Page 181 - Adhiyoga Purana

Professor Nicole’s Journey into Authentic Yoga
Professor Nicole Elizabeth Capell from California had been practicing yoga for over a decade, studying with different teachers, reading countless books, and exploring a variety of approaches. While her practice brought her joy, she always sensed that something was missing — a deeper understanding of yoga’s philosophical roots and an authentic connection to its origins. That search eventually led her to Adhiyogi, and the encounter would transform her practice, her perspective, and her life.
Nicole began her journey with Adhiyogi through his 200-hour Teacher Training. From the outset, she was struck by the depth of his knowledge and the clarity of his teachings. His Adhiyoga – Authentic Yoga System blended traditional wisdom with modern application, offering her new ways to think about yoga. It was not just about poses — it was about meditation, chanting, spiritual study, and living yoga as a complete way of life.
In just two months of training, Nicole’s personal practice changed profoundly. She began balancing asanas with meditation, chanting, and philosophy. Adhiyogi encouraged interactive learning, with practice teaching sessions that built her confidence, and one-on-one meetings to help each trainee meet personal goals. The relationship between teacher and student was distinctly in the traditional Guru–shishya style, giving Nicole a unique, tailored experience she would treasure forever.
Her training also brought her into the heart of yoga philosophy. She immersed herself in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, chanting the sutras and studying Adhiyogi’s works Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – Proper Translation and Chanting and Patanjali Code Sutras Re-examined. She found herself seeing familiar texts in a completely new light, with insights she had never imagined before.
Adhiyogi saw in Nicole the qualities of a teacher before she did herself. One day, he told her firmly, “You will teach. You are a yoga teacher.” Initially reluctant, she soon found herself stepping into that role. Just two weeks after completing her training, she was offered a position teaching at a yoga ashram — without even needing to register with Yoga Alliance.
Nicole calls her training with Adhiyogi a “grand treasure”. She admires how he travels abroad to reach his students, and how he makes learning possible for anyone, anywhere — whether in person or online.
Her relationship with Adhiyogi did not end with that first certification. Over the next 15+ years, she continued to study with him — learning philosophy, undertaking advanced training, visiting India, and even traveling to the Himalayas together. She also offered her home to Adhiyogi whenever he visited the Eastern Bay, a gesture that reflected the deep friendship they had built alongside their teacher–student bond.
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