I did not know exactly what I was signing up for, but I knew I wanted to do it.

I have written before about how chronic lower back pain led me to quit my job – along with boredom, a toxic workplace, and a growing sense of misalignment. What began as physical pain slowly turned into a wake up call that forced me to rethink my life.

After leaving my job, I poured all my energy into coaching people around the world build confidence and calm their nerves when speaking. I am deeply proud that I have been able to inspire clients across the globe to find their voice and confidently own their stage. During this period, yoga quietly became part of my own healing journey.

After my retreat in Rishikesh in November 2024, I committed to practicing yoga stretches regularly with one clear intention – to heal my persistent and sometimes debilitating lower back pain.

After nearly a year of consistent practice, I felt ready to go deeper. I wanted to understand yoga beyond the physical postures and possibly teach someday, so I could support others who were once where I was.

So I took the leap and booked a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Course in Rishikesh, India!! It is the only place I would choose for yoga, it is the yoga capital of the world after all.

A view of the Ganges (ganga river), Rishikesh

Rishikesh is a city that must be experienced to be understood. It carries an energy unlike anywhere else. You feel held, supported, and deeply connected with divinity. I am not kidding!!

My training course was 200 hours in total, spread across 26 demanding days. The yoga school provided accommodation, meals, and training. Each day, I caught myself thinking how only a few months earlier I had been living in constant pain, and now I was fully immersed in a Yoga Teacher Training Course.

The curriculum covered meditation, pranayama or breath control, multiple styles of yoga, asanas, shatkarmas, mantras, Ayurvedic science, yoga philosophy, and the art of adjusting and aligning students. The learning was immersive, both physically and mentally.

Pictures of my yoga asana practice

My days began at 5 am and ended around 8 pm. It was intense. Some days my body felt tired and challenged, but it was NEVER in pain. Not once. And for this, I was grateful to the universe!

The energy of Rishikesh deserves a special mention. Throughout my stay, I felt a quiet sense of protection, as though something greater was guiding me through the experience. I visited several temples, including Kunjapuri Temple, located at an elevation of approximately 1,670 meters. Reaching the temple required climbing 350 steps, something I had always avoided because stairs usually triggered my back pain. I could not walk half a mile without gruelling pain.

This time however, I made it to the top.

I stood there watching the sun rise over the Himalayas, overwhelmed with gratitude. It felt like a personal victory and a reminder of how far I had come.

Pictures of snow clad Himalayas

During the course, I developed a deeper relationship with myself. I learned to love and accept who I am, without resistance or judgment. I began to truly believe that meaningful and lasting change is possible. Each day brought insights that quietly yet profoundly reshaped how I see myself, others, and the world. I felt connected to everything around me. It was liberating, cathartic, therapeutic, and deeply spiritual. It felt like everything and nothing at the same time.

All said and done, I now am a certified & a registered yoga teacher – Wooo!

Since returning, I have begun teaching friends and family members who live with chronic pain. No one has to suffer silently anymore. I guide them through gentle breathing practices and yoga asanas designed to restore energy rather than drain it.

My Three Key Learnings from the TTC:

Finally, I will leave you with my three key learnings from my Yoga TTC experience:

1. Stop living in fear. There are people and institutions that benefit from keeping others afraid, because fear is a powerful form of control.
2. When someone tells you NOT to do something, pause and question it. Such advice comes from their own fears. Seek answers for yourself.
3. As women, we live in a world largely shaped by men and their rules. Give yourself grace, especially in professional and social spaces. Being told how to dress, behave, or make choices about your body are all forms of control. Choose what feels right for you and your body.

I rest my case.

Peace, love, and health to you.
Say hi – Alisha out!