When I was younger, yoga was something people did on a mat.
You sat down. You folded yourself into some shape that looked suspiciously uncomfortable. You breathed in when somebody told you to breathe in, breathed out when somebody told you to breathe out, and if you could touch your toes without making a sound of protest, you considered yourself quite accomplished.
Things have changed.
Today, there are yoga studios, yoga apps, yoga videos, yoga subscriptions, yoga challenges and, I am fairly certain, somebody somewhere is teaching yoga on a paddleboard.
And why not?
But somewhere amidst all this abundance, I began wondering about something rather simple.
What does it mean to actually learn yoga?
There is a difference between showing up for a yoga class, following a practice on a screen, and actually learning the practice for yourself.
That last one is what caught my attention. Learning it properly.
And that question is what led me to Classical Hatha Yoga programs taught by teachers individually certified by Sadhguru Gurukulam.
At first glance, the idea may sound rather elaborate. But the principle behind it is beautifully simple:
You learn the practice. Then the practice becomes yours.
There is something deeply old-fashioned about that.
And I mean that as a compliment.
The idea is to learn a specific, structured practice and then continue practising it on your own.
No constant reinvention.
No changing the sequence because a new trend has appeared on Instagram.
The method remains unchanged – structured by Sadhguru, with nothing added and nothing removed.
And honestly, I rather like that.
When you are learning something, you may practise for years, you don’t necessarily want somebody reinventing it every Tuesday.
Sometimes, what isn’t there matters too!
There is no music, no props to depend on, and no teacher physically pushing your body into a posture. You learn through instruction and demonstration, allowing the practice to arise through your own awareness.
And then there is silence.
Ah, silence.
The poor thing has become rather unpopular these days.
We fill every empty moment with something – music in the car, podcasts while walking, videos while eating. If the phone goes quiet for 10 minutes, we begin wondering whether something is wrong with it.
So yes, sitting in silence and turning one’s attention inward can feel almost revolutionary these days.
The practice is also done on an empty stomach, as prescribed for the programs. All these conditions serve a purpose: to minimize distractions and create an environment where your attention can move inward rather than constantly being pulled outward.
For a little while, there is simply you and your experience.
“But I have never done yoga before.”
Good. You don’t need to arrive as an experienced yogi.
“I am not flexible.”
Also, fine.
“I don’t know which program to choose.”
Now that is a perfectly sensible question.
There are several Classical Hatha Yoga practices offered through these programs, including Surya Kriya, Surya Shakti, Angamardhana, Bhuta Shuddhi, Yoga Asanas and Surya Namaskar.
Each is a distinct practice. You can check the website for the details of the programs currently being offered, or simply speak to the team if you have questions about which one may be right for you.
You don’t have to know everything before you begin.
And this is where it gets interesting!
You don’t necessarily have to travel somewhere far away to explore a structured yogic practice.
These programs are conducted as in-person programs in Mumbai and Nashik, with the particular practices and dates changing from month to month.
One month, you may find Surya Kriya.
Another may bring Angamardhana.
Another may have Yogasanas.
The schedule changes. The opportunity keeps returning.
So, if you have been searching for Hatha Yoga classes in Navi Mumbai, Hatha Yoga classes in Mumbai, or Hatha Yoga classes in Nashik, perhaps you don’t need to wait for the perfect time.
Perhaps you simply need to see what is happening next.
Who teaches these programs?
This is something I would want to know before attending any serious learning program. Who is teaching me?
Every teacher at Yogavani is individually certified by Sadhguru Gurukulam, a classical Hatha Yoga institution accredited by the Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
The teacher’s role is not to reinvent the practice according to personal preference or current trends, but to transmit it as it is structured.
Different teacher. Different city. Same method.
There is something reassuring about that.
And perhaps that is one of the quiet strengths of this approach.
Learn it once. Then practise.
This is probably the part that stayed with me.
You learn.
You practise.
You continue.
The intention is to receive a complete practice that you can continue on your own, rather than remain dependent on a weekly class to tell you what comes next.
Is it for everyone?
Some people want a weekly fitness class. Some enjoy movement with music. Some prefer following a video at home. All perfectly reasonable.
But if you are looking for something more structured – a practice you learn in a complete form and then carry into your own life – Classical Hatha Yoga may be worth exploring.
So, what is happening this month?
This is where I would make life easy for you.
The programs, cities and dates change, so I don’t want to give you a list here that becomes stale two months from now. Instead, check the current schedule for what is happening in Pune, Mumbai, Nashik and other cities, as well as available live online programs.
See the practice.
See the dates.
See the location.
And if something feels right, learn it.
Then practise.
Simple.
A little word before you go
Sometimes, what we need is not another thing to keep up with, but one practice we can learn properly and return to on our own.
That is what I find compelling about these Classical Hatha Yoga programs.
Not because they promise to magically fix your life.
They don’t.
The practice still requires your participation.
But because they offer something rather rare these days:
Learn it once. Practise it for life.
And if you are in Navi Mumbai, Mumbai or Nashik, you don’t even have to go looking very far.
See what’s coming up.
Programs and dates change from month to month, so check the current schedule before registering.
If you feel like giving it a try, you can find more details here:
https://programs.yogavani.in/ref/happy
Use code HAPPY at checkout for an additional 5% discount.
And please, don’t save the link for “someday.”
We know how that story ends. 😄
Go see what’s happening this month.
