Prashantha Ramu - "Yoga is in the Soil and in the Air"

I am honored to present Prashantha Ramu on this week's episode! Prashantha is a yoga teacher living in Mysuru, India who is passionate about the power of yoga to heal and transform lives. Listen as he shares his life as a yogi and feel the positive vibrations he has to give.

Visit Prashanth on his website here: https://prashanthayoga.com/
Follow him on Instagram @prashantha.yoga here: https://www.instagram.com/prashantha.yoga/?hl=en

During this conversation we speak about:

• How he got introduced to yoga? 
• Growing up in a rural village. 
• Inspiration from his father. 
• Yoga is in the soil and in the air.
• His experience working in the tech world. 
• How technical knowledge helps in teaching yoga. 
• How technology can improve spiritual connections. 
• Why should we practice yoga? 

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Chapters

• 0:04 | 0:00:04 | Introduction and greetings |
• 0:33 | 0:00:33 | Discussion about location and growing up in Mysore
• 1:29 | 0:01:29 | Prashant's introduction to yoga and its healing effects
• 3:15 | 0:03:15 | Importance of breath and body awareness in yoga practice

Transcript

Todd McLaughlin: 0:33

Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy you are here. My goal with this channel is to bring inspirational speakers to the mic in the field of yoga, massage bodywork and beyond. Follow us @nativeyoga and check us out at nativeyogacenter.com. All right, let's begin Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. Today I have the extreme pleasure of introducing you to a wonderful yoga practitioner and yoga teacher named Prashantha Ramu. Prashantha is in Mysuru in India. When we have this conversation, he lives in a village outside of the city of Mysore. And you really gotta go check him out on the Instagram because he's got he does a fantastic job. His handle is at@prashantha.yoga. You see the link below, go ahead and click that. Also go check him out on his website prashanthayoga.com. Because there you can join up with him to practice, wherever you are, you can join up with him in India and practice over the zoom with him. He has some really amazing things coming up a new app that's going to make it very easy and accessible for you to join in, learn from him and understand his teaching. And also, he is going to be teaching in the city of Mysore in India starting sometime this next year. So if you want to go travel there to go visit him, it's worth it! Mysore is so amazing. The country of India so beautiful, you gotta check it out. All right. So with that being said, also, thank you so much for supporting by listening just by listening, you're supporting, I appreciate that tremendously. If you want to make a financial contribution to help keep the show going. There's a link below you'll see you can donate like somewhere between like three and $10. We hugely appreciate it. We love it. Thank you. Thank you. All right. With that being said, let's get the show going here with Prashantha. I'm so excited to have this opportunity to speak with Prashanth. And, Prashanth, how are you doing today?

Prashantha Ramu: 2:57

Yes, I'm doing great. I'm doing great, wonderful, beautiful. I am doing really well.

Todd McLaughlin: 3:03

And I just want to first thank you so much for accepting my invitation to join me here on the show. And are you currently in Mysore, India?

Prashantha Ramu: 3:16

Yes, my distinct is Mysore. I'm currently based in rural area and my surround one Jeremy from Mysore.

Todd McLaughlin: 3:27

Wonderful. I have had a chance to visit Mysore it's a beautiful city. Did you grow Did you grow up in Mysore?

Unknown: 3:37

No, I grew up in village only my childhood. I spent here in my village and restarted my practice and build Shala here first. The next Shala will mean myself so wonderful. Can you myology load spent here. Nice nice.

Todd McLaughlin: 4:03

Can you tell me how you first got introduced to the yoga practice?

Unknown: 4:12

Yes, I was sick when I was five, six year old kid. So I was like allergic to the web dust food. So my father took too many doctors in Mysore city. So it didn't work. And my father used to practice when he was ng used to practice at school, and also some Canada superstar Dr. Rajkumar so is the inspiration and he thought, why not? For my son. Let's try this and it really worked. I healed completely. Wow. So after that I stopped for some time. I was like intermediate, not very focused and dedicated practice. Since 2013, almost 10 years I've been practicing. Nice. I stopped and vinyasa yoga. And I'm balancing, as you see on my pages.

Todd McLaughlin: 5:26

Yes, yes, your Instagram is wonderful. Your photos are so nice. I've been really enjoying checking it out. That's amazing that that you had you know that that type of allergy you know really severe allergies and that the yoga practice that your dad taught you really helped cure or helped you? What do you think it was about the yoga that that got your allergies to clear up? Was it do you think it was like the exercise component or maybe a combination of breathing in the exercise part? What do you think really helped you?

Unknown: 6:01

Breathing breathing is everything. So when we practice asanas, it's not like exercise, the complete awareness of each moment, each part of the body. So it really helps to bring awareness and the body starts understanding and it has capacity to heal itself. So the Yoga Asanas helps, yes. How it? Yes, it's more on awareness, bringing back awareness to the body. The consciousness totally

Todd McLaughlin: 6:38

nice. That's pretty amazing that you had a full healing after like you said, it sounds like you've visited lots of different doctors that didn't that didn't fully make the make it happen for you. But the yoga did was Oh God did. Can you explain a little bit what you remember about what your dad taught you? Like? Did it start off where he said here? Let me teach you some breathing exercises and try to follow me or what type of

Unknown: 7:06

introduced directly to asanas. So in the young when I was a kid, I was not like, dull, kind of. Yeah, kid. I was very active. Yeah, there's like rural sports. Since I was in rural area for 18 to 20 years, my whole childhood and spanned I used to go for walk rural sports everywhere when we took our cows for grading. So I was like half of the day on the water and half of the day on the trace. I was so I was active. Yeah, so I didn't have that much of body awareness. So I easily used to fall sick. So my dad introduced me directly to asanas. He didn't taught so many asanas I can remember. Yeah. Sir Wonga Sinha, Shoulderstand shiksha, Sana inversions and backbending. Woodward and Rossana. The new Rossana Yes. My year rathna And Padmasana things. Yeah. Because so many Porsches, we need it. Yeah. So combination of all kinds of bushes.

