One of the most meaningful experiences during my time in India was being invited, along with Prashant, to serve as guest volunteer teachers at an Indian university. We were welcomed into a classroom of dedicated yoga students, given the opportunity to share not only our knowledge, but our genuine passion for this practice we had both come to love so deeply.
For a full morning, we stepped into the role of teachers rather than students, a shift that felt both exciting and humbling. Rather than simply lecturing, we wanted the session to be a real exchange. We began by questioning the students themselves, curious to understand what they had already learned throughout their academic year — testing their knowledge of yoga philosophy, asking about the texts they had studied, and listening to how they understood the deeper meaning behind the practice. It was inspiring to see how much these students had absorbed, and it gave us a wonderful foundation to build upon.
We shared our own personal journeys with yoga — the lessons we had learned, the mistakes we had made along the way, and the practical tips we wished someone had told us when we were beginners. Teaching, we realized, is as much about honesty and vulnerability as it is about expertise.
The heart of the day, however, was introducing the students to something many of them had never formally practiced: the Ashtanga Vinyasa method. We guided them step by step through the flowing, breath-linked sequences that define this dynamic style of yoga, encouraging them to feel the connection between movement and breath rather than simply memorizing postures. Watching their curiosity and enthusiasm as they discovered this new approach to asana practice was incredibly rewarding.
What struck us most was the mutual exchange that took place that day. We came to teach, but we left having learned just as much — about Indian students’ perspectives on yoga, about their discipline and openness, and about the universal thread that connects all of us who practice, regardless of where we come from. Standing in front of a classroom, sharing something we loved so deeply, remains one of the most cherished memories of my time in India.