India Carries the Teachings of Yoga in every day life
India, for me, has been a second home for a while now, but also a teacher, and a mirror. Before our son was born, I lived between the Netherlands and India, spending part of the year here and part there. Because of my husband who is from India, I was not just passing through as a traveler. I was welcomed into family life, into daily rhythms, into rituals that shaped the flow of each day. I learned what it means to share meals and a full house together, to greet neighbours and strangers as if they are family itself, to flow with time that doesn’t always obey the clock.
Living within this culture, surrounded by its colors, its noise, its silences, and its deep sense of devotion, I came to understand yoga not only as a practice, but as something lived, breathed, and embodied in everyday life. India became for me a living example of what it means to be present, to trust the unfolding, and to let life itself be the practice.
How India Carries the Teachings of Yoga in every day life
India is not just a place. It is a living teacher, a mirror, a vibrant canvas where the wisdom of yoga comes alive in the colors, sounds, and rhythms of daily life. Every street, every ritual, every interaction carries a subtle lesson, if you are willing to notice, to pause, and to be present. Living here, moving between two cultures, I am reminded daily of the ways in which yoga is so much more then a practice on the mat, it's a way of living and being in the world.
Presence in the Midst of Chaos
Life in Indian cities moves at a pace that can feel overwhelming. Streets surge with rickshaws, vendors call out from every corner, and crowds ebb and flow like rivers. At first, it feels chaotic. Yet, amid this movement, I notice something remarkable: stillness. A chai vendor pours tea with calm focus, a monk sits in silent meditation by the roadside, a family shares a meal with quiet joy despite the noise around them. Yoga teaches us that stillness is not the absence of sound, but the ability to find our center within the movement, sthira and sukha, steadiness and ease, as Patanjali describes. India embodies this lesson every day.
Time is Fluid, Life Unfolds
Schedules, timetables, and punctuality often dissolve in India. Trains may arrive late, shops open “soon,” and yet, somehow, everything unfolds as it should. There is a natural rhythm here that asks you to surrender to timing beyond your control. The yoga of surrender, ishwar pranidhana, offering to the greater flow, is alive in every moment: trusting that life has its own timing, and that what is meant to happen will arrive when the moment is right.
Hospitality as a Form of Love
Even in scarcity, there is generosity. Guests are welcomed like family, strangers open their homes, offering chai, food, or simply space with warmth and care. Yoga speaks of ahimsa, non-harming and compassion, extending love beyond boundaries. Here, the principle is lived effortlessly: hospitality is a form of devotion, a tangible expression of care for the other, teaching that presence and openness are far more nourishing than possession or wealth.
There’s Always Space for One More
Life here constantly reminds me that abundance is not measured by what we have, but by what we share. A crowded train, a full dinner table, a small scooter, there is always room for one more. Yoga philosophy calls this aparigraha, the practice of non-possessiveness and letting go of attachment. India teaches that true richness comes from generosity of heart, from the willingness to make space, to include, to share. Even when resources are limited.
Trust the Process, Flow with Life
Plans shift, roads are blocked, and detours appear unexpectedly. And yet, somehow, we arrive. India is a living lesson in vairagya, the art of letting go and detachment, not from life, but from the illusion of control. The journey matters more than the outcome, and every obstacle is an opportunity to practice patience, faith, and trust in the natural unfolding of life.
Adaptability and Resilience
Sunshine turns to monsoon in minutes, power cuts break conversations, and schedules are suggestions rather than rules. Yet, life continues. People adapt effortlessly, moving forward without struggle or resistance. Yoga teaches us santosha, contentment. India shows that resilience is not about forcing life to conform, but about aligning ourselves with its flow, accepting change as natural, and moving through life with flexibility and ease.
Jugaad: Creativity and Resourcefulness
Here, every challenge invites creativity. Need a seat on a train? Fashion one from a backpack. Need to fix a broken utensil? Make do with what you have. India embodies karma yoga, action without attachment to the result, showing that solutions emerge naturally when we act with presence, resourcefulness, and mindfulness.
Simplicity is True Abundance
The richest moments are rarely extravagant. They are found in a shared meal eaten with hands, in the laughter of children, in the stillness of sunrise over the Ganges. Yoga reminds us that sukha, joy, and contentment are found not in accumulation, but in presence, connection, and awareness of what is. India carries this wisdom in every subtle gesture, every ritual, every smile.
“India does not just change the way you see the world; it changes the way you see yourself.'“
If these lessons from India resonate with you, I invite you to experience them firsthand. To walk the streets, temples, and riversides where life and wisdom flow together. To immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythm of this incredible land, and to let its teachings unfold naturally within you.
The Yoga Retreat Experience in India are designed as a space for presence, reflection, and gentle transformation. Together, we will explore the essence of yoga on and beyond the mat, through nourishing practices, connection with local culture, and simply being in the midst of life as it is.
Here, you will have the opportunity to:
• Witness life in its fullness, embracing both its chaos and beauty.
• Practice presence and surrender, noticing the subtle teachings of every moment.
• Reconnect with your inner rhythm, guided by the natural flow of the environment and your own being.
• Experience community, hospitality, and sharing, finding abundance in presence rather than possessions.
This retreat is an invitation to trust in the wisdom of the journey itself. To be guided by what unfolds.
