Awakening by the Ganges: My Journey from Fear to Freedom

I grew up in a bubble. Protected, cared for, and surrounded by the safety of family. Life in that bubble was comfortable — but comfort has a way of holding you back. Deep inside, I felt the call to break free, to discover who I was beyond the conditioning and control that shaped me.

So, trembling with both fear and excitement, I booked a solo trip to Rishikesh, India, to attend the World Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan. For someone who had never travelled alone, the thought was terrifying. What would it be like? Would I cope? But I knew I needed to do this. To step out of my comfort zone, to meet new people, and to grow — not just as a yoga teacher, but as a human being.

And there I was. I made it. Standing at the banks of the River Ganges — a place I had only dreamed about. As cliché as it may sound, something shifted inside me instantly. The river seemed to carry not just water, but centuries of wisdom, healing, and liberation.

One morning, I sat in meditation at the Ganges with my dear friend, Jyoti. We closed our eyes, and I thought maybe ten minutes had passed. When I finally opened them, an hour had slipped away. Time had dissolved. The world looked different.

I cried. And cried.

I released a tightness I had carried for years — the weight of expectations, the hold of conditioning. In those tears, I felt myself awaken. A deep connection to the universe washed over me, and suddenly, I understood: everything is energy. Everything is connected.

That was the moment my journey truly began.

After the festival, I went on to the Sattva Retreat Centre, where I completed my full Kundalini training. It was there, immersed in the teachings and practices, that my transformation deepened. The universe had its own plans too — I got stuck in India for three extra weeks due to the sudden Covid lockdown (a story for another time!). But those weeks became part of the awakening too.

Now, years later, my heart is bursting with excitement to return — not alone this time, but with a group of beautiful souls ready to experience the same magic.

✨ From January 10–17, 2026, I’m hosting a wholesome yoga retreat in Rishikesh at that very same retreat centre, by the same riverbanks where my own awakening began.

If you’ve never travelled to India, don’t worry — I’ll make the journey easy for you. All you need is an open heart and the willingness to step into something new. Because once you sit by the Ganges, once you allow yourself to truly feel, you’ll be surprised by how free you become.

This retreat isn’t just a trip — it’s an awakening. And I can’t wait to share it with you.