How I Started Yoga: More Than Just a Senior Project
When people come to yoga for the first time, they often do so for physical reasons. Maybe they want to become more flexible, get stronger, or lose weight. Some think of it as an alternative to the gym or as part of a wellness trend. And honestly? That’s how I started, too.
As a yoga teacher now, I can confidently say that those physical aspects—while important—are only the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath is vast, profound, and life-changing: philosophy, breathwork, meditation, self-study, discipline, compassion, and a way of living that brings you closer to your truest self.
But let’s rewind.
It All Started with a High School Project
My introduction to yoga wasn’t through a studio, or an influencer, or even a book. It came from a surprisingly academic place: my high school’s Senior Project.
Our school was a bit unconventional. To graduate, each student had to complete a year-long project of our own choosing. It wasn’t about exams or memorization. It was about setting goals, exploring passions, and creating something meaningful. At 17, it felt like the most “real life” thing I had ever done.
We could choose any topic—anything we were curious about—and express it however we wanted. Some classmates taught cooking classes. Some made films. Some built websites.
And me?
Being half Indian and half Japanese, and never having lived in India, I felt a quiet pull to explore the Indian side of me. So I made a list: Indian cuisine, Bollywood dancing, learning Hindi. I loved them all.
But, being a sporty 17-year-old, I ended up choosing something that felt more “me” at the time: yoga.
Or at least, the physical part of yoga.
Looking back, I realize now that this seemingly simple choice would ripple through my entire life.
My Yoga Project: The Plan
Topic: Yoga
Goals:
Attend 16 yoga classes
Master 10 yoga poses
Teach those 10 poses to my PE class
Pretty straightforward. But then came the first challenge: finding a yoga teacher… in Kobe, Japan. This wasn’t Tokyo—there weren’t yoga studios on every corner.
To my surprise, I found a few teachers:
An American Kundalini yogi
An Indian mom who practiced casually
And a Japanese woman who deeply loved India and its philosophy
She became my teacher.
She was professional, warm, grounded, and so knowledgeable.
There was something about her presence that struck me. I remember thinking, “I want to be like her.” She connected deeply with my Indian heritage—something I barely knew myself.
My First Classes: A 17-Year-Old Yogini
I still remember asking my parents if I could attend a 7 p.m. yoga class on a school night. (Yes, I was that kind of student who usually went to bed by 9:30. 😂) Thankfully, they said yes.
Those 16 weeks were a magical time.
I was thriving academically.
I was captain of my soccer team.
I had college acceptance letters in hand.
I felt aligned and grounded—but I didn’t know that’s what it was called at the time.
Now I do. That was balance. That was presence. That was yoga already working in me.
At the time, I still only saw yoga as movement. Stretching. Breathing. Feeling good. And that was okay. That was my entry point. Nothing more, nothing less.
From Physical to Philosophical
At first, yoga was exactly what I thought it would be: movement, sweat, muscles I didn’t know I had. I approached it like any other form of exercise. But slowly, subtly, things began to shift.
I started paying attention to my breath.
I noticed how I felt after class—emotionally, not just physically.
I started hearing words like ahimsa (non-violence) and santosha (contentment), and I felt curious.
I sat in stillness and, for the first time, didn’t feel the need to be productive.
Something deeper was unfolding. I didn’t have the words for it yet, but I could feel it.
Years Later: Training in India
It wasn’t until much later—when I went to India for my yoga teacher training—that I started to fully understand the depth of yoga. I studied its roots, its philosophy, its breathwork, its meditation, its discipline. I felt like I had only just begun.
And I realized that’s okay.
Yoga doesn’t have to be spiritual from day one.
You don’t have to dive into ancient texts or chant Sanskrit verses to be doing “real yoga.”
Sometimes you just need to move, breathe, and show up.
The deeper layers will come when the time is right.
To Anyone Just Starting…
If you're thinking about trying yoga, but feel like you’re not “spiritual enough” or “flexible enough” or “calm enough”—please don’t worry. Just begin. Start where you are. Even if it’s just for the physical part. That’s a beautiful, powerful place to start.
One class might change your body.
But one journey might change your life.
🧘♀️ Want to begin or deepen your yoga journey?
At Nami Yoga Studio, we welcome you—just as you are. Whether you're stepping onto the mat for the first time or exploring yoga beyond movement, there’s a space for you here.