Todd McLaughlin: 8:40

Very cool. Really helps. That's amazing. For sound. That's cool. I love even hearing about your childhood in relation to you said moving like moving the cows from, you know, from here to there. And so you you had an opportunity to grow up. It sounds like you said rural or in the countryside?

Unknown: 9:01

Yes, yes. It's really not everyone gets that opportunity. Yeah, so agree owning and yes, in the village is really a gift. So it's not like the urban area. So we have a lot of opportunity to be in the major mainly. And the N word moment. We are always act bill. So it really helps to grow up. We start knowing many things, not only one thing. Yes. So we are asked to really teach a lot of things. Yeah. Well, no. Born in village is really a gift. He has to get Yeah, and one must be very lucky.

Todd McLaughlin: 9:56

That that's a great outlet being I agree with that. Do you is where you are outside of Mysore? Now, that's not the same village that you grew up in, correct?

Unknown: 10:12

Yes, same village.

Todd McLaughlin: 10:13

So same village. Excellent.

Unknown: 10:15

I'm in the same village.

Prashantha Ramu: 10:16

Wonderful. So, yeah. Do you have a really large family? How many how, like, you have a very big extended family like do you have grandparents? And your parents or

Unknown: 10:28

my my parents? Yeah. My wife. And me now my brother is in my society. So yes, mom, dad, my wife and I

Todd McLaughlin: 10:41

are very cool. And I noticed that you teach a Stanga yoga currently, did you practice with Shara in Mysore? Or did you learn on your own? How did you learn the strongest style?

Unknown: 11:04

So I had a strong base. As I said, My father taught all kinds of Porsches when I was a bank, yeah. And I used to repeat those posture like in intermediate, not regular. Sometime I stopped. Then 2013 I realized I should practice regularly. It should not be like this on end of so decided and restarted. So it comes to yogasanas. For me, no need to go to a particular teacher. Any teacher? So I have a strong base. My dad taught. Yeah, the Porsches. Yeah. So by observing what are the practices? I can embody it easily. So it may be a gift. Maybe? Yes, I give maybe. Yes. So it's not that much challenging for me to understand what is happening, what a person practicing and observing and embodying it that not very much challenging for me. I understood. I didn't go to any teachers to learn astanga yoga, I started watching many YouTube videos. Yes. So what started is that it started from intermediate and advanced a. So I practiced continuously. My body was open. Since I was in sports, like playing cricket. I was always active. And also when I was incorporate, I was not just working. Just practice and also sport. Practice sport work.

Todd McLaughlin: 12:56

Yes. Yes.

Unknown: 12:58

Very different goes on. Yeah, that may arise the teacher. Yeah. And actually, it's not needed for everyone. Yes. So for some students, it's needed. I had a strong base. So for me, and also my work schedules. So I had to work. Yes, incorporate at the same time I need to earn money. And also my practice. Yes. So going and investing our time with a particular teacher was not that easy. That time. And so I had a strong base, and continued my practice. Yeah, it came. It's all about consistency. Yeah. And surrender. And gratitude.

Todd McLaughlin: 13:48

Yes, yes. What time do you wake up each day?

Unknown: 13:55

So I have schedules now, like online classes, since COVID, like Wi Fi. 30. So before I used to practice during my corporate 2020 I left the job up to there. I used to work. Rotational shift. Like this week, morning, six to two next week, like two to 10. Yes. And then after that week, night, 10 to six. So I was flexible with timing. When I was in first shift, like let's say six to two. I used to wake up at 232 30

Todd McLaughlin: 14:40

Yeah, yeah. To 2:30am Yeah.

Unknown: 14:48

That's a nice one my night 50s During my nights in the Yuning I used to practice Yeah, I finished my work and I go to sleep. I used to go to sleep. And after that healing practice, then walk during second shift like two to 10. Morning time.

Todd McLaughlin: 15:07

Yes, yes. That's cool. It sounds like you're, you became flexible with with the time that you practice and yes, yes. And obviously need to bend with your work schedule sponsible

Unknown: 15:20

for everyone known, it's not like you No need to. It's not like you should wake up at six or seven or 230. It's not like that. Yeah, fix one time. If you have a walk get to nine or 10am. Just like before, yeah. Want to fix time. So I was in rotational shift. I used to practice with full dedication. So when we are dedicated, it doesn't matter whether we are in ninth shift or second shift, morning shift. So yes, if you are dedicated, we must definitely practice. Yes. And also food, what time we should take food, how much we should take food and the managing, yes. Other things.

Todd McLaughlin: 16:19

It sounds like Prashant, you have a lot of like you're getting a lot of your inspiration to continue your yoga like it's just kind of like you're getting motivated, just through the experience of practice. Do you do find you need to search outside of yourself for inspiration? Like, it sounds like you're able to gain some different ideas from YouTube and watching and learning from that medium?

