Meet Anisha
Throughout my life, I was always taking dance classes, ballet throughout childhood and college, to house classes at Urban Movement Arts in Philly and Koresh Dance studio, moving my body was always a tether throughout all of my jobs. In 2010, I stepped into my first yoga class in the city, and got a taste of everything this practice had to offer, from the asana practice, to the breathwork, to the ease it gave me after each class I would take. My yoga practice has been my longest relationship and seen me through every phase of my life and it truly is the gift and anchor that keeps on giving.
Classes of mine incorporate mythological stories I grew up reading and hearing from my family, from tales of the Goddesses - durga, parvati, and kali, to Hanumans adventures, the stories of Shiva and Ganesh, and so many more. Growing up and having these stories as a part of my childhood, relearning and sharing them now continues to act as reminders that these divine characters are a beautiful reflection of us. All of their virtues and qualities are facets of our daily lives, and retelling the stories through my own westernized, informal, modern lens continues to give the lesson that we are all capable of so much more than we realize. In addition to mythology, I love to choose a pose or two in class and offer it in many variations, with a variety of props to find different access points into the asanas.
A favorite part of practicing yoga is the way it immediately settles me into my body, how I can be present with myself and my breath, and feel the energy of the others in the room, it is an indescribable feeling. When in the seat of the teacher, being able to offer classes that offer folks autonomy to choose their own choices in the practice, hearing them ask questions and be curious!
Co-leading a 200 hour training has and continues to be an absolute dream. From the moment folks reach out to Adriana and myself, to the group of assistants who hold and support us and the entire cohort, to co teaching with Adriana, it feels like alchemy to watch the teachings and the practice reveal itself to the students. While 10 months in the beginning seems like a long time, each year we seem to be left wanting more and more, for the conversations are so rich and the guests that come from far and wide offer such wisdom that we get to learn from each year. The magic of teacher training is of course in the teachings we share, but seeing the genuine connections form amongst the group. It's such a beautiful thing to watch the community and deep friendships that build while people are sharing a long process of learning new skills and being vulnerable and relying on each other for support.
This next round of training, I'm continuously looking forward to working with Adriana, being in her company enhances my teachings, continues to bring me new joy for this practice, and I feel myself learning more and more from and with her each time we are together. I'm also so looking forward to our time with all of our guests! From Dr. Sheena Sood, Roopa Pai, Alex Holmes and so many more - each time they share their wisdom with us, I learn something new that informs my practice and life outside of the yoga studio.
My advice for new yoga teachers is to continue to be in the mind of a student! Each person that walks into your class can offer you something different to learn from, in regards to how you teach, what you have to share, and it only refines you as a teacher. Continue the connections with your fellow teachers, co collaborate on classes, and share each other's classes and workshops within your own networks!
Online I can be found at @anishachirmule on instagram!
Outside of the yoga studio, I love to spend time outside, visiting gardens, learning about new plants, swimming in any body of water I can find, going out dancing, and spending time with my pup Remy. I spend a lot of time quilting, making quilts for friends, loved ones, and myself - it's a truly meditative practice for me.
Take Class with Anisha at the studio Mondays at 12 pm and Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
To learn more about our 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training visit us HERE