Meet Nabin Kumar Shahi of Yogashala and Reiki Center

Hi Nabin Kumar, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born and raised in a Himalayan country, Nepal, I unknowingly started to learn about Yoga as part of culture. Only when I was 11 years old I formerly started learning Raja Yoga attending to the Raja yoga school with younger brother, Sabin, who was the first yoga teacher of my life. Later in my late teenage, I went to yoga ashram in Godawari, Lalitpur, Nepal with the advice and guidance of my aunti, Meena and learned for a year about classical Hatha yoga, meditation, healing techniques and life lessons under the tutelage of Yoga guru and philosopher Dr. Yogi Vikasananda. In order to expand my understanding and practice of Yoga, with the advice of my dear friend Uttam, I went to Mysore, India where I learned Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

After learning and doing Yoga Sadhana for more than 10 years from various sources and teachers, I started teaching Yoga in Kathmandu, Nepal. I have many amazing life-long friends ; without their presence and endearing company in my life-path, I would not have become able to experience the glory of sharing Yoga to the world with such joy and dedication. Since I got in teaching Yoga to others, I have had the privilege to teach in different prestigious yoga schools of Nepal to name a few; Nepal Yoga Home, Sooriya Wellness and Yoga Center, Institute of Natural Medicine Nepal, Yogalaya Nepal, and  in few other private sessions.

Moving to Atlanta, USA in 2017, I started to continuing my passion for yoga despite all the challenges I had to face in a new place where everything is new and different from where I had lived for more than two and half decades. In spite of all those livelihood challenges, I continued following my passion. I went to nearby Yoga studios with the request for Yoga class; few accepted the offer; few put me on waiting list. I started my yoga teaching formerly at Yoga General, Decatur until it was closed even before pandemic hit the world. Through the help of my community people, I was offered to teach at the community center. After both were closed, I moved my practice and center at my basement, where I have still been offering my yoga, reiki, and singing bowls sessions as Yogashala and Reiki Center.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road so far due to various reasons; few remarkable reasons I happened to experience are; cultural differences, economic challenges and transportation. When I first moved to Atlanta, I was not driving and completely new to the place, I needed to get the driving license to go to the yoga studios to teach classes. It took me about four months to get the license but I had to buy the car. Only after a year later I was able to buy a car to drive to the classes. I was using relatives car before I bought.

Cultural and sometimes language barriers also were some of the challenges I needed to come up with. Even though you think you speak and write grammatically correct and formal English, the accent and pronunciation you have makes the difference in most of the time. It’s true that language is just a medium; however, it’s not easy for a yoga teacher to give a lesson without making the students understand what you are teaching through your instructions.
It took a while for me to figure this out that pronunciation matters more than your writing and speech in most of the time. Until today, I am still learning to pronounce better; but I think the road of struggles has been smoother now compared to where I was when I started.

As you know, we’re big fans of Yogashala and Reiki Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
First of all, Yogashala and Reiki Center is not just an another institute for Yoga and Reiki. It’s more like my cultural representation. In other words, Yogashala and Reiki Center is a manifestation of my cultural values. Yogashala offers yoga merely not for offering Yoga rather, it’s deeply connected to its root and origin i.e., culture. Through Yogashala, I am representing my culture and am offering my cultural beauties to the world in the name of Yoga. Yoga for me is more than just a profession. I have been continuing Yoga out of deep respect and dedication to my cultural practice.

Yogashala offers and stands out as a practice where you come to learn a traditional and pure form of Yoga practiced in the Himalayas. Yogashala strives to share the irrevocable wisdom of the ancient world to modern people for physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.

Yogashala specializes in offering Classical Hatha Yoga; under which you have all the different names; Whatever you practice on your physical level with postures, it comes under Hatha Yoga. Despite this core value of Yoga definition, for general understanding, many names have been given to the practices; We offer classes; Private Yoga Instruction, Family Yoga, Couple Yoga, Group Yoga, Pranayama (Breathing) class, Dhyana (meditation) Class. We have been providing the services to all age group ranging from 5 to 85 so far at the comfort of their home and also at our practice Yogashala. Therefore, we are open for every age group of practitioner and enthusiasts to offer these services at Yogashala as well as in- home private sessions.

We provide different styles of yoga classes; Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Pranayama (Breathing -in general understanding) Practice, Meditation Session, Singing Bowls session, and Reiki Session.

Yogashala offers the most traditional and original form of Hatha Yoga. For all the seekers and practitioners, who would want to learn about Yoga in its purest form, Yogashala is the best suite for you where you learn the lesson from Himalayan yoga teacher who was born and raised in the Himalayan country Nepal.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The moment I am able to help people on Yoga, I am the happiest man in the world. Through the teaching of ancient wisdom called Yoga to the people, It gives me the sense of contentment. Because I feel this is my deepest passion and voice of my heart.