What struck me about Shynee Narang’s Instagram profile @shyneenarang were the hilarious memes coupled with some funny soundtracks sparkling all over her Yoga feeds. I smiled through many of them as they were definitely engaging. I was pleasantly surprised since you wouldn’t expect mirth from a Yoga guru, even if young. Another engaging feature in her profile was her stable Yoga Mudras on hilltops, sheer daredevilry!
I decided I had to meet this popular Insta Cult Icon @cultfitofficial in person and take her interview. Found her a warm, peppy, full-of-life person who had a lot to say about the love of her life-Yoga.
1. Hey Shynee! Welcome to healthroom.in. So, were you always into Yoga?
Hey, no! (Laughs) In 2008, I got into a corporate job as a market researcher in IMRB International for 4 years and then 7 years as their consultant, so total for 11 yrs. In our HR policy, they appointed for us a yoga teacher before office hours thrice a week for one hour practice. However, within a couple of months I began feeling transformed! I had joined only to lose some weight, but I found Yoga life changing. I felt a lot of changes in my life, I was more receptive to listening to people around me, at my workplace people found me more approachable, more calm.
2. What do you think actually happened?
Even I was curious, just like you are! I wasn’t shouting at people, not reacting, smiling more, happier, skin was glowing, took all difficult situation in a chilled out manner, mind became clearer.
3. So before you began practising Yoga, were you satisfied and happy with your job?
Oh yes, my job was very exciting. I was learning a lot, travelling, learning supply chain management, it was hectic but very satisfying. However, I used to lose my temper. Everything changed when yoga entered my life. People began to come and tell me that I am different, somehow playful. When I asked my yoga teacher about it, he laughed saying ‘Welcome to the world of Yoga!’
4. Do you think it depends from person to person how you respond to yoga?
Yes, it does. If you really believe in it, if you give your 100% to yoga, you will definitely get a lot of returns. But I haven’t met a single person who hasn’t experienced it. My students come and tell me they have become more confident, better speakers, receive better opinion, understand more, better at managing emotions. This is the magic of yoga, your soul shines from within. And that is my source of creativity on my Instagram account.
5. Tell us a bit about yourself?
I studied at DPS Mathura Road, then Hindu College, after that did my MBA and then got into a corporate job. From 2008-2017, I was a student of yoga, for 9 years. However, I had no intention of becoming a yoga teacher.
6. But you are a Yoga teacher! So what happened?
One fine day I was strolling in the park and found a group of ladies performing yoga and I had left it for a while so joined the batch. Sometimes our teacher couldn’t come and the ladies had noticed that I was good so they would ask me to teach the class, I was very reluctant but they kept insisting so I just started teaching. I then went on to do some Yoga courses at Morarji Desai Institute of Yoga and then a Teachers Training Course. Since 2018, I began formally teaching Yoga. In 2019 I developed an online app to be able to reach far away people too. (Get all the details here https://www.yooyogic.com)
7. Wow! You have an interesting story there. Do you have any favourite asanas to relax your body and mind?
All are my favourites, depends on the day and my mood.
8. Do you view Yoga as a more physical exercise or a mental exercise
Yoga is a unity of the two.
9. Any event that you are looking forward to participate in?
It just went by, 21st June, International Yoga Day.
Shynee can be reached on Instagram at @shyneenarang.