Page 209 - Adhiyoga Purana

Zoé — France
Zoé first met Adhiyogi in 2015, entirely by coincidence, at her cousin’s home in London. This cousin was already one of Adhiyogi’s most serious and dedicated students, and Zoé happened to be visiting for only a few days. For most of her stay, she didn’t cross paths with him—until the very day before her departure.
That morning, curiosity overcame her hesitation. She asked him if he could teach her a few yoga exercises before she left. Adhiyogi agreed, and they had a single, one-on-one lesson. In that short time, he observed her closely and instantly recognized something rare: an exceptional grasping ability, unwavering focus, and genuine sincerity. He said nothing then but quietly stored this impression in his mind.
Months later, an unexpected message arrived from Zoé. She wrote to tell him that, through regular practice of what he had shown her that single day, she had managed to stand on her head. It was an achievement that revealed her persistence and inner discipline. This time, it was Zoé who took the next step—she decided to formally train with him.
In 2018, she traveled to Pune to complete her first 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) with Adhiyogi, with 100 of those hours credited for the most profound project she has undertaken—her perfect French translation of his book Adhiyoga – Authentic Yoga System. This was not just a linguistic exercise; it was a deep study, forcing her to understand every layer of meaning in the text so she could render it faithfully in another language. Adhiyogi himself has often said this translation is a result of her precision, insight, and dedication.
Between January and June 2021, Zoé went on to complete her 200-Hour Online YTT with Adhiyogi, bringing her total to 500 Hours YTT. She describes her time learning with him as “an intense journey,” one that allowed her to slowly integrate what “Yoga” truly means—not just as a set of physical exercises, but as a complete path of awareness, rooted in tradition yet adapted to modern life.
Through the training, she came to understand the uniqueness of Adhiyoga (AYS©)—how it stands apart from classical or other modern yoga systems. For Zoé, YTT with Adhiyogi was not about memorizing a fixed formula of classes; it was about becoming a conscious, creative teacher, capable of crafting sessions aligned with clear goals and the needs of specific students.
Adhiyogi adapted every step of her training to her personality, goals, and sources of joy. Along the way, he introduced her to other trainees, friends, and students, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere that helped her integrate not only exercises but also the philosophy.
Looking back, Zoé sees her journey with Adhiyogi as one of the greatest blessings in her life—a path that began with one impromptu lesson in a London living room, and grew into years of study, creation, and mastery, culminating in a teacher who can now share the depth and essence of Adhiyoga with the French-speaking world.
OM Shantiḥ.
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