My Story

Early Life

Born into a family where Yoga has been part of life for 5 generations, my formal yoga education started at the age of eight years at a Vedic school. The day began with a yoga class, my very first yoga class; it was very awkward. Even though yoga was not new to me, I often saw my father doing it. It was my first time. I was looking around, trying to copy other students. Guruji was walking around with a stick and giving instructions. I wanted to look good and make a good impression, but I was so nervous and had no idea what to do. Still, in the end, somehow, the whole experience was beautiful, and I started to look forward to the yoga class every morning.

Not long after that first awkward moment, I remember Guruji calling me to the front and showing the new poses on me. I was timid, so I had mixed feelings of shyness and pride. More than 80 children were looking at me and trying to copy me in the class.

As the years passed, I started to assist Guruji in teaching the class, helping students much older than me. Guruji already saw my physical flexibility and ability to teach and help. But I never thought in my wildest dreams I would one day be teaching yoga to others as my profession.

Moving to the Netherlands

With years of teaching experience, I came to the Netherlands in 2007 with my total life savings of 1400 Euro and two suitcases mostly filled with food. I tried to find a job as a yoga teacher, but I failed to find one, primarily because I did not speak the Dutch language (I still don't).

As the eldest son, I had the responsibility to support my family. I took labor jobs in the factories and warehouses. I worked the whole week, lived in a 7m2 room with no furniture, slept on the floor, sent half of my earnings to my parents, and managed my living with the rest of the 500 Euro per month for the following year.

Life was difficult. With no sight of things improving, I lost hope that things would ever change.

The Moment of Realization

One night it snowed, and then it was raining. I had to work the night shift at a warehouse located at a 12 km distance. I left for work on my bicycle, which had seen better days. The seat used to twist, and even the wheels were not straight. Due to the icy road, I fell many times. Every time I fell, the cycle chain would come off, and I had to put it back.

It was dark, cold, and raining. I fell again, hard this time. My clothes were all wet, my hands all black and greasy; the cycle was broken and not moving. I panicked because I was running late for my shift, and I knew the supervisor might not allow me to work today, and I would lose a day's income.

Suddenly, tears came in my eyes, and I could not hold them back.

I was 28 years old, worked since I was 14, and tried to earn money to support myself and my family. I did not have any fun or go out to parties like other young people.

I did not leave my family, friends, and country to live like this. 

I realized I could not wait for something good to happen or for someone to come along and help me out of my misery. Only I had the responsibility to change it. 

I decided to start my own yoga classes in the evenings while working in the factories in the daytime. In November 2008, I began to teach yoga classes in an old closed school gym hall. I hand-made posters for my classes and placed them in organic shops, supermarkets, and the university.

Life started to change. Even though I was teaching in English, classes were running full. I knew it would all be fine now.

Seeing the blissful faces of students after the end of class would give me a beautiful feeling of inner satisfaction. I had found my purpose, and I was doing what made me happy.

I realized I wanted to help others to do the same. I wanted to share all I have learned and help them take control and live a happy and balanced life.

When growing up, I assisted many yoga teachers. Still, I always felt something was missing in how yoga teachers were teaching. It is one thing to have a good self-practice and another to have the skill to help others.

Most of the yoga teacher training courses I experienced were not focusing enough on teaching skills. So I decided to create yoga teacher training courses to teach the practical skills essential to train and teach efficiently; this passion for helping others succeed drives all of us at Arhanta.

Beginning of Arhanta Yoga Ashrams

In 2009, I founded a yoga ashram in India where people could come and train with me in an authentic ashram atmosphere. I see yoga as a way to master the five senses, so I named the ashram 'Arhanta Yoga', the yoga to master the five senses!

In 2013 we opened another yoga ashram in the Netherlands, especially for the people who wanted to have authentic training and ashram experience but were not keen to travel to India.

Since 2009 I have trained over 12000 yoga teachers worldwide and published a book in four languages.

In the beginning, I only taught the Classical Hatha Yoga training. Since 2016 I also began teaching newer yoga styles to provide my students a broad spectrum of knowledge. 

I am a lifelong learner and student, training under the best teachers on the planet to develop and enrich the knowledge I bring to my students. I studied Yin Yoga with the founder, Paul Grilley, and Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson, to name a few.

In 2017 we decided to create online versions of our courses. Many people from remote countries wanted to learn from me and could not travel to our ashrams due to life obligations.

At Arhanta, we don't just teach yoga. We teach you how to reach your potential, develop skills and confidence and take control of your life.

To read reviews and students feedback please visit: Ram Jain Reviews