The ancient Indian practice of Yoga has long since been one of the pillars that supports our holistic health, and Mini Shastri, founder of Om Yoga Shala, proves it with her own experiences. She has not only transformed her own life with this ancient wellness practice, but she continues to teach others as well. And this Yoga trainer does it by not just showcasing but also making sure her clients understand the complete health and wellness benefits attached to each asana.
How Mini found the path of Yoga
Mini Shastri has always been interested in some form of fitness or another, but the practice of Yoga made its way into her life slowly. She started Kathak at the age of 6, but realized she wanted to learn something different than the rigidity that came with this artform. She later enrolled in The Delhi School of Music when she got older. One of her trainers there, Veronica, taught her about the connection between fitness and dance. When Mini started experiencing more pain in her muscles while stretching after eating specific foods like meat, she started subconsciously making the connection between diet and how it affects the body. This was the first nudge.
In her 20s, she was training for national level air rifle and pistol games and here, focus, breathing, and keeping your temperament in check was vital. This is where Mini found the symbiosis of breathwork and mindfulness fascinating, and this was another nudge.
At 25, she started attending Bhagwad Gita classes that she had found about through a friend, and they fueled her inner curiosity about the power and intelligence one holds within themselves. The philosophical text and its teachings propelled her to attend extensive trainings held in Kerala, Mysore, and Chennai under the T Krishnamacharya lineage. Within the same year, in 1999, she took up interning at one of the centers in Delhi. As a Yoga trainer-turned-entrepreneur, she founded her own studio Om Yoga Shala in 2001, offering in-person classes in different forms of yoga, beginning every session with a few lines from Bhagwad Gita.
What Mini Shastri’s classes offer
Mini offers Hatha Yoga sessions, based on concerns like her ‘One Leg Yogasanas’ classes that help with balance, and even classes for different seasons like Spring and Winter. For those looking for Yoga classes in Delhi, she teaches her students about posture, flexibility and mindfulness based on her 24 years of experience at Om Yoga Shala, nestled in Vasant Vihar.
Mini Shastri also offers online classes through platforms like Zoom and Instagram Live. You can find the information about the new classes and workshops that she is holding at different locations in the city other than her studio on her website. If you want to become a Yoga trainer, she also offers different training sessions for that as well based on skill and experience of the participants.
Om Yoga Shala also organizes yoga retreats and workshops on the philosophy of Yoga, meditations, and Pranayama given by teachers with 3 decades of experience. Along with Yoga sessions, Mini and her teachers even provide dietary tips personalized for the individual, helping them integrate organic eating habits in their daily lives.
Other things that Mini Shastri is a part of
Mini has also authored ‘Yoga For Kids’ based on her own experience as a mother of three children. She is a wellness consultant for Paro Good Earth, and has also been a writer of a bi-weekly column ‘Yoga Journey’ in Hindustan Times.
In a collaboration with Dharmsala Tea Company, Mini has also launched a collection of 6 organic teas with ingredients like rose, mint, and turmeric. These teas that help in aspects like immunity, detoxing, and even women’s health are available on their website starting from ₹425.
How Yoga has helped Mini in her own life
With over 500 hours of training under her belt, Mini feels more connected to her own body and can easily pinpoint if her body feels out of balance in some aspect. A consequence of this was relearning patterns and habits that were not serving her, and she maintained an even temperament in her life, the stiffness in her postures eased as well.
Through her teaching sessions, she encountered many people and developed a sense of compassion for their inner battles. The fact that all our evolved body, mind and spirit need connection to tap into the joy of living is what inspires this woman entrepreneur.
Mini Shastri calls herself ‘a student for life’, knowing there are still many more moments to come that will help her dive even further into the world of Yoga. Her immersive meditation sessions along with her latest Yoga classes in Delhi can be booked through her website, and you can also follow her on Instagram for her informative posts as well.
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