Yoga with Gayoung

“Between Kapotasana and now, I had a baby” is my kind of introduction at the shala this season. The last blessing Sharathji gave me in July 2022 was Kapotasana. Between then and now, so much has happened: several IVF attempts, one miscarriage, getting pregnant in Korea, moving from London to Beijing, giving birth to Victor, postpartum depression, and a body learning new limits.

And yet, I made it back to Mysore—for the fourth time. Still (at the time of writing) ‘stuck’ in Kapotasana, but ironically feeling free, blessed, grateful, and happy. I know this is thanks to my supportive and understanding family and friends, and to all the teachers who have walked beside me, every step of the way.

My first trip to India was 15 years ago to do an internship at a women’s rights NGO in Mumbai. Before starting the internship, I first went to Sadhana Forest near Auroville. I volunteered on a reforestation project and met many people from all over the world. Among them was a woman who impressed me so much; she was travelling alone in India with a small boy! In Sadhana Forest we lived in a hut made of grass, wood, and fabric walls. There was no flush toilet, no shower, and no electricity. We lived extremely simply with limited comfort. Yet this woman decided to bring her child and they looked very peaceful and happy. So I thought one day I would want to bring my child to India as well.

With Sharathji’s passing I hesitated for a long time whether I should come to Mysore this season or not. I am still suffering from some postpartum issues that restrict my asana practice, and to be honest, I was a bit afraid to bring my 14-month-old boy. But after talking to my teachers, I realised Sharathji is physically not here, but apart from that, nothing has changed. The community is still here, the practice is still here, Sharathji’s blessings and energy are here and I am here with a small boy. It was only my mind that was a bit confused.

So here I am, bringing all the support I could muster (namely my husband and my mum). I feel immensely fortunate to be able to be here, practising in honour of Guruji’s legacy.



#샤랏요가센터

Last week I covered my teacher for a week. As I had only assisted in Mysore classes, this was my first time guiding people as a main teacher. I was a bit nervous in the beginning, but soon after I became a part of people’s concentrated energy and helping came naturally. During that week I thought of Hamish a lot and reflected on other teachers who dedicate their whole life to this practice and dutifully share the teachings by honouring parampara. I felt the utmost respect for the late Sharathji and for all my teachers who have shown me unwavering devotion to yoga practice. It was such a humbling and rewarding week.

* In Beijing, there are only a handful of authorised Ashtanga teachers. And I am very lucky to have found two amazing teachers, and They have been guiding me through my pregnancy and helping me with long-term postpartum recovery ❤️‍🩹


#아쉬탕가 #마이솔 #베이징 #베이징요가 #北京 #瑜伽 #北京瑜伽 #阿斯汤伽北京 #阿斯汤伽

For the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling immense gratitude for the Ashtanga practice and community. It is not always easy to have a sense of belonging when you live as a trailing spouse, especially when you’ve become a mom and have to embrace a new identity in a foreign country. But by virtue of the Ashtanga yoga tradition, I could practise the same principles of yoga under the guidance of great teachers wherever I went, whatever situation I was in. Ashtanga yoga has become a major part of my life and has been the driving force to get through any challenging situations. Ashtanga yoga is where I belong.

Upon hearing the devastating news of Sharathji, I couldn’t do much but just be on the mat like any other day… My excitement of counting days to go back to Mysore turned into a sense of loss. One of the big lights that was guiding my path has gone. I still don’t know how to grieve; I feel lost in how to deal with all kinds of emotions that are rising inside me. I guess the best I can do at this moment is to carry on with the feelings that I had for the tradition and community of Ashtanga yoga. Cherish the ties that bind us together and keep practising what he has taught us.

