In this week’s article of our Rediscovering Ayurveda series, we interviewed Himangee Joshi.
A walk through her journey
Himangee’s journey with Yoga started at a very young age when she gained interest in Dhyana (Meditation). Soon during her teenage years, she discovered her love for dance and fitness and started her Zumba training and even started teaching Zumba. During this time, Himangee noticed her brother, a regular yoga practitioner, which influenced her to try the traditional practice, which she found monotonous before.
This experience changed everything for her, inspiring her to continue this for the rest of her life. Even though she was a beginner in the classes she had joined, it made her feel positive and got to see the change in the people around her. This inspired her to teach the art to others and make them feel what she did. However, she had to master the art herself to reach that stage. Hence she started attending teacher’s training and advanced teacher’s training. She didn’t stop there; she continued her learning by reading more and understanding the crux of Yoga.
“Of course, one’s journey starts with Asana, but it truly begins when you start living it off the mat and make it your lifestyle.”
She mentions that Yoga taught her how to stay in the present moment rather than worrying about the past or future “Because it is all in this moment.”
Achievements & Motivation
When we asked her what do you think is her biggest achievement, she humbly replied with the best answer any teacher would give us-
“My biggest achievement is the difference I’ve made in my student’s life.”
She mentions that one of her students successfully managed diabetes with the help of consistent yoga practice, while another experienced healthier menstrual health. Also, she improved her mental health, which helped her work on her insecurities and fears. Her inspiration for doing all this came from her fellow yogis, teachers (Deepika Mehta), and students who have bought a positive transformation in their lives with the help of Yoga. Also, something that motivates her to keep going is her life itself, which helps her to look back in time from where she started to where she is now.
Read about: 5 Inspiring Women Who Took the Ayurveda Way
Daily Routine
As a Yoga practitioner and teacher, Himangee starts her day at 5 am by taking a shower and then practicing Yoga, which she considers the best part of her day as she learns from various other yoga gurus. She then conducts Yoga classes and has breakfast which consists of nuts, fruits, and chana or moong sprouts.
She then continues to take classes around the clock and has home-cooked meals. In the evening, she takes a break for some me time by taking a walk at the riverfront or meditating. She also indulges in reading, watching movies, and maintaining her social media, where she receives immense support and knowledge. Further, she meditates before retiring for the day.
Ayurveda & more…
Himangee mentions that for some, Yoga is a part of Ayurveda as both target the same goal. However, there is a difference as Ayurveda focuses on rejuvenating the body, keeping it disease free, while Yoga Also works to purify the mind and body to keep them in their best condition.
She believes that together they both work for the best health one can achieve. Due to this, there has been a lot of awareness regarding both, as once the benefits of Yoga are genuinely understood, then one is bound to spread the word and awareness.
While she was working on growing in the world of Yoga and Ayurveda, she inculcated a few habits which helped her out and now shares them with us for #Amrutam Family:
- Oil pulling as soon as one wakes up.
- Dry brushing before taking a shower. (gharshan-kriya/abhiyanga)
- Eating meals according to Ayurveda (only eating seasonal fruits and vegetables)
- Practicing pranayama and Yoga Asana everyday
- Doing Yoga Kriyas (cleansing process) once a week
- Using natural products for hair and skin.
Read About: Five Simple Ways to Incorporate Ayurveda into your Life
Tips for all
She also shares the tips and tricks that she learned along the way -
Tips for health care
- My first and most important tip will be that one should take care of their mental health. Become aware of your thoughts. Become aware of what are you feeding to your senses.
- Be mindful of what works for you and what does not. Do not follow anyone blindly.
- Always listen to your body.
- Do yogic Kriyas like Jal neti and sutra neti.
Tips for skincare
- Get enough sleep, eat clean food, and drink enough water.
- Workout regularly.
- Use clean skincare, and try to go for natural products.
- Know your products, ingredients, and what works the best for you.
- Do kapalbhati every day for 7 minutes for glowing skin.
- Avoid using too much hot water on your skin.
Tips for boosting immunity
- Take care of your gut health.
- Again enough sleep is essential.
- Do Yoga asana and pranayama.
- Use the right supplements in your routine.
- Avoid the consumption of caffeinated beverages; drink herbal tea instead.
Read about: The Best Ayurvedic Products To Boost Immunity
Message for #Amrutam Family
As we came to the end of the interview, we asked her to give a message for our #Amrutam Family that they could learn from -
Don’t compare your progress with anyone else, every individual’s journey is different. Focus on yourself and your progress. And keep going, remember every day is different. Your body might not feel as same as yesterday that should not stop you. Be patient with yourself.
Himangee mentions that she is excited to try Amrutam Kuntal Care- Do-it-yourself Hair Spa & Amrutam’s Face Clean Up as she loves products made with natural herbs and ingredients.
We are grateful to Himangee Joshi for her wonderful work as a teacher and are honoured to have her as a member of our #AmrutamFamily!
