Advanced Yoga Skills & Personal Practice
Yoga is a lifelong practice, not a destination. This is a look into my own training, from overcoming injury to mastering complex inversions.
How dare we let fear run our lives? Today I conquered my fear of falling by practicing my tripod headstand without wall support. It's a huge milestone in overcoming mental barriers.
Nothing worth having in life comes easy. This is me working on Mayurasana (Peacock Pose), a challenging arm balance that requires immense core strength and patience.
Everyone needs a Guru. I am a student first, and I seek out senior teachers to help me discover my hidden potential and advance on the path of yoga.
Leveling up my skills game by practicing unsupported handstands. My shoulders are shot, but the progress is worth it.
All things are difficult before they are easy. This is a reminder to stay committed to your goals and keep your eyes on the prize, even when practicing challenging poses like Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana.
POV: When you are no longer afraid to do the things that used to scare you. I used to be terrified of inversions, but by tackling my fears head-on, I've built strength and confidence.
How I conquered my fear of inversions. It was a journey of patience, building core strength, and trusting my teachers. This video breaks down my process.
About this collection
People see a handstand or the Peacock Pose and assume it’s just natural ability. It isn't. It is years of specific, focused strengthening, endless patience, and often, rehab after setbacks. My personal practice is my laboratory; I test exactly what works on my own body, so when I teach, I am not just reciting theory—I am sharing what I have lived.
I am a student first. I truly believe that to be a good teacher, you must keep learning. That is why I consistently seek out senior Gurus to push my limits and help me discover my hidden potential. Whether it’s unlocking a tripod headstand or regaining range of motion after a knee injury, the process is never linear.
My practice is a mix of Hatha, Vinyasa, and calisthenics, but the real work happens in the mind. I used to be terrified of inversions. I spent years practicing with wall support, fighting the mental barrier of 'what if I fall?' by tackling those fears head-on. The milestones you see here—like doing an unsupported handstand or refining my Mayurasana—are not about vanity. They are about building resilience.
Injuries happen. Seven months after a knee injury, I had to rebuild my practice from scratch to get my Padmasana back. That experience taught me more about anatomy and patience than any textbook ever could. If you are struggling with a pose, or feeling frustrated by a lack of progress, know that I understand. I have been in the wobbly phase, I have been the one who feels 'bad' at a pose, and I have been the one who has to show up again the next day. This is the foundation of my teaching: real, tested, and human.
Sandhya Balakrishnan
I'm Sandhya. I spent 15 years navigating boardrooms before trading my heels for a yoga mat. I don't do fads, and I don't do quick fixes. I help you find your strength through movement that is actually fun, because if it isn't, you won't stick with it.
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