Unknown: 16:47

Oh, the inspirations for first comes from my dad. Yeah, so how I tell you, so my dad is an handicap. So here's the left arm and the left side is out of action. So, he was in the village, we were lower middle class, lower middle class that time those who are handicap used to back in India it was more the time 2530 years back. So it was more Yes. So having a strong mindset. So he worked hard. They seem like the person who is physically fit that level of work he used to do Wow. He did a lot of dedicate dedicated to his family and work. Same like physically fit person. He worked he been working. Even today. He is like that. He goes to come in the early morning comes at seven he works all day. Come it compares to his dedication to farming. Yeah. So um, nothing.

Todd McLaughlin: 18:10

Oh, yes. That is a great, that's a great

Unknown: 18:15

dedication. That's great. Inspiration has always been inspiration for me. Next, I love yoga. So, when I have positive emotion on something, not only yoga or any other sport, so the positive emotion helps easily. It is challenging, we have challenges when we have positive emotions, that challenge not that much difficult, actually. So

Todd McLaughlin: 18:51

good point. We keep moving. Yeah, good point. If if, if if I came to you and said I'm having a hard time cultivating positive emotion like I can feel that from you right now that you that you know you're you feel pretty happy. I'm curious, I'm curious if I you know, what kind of advice do you offer your students that say, I want some of that positive emotion to what is what is something that you normally recommend for for us.

Unknown: 19:26

So first, I need to start practicing whether by practicing asanas we not only just a posture, it just not make shapes. So the full awareness, the soul since I started when I was ng My father taught like, not like the other person does. The lot of teachers a lot of what we say the lecture and not not a lot of philosophy, like practice. So he used to say, breathe. Just focus on your breath. So, I still had that inside. Yes, yes. When I started practicing the awareness, so just I used to focus only on my breathing, breathing, it connects to other systems. If we breathe well, the blood circulation happens. Well, the all all the organs, cells, everything is happy. Yes. So when we start practicing, we should focus on the breath. So still, I know only one thing. Breathing. When I practice, I just focus on my breath, no music, nothing whether it is very crowded, it doesn't matter. So just focus on breathing. But one who start positive emotion starts from inside the breath teaches everything. It teaches to the other systems like organs, the circulatory system, and the nervous system. Everything start awakening.

Todd McLaughlin: 21:19

Yes. So great answer. Yes, yes. It's that simple. I like how you're, you keep reminding me or you're mentioning Keep It Simple focus on breath.

Unknown: 21:34

Yes, very simple. No need to think of too many. Like the we are unique, each individual we are unique. Not like we are some are short, some are long. Some hours take them we have many varieties. Based on that. The postures we perform varies, let's say up a person who is six feet tall. Let's take volleyball. So he hits effortlessly the hits. Hitting is so effortless. is six feet plus, and if we have someone who is way by point three, so we cannot compare it some point of in some point in yogasana it happens some feel powerfold is super easy, and the backbend somehow bony restriction. We cannot say the same poster we cannot push like that. Yeah, just like yeah, we should know the body type how the student is feeling. It depends. Yes, on the end.

Todd McLaughlin: 22:58

Yes. Do you when you teach and I saw from watching your posts. It looked like a really neat retreat that you held in Turkey it looked like a really neat building that you all are practicing it had like that, like a clear roof and clear window walls was Was that where was that?

Unknown: 23:23

It was in Turkey. Allah Chechi Izmir the main cities is made from Izmir it's like one hour, yeah, one hour by car. So it's a nice place surrounded by sea. It's it's a nice place and people came from Europe. Most from Europe, the locals, they all enjoyed, and I the experience we shared. Everybody shared their experience, it not only helps them my experience, it also helps me. So retreat all about retreating ourself in different ways. With the different people. Yeah, so their experience our experience really helps for everyone. So practice, it was so nice. And the workshop I handled and the organizers, everything went cool. Yeah, so yeah, we all learned a lot.

Todd McLaughlin: 24:31

It looked amazing. It did a great job with capturing the feeling of the retreat from your photos. I recommend anyone listening to check out your Instagram. It is at Rashaan dot yoga. And I saw that you you are it looks like you're gifted and being able to help do assisting and and helping people move around through the asana and And you made mention that you try to follow a style of not really pushing too hard, right, like studying the person's body. And if if there's bony restriction,

Unknown: 25:12

you know, yes. Not a lot of forced adjustments. Yeah. So not every student's needed. Let's say for me, I didn't use the wall to learn balancing postures to learn pupillary, the chakras and for handstand. So I had the strong mindset, I should practice without a wall. Yeah, with calculated risk, I cannot say, for me was not calculated risk. So I had that, like, positive emotions, they said. So for some students, the positive emotions, when they go up, they start thinking, the moment they start going to handstand the first bit think I fall. Yeah. So that negative emotions, and doesn't take up to balance. So, in the read rates and the workshops, I taught the basics, what we should do, the handstand is same, like we stand on the feet. So how the end for mid foot and the forefoot helps each other to balance. Same, like we have bass of the hand like here. And the middle, the knuckles and the fingers. Yeah. So when we bring our awareness, same awareness, like feet, it's not that much challenging to balance.

Todd McLaughlin: 26:50

Yes. Good point. Good point. You are making it sound very easy. But could you make it look easy?

