Yoga, for many, is a path to physical fitness or mental peace. But for me and my family, it has been far more meaningful. It has become a shared language that connects three generations of women in our family: my mother, myself, and my daughter.
A shared experience
There’s no fixed age to begin yoga, and that's the beauty of it. My mother never forced me into it, and I never formally introduced my daughter to it either. It was through observation and curiosity that the habit took root. My daughter grew up watching me practice yoga — even while playing around me during my sessions. Since I started yoga seriously during my pregnancy, she has quite literally been surrounded by the practice from the very beginning.
Similarly, I grew up seeing my own mother carve out time for her yoga practice amidst a busy life. That silent discipline, that commitment to self — those were the seeds sown early on. It’s true what they say: children imitate adults, and adults, often without realising it, echo the elders who shaped them.
Today, whether we are in the same city or not, we make it a point to mark Yoga Day together — sometimes virtually, sometimes in person — by practising our asanas as one.
My go-to asana
I am not perfect at any asana, but I do practice consistently. That, I believe, is the real secret: not perfection, but persistence. The practice that has helped me the most, though, is meditation. A simple 10 to 15 minutes of stillness — no phone, no noise, just focused breathing and chanting — can completely shift my energy. The things that troubled me before I sit down no longer bother me later. In this hyper-connected world, those few minutes of disconnection can be truly transformative.
For the busy-bees
For anyone spending long hours behind a desk, just a few minutes of stretching can make a world of difference. You don’t need a yoga mat or fancy gear — just the will to stand up, stretch out, and breathe.
And if you can’t do that? Just close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Focus on that. Even five minutes of mindful breathing is better than none.
For those days when time is in short supply (which is most days, let’s be honest), I turn to simple stretches. Forward bends, backbends, toe touches — gentle movements that open up the spine and ease tension.
Advice for beginners
So how do you begin? Simply by beginning. You don’t need to be flexible, strong, or have an expert knowledge about the various asanas. What you need is daily practice, even if it’s just for five minutes. Be consistent and patient.
Every day is a new opportunity to go deeper, to feel better, and to connect—with yourself and those around you.
Yoga meets you where you are—and if you let it, it can take you where you never imagined you could go.
So, whether you are on your first sun salutation or your hundredth, know that you are part of something timeless, something powerful, and something that, when shared across generations, becomes even more beautiful.
(Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is a jewellery designer and daughter of veteran actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor)
