As Women Fitness India celebrates another year of empowering women toward wellness, we spotlight the deeply inspiring journey of Sejal Shah—homeopath, yoga teacher trainer, and spiritual guide—whose life reflects yoga not merely as a practice, but as a way of being.
It began more than three decades ago. At a time when yoga was still on the fringes of popular
Wellness culture, a young Sejal Shah unrolled her mat for the very first time. She was just
beginning her career as a homeopath, but something within her was already awakening—an
inner calling to understand health not merely as the absence of disease but as a harmonious
alignment of body, mind, and spirit.“
As I studied homeopathy, I was drawn to the idea that prevention is better than cure,” she reflects. “Yoga felt like a natural extension of that vision—supporting the body, calming the mind, and uplifting the spirit.” What began as a personal wellness tool quickly evolved into a powerful offering to her patients and community. Yoga, for Sejal, became not just a practice but a purpose.
From Asana to Awakening
By 1996, Sejal had completed her first yoga teacher training. Yet, in her own words, “my practice was still very much asana-focused.” The physicality of yoga brought clarity and vitality, but a deeper longing was stirring beneath the surface.
That longing took root in 2008 when Sejal founded her yoga studio. “I felt an inner nudge—not just to teach yoga but to live it,” she says. Her journey led her to explore Iyengar Yoga, and soon after, to the spiritual teachings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It was a pivotal moment: “For the first time, I felt like I had come home.”
Under Gurudev’s guidance, Sejal immersed herself in the Art of Living, completed an advanced 500-hour training, and began experiencing yoga as a complete life science—a blend of breath, awareness, wisdom, and connection. “The Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita came alive for me,” she says. “Yoga became a 360-degree lens through which to view and live life.”
Teaching from Presence, Not Perfection
Now an E-RYT 500, Sejal believes that the real depth of yoga teaching lies not just in leading postures safely but in living and sharing yoga philosophy with intention. She encourages her students to embody the principles of yoga—not just perform them.
“True transformation happens when we help students carry yoga off the mat—into how they handle challenges, how they speak, how they live,” she shares. “That’s when yoga stops being an exercise and becomes a way of life.”
Meditation: The Heart of the Practice
While physical yoga sparked her journey, meditation became its anchor. “The Yoga Sutras begin with ‘Yogah chitta vritti nirodhah’—yoga is the stilling of the mind’s fluctuations,” she says. “That line changed everything for me.”
Under Gurudev’s mentorship, Sejal delved deeper into breath-based practices, such as SKY Breath Meditation (Sudarshan Kriya) and Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, both of which she now teaches worldwide. “They’ve been life-changing, not just for me, but for thousands of students. These practices settle the restless mind, ease emotional heaviness, and lead to deep, restful sleep.”
She believes the magic lies in consistency. “Asanas prepare the body, pranayama settles the breath, and together they create the ground for meditation to bloom,” she says. “It’s like building a sanctuary inside you—one breath at a time.”
Transformation, One Student at a Time
Over the years, Sejal has seen profound shifts in her students. “Physically, they become stronger and more agile. Mentally, they’re calmer and more focused. Emotionally, they report better sleep, less anxiety, and a sense of deep peace,” she says.
But the most beautiful change? Connection. “They start feeling more connected to themselves, to others, to something greater,” she smiles. “Yoga and meditation help people live well—not just feel well.”
Wisdom for Beginners: Start with Curiosity
To those just beginning their journey, Sejal offers a grounding reminder: “You may not notice big shifts overnight, but even one session can bring lightness to the body or calmness to the mind.
Celebrate that. Stay curious, not impatient. Yoga isn’t about reaching a goal; it’s about coming home to yourself.”
She emphasizes small, consistent steps. Her personal favorites for deepening meditation? The graceful movements of Surya Namaskara and the transformative flow of Padma Sadhana, a 45-minute sequence of postures, breathwork, and stillness. “It helps you remain centered and joyful, like a lotus blooming even in muddy waters,” she says.
Dispelling Myths: You Don’t Need to Stop Thinking
If there’s one myth Sejal wishes to correct, it’s the idea that meditation requires a blank mind. “Thoughts are like clouds,” she explains. “You don’t need to stop them—you just need to stop chasing them.”
Her advice? “Let meditation be a gentle space of non-doing. Rest in the awareness beneath the
thoughts. That’s where peace lives.”
A Life in Balance, A Legacy of Light
With more than 30 years of experience, Sejal Shah remains a radiant force in the wellness world—a teacher, healer, and seeker devoted to helping others rediscover their inner light. Through yoga, meditation, and mindful living, she continues to inspire thousands to embrace a life of harmony, presence, and purpose.
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