Unknown: 26:59

Yeah, yes. I've been working on our feet for years. Yeah. Still you stumble, we fall. If we are not aware. Yeah, definitely. So awareness. Also the key.

Todd McLaughlin: 27:12

Yeah. Good point person.

Unknown: 27:15

So not too much pushing the student. It also depends for as I said, for me, it was like, I didn't go to any authorized teachers or gurus to learn. I started practicing on my own, my positive emotions really helped me. And also I try to teach my students in a same way. So I just show the way. So as a teacher, our job is to show the way. So we can't walk that path, we show the path. Yes, we should do that. So we see on social media, pushing the students too hard. And they will injure. They don't know what is happening. They just believe in the teacher. What he does is correct. They think soon later, they'll start feeling that what happened inside. So as I teach more technical part to the students, so that it will help them and also, when I aligned which area he need movement, which area is stiff. By targeting that area. It's easy to learn the posture. If you're let's say Nadarajah, seminar dancing pose in English. Yes, it is. It demands hamstrings flexibility, and the hip flexibility and the spinal flexibility, shoulders flexibility. So if you're lacking in shoulder extension flexion if you're stiff shoulders, we compensate the lower back. And if you're stiff hip, again, the lower back is the mobile plays. Again, we stress that area again and again. Repeated stress lead to injury. So when a student is not aware of the area, which is in lack, lack, so by helping them to fix that area to stretch that area. So really helps many students gives positive feedback about the sequencing, I not only teach a Stanga I also have some other sequences, hip opening sequences backbending sequences, so I have sequence like the asana, which I do now. Help for next Asana. Yes, the sequence should be like that. So if you put a couple of tasks on at the beginning, it must be challenging. It demands a lot of flexibility at the hip, back and shoulders and breathing techniques and where we need to engage when we end, so it all matters. So first, let's say in the Backman sequencing, because they teach semi Batman's, like Bhujangasana cobra pose, and Shala Barcena semi bagman, what's up dog? Would omocha Shona Sama, then backbend involving the shoulders and hips and back bend with arm balancing, then complementary partially in the back bend, we stretch front of the body, the forward forward we stretch back of the body. So giving some complimentary is precious. So the sequence is everything it comes to yogasana. So if the sequence is not that good, so one cannot practice that is

Todd McLaughlin: 31:11

yes. Do that's I appreciate you explaining all that Prashanth. I'm curious say with in primary series, a Stanga. The little section that goes John Yasha, Sinha, A, B, C, N into machi. Asana ABCD. Do you tip do you typically follow that routine when you're teaching? Or do you implement adding different poses to prepare? Like, I guess I'm guessing for you like something like Mirchi, Asana D, is very easy, because you made mention of your kind of pre existing strength and flexibility that came from your sport, childhood sports and childhood and being exposed to yoga from such a young age. When you encounter a very stiff, you European or American or Westerner or person. And they're having a hard time with richiesta de se or like the hip opening part is that when you implement teaching different series, or do you do it doesn't sound like you stay really strict on the sequence of just the those poses.

Unknown: 32:31

You have for in astanga, those who find challenging. So the astanga primary, if we look, the sequences are very scientific, very scientific sequences. We no need to talk about who created it, but who is created must be very scientific, knowledgeable. So we can see that first, forward false. So in day to day life, we interact with world by bending forward most of the time. Also the hip flexibility, the forward folds, we need for many pushes, even for ARM balancing, let's take County near Santa, we need more than 90 degree of hip flexion. Otherwise the knees bent and we can't balance the posture. So first of our force, very good forward force. And also we can see Jama Sher Shah Sinha, a and b See the hip externally rotates. And if we are not, if we don't practice those Porsches in awareness, we don't have an A just going down and not that much I will mess with the hip what is happening? Yeah, so they struggle in the coming pushes. So we can see the pickup the pushes are like preparatory for but the corners the tire rotation and see preparatory for D Yes, and also not everyone has that flexibility. And in online worlds are you adjustment with the blocks and giving some height to the pelvis and instead compensating the low back when when they fall forward giving some height. And I also mentioned in the lead classes, the targeted area where they mostly move the way they should be the movement happened, whether it should be at the hip, and forward folding or the lower back. I've mentioned all those key points. The main major moments should happen at the hip. So like that I explain. And also we have q&a After the classes. Some students explain how the push is difficulty, the challenges and also it really helps and the Mysore classes. Yes, it's amazing. Yeah. So we can directly target the student, we can assist or the need in my sort of classes. I use stretchers, let's say for pool water Massena, those who doesn't have shoulder extension, they can't lift up their struggle to lift no matter how strong they are in demand shoulder extension. So first, for them shoulder extension stretching then and also in some schools don't allow and tradition to add some other stretches and law. So it is needed for students, sometimes the versions should change nicely there are some dogmas. So it should be like this. No matter his. He has having that much flexibility. Or not. It should be like this. We cannot teach yoga is not like science. It is science. Yes. It's the what is true to me. It is not same for other person. Yeah. So it's scientifically the same based on the student. The truth, various

Todd McLaughlin: 36:49

great point for Shawn. I love the way he said that. You know, him personally, having grown up in us here and then having the great opportunity of traveling to Mysore. And seeing where, you know, it's it was such a for me, such an eye opening experience because I kind of learned yoga here but more from an American kind of approach I originally learned with the Hatha Yoga from a man named Bikram Choudhury, who is famous here in the States for hot yoga. And I got a little disillusioned and I thought I really want to go to India and and see what yoga is like and in the in the, in the birth where it was born. You know, or can you tell me what it's like for you being born in India Mysore, like what feeling you have in relation to the connection to the practice knowing that you're kind of practicing in the where it originally comes from.

