Today we’d like to introduce you to Pranidhi Varshney.
Hi Pranidhi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi everyone! Readers might already be familiar with parts of my story and how I founded Yoga Shala West in 2015. Since then, we’ve made it through so much, including a pandemic, and just celebrated our seventh birthday! We did a lot to get us through the ‘lock down’ period- Zoom practices, park practices, virtual dance parties, an outdoor retreat. When I look back, I’m in awe of the strength of the community. Because of the support of our students, we were able to hold on to our lease and keep our space, which allowed us to open our doors again once conditions eased. What’s fascinating is that our student base now is almost entirely different than before the pandemic. Witnessing this has been a visceral reminder of the cycle of birth and death and an opportunity to practice letting go. Individuals, relationships, and communities all transform.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely, making it through the last few years has not been easy. Perhaps the struggle that feels the most pressing these days is parenting two young children while trying to maintain my commitment to the shala. There are always meals to cook and not enough hours to sleep! Thankfully, my partner teacher, Meredith Liebross, is also a mom (of three!) and we do our best to support each other. Becoming a mother has deepened my capacity to love and nurture. It has also forced me to become much less precious about yoga practice. I think the students at the shala appreciate this perspective. My kids are incredible people whom I have the privilege to be in a relationship with on an intimate level. They keep me humble, grounded, delighted, and exhausted.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I had one main objective when starting Yoga Shala West- to make ashtanga yoga practice accessible for more people. We do that in a myriad of ways. We remove financial barriers for dedicated students by offering a flexible fee structure, we modify the practice to suit each person’s needs, we teach in a way that fosters autonomy, and we hold the space in a way that fosters interdependence. Our students understand that they are practicing for themselves and for each other, and that ultimately yoga practice is not about following a teacher or a system but about uncovering the treasures within the heart. Teachers and systems are simply tools that we need to learn how to use wisely.
We live much of our lives online these days, disconnected from our bodies. I see the consequences of this playing out across society, especially after the last two and a half years. So anything that can get us back into our bodies, breathing, moving, feeling, is a worthwhile pursuit. This is what we’re doing at Yoga Shala West. Being in connection with other people engaging in this pursuit is what keeps me coming in day after day.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Los Angeles has some of the best food in the world! And the best farmer’s markets! Our proximity to the Pacific Ocean is also easy to take for granted. There aren’t too many other places in the world where you can drive 20 minutes and go for a swim.
The city has a reputation for being quite image-obsessed, which is certainly true in some regards. I also was not terribly pleased with how the public health bureaucracy handled the pandemic. This is a truly diverse city filled with hard-working people from around the world. It would be great to see some viewpoint diversity reflected in our leadership so that we can tackle some of the problems we face and make this city an even more joyful place to live.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://yogashalawest.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogashalawest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogashalawest
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PranidhiV
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yoga-shala-west-los-angeles
