YOGINI with a yearning

If the city’s fast-paced life is taking a toll on you, then learn how you can heal and harmonise your mind and body. Bengalurean Natasha Mahindra who has learnt the art of yoga from teachers across the world, is doing her bit to awaken people to the spirit of adventure in a holistic manner.

While her first teacher showed her the magic of vinyasa yoga, her second teacher showed her the beauty of the basics, after which she went on to hone her knowledge of yoga therapy further.

And that’s not all! Natasha also takes small groups on yoga adventures where one gets close to the elements of nature, through breath, movement, sound which connects with spiritual energies around. She conducted an introductory session at a mall in the city on Sunday. We speak to the yogini on her soulful and spiritual journey.

I’m from Bengaluru, but I was at St Claire’s in Oxford, England in a boarding school and then went to Bond University, Australia for college. Australia was life changing and going to the Gold Coast and being so close to nature inspired an undying love for the outdoors and this is really the experience that shaped me towards my path of yoga today and retreats.

I did my first teachers training with Sonja Appel, a teacher from the UK in ashtanga vinyasa and then went to Mysore to study with Bharat Shetty and Sharath Jois (Sharath runs his grandfather Krishna Pattabhi Jois’s school in Mysore where celebrities like Madonna, Sting, Gwyneth Paltrow and many others have learnt yoga). I then did my yoga therapy training from the Kripalu Centre in Massachusetts and continued my practice with various teachers from around the world such as Rolf and Massey, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Deepika Mehta and Maya Rao. My turning point towards yoga and wellness happened when I decided to do a solo trip around India, especially in Dharamshala. It was then that I started realising the importance of self discovery and decided to pursue this path and go deeper. Anamcara Yoga Retreat brings nature, travel and yoga together and helps people discover their true potential. I really feel the need to reconnect people to nature and the magical outdoors,” shares Natasha.

Natasha confesses to being a gypsy at heart. “I’m a travel junkie and love to travel to exotic places and being one with nature. I’m constantly amazed by the beauty of the outdoors. I love the path of the Sufi and my Sema practice. I’ve also travelled to Turkey a few times and love going there to learn whirling from my teacher,” shares Natasha.

She tailor-makes your travel escape to specific wellness needs with holidays, where you can meet like-minded people. Ask her what’s different about her art and she explains, “Although yoga is the core of our retreats, we include trekking, scuba diving, art therapy, water therapy, sound therapy and other alternative therapies by experts in each of the fields. These are held amidst natural spaces where everyone can connect with their spiritual energies for a healing process. Our next retreat is in Andamans in February 2017 that will combine yoga and diving. After that, there’s a yoga trekking camping retreat in Himalayas in April 2017 and another women’s retreat with dance and art therapy in Madhya Pradesh at a tiger reserve.”