Unknown: 38:01

So yoga, it is in our soil, in the air, it is everywhere. So, yoga introduced by the rishis. So from them, it transferred generation to generation. So for me, so physical part of yoga, the postural yoga, it's not the same how we practice Asians and the Western. So for us, the Asians we always sit with cross legs, so the hips always open. Those who have sedentary lifestyle, those sit always on the chair. For them, it must be challenging when Lotus the Padmasana is challenging. So Asians in the paddy field, you may have see the people, the laborers, they made a very good forward fold, and yogasana we work 1520 minutes maybe for Forward Fold. They need they work like off day made us minimum eight hours bending forward and planting the baddie the plant so they have that flexibility and even how that advantage being born in village. So we use hip a lot. So it comes to yogasana he features Hi, so yes, it demands a whether it's powered fold some area of the hip working in the back bend the hip extends. So in many bushes we use hippo with sitting still the hip is flexed. So if you have stiffness in the hip, so our lifestyle how we grew up in It really helps. So yeah. Very, yeah. thankful to my nature the surrounding. Yeah, my parents.

Todd McLaughlin: 40:12

That's amazing. Oh, that's cool. I loved how you said that yoga is in the soil and in the air. Can you talk a little bit? Can you talk a little more? Can you talk a little bit more about that sort of understanding sounds like you have of seeing yoga in everything. Because like, sometimes new students to yoga is like, Oh, I just I go to yoga class. I do yoga posture. And then after yoga class, I'm done doing yoga. But when you say yoga, yoga is in the soil yoga is in the air that makes me think more that you're seeing everything as yoga. So I was wonder if you could talk a little more about different ways that you that you connect that like

Unknown: 40:58

oh, our ancestors. So those who taught in the village area, rural area, we still have that culture. So we when we go to temple, we bend forward and we touch your forehead. So the pushes we already have that pushes we all the asanas we've, we practice, but we don't know the name the village people Yeah, the practice if you say to do some awesomeness, most of the bushes they can do with less effort. It is in the lifestyle. Yeah. So it passed on their parents grandparents, they may be Rush's something, yes. So it is in the nature already. So one who practice with awareness. So he gets it? Yes. So when I was I was sick, and my father suggested to practice he used to practice. So I started first with Institure he was to teach the classes in the schools. He was like Sanyasi Celebi sell what we call in English. So it was a Swamiji used to teach classes and in schools and also after the class, yoga in the morning time. So it's passing on the generation to generation. So when we say soil, in the soil, we have everything. So it is for as a Indian, it's not that much difficult to catch up. And we all you have that culture, we are Indians. Yes. More culture. So we have that culture.

Todd McLaughlin: 43:11

That makes sense, Prashant? That's really cool. I appreciate you explaining it like that. I do. When can you I if I ask a question regarding your spiritual life and or temple life if it's inappropriate, please, you know, I won't be offended or please help me understand if I if I ask something that's not appropriate. But do Do you have a nice day of Avatar or like a deity that you gravitate toward in relation to your temple and or spiritual practices.

Unknown: 43:44

So for me, I do not every day, like poojas as BayCare said, the prayers, the assassin eyes, his prayer like that, I also, when I start practicing my asanas or like prayers, it's not just involved, the physical activity, the full awareness. So up to 2013 I didn't believe in God that much. So I healed and I start forgetting about how I healed my sick. And yeah, and again, a moment I started the voting Krishna, one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu incarnation of Vishnu Krishna, so everything started changing. So, I devote to Lord Krishna, even in my Shala we have Krishna small idol and many other Balakrishna photos. So once I started so the way My practice and devotion to God and surrendering so really helped me to keep me in the path. It's needed for everyone. Yeah, even no need to go to the temples every day. So our bodies temple as pksa. So it is temple. We do prayers with moving every day teaching and sharing, like that person. And finally the gratitude, the yoga, yeah. Yes, condemning.

Todd McLaughlin: 45:44

That's a great, I love that that insight, seeing the body as the temple. So I don't know how you said I don't have to go to the temple every day. Because if I'm in my body, and I'm breathing with awareness, nice. That's cool for so it's not

Unknown: 46:02

just and also the Karma Yoga work we do it full of Lao. And without expecting anything from other teaching something or the farmers. I can give most of the rural example because ice I've seen people in rural India most so it's really connects. So it helped me to keep grounded. Yes. It doesn't matter how much we grow. We must keep grounded groundedness we should have. So it really helps the rural culture the people we see every day how they work every day they work. So it really teach me and directly when we see the people because of the farmers. We are here and sitting now for days ready. Everything. Yes. So it else

Todd McLaughlin: 47:15

that's cool. Prasanna I'm curious, you made mention that you went and worked in the tech world or the IT world. And so did you during that period? Did you have to move somewhere like Bangalore to work? Or did you stay working? So I'm wondering if you were able to stay in your village or you had to maybe go to the city? Is that how that happened? Yes, city?

