Yoga Abhyasa Alaya
The place for the dedicated Yoga practice.
We are Anni and Sumit Singh, Yoga Abhyasa Alaya. Our story begins in Nepal, in the city covered by millions of twinkling stars in the embrace of the majestic Himalayan Mountains.
Our paths crossed in the summer of 2019 after Anni moved to Kathmandu. Anni had injured her ankle with her dancing hobby, and ended up "rehabilitating" her ankle at a yoga studio. There, after a few weeks, she tried Sumit's class, and was charmed by Sumit's precise, positively stern, yet heartfelt and gentle teaching style. Sumit's teaching quickly conveyed the true spirit and values of yoga, and Anni wanted to learn more about them.
The idea of Yoga Abhyasa Alaya was born in the summer of 2020, in the middle of long Covid-19 lockdowns and curfews, with the monsoon rains of Nepal rattling against the windows. At the same time, our friendship also deepened in a new direction, and it wasn't long before we rode a motorcycle to the courtyard of the Kathmandu District Court and tied an eternal seal to our love.
Love and respect are the basis of everything for us. Yoga Abhyasa Alaya was born first and foremost out of our love and respect for the tradition of yoga and our teachers. We felt that the roots of yoga have been slowly broken not only in the West, but also in its birthplaces in South Asia under the feet of the capitalist market economy and postmodern neo-spirituality. The true meaning of yoga as a path to quiet the mind and explore life's big questions has been left behind.
Our goal is to nurture a teaching in the field of yoga that follows the traditions of yoga uncompromisingly but not frowning. Because specifically traditional yoga has been the one that has literally changed the direction of both of our lives in a quite significant way. That's why we feel it's worth sharing with others as well. By sharing what has brought a lot of peace, trust and contentment to our own lives, we can also help others.
As the name suggests, Yoga Abhyasa Alaya is a place for committed yoga practice. The name reflects our own approach to yoga, but our hope is also to create a place for those of you who feel a strong call to yoga. The name is a cradle, a home base, that provides the foundation for what emerges from there.
Our values are based on the ethics of yoga and we strive to convey them in our activities, practice and teaching every day.
For this reason, Yoga Abhyasa Alaya has also had a social goal from the beginning: apart from hoping to make a living from our work, we also want to support those who have been given the least in this life.
Yoga Abhyasa Alaya was born out of love, respect and a desire to help. Whatever your starting point or background, it doesn't matter to us. An open mind and an inquiring heart are all what you need.
Welcome to the path of yoga with us.
Welcome to Yoga Abhyasa Alaya.
Sumit
Sumit is a long-time trampler of the path of yoga, radiating joy and warmth. He is from Nepal.
Yoga has been a part of Sumit's life since childhood in the form of bhakti yoga. The more physical aspects of yoga came later. Sumit has accumulated teaching experience for 10 years from many different countries and cultures.
For Sumit, yoga is a way of living and orienting oneself to the whole existence. He shares the wisdom of yoga from this angle: how to make every small action a part of your own yoga practice.
Sumit's own practice consists variously of asana, pranayama, meditation, study of wisdom texts and bhajan & kirtan.
Anni
Anni is a calm practitioner who appreciates clarity, and yoga is the perfect destination for her thirst for knowledge.
Anni started practicing regularly in 2019 after moving to Nepal and discovering traditional bhakti and hatha yoga in her life. Her daily practice consists variously of asana, pranayama, mantra meditation, study of wisdom texts, kirtan and bhajan.
Anni has gained teaching experience since 2021.