The yogi: Sumit Kumar
The pose: Flying Splits (Eka Pada Koundinyasana)
The location: Jumeirah Beach, Dubai
The benefits: The flying splits is a tough pose, but once mastered it brings great nourishment to the body. Not only does this arm balance build up strength in your wrists, your hamstrings and hips are given a major twist too. Eka Pada Koundinyasana boosts the spine by supplying a large amount of blood to the spinal nerves, which in turn helps to digest food and eliminate toxins. The flying splits also requires patience, balance, mind-body co-ordination and resilience.
When did your yoga journey begin?
My journey into the world of yoga began very early in in life. I did my first yoga and kriya camp at age 14. My mother, the force behind my yogic and spiritual journey, introduced me to yoga and has been a constant motivation ever since.
And in 2004, you won the National Yoga Asana Championship in India…
Yes, it was a blessing. I was able to gather this knowledge by being a student at the best of yoga institutes. My very first yoga course was at Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan in New Delhi, and it changed the course of my life. I was so influenced by the way it filled positivity in my body and mind that I travelled to a city called Nagpur, in western India, to graduate in Yoga and Sports Sciences.Nagpur gave me a thorough understanding of yoga and the science behind it. But, I yearned for more, and that is when my mother guided me to go to Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in the Himalayas, by far, one of the best traditional yoga schools. I completed my Post Graduation in Yoga and Human Consciousness there.
And where did that lead you?
My work took me to Pune but I believe I was meant to be there so I could have the good fortune of continuing my yoga journey and being taught by the best ever yoga guru – BKS Iyengar. I learnt and practiced Iyengar Yoga and Osho Dynamic Meditations for the next two years.
What kind of yoga do you teach?
I teach various forms of yoga to suit my students’ needs. I believe in making yoga an integral part of life and not just a form of exercise. I have received formal training in Ashtanga Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Dhyana Yoga, Mantra Yoga and traditional Yoga.
How has yoga transformed your life?
Yoga has made me a better person, it has taught me the science to change and transform anyone’s body and soul. When you practise yoga, you start seeing the world from an entirely different perspective. By being calm and focused, a yoga student can achieve much more, both physically and mentally.
Besides yoga, what are your passions in life?
I am passionate about helping people who are suffering from various health conditions. I also love to experience nature in its closest and rawest form and I have an immense love for trekking and visiting unknown destinations. This wanderlust has taken me from Mahabaleshwar in India to Kitzbuhel in Austria.
What’s your (healthy) go-to snack?
A banana and scrambled eggs.
Let’s say you are marooned on an island – what three things would you want with you?
My yoga mat, my iPod and a bottle of water.
What two words sum up your lifestyle?
Passion and discipline.
Tell us about your future dreams…
“You may say I am a dreamer” but I dream of a more positive and healthy world and to be able to give back. I also plan to take the Lifestyle Yoga experience to every corner of the world.
To book a class at one of the branches of Lifestyle Yoga go to www.lifestyleyoga.ae
