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When people in Zurich ask me why I keep returning to India, I often struggle to put the feeling into words. How do you describe a place that doesn't just show you sights, but actively breaks your heart open and asks you to purify it?

My journey with yoga didn't start in an ancient temple; it started on YouTube when I was a teenager in Switzerland. Back then, like so many practitioners in the West, my experience was largely centered on asana (physical postures). I loved the movement, but I knew deep down that physical postures were just one stop on a much longer train route.

Then came an impulsive, late-night decision at 2:00 AM in 2018. I booked a one-way ticket to Rishikesh for a yoga teacher training. I wasn't even planning to become a teacher—I simply wanted to understand the roots of this practice and visit a land that had fascinated me through novels since childhood.

When I landed in Delhi after a 34-hour journey, the sensory overload was immediate. But within days of arriving in Rishikesh near the sacred Ganges River, the initial overwhelm shifted into a profound sense of home.

[EMBED YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE]

Watch my full conversation on the India Calling podcast with Sabin Rodriguez, where we dive into solo travel in India, overcoming travel anxiety, and building a spiritual community back home.

Beyond Asana: Discovering Devotion and Sangha

In the West, yoga is often marketed as a solo fitness routine or a business. But traveling to India stripped away those superficial layers. Sitting by the Ganga, hearing the constant hum of life, and experiencing the warmth of local hospitality taught me that yoga isn't something you perform—it's how you live, include, and show devotion.

One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter back home in Europe is the fear surrounding travel to India, especially for solo female travelers. While navigating cultural differences requires awareness and common sense, my personal experience has been one of immense safety, warmth, and generosity. From simple street-side chai offered by elders to moments of quiet contemplation before giant statues of Hanumanji, India welcomed me with open arms.

Bringing the Wisdom of Rishikesh Back to Zurich

My personal dharma—my purpose—is to serve as a bridge. Returning home to Switzerland after being immersed in India's spiritual heart is always bitter-sweet. But I realized that the true test of my practice isn't how calm I feel in a secluded ashram; it's how much of that gratitude and presence I can cultivate in my daily life in Zurich.

Today, I share these learnings through regular classes, mantra chanting circles, and dedicated teacher gatherings (Sangha). We explore:

If you have been practicing yoga for years, I encourage you to consider making the journey to where it all began. Traveling to India is more than a holiday—it’s an offering of gratitude to the land that gave us this sacred knowledge.