Today we’d like to introduce you to Hema Thottakura.
Hi Hema, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From Corporate Hustle to Classical Hatha: My Journey Back to Balance
For a long time, I thought I had it all figured out.
I was living the classic 8-to-5 corporate life—climbing the ladder, managing numbers, enjoying weekends like they were little pockets of freedom. Weekdays were for spreadsheets and deadlines, weekends for dinners, movies, and parties. I was happy. I genuinely believed this was the perfect life. “This is it,” I used to think. “What more could I want?”
But life has a quiet way of tapping you on the shoulder when you’re not paying attention. For me, that tap came as a subtle pain in my right shoulder and neck. At first, I ignored it. I was too caught up in my work, too immersed in the rhythm of everyday life. After all, I was healthy, active, and committed to fitness—hitting the gym, practicing hot yoga, always moving. But the pain didn’t go away. It worsened. Eventually, even driving became difficult. I found myself gripping the steering wheel only with my left hand.
The diagnosis? A herniated disc in my neck.
The pain was intense, but what hurt more was the realization that my body—the one I thought I was taking care of—was calling out for a different kind of attention. Our bodies never lie; they reflect the stress our minds are going through. We often think we’re doing fine, but when a part of the body starts to hurt, it’s a sign that we might be carrying mental or emotional stress without even realizing it. Even though I had an active lifestyle and worked on my physical health, I wasn’t doing much for my mind. That’s when I began transitioning from hot yoga to Classical Hatha Yoga. Slowly, steadily, the practice worked its magic. Not only did I heal physically—completely, in fact—but something deeper began to shift. Hatha Yoga isn’t just about the body. It’s about every breath, every posture, and the attention we give to both. This kind of yoga makes us turn inward, offering ourselves the attention and care that our mind and emotions often need. Unlike typical yoga, which mostly focuses on the body, Hatha Yoga works on both the mind and body. And that’s when I realized the full power of Yogasanas.
That’s when I began transitioning from hot yoga to Classical Hatha Yoga. Slowly, steadily, the practice worked its magic. Not only did I heal physically—completely, in fact—but something deeper began to shift.
Hatha Yoga wasn’t just another workout. It reached into places that gym sessions and quick meditations never had. It touched my mind, my emotions, my breath, my being. You truly can’t comprehend what Hatha Yoga does until you experience it.
Throughout my corporate career, I had been riding an emotional rollercoaster. Every organizational change, every shift in leadership, every email marked “urgent” would send my emotions spinning. And it wasn’t just work—I carried this volatility into my personal life too. My mind never felt still.
But once I began a consistent Hatha Yoga practice, a new kind of stability took root. My body felt stronger, yes—but more importantly, my mind was no longer held hostage by what was happening around me. I stopped reacting to every bump in the road. Instead, I started witnessing. I started responding from a place of calm.
And that was the moment I knew—this treasure I had found wasn’t just for me.
After over a decade of dedicated personal practice and a profound transformation, I took the leap. I left behind my full-time corporate job and immersed myself in Sadhguru’s Classical Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at the Sadhguru Gurukulam—a 21-week, 1750-hour journey that not only taught me to teach but taught me how to live.
Today, I teach not just poses, but presence. I share not just yoga, but a path that brought me back to myself. And that’s why I do what I do—because I know what it’s like to be stuck in the chaos, to feel ungrounded, to live for the weekends. And I also know that there’s another way.
Now based in Dallas, where I’ve lived for the past 25 years with my loving husband, daughter, and our playful pup, I travel not as a tourist, but as a seeker—drawn to spiritual and natural places that nourish the soul. I volunteer with Our Village Our Responsibility, support children in rural India through online English classes, and host an online Tamil radio show that keeps me connected to my roots.
My life today is simpler, yet so much richer. It’s no longer about chasing balance—it is balance. Yoga gave me that. And my greatest joy now is to share it with others, so they, too, can come home to themselves.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were quite a few struggles along the way—some physical, some emotional, and definitely some practical.