Unknown: 47:38

Yes, city. After my two years technical course. I went to Bangalore to start working. So I it was not that much interested to go for iOS studies. It was always like more technical. Like I studied electrical and on to your scores, and went to industries. So started doing some trainings, then moved to our MNC No, I don't like to mention the company but MNC. So one of the famous MNCs. So it was most like technical to fix things. So I'm much interested on it. Yeah. So in 2013 2013, I went to Bengaluru for my next one year goes apprenticeship. After two years studies, three years it equals to diploma, two years vocational training, and one year industrial training. So three years is like diploma. Yes. So Electrical and Electronics and then move to an MNC. So worked from 14 to 20. So what there is corporate world with no paper. So the end moment I didn't like much. So I always used to practice and more like different world, not like Yeah, so I still learn a lot, not just yogasanas and also electrical, electronics. So it really helps. It really helps in our practice our teaching. So we start thinking more technically, instead of just blindly. So that's one of the plus.

Todd McLaughlin: 49:49

That's cool for me. That's really cool percent. I like how you made that

Unknown: 49:53

skill and also, I have some gears. I set up everything on my On the assembly, my wife started helping me for that. I, even I watch movie, I see more technically the camera work the angle, the graphics, so I enjoy more technical part. So I still I held the interest in the technical world, like electrical electronics. I didn't like the involvement in the corporate world. I left that. And also I got invitation like, I appeared in Central State Government exams and I got government job like teaching in technical training centers. Yes, training center is the post Cold JT Whoo, Jr. Training Officer. So I got the job, and I didn't go. So yoga. Yeah, so it's good to have that technicality within and applying that technical, into our practice, in teaching, no need to go and teach that the same. knowledge helps us it's no need to get only yoga. And it doesn't work that way. So whatever we learn, we've been learning everything is plus, I see. So I just focus on one thing my tagline the pressure on the yoga tagline also says that a Kata to RBSA means study on one thing, one single thing, whether we practice asanas, or next level Pranayamas can use any other sport or accurate data to our biasa study or non single element, it could grow when we study is on single element, that technical knowledge helps us

Todd McLaughlin: 52:11

that makes sense.

Unknown: 52:13

In my classes, I use all the gears I have. So I am technical. So I set it up very quickly. So it really helps. So to teach those zoom classes, not only just a class, the camera angle, the student should be able to see me for that we should have a proper camera angle, the lighting, and the soft light. So having that knowledge really helps. So we teaching yoga, even I am in my village. So I have the technology. I know how to use it. So no matter where we are, if you know how to use it.

Todd McLaughlin: 53:00

Yeah. I mean, that is so cool. personick really to think like, the way you're explaining the technology, obviously learning it, but that I mean blue one that we can even have this conversation right now, you know, on other sides of the world and, and we can connect like this. And to like you said, you can be in a rural village setting and you have access to the whole world for teaching is pretty amazing. I'm curious, you had said that it was around about like, 2020 When you set all this? Was that pre the pandemic happening? Or was it that the pandemic kind of hit? And did you decide like you're living in Bangalore? Like, let me go back to my village? How did that

Unknown: 53:49

permanent employee at I MNC. So I had a secure job. So I had a secure job. Still, I didn't want to stay in that environment, like pulling business always. So I didn't feel that much. Great. The N one D is everything. For me. Yes. So the surrounding how we the surrounding. It matters. So I decided to leave the company. And to start at least start my like, full time yoga mind teaching nice. I used to teach a bit when I had time. And after 2020 I was not that much active on social media. Because of my work and practice. I just work practice. I wasn't rotational shift, work, practice. I didn't used to go for a trip. Even one day trip. I didn't go with my friends. Oh, I miss my practice. I can't come. Yeah, I was like that so dedicated. Yes,

Todd McLaughlin: 55:04

yes,

Unknown: 55:04

we must be dedicated on something what we, that really helps. So I had that strong practice. Strong practice helped me to become a very strong mentally. And my thought process, everything was clear. So I decided to leave that job and left.

Todd McLaughlin: 55:28

Congratulations, Prasad. Yeah. Thank you. That's, that's a big I understand. It's a big, it's a big leap. I'm so happy that it's working for you too. I mean, you are doing an amazing job with with your, you know, being being accessible, you know, for people to meet you. Can you explain a little like if somebody's listening, and they want to join you for a yoga class. So we just go to your website and sign up and, and we can take class with you. When you when you're teaching on Zoom? Are you? Are you? Are you watching the students? Or are you more demonstrating in front of the camera and just wanting the participants or the students to kind of watch and follow you? How do you conduct your Yeah, your zoom teaching

Unknown: 56:22

and zoom teaching. I have a very good setup online, for online. Good, the internet and the cameras, they have everything and the correct camera angle for their student. If the sequence is new for them. I demonstrate the sequences. Yes, all the challenging positions, the steps, I teach everything, it comes to astanga. Sometimes we have my style online, it is not that much effective. Mostly the lead classes and other vinyasa classes. So most of the sequence I built and the same sequence when the new students come. And I align with Shirley and teach like spotlight. I spotlight me and demonstrating using the probes and also virtual adjustments. And it's been amazing. That's so cool.

Todd McLaughlin: 57:25

Yeah, yeah,

Unknown: 57:27

I was it for student to catch up.

