{"id":2122,"date":"2025-11-03T13:37:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T13:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/?p=2122"},"modified":"2025-11-07T06:24:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T06:24:34","slug":"how-kundalini-yoga-changed-my-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/how-kundalini-yoga-changed-my-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How Kundalini Yoga Changed My Life: A Year Since India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time of writing this, it\u2019s been one year since my life-changing and transformative trip to India \u2014 a journey that, looking back, feels like a divine setup for everything that has unfolded since.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-buddies-768x1024.avif\" alt=\"Morning Kundalini yoga session at Sattva Yoga Academy, Rishikesh\" class=\"wp-image-2142\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:520px;height:auto\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-buddies-768x1023.avif 768w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-buddies-225x300.avif 225w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-buddies-1153x1536.avif 1153w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-buddies.avif 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first part of that trip was a <strong>300-hour Yoga Teacher Training<\/strong> with <strong>Anand Mehrotra<\/strong> at <em>Sattva Yoga Academy<\/em> in Rishikesh. I\u2019ll be honest \u2014 I booked the course without doing much research (shock horror, I know). It aligned perfectly with my flights, the time off I\u2019d managed to get, and the dates \u2014 so I said, <em>why not?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little did I know at the time that it was a <strong>Kundalini-based Kriya Yoga course<\/strong> and that saying yes to it would completely change the direction of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#what-i-learned-without-expecting-to\">What I Learned (Without Expecting To)<\/a><ul><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-kundalini-yoga-is-different\">Why Kundalini Yoga Is Different<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#here-and-now-from-india-to-mittagong\">Here and Now: From India to Mittagong<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-i-learned-without-expecting-to\"><strong>What I Learned (Without Expecting To)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kundalini Yoga, sometimes called the <em>Yoga of Awareness<\/em>, is about moving energy not just physically, but spiritually. The word <em>Kundalini<\/em> refers to a coiled energy at the base of the spine that can be awakened through <strong>breathwork, movement, mantra, and meditation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-in-rishikesh-768x1024.avif\" alt=\"Morning start near sacred Ganga Maa in Rishikesh\" class=\"wp-image-2141\" style=\"width:629px;height:auto\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-in-rishikesh-768x1023.avif 768w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-in-rishikesh-225x300.avif 225w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-in-rishikesh-1153x1536.avif 1153w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/yoga-in-rishikesh.avif 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s about moving in the direction of <em>more<\/em> \u2014 more awareness, more authenticity, more connection to Source. Before this trip, I thought of yoga as something I taught, something I practiced, and something that helped me stay balanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But what I came to realise was that yoga is life itself it\u2019s how we meet every challenge, how we respond to our emotions, and how we open to truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-year-that-followed\"><strong>The Year That Followed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I came back from India, I didn\u2019t glide into bliss and abundance. I came home to a year that would test everything I\u2019d learned and every ounce of <em>sthira<\/em> (steadiness) I\u2019d cultivated. I\u2019ve navigated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deep frustration with <strong>online content<\/strong> and how noisy and performative it can feel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dishonest digital marketers<\/strong> (not my current team \u2014 Ashu and crew, you\u2019re legends)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failed <strong>property leases<\/strong> and start-stop negotiations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Health challenges<\/strong> that knocked my confidence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Caring for my mum<\/strong>, who\u2019s aging but still fiercely independent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And yes\u2026 <strong>Invisalign<\/strong>. (Because sometimes personal transformation involves both your jaw and your spirit.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through all of it, my <strong>personal practice<\/strong> has been the anchor. Kundalini Yoga gave me purpose, a north star: to keep moving toward Source, toward truth, toward steadiness in an unsteady world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-kundalini-yoga-is-different\"><strong>Why Kundalini Yoga Is Different<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/kundalini-yoga-awakening-the-energy-within\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/kundalini-yoga-awakening-the-energy-within\/\">Kundalini Yoga<\/a> is not just about postures or flexibility \u2014 it\u2019s about <strong>awakening awareness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While styles like Vinyasa and Hatha strengthen the body and refine alignment, Kundalini goes deeper \u2014 it refines the <em>energy<\/em> that animates the body.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kundalini-yoga-journey-768x1024.avif\" alt=\"Travis Chamber practicing yoga by the Ganga in Rishikesh\" class=\"wp-image-2144\" style=\"width:677px;height:auto\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kundalini-yoga-journey-768x1024.avif 768w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kundalini-yoga-journey-225x300.avif 225w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kundalini-yoga-journey-1152x1536.avif 1152w, https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/kundalini-yoga-journey.avif 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through <strong>kriya (specific sequences)<\/strong>, <strong>pranayama (breathwork)<\/strong>, <strong>mantra<\/strong>, and <strong>meditation<\/strong>, it invites you to burn through resistance, shake off dullness, and step into your highest potential. It\u2019s demanding physically, mentally, and emotionally \u2014 but it\u2019s also deeply liberating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me, Kundalini has been the most powerful teacher in resilience, devotion, and grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s taught me that awakening doesn\u2019t happen in isolation it happens in the middle of life, when you\u2019re juggling deadlines, grief, and gum trays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"here-and-now-from-india-to-mittagong\"><strong>Here and Now: From India to Mittagong<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And now, one year later, I find myself standing on the threshold of something new again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In just a few weeks, I\u2019ll be opening my own yoga studio \u2014 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/\">Sthira Yoga Academy<\/a><\/strong>, right here in <strong>Mittagong<\/strong>, in the <strong>Southern Highlands<\/strong> of NSW. It\u2019s in a brilliant location opposite McDonald\u2019s and next door to Toshi\u2019s (because balance, right?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s simple, grounded, and everything I could have hoped for: a space built from real experience, not perfection. I can honestly say that none of this not the courage, not the clarity, not the consistency would have been possible without Kundalini Yoga. It gave me the tools to keep showing up when everything felt uncertain. And that, to me, is what true yoga is all about. <strong>Steady. Stable. Strong.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So here\u2019s to one year since India and to the practice that continues to change me from the inside out. If you\u2019re in the Southern Highlands, I\u2019d love to welcome you to a class, share a breath, and help you find your own <em>sthira<\/em> \u2014 your steadiness in an unsteady world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the time of writing this, it\u2019s been one year since my life-changing and transformative trip to India \u2014 a journey that, looking back, feels like a divine setup for everything that has unfolded since. The first part of that trip was a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Anand Mehrotra at Sattva Yoga Academy in &#8230; <a title=\"How Kundalini Yoga Changed My Life: A Year Since India\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/how-kundalini-yoga-changed-my-life\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Kundalini Yoga Changed My Life: A Year Since India\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2122","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yoga-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2122"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2194,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122\/revisions\/2194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sthirayogaacademy.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}