Graduated with a law degree, when Helena first started to work, it was for a government organization. The work environment was high pressured, intellectually stimulating and required quick thinking. It suited Helena’s personality of liking to have changes and being able to explore various things. But, the chronic pressure and stress also took a toll on her mind and body and it showed up as anxiety and fatigue.

In 2009, Helena tried her first ever Ashtanga class. Aside from sweat and achiness, she didn’t get much out of the class. But in time, she began to enjoy more and more the process of the practice, the calmness in the midst of movement and the balance in between the breath and flow from one pose to another. And later when she started Mysore practice, where she had to face her fears head on, she realized all that anxiety and fatigue from work were all due to her worrying personality, the part that was always concerned about the outcomes of gaining or losing. Ever since then, Ashtanga became an important part of her asana practice.

Pranayama practice was a starting point for her to turn from asana to meditation. In her first 200-hour teacher training, she was introduced to pranayama and classic yogic texts. Loving to read, write and reflect, she dove into the vast world of yoga philosophy. She has studied with Tiwariji regularly in India since 2011. She also ended up going to India to complete her Pranayama teacher training in 2015.

Established in 1924, Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute was founded on traditional yoga and scientific research. Its founder, Kuvalayanandaji and his disciple, Tiwariji’s pragmatic attitude had greatly influenced Helena’s practice and teaching. Tiwariji emphasizes that as a teacher, one must have a true, solid practice, an ability to observe oneself and one’s students, and accumulate experience, in order to convey knowledge, experience, energy, and the essence of life. To Helena, it has been a wonderful journey to go from Ashtanga, a practice of moving meditation to pranayama, a long seated, seemingly still practice, yet with a vibrant inner flow.

The study of Ashtanga, Pranayama and yoga philosophy is enough to take a whole life to explore. Helena continues to advance her learning in these and related areas. She wishes with time and experience, through teaching asana and pranayama, she can pass on the subtle, intricate mind/body practice. From her past experience of teaching prenatal yoga, Helena had learned to let go of her strict self-demands and recognized that there must be a relaxed teacher first before there can be relaxed students. This same belief is carried over to her other yoga classes. She hopes to accompany the students to explore themselves in a safe environment, to find a practice of their own, to reconnect with the body, brain, breath, and their natural innate peace.