Todd McLaughlin: 57:29

Nice. I really want to join you for a class. I will I will join you here soon. And and practice with you. Yeah, welcome. That would be amazing. I really appreciate it. So we

Unknown: 57:42

have a website. Now currently for online platform, we have practice now. Prashanta yoga dot practice now.us. So okay, it can also be that link sleeves T student, not everyone, for everyone is not possible to come in person and practice. So online world really helps. If we know Yes, how to teach students, many of my students got benefited. They been still loved to practice online. So sometimes it's needed like retreat workshops, in person classes. Yeah, those who can't come somehow have family commitments, and their work. And it's easier, no need to point go to point A to point B, we waste our time. So we need a small space and laptop with some time maybe phone. And if you know how to use technology. As I mentioned, it's easier. Yes, online is readily accessible for everyone, every part of the world. My students been very happy to practice with me.

Todd McLaughlin: 59:07

That's so cool. For some, you know, it's funny, I remember when I before computers were available. So I'm thinking like back, I was born in the 70s. So, you know, I grew up without technology. And I kind of thought that technology would somehow get in my way of spiritual practice or yoga practice, like, like it would be it would somehow like come in between me and my practice. And I think it's pretty fascinating how we've actually been able you're able to demonstrate that the technology can actually help improve our connections and, you know, yoga and spiritual practice. Do you think that do you come across a other people around you in India that might look at what you're doing with technology and say, Why are you messing with all that technology you should just be focusing on? You know, just like, you know, without the technology, do you come across that way of thinking much? Or is most everybody Are you finding? Yeah.

Unknown: 1:00:23

It's is not a yogi or those who just go and live in mountains last isolating on everything. So not call him a yogi. So one hole just evens everything. Yeah, as much needed. Yeah, yes, I need social media to spread knowledge and what I practice, the same my like minded people start following as they get motivated, then those who are interested, they can reach us they also start their practice, the technology really helps if we use it in the right way. Yes. So social media the same, how much we should use, I use social media for my classes to share my practice. So good to reach people, instead of isolating on one place. Yeah. It's easier.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:01:33

Good. Good answer. Prasad, thank you.

Unknown: 1:01:37

Isolate completely, non stop,

Todd McLaughlin: 1:01:41

doo doo doo. Is that more along the teachings of tantra in relation to, you know, use everything to your, you know, if it helps you use it type of philosophy versus say, the aesthetic approach of going away into the out into a mountain and leaving behind and like you said, God, you know, removing more and more things out of life. Do is is, is Tantra Yoga is something that you talk about or think about, or is that just a natural way of living for you?

Unknown: 1:02:20

No, no, no, no. Not Tantra Yoga. So it's not needed for as spiritual practitioners. Those though in the practice, no need to cut off everything. Yeah. So we need it. Day to day life. We need it. We need everything. Yes. But in a limited way, how much we should use to it should have control on it. Yeah. When we have disciplined practice. It's easier how much? We should use it.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:02:55

Good. Good point.

Unknown: 1:02:56

I got a social media. Yes, social media is like for more people use it, start using it. After some time it started using them. So that means they don't have control. So they're just wasting the time. It comes to me that really helped me social media. I'm nothing without social media. So thanks to those who been posting their practice and astanga videos. So I'm very thankful. Yeah, I say thank to them.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:03:37

Great, great platform.

Unknown: 1:03:41

Yeah, and the theme helps other when I post, my practice, and also no need to record everything these days. I call them InStyle gears, they just need a post on their feed on their profile. They just practice on and off and post. I've seen those students. The pushes are so good on their social media, it comes to life practice. They just struggle, a lot of struggle because they don't practice actually. And also some teachers, not some, most of the teachers 80% They don't just practice. So because of the teaching schedule. Yes. As a teacher, he must practice. He must practice. So based on that he can teach. Without practice, one cannot teach. So for me, it's like hell helps a teacher practicing and demonstrating the students learn quickly. It's an effective way of teaching and instead just a lot of philosophy. More practical has Swami Vivekananda. One said, one on subtract is, is equal to 1000 pounds of theory. So it's true to everyone, every practices. It applies everywhere.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:05:23

Great point, Prashant. I like hearing that. Thank you. I appreciate that. I'm so thankful for you taking time out of your day and scheduling this form with me. Thank you so much for salt, this has been a really great opportunity. I would like to be respectful of your time, because I know we're coming close in on like an hour together here. Is there anything else that you would like to add to the conversation or share in the attempt of closing our conversation, anything else you'd like to share with our listener?

Unknown: 1:06:06

Or any other points? You can mention the points. So he asked about my childhood, my core weight, and teaching. And any other you want me to?

Todd McLaughlin: 1:06:32

I think we, I don't know, I think I feel like I feel like we covered the the main bases. I mean, what I mainly heard and felt is the awareness of the simplicity. And, and I just really loved how you brought so much attention to how you just start breathing. You know, just like through the breathing practice, that's seems like what informed I also really appreciate how you mentioned that you feel like yoga is just coming from like a natural place for you, you know, like, and that you're able to learn, but also let it just kind of come from practice, like just putting the time in and being being really focused. I also really loved hearing about how you've transferred your technical skill, like your training or technical training, and then just apply that study of the technicalities over into your yoga practice, which I don't know, I love that aspect, too. I think that's really cool. And I love how you've embraced all this technology. And I also really liked that you mentioned that the social media, like how much good has come out of that, that you're just sharing your practice and how people can learn from that. So I think it sounds like having that level of intent at the, at the basis of what you're doing is just, it's coming through. So I really enjoyed this. Thank you so much for Sean. And I love here. I love hearing I love hearing about your dad, I love I love hearing about your dad and I also I just want to share real quick dad's story too. My dad comes and practices yoga with us every morning here and in he's so consistent with his yoga practice like it, he doesn't miss a day and he's so consistent and I just feel so thankful to my dad for showing me that kind of consistency. So when you were telling me about your dad, I just thought that really made me feel good just thinking about him and and the way you could look up to him and how hard he works like what a great example. So, I loved hearing those stories. Thank you for sharing all that. Welcome, thanks Prashant.

