Barsha Doley after completing 250 hrs certification from Indea Yoga, Mysore (2017) & RYT 200 teacher training certification from the Yoga Parampara Institute in Mysore (2019) went on to pursue a Diploma in Nutrition.
Barsha focuses on Primary Yoga Series, Hatha Yoga Flow, and short Guided Meditation techniques. As a fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, her focus is on quality of practice over quantity. Her teaching style is beginner-friendly and trains individuals through all levels of Yoga and focuses on helping them steadily progress to the next level of the practice.
Check out an open conversation with Yoga trainer, Barsha Doley with Women Fitness President, Namita Nayyar as she shares her expert input on the secret to a fit body.
Namita Nayyar:
You have RYT 200 teacher training certification and teach yoga. Please share more input on your yoga
journey, when did it start and how has it served you?
Barsha Doley:
My first TTC was in 2017 for 200 hours. I added another 100 hours in 2019. I also have an accreditation in
fundamentals of nutrition science and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The initial attraction to yoga was the asanas. But over the years, the yoga practice has helped me overcome some really difficult times. Be it fear of rejection, going through heartbreaks, physical injury, or trauma. It has also helped me find clarity and courage in making big life decisions, whether it is moving cities or countries or letting go of the fear of starting all over again.
Namita Nayyar:
Your teaching style is beginner-friendly and trains individuals through all levels of Yoga and helps them progress to the next level. Share more key essentials one must possess to learn and practice yoga
Barsha Doley:
The good news is there are no prerequisites to starting a yoga practice. It starts from exactly where we are in life right now, and we progress from there. All we need is adaptability to learn and also unlearn all the false beliefs we firmly held on to for years. I always ask my students to keep a beginner approach even after several years of practice, because there is always something new to learn and it is important to keep the curiosity alive. It is a lifelong practice and is constantly evolving and adapting to suit us at all phases of our lives. We will never reach the peak of the knowledge mountain, because there is no peak.
Namita Nayyar:
For those who are stiff and shy away from yoga practice what would be your piece of advice?
Barsha Doley:
We do not come to a yoga class because we are flexible. We become flexible with practice. Start with acceptance. Accept your body how it is and rest everything will follow. Flexibility is not permanent. When you don’t practice, it will go away and will come back when you start again.
Our muscles have memories. Flexibility training is only one part of yoga practice, it’s not the end. Being stiff is our body’s way of protecting us. The more we relax, our muscles start to trust us. Stressing doesn’t help with stretching.
Namita Nayyar:
How can one by making use of props enhance one yoga practice & meditation? Share 3 examples.
Barsha Doley:
We can’t achieve anything alone. We all need help. And recognizing when we need help is a part of the yoga practice. That’s where props come in. Sitting on the ground is not mandatory. Not everyone is capable of doing so. Use a chair, bench, blocks, cushions whatever helps and is easily available.
The asana flows are only guidelines directing our bodies to move. It shouldn’t be a punishment. We shouldn’t hold any asana in pain. Especially when we are preparing ourselves for deeper mediation, it is so important to get rid of distractions that can arise due to discomfort in our posture. Prioritise being in a comfortable position.
Namita Nayyar:
Meditation is a big challenge in the modern world for women. 5 steps to achieve a peaceful state of mind.
Barsha Doley:
- Not all of us are capable of closing our eyes when awake. It can trigger memories and fear in some of us. The first step would be to listen to your body. Close your eyes only if you are comfortable in doing so.
- If sitting meditation is not for you, try a moving meditation like walking or jogging or an asana sequence flow. Also indulging in your favourite pastime can be mediative. Many people find mundane housework like cleaning and tidying quite mediative. Find joy in simple things.
- Begin with mindfulness if meditation is still difficult. Simply bring your awareness to your current
activity and observe your thoughts instead of trying to change them. - There are plenty of guided meditations and podcasts available online. Download a few and start your audio mediation journey.
- Start with 2 mins a day and then gradually increase the duration, day by day, week by week.
Namita Nayyar:
What kind of diet one needs to follow to balance the yogic body mind & soul?
Barsha Doley:
I believe in the “Mitahara” diet, literally meaning moderate eating. Food is food, there is no bad food.
- The only thing bad is the proportion, timing, and frequency of our eating habits.
- Watch out for substances you are allergic to, and avoid reheating multiple times. There is so much information available on the internet, educate yourself on food pairings to avoid chemical reactions.
- Even though it might sound pricey but buy organic and seasonal food as much as possible. Don’t choose something just because it is cheaper. Always pick the best for yourself.
- Complete your last meal of the day at least 2 hours before hitting bed.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you believe in the time factor one needs to practice?
Barsha Doley:
Yoga is a 24-hour practice, taking into consideration our complete well-being. The best time for asana practice is sunrise or sunset, before meal consumption, or after 2-3 hours of eating. Avoid practicing on a hungry stomach or a full one. Switch to a more adaptive practice if you are a mid-day/lunch break practitioner. Follow proper warm-up and cool-down sequences. Certain pranayamas like nadi shodhana or bhramari, you can practice any time of the day. But heat-building kapalbhati or bhastrika, avoid practicing before bedtime. These are only guidelines if you want to get the best out of your practice. Feel free to modify it to suit your lifestyle.
Namita Nayyar:
5 Yoga asanas to improve gut & liver enhancement?
Barsha Doley:
Food, water, sleep, stress, and exercise play a crucial role in our gut and liver health. Asanas might not be the instant pop-up pill, but it can definitely alleviate healing.
Twisting asanas (ardhamatsyendrasan/maricyasana) apply pressure on our digestive organs, improving circulation and enhancing their natural function. Inversions (adhomukhasvanasan/sirsasna) temporarily remove weight from our organs, allowing waste products to move freely along the tract. Backbends (dhanurasan/chakrasan/ustrasana) can help stretch our abdominal organs and reduce inflammation in the liver and facilitate detoxification.
Namita Nayyar:
Message for one & all on making health a priority?
Barsha Doley:
Ask yourself if health is not a priority, then what is? We only appreciate things when we are on the verge of losing them. The goal is not to live long, but to live young. Remember that, when we don’t appreciate ourselves, we can’t expect others to appreciate us. It starts with us first. The way we treat ourselves will be a message to everyone else that, that’s how we want them to treat us.