Sunaina Rana is a classical Hatha Yoga teacher and a spiritual seeker. She completed her Isha Hatha Yoga teacher training in 2015 and has since dedicated her time to providing yoga classes in India and Nepal.

She also volunteers at the Isha Yoga Center in Tamil Nadu, India, founded by Sadhguru.

As part of Sadhguru’s foundation, Rana resonates with their mission to raise human consciousness and establish spiritual infrastructure globally, fostering spiritual growth and well-being for all.

Rana is currently in Nepal and will provide Hatha yoga classes in Kupondole Heights, Sanepa, from the end of July until the end of September.

In this conversation with the Post’s Sanskriti Pokharel, Rana discusses the role of books in her spiritual journey, factors that drew her towards yoga and takeaways from volunteering at the Isha yoga centre.

Which books have had the most impact on your practice of yoga?

As a Hatha yoga teacher and spiritual seeker, the most profound impact of yoga comes from consistent daily practice.

Books have also been instrumental in offering inspiration and motivation. Some of the books which have helped me are ‘Mystic Musings’ by Sadhguru, ‘Life and Death’ by Jiddu Krishnamurti, ‘Awareness’ by Osho and ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ by Richard Bach.

Does yoga help in day-to-day life and emotional well-being?

Yoga has played a tremendous role in my day-to-day life. It has helped me manage stress and anxiety. For example, if a situation upsets and angers me, my perspective completely shifts after a yoga session. As a result, I feel much more settled and balanced.

What pulled you towards yoga and spirituality?

Since childhood, I have been connected to prayer, chanting the Hanuman Chalisa before bed as my nightly ritual. However, in my late teenage years, I began to feel disconnected from these prayers. I wanted to understand more and uncover the science behind such chants.

Nine years ago, when I aspired to go to the US to pursue my master’s, my body felt sluggish and stagnant due to a lack of physical exercise.

I wanted to change that as I did not feel good in my body.

The health benefits of yoga attracted me to it. Additionally, I came across marketing videos of the five-month Hatha yoga teacher training on social media, and the trainees' experiences with the teacher captivated me.

I decided to start a new spiritual journey by enrolling in the Hatha yoga teacher training certified by Isha Hatha School of Yoga.

After completing the transformative five-month journey, I participated in several advanced three-day programs and a more intensive seven-day Samyama silence program with Sadhguru.

During the Samyama silence program, I experienced profound spiritual dimensions that touched me and revealed that life could be experienced beyond the body and mind. This realisation led me to pursue the path of a full-time spiritual seeker and dedicate my life to Sadhguru’s mission of spreading meditation and yoga worldwide.

How do you counter the stream of thoughts during your sadhana practice?

When I began my sadhana nine years ago, my mind was flooded with incessant thoughts, like an explosion. Today, while I still have thoughts during sadhana, they have significantly diminished, and the experience of bliss and meditation is much stronger.

Because of my consistent practice, my thoughts have reduced and are less disturbing. I’ve noticed that the more persistent and dedicated I am to my sadhana, the better I manage the stream of thoughts.

How has reading contributed to your development as a spiritual seeker?

Whenever I lack motivation and inspiration, I turn to books. For a seeker like me, reading offers diverse perspectives and reminds me of the importance of being aware, conscious, and balanced.

In moments when my emotions are out of control and when negativity threatens to consume me, I turn to transformative books like ‘Inner Engineering’ and ‘Mystic Musings’ by Sadhguru.

These books give me wisdom and knowledge, guiding me to clarity and stability.

What is one major takeaway from your volunteering experience at the main office of Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu?

It's been nearly a decade since I volunteered at the Isha Foundation. I find it an incredibly unique way of approaching life—a special and noble path to self-transformation.

Witnessing thousands of individuals enter deep states of meditation is profoundly touching. Being part of this journey, where I gradually become free from my compulsions and see others striving for the same, has been a significant takeaway for me.

Living in the ashram teaches us to transcend our likes and dislikes. By minimising the focus on our individual preferences, we learn to respond to situations based on their requirements rather than our desires.

This approach is crucial because it shifts our focus from ourselves to the demands of the present moment. It's not an easy path to follow, but with conscious practice, we gradually become less bound by our identity and gain the flexibility to adapt to any situation.

I haven't fully mastered this yet, but this lesson holds immense significance in my spiritual journey and remains one of the most valuable lessons I learned at the Isha Foundation.

Sunaina Rana’s book recommendations

Death: An Inside Story

Author: Sadhguru

Publisher: Penguin Ananda

Year: 2020

This book eased my fear of death, both my own and that of loved ones, breaking its taboo for me. It emphasises that a well-lived life leads to a peaceful death and explores the science of death rituals across three sections.

Eating animals

Author: Jonathan Safran Foer

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Year: 2008

Foer’s writing was truly life-changing. It convinced me to become a vegetarian. It’s a well-researched exploration of the ethical and moral dilemmas over factory farming and animal consumption.

What Millenials Want

Author: Vivan Marwaha

Publisher: Penguin Random House India

Year: 2021

Focusing on Indian democracy, this book explores the aspirations and anxieties of millennials across 13 Indian states. The author examines their attitudes towards religion, politics, sex, marriage, and other topics.

Inner Engineering

Author: Sadhguru

Publisher: Penguin Books

Year: 2016

This book is a treasure trove of wisdom. It’s my go-to during life’s ups and downs or when I feel off track. It offers invaluable insights into the importance of introspection as the path to resolution.

Singha Durbar

Author: Sagar SJB Rana

Publisher: Rupa Publications

Year: 2017

Packed with numerous anecdotes, it includes nearly 100 one-on-one interviews with key figures in Nepal’s historical evolution. It’s a valuable resource for historians and anyone interested in Nepal’s history.