(Above and below) Kasthuri adjusting students’ postures and alignment during her yoga classes. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
COMMENTS such as “You do this with your body?” are often heard by Island Glades yoga teacher R. Kasthuri Kalaichelvi, who has long defied norms.
“I have never let such comments get to me. What others saw as limitations, I turned into my strengths,” said Kasthuri, 55, who embarked on her yoga journey in her early 20s.
“For me, yoga is never just about the physical body.
“It is a mental and spiritual journey, one that I’ve stayed committed to throughout the past 30 years,” she said.
Kasthuri (standing) helps with the shoulder alignment of one of her students.
Indeed, this Penangite has challenged society’s expectations of a yoga teacher as well as the idea that yoga is only for certain body types.
Before she started yoga, Kasthuri had been earning well in the corporate line.
Yet, she had felt that something was missing in her life.
She recalled how she began to look for answers when her godfather, S. Balasubramaniam, a man devoted to selfless service, introduced her to community work.
“When I was 19, he took me along on a spiritual talk held in SMK Georgetown, Batu Lanchang, where I was exposed to the principles of non-violence and vegetarianism.
“This resonated deeply with me. In seeking a balance between the body and mind, I discovered yoga,” said Kasthuri.
Previously favouring gym weights and treadmills for exercising, she said yoga has kept her grounded.
“I noticed that on the days I practised it, I felt good, and on the days I skipped it, I felt off.
“Something inside me had shifted, and I fell in love with it,” she said.
However, Kasthuri’s journey did not come without challenges.
“In the beginning, my father K. Ramaiyah, a shipping officer, and my homemaker mother G. Elambal were worried about me embarking on a spiritual journey.
“My father had even feared that I would renounce the world.
“However, they finally understood and encouraged me to continue my spiritual and yoga journey.
“My godfather, who was a children’s home caretaker, and his schoolteacher wife also took me under their wings,” she said.
Kasthuri had also not been keen on marriage, as she felt that this would divert her from spiritual practice.
But out of respect for her parents, she did marry and her husband V. Pethaperumal, a schoolteacher, went on to become her biggest supporter.
She recalled how he took a loan to fund her trip to attend her first overseas yoga training held at the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram in Kerala, India.
“At the time, my husband’s family commitments had been very high as he was the head of his family because his father had passed away earlier on.
“But seeing how serious I was about yoga, he did not think twice about taking out a loan for me to become a certified yoga teacher.
“I am truly blessed and grateful to my husband,” she said, adding that he had even agreed to her taking along their firstborn − just six months old at the time − to the course.
Upon returning, Kasthuri began teaching as a freelancer in 2000.
“I used to teach at hotels, factories and anywhere else that welcomed yoga.
“I even entered a yoga competition while three months pregnant with my second child, and won second prize.
“My students grew from a few people to about 50,” she said.
Kasthuri believes that yoga must be accessible to all.
“Yoga is not a product but a path. It’s about discovering one’s self and becoming a better human being,” she said, adding that one of her aims of being a certified yoga teacher is to change people’s perception that yoga is all about physically excelling in poses.
“I want people to understand that yoga includes a commitment to consistent practice, self-reflection and exploring advanced techniques,” said Kasthuri.
She said her yoga practice had enabled her to give back to society by spreading peace, love and compassion.
“I also do various charitable projects, such as giving food to the underprivileged.
“For this year’s International Day of Yoga, my wish is for peace in the world.
“Peace begins within, and yoga is a powerful tool to cultivate inner peace,” she added.