One of the biggest was deciding to take part in the 21-week Classical Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program. It was a full-time, residential course, and that meant I had to leave home and stay inside the ashram for nearly five months. That wasn’t easy. I have a family, aging parents, and a life I was deeply rooted in. My parents were concerned and it is understable. It took a lot of heartfelt conversations and reassurance to help them understand why this path meant so much to me.
On top of that, leaving my corporate job was not a light decision. I had a stable, well-paying role and had been part of the corporate world for over 18 years. Letting go of that steady income meant letting go of financial security—for both me and my family. We were suddenly down one salary, and that kind of financial shift brings a real weight with it. It was scary. There’s no sugar-coating that. But at the same time, I felt this deep conviction: if I didn’t follow this calling now, I might never do it.
And then, just as everything was coming together, life decided to test me again.
Three weeks before the program started, I had a small cycling accident and ended up with a ligament tear in my right ankle. Suddenly, even walking was a challenge. I had to travel to the ashram with wheelchair assistance. A part of me wondered if I should postpone. But something inside said no. I didn’t want to teach yoga just from a place of knowledge—I wanted to go through the experience fully, with all its ups and downs. That, I believed, was the only way I could truly help others.
The first few weeks of the program were hard—physically painful, emotionally intense, and full of long hours. But then something amazing happened. My body began to heal naturally, just through practice, the atmosphere, and the deep sense of inner focus. And somewhere along the way, my doubts began to fade too.
Looking back, I know if I had let fear, injury, or financial insecurity stop me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have grown into this version of myself, or been able to share this gift with others. Hatha Yoga changed my life—not just my body, but my entire inner landscape. And I knew I had to pass that on.
So yes, it was hard. It stretched me in every way. But every single challenge taught me that growth only happens when you step beyond your comfort zone—and that real stability comes not from a paycheck, but from knowing who you truly are.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about yuktas yoga?
What is the difference :
The classical Hatha Yoga I teach now is In-person and goes much deeper. It’s grounded in ancient teachings that connect not just with the body, but with the mind and energy as well. While Vinyasa and similar modern practices often center around fitness, the classical Hatha Yoga I offer is deeply experiential. These practices are about connecting to your inner self and unlocking deeper states of health, clarity, and spiritual insight.
My training is from the Sadhguru Gurukulam, a lineage that encourages a more profound connection to the true essence of yoga. Here, we explore timeless practices like Yogasanas, Angamardhana and Surya Kriya— tools that create balance and transformation in both your body and consciousness. These are powerful tools for personal growth emphasizing on breath and energy which makes it far more than just exercise.
How we teach :
We teach these practices in the form of models and programs, providing you with the structure and guidance to follow along on your own at home. After completing the program, you’ll have the foundation to continue practicing independently. We also offer daily classes to support your ongoing practice, ensuring you to stay connected and supported as you progress on your journey.
Why In-person : Classical Hatha Yoga, involves subtler aspects that require in-person guidance to fully understand and experience. These practices are deeply nuanced, and the smallest adjustments in posture or breath can make a profound difference in how your body and mind respond. In-person instruction allows us to guide you through the more subtle, transformative aspects of these practices, which are harder to convey through virtual or written instruction alone.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
For me I feel Determination. I think what helped me stay the course was the ability to listen to that inner voice and trust it, even when the circumstances outside didn’t make it easy. And that quality—being determined, but also deeply aligned with my purpose—is what carried me through.
It’s not about pushing hard or being overly ambitious. It’s about being consistent, committed, and willing to walk through discomfort when you know something truly matters. That’s what helped me transform, and it’s what now allows me to help others do the same.
Another quality I hold close is the willingness to break my own limitations. I believe we should never become a hindrance to our own growth. I’ve always strived to be a joyful person—someone who’s easy to live with for my family, and easy to work with for others. That joy doesn’t come from the outside; it comes when we stop resisting life and start saying yes to it.
I’ve learned to approach life like a volunteer—showing up wholeheartedly, without expectations, just with a sense of offering. Whether I’m teaching, parenting, or simply going about my day, that spirit of openness and willingness makes everything more meaningful. It’s not just about success in the conventional sense—it’s about being available, being present, and being joyful in whatever I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yuktasyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhogi_to_yogi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hema.thottakura
Image Credits
Isha foundation
Frames by Asha