⭐️ Teaching schedule update ⭐️

Mon 9:00am - Hip Opening
Tue 7:00am - Ashtanga Half-Primary
Tue 1:00pm - Prenatal Yoga
Thu 7:00am - Ashtanga Half-Primary

At Avisha Space near Taikooli

I am also teaching private lessons in Sanlitun area 🙏


📸 by my husband in London🩷



#아쉬탕가 #베이징 #베이징요가 #북경 #북경요가

After 7 years, 3 countries, 11 transfers and 3 miscarriages, we finally have our ‘miracle’ baby in our arms. I don’t think I was ever committed to achieve something for so long and so hard. For the last 7 years, my life has been evolving around IVF treatment and many times I didn’t feel I owned my body and soul. The expression I often used to describe myself was ‘a pig in an experimental room’. To me going through this was a true yoga practice. Trying to grasp the meaning of letting go and not expecting the fruit of my actions. How can you not expect to have a baby after going through countless and such invasive procedures with so much physical and mental pain. It was a real dilemma and was tremendously frustrating every time it failed. But somehow I was quickly up again and was ready to try for another round. I was becoming very resilient and was actually getting used to failing. As time went by, I didn’t have my hopes high up. This journey taught me to just go on whether the faith was clear or faded along the way. And this mindset was slowly being applied to my asana practice and to other life challenges. Throughout the whole pregnancy, I had been very cautious and was afraid of possible adversities but at the same time I felt forever grateful that this new life had finally come to us. I trusted our baby with all my heart and he is finally here in our arms. Staying on this long and painful path wouldn’t have been possible without all the loving support from my husband, family, friends, teachers and medical teams. What a great journey it has been and I am excited and thankful to live my remaining life as his mother.

It’s difficult to put in words. London has been very special to me. I loved every moment of my life in London thanks to its diversity, to all the beautiful people I’ve met and to my dear teacher Hamish. It’s also the place where we adopted our handsome 🐱 boy Kumi. So London is undeniably special to me. But the time has come to say goodbye and we are off to next adventure 🤍

some asana photos from last year, taken in London by my husband (it was for his photography course & exhibition!)
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It’s been almost two months since I came to Korea. I’ve been practising alone but it was not consistent especially with frequent hospital visits. So this week I joined a local yoga studio to motivate myself more. I didn’t really realise in the beginning but this was my first time joining a yoga studio in Korea. How exciting! It’s always refreshing to learn new things and reflect on my own practice and teaching. Of course I miss Dharma Shala and London in general but I am grateful that I was able to find a safe space where I can continue my practice in my small hometown 😁



#요가 #아쉬탕가 #아쉬탕가요가 #런던요가 #매일수련 #요가사진 #런던 #안성 #안성요가 #수련 #요가수련 #요가자세

What a dynamic journey has it been so far in Mysore. Just 2 weeks before I arrived in Mysore, I recovered from malaria that I got from my safari trip to Uganda. I was hospitalised for 5 days in London and felt like dying. I thought it was one of the most horrible things people must avoid. And here in Mysore, from the first day of the study season I felt the similar symptoms. I hoped they would go away but they didn’t. Second practice was done with lots of sweat, little bit of body ache, but with alert mind, and with Sharathji’s kind understanding. The next day my body temperature shoot up to 40.3 degree and I got hospitalised for the next 4 days. Apparently malaria can relapse only within 2-3 weeks in the same tropical climate. Doctors and nurses were very patient, kind and curious. Some nurses treated me like a baby, with actions like pinching my cheeks and caressing my head. Some others asked me how I maintain my ‘young’ look, and I answered ‘yoga asana’. My doctor talked to me about Patanjali and told me to do more sirsasana when he discharged me. Now I am back in Gokulam and feeling better but it wouldn’t have been possible with my friend Mirang’s() attentive and motherly care and surprisingly quick and efficient treatment from the hospital. I hope to get stronger and be able to continue my practice. As my teacher Hamish said, ‘Don’t go with the flow, be the flow’.



#아쉬탕가 #요가 #건강한마음건강한몸 #마이소르 #샤랏요가센터 #아쉬탕가요가 #인도

제 스승님이신 해미쉬 헨드리 아쉬탕가 요가 서티파이드 티쳐의 요가 다르마 한글판이 출간되었습니다. 요가 다르마는 바쁜 일상에서 영감이 필요할 때마다 찾아볼 수 있는 요가 철학 포켓북입니다. 문의 및 주문은 를 통해서 해주세요 🙏🏼



#요가다르마 #해미쉬헨드리 #요가철학 #인도철학 #아쉬탕가 #아쉬탕가요가 #아쉬탕가서티티쳐 #파타비조이스 #아쉬탕가요가런던 #철학책자 #요가철학책자 #쉬운요가철학