Returning to Dharamkot: My Healing Journey & the Heart of Authentic Yoga

Maria Chandler Authentic Yoga Teacher

There are places that become quietly woven into your story—steady and subtle over years. For me, Dharamkot is that place. Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, it’s become my second home—a sanctuary I return to whenever life calls for deep healing, clarity, or simply a renewed sense of self.

My journey with healing and yoga began long before my most recent challenges. I was born with my right foot completely out of place—a detail that shaped how I moved through the world from the very beginning. In those days, babies like me weren’t put in casts, so I grew up with a “wonky” right side, always adapting and searching for ways to come into balance, especially as a lover of dance. Over time, I started calling my right foot my guru. As painful as it has been to work toward realignment, it’s from this ongoing process—this lifelong relationship with my body—that I’ve found my deepest healing. Each step, however imperfect, has taught me about patience, presence, and the slow art of coming home to myself.

Over twenty years ago, I discovered the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre—a place that would quietly become one of the most important anchors in my life. When I first arrived, I was far from being the model of discipline. In fact, maintaining a steady yoga practice has always been a huge challenge for me. There were many times I’d drift away, lose focus, or get frustrated with my own lack of progress. But something about this centre kept calling me back. It’s here, in the quiet rhythms of Dharamkot and under the gentle, unwavering guidance of the teachers, that I’ve learned what it really means to listen to my body. Each return has felt like a homecoming—a chance to reconnect, realign, and start again, no matter how long I’ve been away or how much I’ve struggled with creating my own daily practice. Coming here is always an invitation to come home, with this holistic practice.

YOga în the Himalayas

Last June, my life changed dramatically when I was hit by a car. I was left with lingering pain and nervous system challenges that at times felt overwhelming. Even though I found my healing chai to be a huge support during this time, deep down, I knew exactly where I needed to go to for deep healing. We didn’t evolve with cars; we evolved with lions, and being hit by a car to our nervous system is much like being attacked by lions. It takes time to heal.

While physiotherapy is incredibly valuable for targeted rehabilitation and physical recovery, it’s often focused on specific injuries or movement patterns. Ancient yoga practice, on the other hand, brings a much deeper, holistic wisdom—addressing not just the body, but also the mind, breath, and spirit.

Yoga’s roots offer time-tested tools for alignment, self-awareness, and healing that go beyond just “fixing” a problem. The integration of mindful movement, breathwork, and presence can support emotional resilience, nervous system regulation, and a sense of inner peace—something many physiotherapy sessions simply don’t have the space or philosophy to cover.

The Centre has always offered me more than just yoga; it’s given me the space, patience, and encouragement to meet myself exactly where I am. It’s not about perfect discipline or flawless poses—it’s about showing up, listening, and allowing the slow, deep work of healing through correct alignment to unfold.

I am deeply grateful that places and teachers like Sherat Arora and Maria Chandler exist—people so dedicated to the path of yoga that, no matter where I am in my own journey, I feel able to begin again. Their commitment creates a space where it’s possible to re-enter practice with real depth, honesty, and care. The 5-day courses they offer are profoundly deep; I truly recommend them to everyone, regardless of your experience or where you’re starting from. You’ll find you’re able to meet yourself exactly as you are—no pressure, just presence.

Authentic yoga, as I’ve come to understand through their guidance, is not about pushing the body violently to or past its limits. It’s about alignment, awareness, and patience. We spend hours bringing attention to the foundation of every pose—the alignment of the feet in standing postures, the grounding of the centre of the sitting bones in seated ones. The thoughtful use of props is a hallmark of this approach, allowing us to stay in the poses longer, to explore, and to really listen to what’s happening inside. This way, the practice becomes less about performance and more about self-discovery and gentle transformation.

Maria, in particular, brings warmth, patience, and a deep understanding of embodied awareness to her teaching. Her classes are an invitation to slow down, to tune in, and to let the body find its own way—moving with integrity and compassion rather than force. I’m so grateful that she’ll be coming to the UK this summer to offer workshops and classes. If you’ve ever longed for a practice that goes beyond the surface and truly supports healing, this is a rare opportunity to learn from someone who embodies depth, compassion, and integrity.

Maria Enjoying Turmerichai®

Special Offer for the Emaya Community:

As Maria absolutely loves Emaya healing chai blends; For UK customers: if you enroll in any of Maria’s courses using code CHAI10 and CHAI15 you’ll be entered into a draw—3 winners from the first 10 sign-ups will receive a free bag of Emaya Chai to support your own healing journey.

To celebrate Maria’s visit, she’s offering:

10% off her online Women’s Yoga Classes https://www.online.hiyogacentre.com/courses/yoga-for-women/

15% off her 5-day Intensive https://www.online.hiyogacentre.com/courses/yoga-foundations-course/

If you’d like more details on Maria’s upcoming UK workshops, just reach out—I’d love to help connect you to this truly special teacher.

My time in Dharamkot has been a period of deep self-nurture—embracing slow routines, simple meals, and quiet rituals that restore my body and mind. After class, it’s become a tradition to share chai and conversation with fellow students and friends. These moments of connection—over a cup of Emaya blend or a shared story—are just as nourishing as the practice itself.

Each day here brings me closer to myself—not through striving, but by softening, listening, and allowing space, even while I source ingredients for Emaya. This journey isn’t about reaching some final destination; it’s about coming home and meeting yourself exactly where you are, with honesty and compassion, no matter what life brings. As Maria says, there is only one centre—our work is to explore where that centre is, to come into alignment again and again, every day.

As I continue this path—on and off the mat, whether I’m sitting on the bus or doing the washing up—I’m reminded of Maria’s voice and the importance of mindful presence in every moment: “Be in the centre of the heel, find your sitting bones.” It’s incredible what happens naturally to the body when we do. The breath deepens, tension softens, and a quiet sense of ease returns—without any force at all.

Wherever you are in your own journey, I hope you find the space to return to yourself, again and again—with patience, kindness, and a little curiosity for what’s possible. We are all beginners, no matter how long we’ve been on this path. Even if you’re a dedicated yoga teacher, I wholeheartedly recommend coming to Maria’s workshop or taking advantage of her online courses. There is always more to discover when we approach practice with openness and humility.

With warmth,

Emma