In Vidya’s own words… It was as a school mom (our kids were in the same class) that I met Shammi for the first time. In 2008, she just initiated into Yoga Teaching with a small group of yoga enthusiasts. As I was instrumental in her starting this initiative, I became one among her first students. In 2015, we relocated from Mumbai. As Yog had become an integral part of life and an amazing complement to my running, I enrolled for Iyengar Yoga with Shammi’s student in Singapore. The year 2016 (just one year after moving to Singapore) had something else on its card. I injured my leg during marathon. Initially, it started off with dull pain on the ankle and the tendon. Slowly, the pain started extending to the whole body. Simple daily movements like getting out of bed etc. started becoming difficult and gradually almost impossible. And started another journey of running. This time it was running around multiple doctors, getting MRIs and X Rays or anything and everything, which could help me become a normal person again. Unfortunately, nothing could surface the root of the problem. In November 2017, I started following Ayurveda. The leg therapy treatments did bring some relief but still far away from being normal. In 2018, I started visiting Chiropractor. My leg started healing and so does my confidence to resume my Yoga practice once again and by default, I tuned into Shammi’s youtube @shammisyogalaya COVID -19 proved to be one of the transformational years of my life. The Quarantine Transformation in 21 Days – a 21 days program designed, produced and published by Shammi on her youtube @shammisyogalaya for promoting healthy wellbeing even during COVID-19 lock down, was about to transform my life forever. I repeated it three times. As ‘The Quarantine Transformation in 21 Days’ was changing people’s life all over the world, Shammi launched ‘Let’s Suryathon’ every 3rd Saturday of the month wherein she would perform live on her youtube @shammisyogalaya a stipulated number of Suryanamaskar and yoga enthusiasts, from all over the world, would join her live in performing Suryathon. I dared join ‘Let’s Suryathon’. The result was trilling as I amazed myself by completing absolutely unexpected 108 Suryanamaskar on one of those Saturdays. The confidence, which was long lost, started sprouting with new wings of hope that Yes!! You can do it. That’s when I saw her post on Teachers Training Course and decided to plunge into it whole heartedly. COVID-19, (April 20) was also a testing year on my psychological health. I had to wind up my Professional CA Practice and my Company. Letting go of a baby, I had nourished for 15 years was not easy and had a heavy impact on my emotional well-being. With a very scattered physical health, on top of that, life seemed uncertain and unpredictable. Starting Yoga Teachers Training with Shammi’s Yogalaya was just an attempt to move into a direction of soul searching. The Yoga Teachers Training at Shammi’s Yogalaya had much more in it than I had even dreamt of. The constant support of Shammi as well as the entire team of Shammi’s Yogalaya fed into positive thoughts and positive outlook towards life. On 23 November 2020, with Swami’s Grace I plunged into imparting yoga service to one and all from different walks of life across different parts of the world. My leg has healed now; my mind is healing; I feel a fresh lease of life in me.
I feel as if I am playing snakes and ladders game- Fell from 99 to 0 and starting all over again. Shammi & family and all at Shammi’s Yogalaya, you are GOD sent for me. Ever grateful for not giving up on me and encouraging me to reach where I am. I want to be with you all by my side till my last day on this earth, praying for strength to help selflessly as you always do. You are my Inspiration and love you too much. Thank you for coming into my LIFE.
Discover Yoga Discover YourselfFor any query, write to “Contact” on www.shammisyogalaya.com
Shammi Gupta, founder of Shammi’s Yogalaya holds an MA in Yoga Shastra, is a certified Yogic Therapist and Naturopath, has completed an Advanced Yoga Course and holds a Diploma in Yoga Education from Mumbai University. She is a certified trainer from American College of Sports Medicine and holds an MBA in HR & MBA in Finance from The University of Akron, Ohio, USA. She conducts Health Awareness Workshops for Corporate, Yogasana Workshops for Athletes and Yoga Therapy Workshops on different medical issues for patients. Among the celebrities Shammi trains are eminent personalities from the film and television industry and corporate world.