My Journey Towards Holistic Health with Yoga

“Transformation may not occur overnight, but it definitely happens when you commit to the process with intention.”

Gautam, 56 (M)

As a regular runner who also tapped into weight training quite frequently, Gautam’s fitness routine was nothing short of ideal. However, working long hours at a desk eventually caught up with him. Despite staying active, he found himself grappling with high blood pressure, stiffness, and poor posture—challenges that left him seeking a solution.

We spoke to Gautam about his journey with MyYogaTeacher and how it helped him turn things around. 

Can you describe your pre-MyYogaTeacher days from a health standpoint?

My job requires me to spend long hours sitting, either working at a desk or attending meetings. Over time, this led to poor posture, stiff shoulders, and recurring lower back pain. My hamstrings were a bit tight too, causing frequent pain and tension in the legs.

Even though I was fairly active—running three miles a few days a week and lifting weights the other days—I couldn’t shake off this discomfort. I knew something was lacking in my fitness routine when I started to struggle with hypertension and my blood pressure readings were constantly on the rise.

What made you join the platform and start practicing yoga?

My current workout routine was starting to feel more like a cycle of pain and recovery. After almost every workout, I could feel a jarring pain in my shoulders, back, and legs. The discomfort often led me to take breaks to recover before I could lift weights again, making it extremely difficult to stay engaged and consistent with my routine. 

My wife had joined MyYogaTeacher six months before me and was all praises for it. Seeing her enthusiasm, I decided to give it a shot. The idea of 1-on-1 live sessions over Zoom appealed to me—it was convenient and easy to fit into my schedule. Plus, I was curious to see how yoga could help with stretching and posture alignment.

What kind of training sessions does your teacher curate for you?

I’ve been working out with Anupamaa for the past couple of years, and her sessions are incredibly personalized. Being the deeply observant and intuitive coach she is, she began by identifying the nuances of my body, like my stronger right side and tighter right hip. Not only did she tailor the sessions to target these areas, but our sessions together wonderfully complement my weight training too.

Anupamaa has structured our sessions into:

• Upper-Body Days: Shoulder and chest-opening poses, core activation, and headstand practice to improve mobility and strength.

• Lower-Body Days: Stretches for my hips, hamstrings, glutes, and quads to enhance flexibility and release built-up tightness.

• Back Days: Counter-stretches to recover faster from weight training sessions and for pain relief. 

• Pranayama: Breathing exercises that have helped me calm my mind, improve focus, and manage blood pressure.

• Yoga Nidra: Truly transformative! These deep relaxation techniques have helped enhance mental clarity and support recovery after strength training.

Anupamaa has been a highly supportive and mindful coach. She ensures each session is adapted to my flexibility and energy levels on the day, which keeps our sessions effective and enjoyable.

How has the transformation been, and what measurable changes can you see?

I’ve noticed that the stiffness in my shoulders is gone—I can actually feel them move with so much more ease now! My overall posture has improved, and even though I still spend long hours sitting, I don’t experience those occasional bouts of lower back pain. My hamstrings are much more flexible as well.

My recovery time after weight training has decreased, and I now have a greater range of motion that complements my strength training. My balance has also improved remarkably—I can now hold a headstand for over two minutes!

Another big win is managing my blood pressure. Over the past two years, my readings have stayed within the normal range, which is a huge relief. The breathing exercises have also been particularly beneficial as I've felt calmer and noticed that I am less reactive than I used to be. 

My biggest takeaway, though, has been the ability to listen to my body and energy levels, helping me understand when to push myself and when to take a step back.

What advice do you have for others with respect to fitness goals and health?

My yoga journey taught me that health and fitness goals are all about patience, persistence, and consistency. Even as someone who was already active, I realized that yoga brought a whole new perspective to my routine. It taught me to focus on balance, breathwork, and coordination between my body and mind—the one thing that was missing from my checklist of fitness. 

So, my advice would be to diversify your approach—don’t just focus on one type of exercise. Combine strength training, flexibility, and mindful exercises like yoga. Above all, stay consistent and trust the process. When you commit with intent, transformation is bound to follow! 

Inspired by Gautam’s journey? Discover how personalized sessions with MyYogaTeacher can help you achieve holistic fitness goals!