8: Indira Das Gupta

This week I’m talking to Indira Das Gupta.

Indira has been teaching yoga for 14 years, is a senior yoga teacher and studio owner based in north London. She was born in London to a Polish Mum and an Indian Dad so is of mixed race heritage. She tells us the story of how her parents met (which is such a chance meeting!), what her childhood was like and her experiences of going to a Catholic Grammar school. Prior to establishing her yoga studio in North London, Indira had a successful career in journalism as a news reporter, working for the London Evening Standard. She shares what it was like to work in a newsroom (dispels my myths that it was like working with Clarke Kent, Lois Lane and Jimmy), how she managed the fast pace of very tight deadlines and how she coped with being pigeonholed by her bosses early on in her career. She also worked at celebrity magazines like Heat and Closer and was even news editor at lads’ mag Zoo in the nineties…don’t judge…hear what that was like! We discuss the huge competition there is for teachers, especially those who are newly qualified and the prevalence of teacher training programmes. As well as joining in my (new) Quickfire Questions, Indira also talks to me about the challenges she has faced and continues to face as a studio owner during the pandemic and the harsh and heartbreaking reality of having to contemplate closing her studio.  

Her Savasana Sounds are Todd Norian - Bija: Soothing Music and Mantras and Craig Pruess and Ananda - Devi Prayer

Please let Indira know what you thought of this episode - you can contact her through her social media (she is on Facebook and Instagram) and her website is www.nlys.co.uk 

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About

Your host is Jules Buchanan, a British yoga teacher in her forties. Married (without children, but with a gorgeous Labrador called Diesel), she’s Brummie born but is now based in Bedfordshire and has been teaching yoga for 3 years. 

Find out more about Jules by visiting www.thatyogawoman.com 

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If you have any feedback or know a yogi, teacher or studio owner that you think would be a great guest, then email me: [email protected] 

The next episode is out in a fortnight.