Page 32 - Adhiyoga Purana

Adhiyogi in USA and Yoga
Arriving in the United States brought a profound shift for Adhiyogi. It wasn’t just a geographical move; it was the unlocking of long-awaited freedom and access—especially for his Yoga journey. Now in the land of vast libraries, open-minded communities, and abundant resources, Adhiyogi immersed himself deeply into the practice and study of Yoga. He could finally read original yogic scriptures, absorb ancient health knowledge, and study nutrition, biology, psychology, and even public speaking, all of which enriched both his spiritual and intellectual path.
Beyond books and theory, Adhiyogi’s strength was practical experience. He experimented with yogic techniques, studied the effects on his own body and mind, and verified his understanding in conversations and practices with open-minded students and friends. His life began radiating the benefits of this synthesis of Eastern spirituality and Western methodology.
By 1997, Adhiyogi had become a U.S. citizen, a milestone that vastly expanded his opportunities. However, corporate America did not resonate with his deeper self. When the U.S. Army project he worked on ended in 1998, he lost his job—an ending that would mark a powerful beginning. His supervisor, noticing Adhiyogi’s lifelong devotion to Yoga, suggested that he teach it professionally. Until then, Adhiyogi had shared Yoga as a service, almost entirely free of cost for two decades.
His boss arranged two trial opportunities: one at the nearby Unitarian Church, which welcomed spiritual paths of all kinds, and another at the U.S. Army Fitness Center. However, the Army canceled at the last moment because Adhiyogi lacked an official Yoga certification—a concept that was foreign to him.
Curious and determined, Adhiyogi contacted the Yoga Alliance, the recognized body for certifying Yoga professionals in the U.S. After reviewing his deep and diverse yogic background, they declared it exceptional and honored him with their highest-level designation— an extraordinary recognition. This endorsement quickly opened doors, and Adhiyogi soon became a well-known Yoga teacher in Northern Virginia.
In 1998, he began teaching professionally and developed a unique approach known as the Authentic Yoga System. Unlike limited versions of Yoga that focused only on physical postures or breathing, his system embraced the full breadth of yogic knowledge—covering philosophy, meditation, breathing, health, and spirituality. His teachings reached schools, universities, government departments, churches of multiple faiths, wellness centers, and senior citizen institutes. Thousands of people—students, teachers, doctors, musicians, dancers, psychologists, and more—were deeply impacted.
In 2001, Adhiyogi began training teachers. His very first batch had 14 students. Over time, he trained hundreds—each one turning into a thoughtful and impactful teacher. His lineage was growing, not just in numbers, but in spirit.
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