path of yoga is where they find it. There is a huge demand for good teachers, which is why I am on a mission to create one lakh trainers. A career in yoga is not only fulfilling but can also be financially rewarding.
To achieve anything great, you must first reprogram your mind away from the negativity we've absorbed since childhood. Self-affirmations are the key. Start by loving yourself and speaking, writing, and listening to positive things. Success is guaranteed.
Why do we lose our peace? It's often because of what others say or what we think they will say. The yogic principle of 'Aparigraha' teaches us not to take anything from anybody, neither praise nor criticism. Stay neutral, and you will experience tremendous bliss.
The biggest disease in human life is comparison. Each person on this planet is unique, with a unique purpose. Stop comparing yourself to others. You are not a rose or a lotus, you are you. Find your purpose, and you can achieve anything.
We often connect happiness to a future event, but true happiness is a state of mind found in the present moment. My guru taught me that if you can develop the habit of bringing your mind to the present, you will always be happy.
A student asked why I left my corporate profession for the yoga path. The answer is Sudarshan Kriya. This profound technique, a blessing from my guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, elevated my consciousness and gave me a higher calling to serve.
The motivation to practice yoga must come from within. No one can force you. If you have chosen this path and stayed with it, it shows you have a matured mind and are mentally strong. You are not just lucky, you are a matured person.
The secret to changing your life is to believe you are lucky. I came to Hyderabad with nothing and now run a premium yoga school. It all starts with the mind. Repeat to yourself, "I am lucky," and watch your life transform.
We are blessed to have teachers like Shilpaji join our family. After 16 years of personal practice and 10 years of teaching, she left a senior role at an American bank to follow her passion for yoga. Her journey shows that this path is about purpose, not possessions.
As yoga teachers, our true wealth is not in millions of income, but in billions of blessings. To truly serve, we must be like the leaf that carries the 'prasadam' from God to the devotee. Our purpose is to be an instrument of service.
About Our Core Philosophy: The Guru's Word
If you are looking for a place that focuses only on fixing your physical postures, you might find my approach surprising. My teachings here are about the why—why you practice, why you feel stuck, and how to unlearn the constant need to compare your life to others. Before you dive into our teacher training, take a moment to listen to these thoughts; it will give you a clearer sense of whether our philosophy aligns with what you are seeking.
At Bodhi School of Yoga, we teach that yoga is not a destination but a shift in perspective. My own transition—from a corporate career at Tata Docomo to running this school—wasn't just a job change; it was a fundamental shift in how I measure success.
The Philosophy of Service
When you see me talk about being a 'leaf carrying prasadam,' I am teaching the core principle of our training: we are not the masters of our students' journeys, but the instruments of their transformation. This mindset is woven into every 200-hour and 300-hour program we run across our Indiranagar, HSR Layout, and AECS Layout studios.
Why Philosophy Matters
You might ask why a teacher training program focuses so heavily on mindset. Because a physical practice without a steady mind is just exercise. Whether we are discussing the 'disease of comparison' or the power of Sudarshan Kriya, the goal is to equip our trainees with the mental fortitude to lead others.
Practical Application
This philosophy isn't abstract. It is applied in how we handle our yoga therapy sessions for back pain or stress, and how we structure our teacher training to be accessible and rooted in real-world application rather than just theory. If you are ready to stop chasing success and start finding purpose, this is the path we walk together. Om Namah Shivaya.
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