Shiva Rishi Yoga Center

If you're thinking about becoming a yoga teacher, contact Shiva and go into it with an open heart. It was an amazing journey, and I made friends for life. The teachings affected me deeply. As someone with fair skin, I also came away with a nice tan 😊. Dr Anish brought so much knowledge to his Ayurveda practice. His analytical lectures and clear whiteboard explanations made his classes a joy to follow. Yogini Kavita teaches Pranayama. After sharing chai at her home and talking about life, I got to know her as a person. She's wonderful in class too, with infectious laughter and a deep concern for her students. She's always there if you need support or want someone to talk to. Yogi Sanathanam teaches philosophy and Yoga Nidra. His analogies and stories may take a class to get used to, but once you do, he'll take you along with him. If you can stay awake through one of his Nidra classes, tell me how, because I couldn't, even with his reminders to meditate instead of sleep. Yogi Sam taught meditation. His big, joyful smile and reminders to “take a deep joyful breaths” made the last class of the day feel easy and brought us together. The sharing circles and singing helped us become a unit, a union, like the meaning of Yoga. Swami Gurukrupananda is a passionate philosophy lecturer, monk, and spiritual teacher. His enthusiasm for sharing his wisdom really comes through. I found his use of laptop videos to illustrate his lessons and analogies interesting and immersive. He embodies calm, steady, continuous practice, and I found him inspiring. Yogini Lorne taught Yin Yoga and sometimes helped bridge Western ways and Indian practices. She was often our linchpin and helped translate Yogic sutras into our personal situations and everyday lives. That mattered in the busy early days and later, when emotions were high. And then there's Shiva, the captain of the ship. I tried to get to the Yoga Shala before him in the morning, but couldn't. He was there meditating from the early hours. His practice is his prayer. He's deeply passionate about Hatha and Vinyasa, and his asana instructions are clear and precise. He comes ready to teach and puts all his energy into his practice, sharing small stories from his own life, often while holding a pose, as well as his research on modern practices and ways to include them. His alignment classes are detailed and structured, and each one helped me understand more for my own practice. He cares that students can teach asanas safely and guide their pupils into the right poses, so they can quiet the mind (Chitta Vritti Nirodaha "Sutra 1.2") and move toward deeper practice through breath and movement, not treat poses as just exercise. I especially appreciated how he respected differences in body type and flexibility. He helped flexible students go deeper while giving less flexible students options to work on. I had to relearn some poses because I was bending my back to reach further and copying others instead of practicing in my own way with a straight back. Shiva, thank you again, my Guru. Learning from you was a joy. A shout-out as well to Shivas wife Shakti Maria, who helped with schedules and messages and was always smiling 😊. And thanks to Eve (i know you read these !) for your help and management.

The religious approach of the teachers took some getting used to. You should be comfortable learning a yogic way of life in a way that can feel like learning Christianity from a priest. Once I adjusted, I felt that the strong focus on it added to the sense of cultural and spiritual immersion. I completed the 200h YTTC at Shiva Rishi, and it taught me a lot. Yoga at its core is deeply spiritual, even religious, and the physical part is only one aspect. Focusing just on asanas and saying you “do yoga” is like saying you observe Ramadan by skipping lunch to lose weight. Shiva is a great teacher and person, and his passion for yoga is infectious. I enjoyed the classic Hatha and Vinyasa classes and now feel much more confident in my own practice. Thanks, Shiva! Also, a shout-out to Beena and SriDevi for keeping us healthy and our surroundings clean.

We finished our 100 hours at Shiva Rishi yoga school and feel so grateful for the time and everything we got from it. My partner and I stayed in the house where Shiva, Maria, little Eliva, and Lorne live. We loved seeing the family each day. The walk to school took just two minutes, which was a nice way to wake up before training. As a couple, we felt included in the group, while still having a little space of our own at the other house, like a sanctuary. The main yoga shala is beautiful, and a lovely place to relax during breaks or spend time with the group. I enjoyed all the classes. Kavita, the pranayama teacher, was especially amazing, with a great sense of humor and extensive knowledge. She has an aura I can't explain, and always seemed to know when you felt unwell and how to help. Swarmi, who taught yoga philosophy and meditation, was incredible, easy to talk to, and always willing to offer advice. He was still happy to help after we left, and I'm grateful. Having teachers who create a safe space matters so much. Sam, our yoga nidra teacher, was very sweet. Doctor Anish knew so much about Ayurveda, and I thoroughly enjoyed his classes. Shiva was a great teacher, funny and silly as well as professional, and he made you feel like a friend. His passion for yoga inspired me to go deeper into myself. I know group training makes it hard to attend to every student, but he tried his best. When I asked for more, I felt he gave it. Lorne was another special person, with a big heart and kind soul. He was easy to open up to and ask for help. His relaxed presence was lovely, and I'm grateful I got to know him, along with all the other wonderful people and students. Maria and Eliva were always around for lovely chats. Maris was helpful with questions and requests, and I never felt I couldn't talk to her. We got to know her and felt understood. The food was delicious and fresh every day, too. We're so grateful for our time here and for everyone we met. We hope to come back and finish our 200 hours 🙏💫

The 28 days for the 200 hours YTT felt like the right choice. Even with a more relaxed Saturday and all of Sunday free, it was intense. But there was time to read, reflect, and take in the knowledge, so I felt much closer to the yogic philosophy. It didn't feel like a yoga teacher training factory. I saw many programs that lasted 21 days and don't know how they manage it. I spent about 10 days researching before choosing Shivas Yoga school. As a teacher with around 15 years in outdoor activities, what I learned about Shiva and the program made me think it was the best choice. What a breathtaking month. Shiva is emotionally intelligent and supportive, and can help you heal unless you arrive with serious baggage. The teaching environment felt safe and welcoming. The teachers on his team were caring, passionate, and knowledgeable. Staff kept the very clean rooms clean regularly and were always smiling. The food was varied and nourishing.