The Yogic Visionary Behind Yoga Vidya • Yoga Basics

In the serene city of Rishikesh, generally known as the Yoga Capital of the World, the Yoga Vidya School stands out as a beacon of genuine yogic schooling. At the guts of this transformative establishment is Prashant Jakhmola, a devoted yogi and visionary whose journey and keenness have formed the varsity’s holistic method.

In this interview, Prashant shares his inspiration for founding the Yoga Vidya School, his private yoga journey, and the distinctive methodologies that set his yoga instructor training program aside from others in Rishikesh.

Join us as we delve into the thoughts of the person behind probably the greatest yoga teacher training school in Rishikesh and discover how his deep-rooted information and revolutionary practices are cultivating a brand new technology of yoga practitioners and academics.

What impressed you to discovered the Yoga Vidya School?

I used to be conducting drop-in courses in Rishikesh, catering to the keen learners who sought to deepen their understanding of Yoga. The demand for such practices was outstanding, prompting me to efficiently arrange these courses for the area people and a few vacationers. And with time, it turned obvious that the restricted period of those drop-in periods, lasting not more than two hours, left little room for complete explanations. Despite the ample sensible expertise, college students usually grappled with uncertainties concerning the philosophical and different sides of Yoga. It turned clear that almost all of people had been solely centered on the bodily facet—the asanas.

Subsequently, an growing variety of college students approached me, expressing their want for a complete course that encompassed not solely the bodily dimension but additionally deeper dive into Pranayama, Meditation, Philosophy, and different necessary components. This fervent request served because the catalyst for my imaginative and prescient of building a group that may unite Yoga specialists from various traditions, all with the purpose of training devoted college students. It was right now that Yoga Vidya was based, the identify Vidya, which signifies ‘knowledge’ itself. Through this platform, genuine Yoga information is imparted to all who’re in search of it.

How has your private yoga journey influenced your instructing type and the curriculum at Yoga Vidya School?

Being one of many recognised academics in Rishikesh, I had the chance to show in varied yoga faculties that had been running efficiently in Rishikesh and different components of India. There had been round 6 to 7 courses per day.

That was a blessed time for me to experiment and apply all of the learnings from my follow to my teachings. It was an amazing alternative to instantly share no matter I skilled throughout my follow, which gave me a transparent understanding of the strategies I utilized on myself and served as proof that they actually work. This drastically expanded my instructing career. Being a very good listener helped me grasp ideas sooner, which was a bonus in my career. It allowed me to obtain information and implement it successfully. I graduated in Biology, which supported me in experiencing and instructing the deeper results of Yogic practices on the human body.

As I discussed above, I taught in varied profitable yoga faculties in India, so I had the curriculum in my arms. Almost each college, particularly the yoga instructor training college, had the same curriculum at the moment, and plenty of necessary matters associated to the practices had been lacking. For instance, nobody was touching the historical past of yoga, the foundational Sanskrit phrases that might assist college students pronounce and perceive the true that means of mantras or asanas appropriately, which I consider must be added to the curriculum. These are a number of factors I seen and I consider that academics ought to have not less than a fundamental understanding of those topics in at the moment’s time. This motivated me to create a curriculum with added data for complete yogic expertise.

What sets Yoga Vidya School aside from different yoga instructor training packages in Rishikesh?

Yoga Vidya School stands out due to its complete and holistic method to yoga schooling. My in depth expertise of instructing in quite a few yoga instructor training faculties of Rishikesh, allowed me to grasp the lacking points of yoga, a niche within the depth and breadth of yoga curriculum.

Our college was based to deal with these gaps and supply a extra full yoga schooling, past solely the bodily facet. We combine conventional yogic strategies with a contemporary method in a manner that’s accessible and transformative. Our curriculum is designed to evolve the scholars’ experiences. We consider that true studying follows private expertise.

This method fosters a real transformation, as college students acquire self-discipline, readability and a profound connection to their religious in addition to skilled path. To supply one of the best expertise of studying with most consolation, we offer a safer setting and cozy rooms within the residential campus, together with scrumptious yogic food.

Can you clarify the idea of the ‘Triangular Pyramid Teaching’ technique that you simply use at Yoga Vidya School?

The idea of the Triangular Pyramid Teaching idea stems from my private expertise. I consider that the primary section within the transformational journey is expertise. True studying begins with experiencing, and that occurs with full belief and perception in follow. Once you’ve got expertise, you’ll be able to actually discover issues clearly with none doubts. The second section is studying.

I prioritize expertise over studying as a result of I consider that studying ought to all the time be pure and will come after a variety of experiences. This manner you’ll be able to select which studying has the true potential to remodel others as nicely. Sharing or instructing is equally necessary. As I mentioned earlier, I used to follow myself and expertise it first after which used to share the method with college students whereas instructing, which helped me to see the fast outcomes and effectiveness of the strategies.

How do you combine conventional yogic teachings with fashionable practices in your training packages?

I consider that merging conventional yogic teachings with fashionable practices is essential in at the moment’s world. The conventional teachings alone is not going to appeal to individuals. It might be daunting resulting from their demand for robust self-discipline proper from the start, which fashionable minds discover difficult due to quite a few components.

Therefore, it’s essential that these worthwhile conventional practices must be practiced in a delicate, extra adaptable manner. In our programs, we modify many intense practices to simpler variations whereas retaining their true essence. This method permits people to obtain the information in their very own manner, progressively expertise the advantages and naturally search deeper dive into the traditions as they progress.

What are among the most profound transformations you’ve witnessed in college students who’ve accomplished your instructor training packages?

The most profound transformations I’ve witnessed in college students who’ve accomplished our instructor training aren’t solely about gaining path of their skilled lives, as an alternative they acquire self-discipline to expertise conventional practices whereas staying with us. A standard transformation is the consistency they obtain of their religious path. I see readability and happiness on the faces of the scholars, indicating that these practices really assist them perceive higher and recognise their potential.

Many college students have shared their suggestions as even only one month of yoga instructor training has made them extra constructive and see the clear imaginative and prescient of their lives. They uncover the arrogance on the trail they should take for private development. Additionally, I seen a robust want in them to share their newfound information with others. They develop into extra humble and genuinely dedicated to serving to others, embodying the true essence of humanity—rising collectively whereas serving to one another.