Quick summary: This yoga experience blog comes from Bogdan Tascu - Romania based yogi who spent one month in Rishikesh doing 200 hours yoga teacher training at Ekattva Yogshala. It covers a chaotic bus station in Delhi, freezing first night, room heater that changed everything, and pranayama practice that cured his sleep.
His verdict? “If you have not practiced yoga in India, you have not known true yoga.”
A Yoga Experience Blog. Narrated by Bogdan
Yoga has drawn a growing number of international fitness enthusiasts to India, all hoping to learn the ancient practice and begin a spiritual journey. Rishikesh is the birthplace of yoga, where yogis have spent entire lives discovering and sharing their knowledge with the world. Ekattva’s experienced yoga gurus do the same, training international students through our 200 hours yoga teacher training course.
This yoga experience blog brings you the journey of Romania-based yogi Bogdan Tascu, from his arrival in India to his month at our yoga school. Bogdan completed the YTT course and shared his yoga transformation story with us. He talks about India, Rishikesh and Ekattva alike.
Here’s Bogdan, narrating himself!
“Namaste. I am Bogdan Tascu from Romania. I have just spent 1 month in Rishikesh attending 200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training at Ekattva Yogshala. I want to share some stories from my journey.”
What I Was Looking For
“I hoped to find very good teachers who were serious about their yoga. Who could instill the same in their students. Other than that, I needed very comfortable private accommodation. A place where I could be with myself after the intensive yoga sessions.”
My First Few Hours in India
“I decided to take a bus from the Kashmiri Gate Bus Station for my journey from New Delhi to Rishikesh. I had never seen so many people in one place at the same time. The station was crowded, and I stood out. Too many people were looking at me; many approached me with questions. I was overwhelmed and anxious!”
“To make it worse, I could not find any bus to Rishikesh. Looking at the condition of the buses in the station, I thought there was no way I’d undertake my journey in something like that. I was worried I might die if I had to.”
“And then I saw a nice bus, perhaps 50 meters from where I stood. It was going to Rishikesh. There I also met a nice young man who, as chance would have it, was also going to Rishikesh. He became my guide for the next 6 hours. Telling me many things and helped me on my yoga journey.”
Reaching Ekattva Yogshala
“The bus dropped us in Haridwar. From there we took a rickety, crowded bus that dropped me at some place outside Rishikesh. A horde of tuk-tuk wallahs came to me offering a ride. I took my first (and hopefully only) tuk-tuk ride, and it was a misery. Cold air hit me badly, but fortunately it was a short ride, and I got down at Ramjhula.”
“I was not able to contact my school by phone. This made it difficult to reach there. I found a small bakery that allowed me to make a phone call to the school. They sent someone to pick me up.”
Bogdan’s tip for anyone coming to India? Get a SIM card with a local mobile number at the airport itself when you land. With mobile data, it becomes much easier to find the information you need.
His guide was a stroke of luck. And many travellers have similar stories. People in India are curious and helpful by nature. They may not be aware of Western nuances like respect for private space or keeping silence in public places, but they mean well.
Still, trust your inner wisdom on whether to trust a stranger and how much. Avoid accepting food or drinks from people you’ve just met. Steer clear of lonely or isolated places. And stay in touch with your hosts throughout your journey. So someone always knows where you are.
Every good yoga experience blog has a travel tip or two. Those are Bogdan’s and ours!
My First Impressions of the School
“My pick-up boy took me on his scooter and started to navigate a narrow lane. I hoped my school wasn’t there. Alas, he stopped in the lane, and the school was there. I was worried I had picked the wrong place to spend my one month.”
“I came here in February. It is winter. With no climate control in the building, my first night was terrible. I could not sleep because it was so cold inside my room. I was already regretting my decision to be here. Not the best yoga experience I was having!”
And How Everything Takes a Turn
“The next morning, I told the school staff it was very cold for me and that I could not sleep. They were visibly concerned and gave me a room heater the same day. It was warm and comfortable now.”
“I spent the whole month giving my best to every class, practical asana sessions and theoretical philosophy alike. Sometimes I wanted to wander and asked for a waiver from class to attend other interesting events happening around the same time. But the teachers were diligent and suggested I not miss my sessions. Am I glad I listened! Indeed.”
“I never missed a class. Sometimes I felt lazy, especially in the morning, and wanted to skip the Hatha session, which is the first class. But every time I felt weak, I pushed myself to turn up. And I thanked myself every time. I cannot explain how great it felt afterwards, each session.”
Curious what those early morning Hatha classes are like? Explore our Hatha yoga teacher training.
Also, noticed what Bogdan doesn’t say? He doesn’t say he felt motivated every day. He says he showed up anyway.
One Month Hence: What Difference Do I Feel
“I came here with some baggage. Past issues, a sleep disorder, and more. I know I have spent my month on something precious, because I sleep like a baby now. It is very peaceful inside me.”
“I feel the practice of pranayama, something the West does not acknowledge and integrate with its yoga practice, is the key. Regular practice of pranayama heals you. It changes you for good.”
“I want to recommend to everyone: when you feel down, demoralised, or upset, encourage yourself to practice pranayama. It will change everything positively.”
By the way, Bogdan isn’t the only one pranayama won over. Read how a software engineer found calm through his pranayama wellness journey!
Looking Back Now
“I am glad I made this yoga journey. I met the kind of teachers here at Ekattva that I hoped for. They are knowledgeable and share it with an open heart. The staff is loving and attentive.”
“I started practicing yoga two years back. But it is here, in the past one month, that I have come to understand what yoga truly is and how it can change your life. If you are a Westerner and have not practiced yoga in India, you have not known true yoga.”
“I am happy that I am taking this knowledge back to my home, where I will share it with others.”
Thank you.
Want another perspective? Read Helen’s honest 200 hr YTT review of her month at Ekattva Yogshala.
Bogdan’s journey, in short:
A crowded Kashmiri Gate Bus Station, and a stranger who became his guide for 6 hours
A freezing first night in February, solved the next day with a room heater
A month of never missing a class, even the 1st-session Hatha class
Pranayama that healed his sleep disorder and brought peace
A promise to share what he learned back home in Romania
That’s what a month of 200 hours of yoga teacher training can do. And what makes this yoga experience blog worth a read!
Share Your Yoga Experience Blog
Yoga is physical, mental and spiritual dedication that transforms you into a better individual. Did Bogdan’s yoga experience blog remind you of your own? Share your yoga journey with Ekattva by mailing your story to info@spiritualpunditz.com.
Below are the thoughts of students who completed their 200-hour teacher training certificate course at Ekattva Yogshala.
About the author
Bogdan Tascu is a Romania-based yogi. He completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training at Ekattva Yogshala in Rishikesh.