Unknown: 1:08:54

It can ask about why one should practice yoga.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:09:00

The question of why you I can ask you why? Why one should Well Why Why should we? Why should we practice.

Unknown: 1:09:10

So, for humans, awareness, so, we practice to become more aware of what we are now and also to become better human being. Not to become better in Asana. By culturing we culture, our consciousness through practice. So consciousness about so conscious when we are very conscious and very aware of with our actions, the world become a better place. So it's more about what we say it's our journey. So it's really important to become more aware, the awareness is everything we see. Let's see. I'm in the rural area, we have a beautiful lake, like one kilometer from my house 10 years before, it was so clear, no plastic, no beer bottles, nothing. It was so good. Good. So if I go there now a lot of broken beer bottle pieces, I can't even walk on barefoot, not of plastics. So these are all happening because the people are becoming not becoming that much aware. They lost their awareness. If they have awareness, they don't do that. For the nature. It also bad for the people we practice yoga to become a better human being. So better human being better surrounding. If you're good, be do good to others. And also good to the nature nature is everything.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:11:13

Yes, he has good answer. Good answer for sound. That's a good way I see that. That's a really good point. I love it. I like your I really appreciate your message Prasanna, that's good. I think that's important. Thank

Unknown: 1:11:35

you for having me,

Todd McLaughlin: 1:11:36

thank you so much for not I can't wait to publish this, I will. I will be in touch with you. And and when it's time to share this, I will share it as far and wide as I can. So hopefully, more people can come study and practice with you. I think what your message is in relation to being a better human trying to improve ourselves and also thinking about nature is like yes, absolute key thing. Yeah.

Unknown: 1:12:08

And also you ask like, what is your future plans? That kind of questions you can do teaching only in village or teaching in Mysore have any future plans? In person? That kind of questions they can ask.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:12:26

Yeah. Can I ask you now or should we should we? All right. What are your future plans for South? What What do you dream? What do you dream? And what do you envision for your future?

Unknown: 1:12:39

So my vision is to practice and teach, share more on my practice, and teaching positive messages through practice and teaching. And also, we have currently online classes going on in the future. From September, I'm hosting in person classes, offline classes, and miso city, so that people come and learn. And some, as I said, the courses some sequence, we can teach all the sequences and the clears the bundles, everything online, and also in the future, maybe end of this year. Next year. We have the plan to our app is coming soon. So I've been working. My wife and I have been working on that site. And also we have team from Israel. They work on technical, and our app will be up soon with some good content so that people can go to like courses. We will be planning, we are planning for the courses like week, one, week, two, week, three weekly plans, monthly blends courses. So those who can't practice, I will think live or in that Stangl glasses. They can also practice using the content. So we have coming app, our app is coming soon. And also from this September, I will be in Mysore in person classes. Instead of interest students can come and learn. I also enjoy teaching and learning from them.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:14:37

Yes. Oh, yeah. That's cool. personna. That sounds amazing. I look forward to excuse me checking out your app. And I would love to come visit back in Mysore. I would love to come practice with you. I had such a good experience going to India. I learned so much. I love I love India. I I love the culture. The food is so good. The I love visiting the temples and starting to try to understand the the philosophies and everything is just so incredible. They're so that sounds amazing. And I'm happy to hear that you're like, you know, focused and working so strong to build a really amazing, you know, teaching, teaching sort of platform. It's cool to hear your wife is helping you too. That's awesome.

Unknown: 1:15:34

FCSS she's been helping me before my pattern. Yes. And now her role to manage things. She's the manager now. Nice. So most of the things she manages

Todd McLaughlin: 1:15:47

Is she the one I noticed on your on your Instagram handle you gave credit to another Instagram handle that is managing your account. Is that your wife? Yes, yes. Wonderful. Cool. Yeah.

Unknown: 1:16:02

I'll stop the time. She manages my page.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:16:05

Yeah. Okay. All right. Well, she's doing it was challenging

Unknown: 1:16:08

to handle social media practice making videos. Yeah, she been acting me.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:16:17

And that's, that's really cool. Oh, man. Well, thank you so much for song. This has been such a pleasure to get a chance to meet you. And I really look forward to hopefully I can we can do this conversation, have another conversation in the future. And I also want to join you on the zoom for some yoga classes. So I will definitely come check you out. And I I thank you so much.

Unknown: 1:16:45

I should say thank you, to you. So it's my good fortune. So you introduce Thank you for having me. And bought your podcast. Thank you. Thank you very much for having me. It's my good fortune. Namaste.

Todd McLaughlin: 1:17:15

Native yoga Todd cast is produced by myself. The theme music is dreamed up by Bryce Allen. If you liked this show, let me know if there's room for improvement. I want to hear that too. We are curious to know what you think and what you want more of what I can improve. And if you have ideas for future guests or topics, please send us your thoughts to info at Native yoga center. You can find us at Native yoga center.com And hey, if you did like this episode, share it with your friends, rate it and review and join us next time.

Unknown: 1:18:02

Well yeah,