A spinal injury led yoga teacher Ieva Simtniece toward an inner awakening that transformed her life. Now based in Rishikesh, in a conversation with TLJ Managing Editor Ankur Vadhera, she reflects on healing, surrender, and why yoga is far more than what happens on the mat.
Q: Could you share your personal journey into yoga and what first inspired you to choose this path?
A: My journey into yoga was not a choice at first it was a calling born from pain. In my early twenties, I suffered a serious spinal injury that left me unable to walk for some time. While doctors spoke in terms of fear, timelines, and limitations, something within me felt there was another way. Yoga entered my life quietly, not as exercise but as healing intelligence. Through daily practice, conscious breath, and discipline, my body gradually recovered. More importantly, my mind and spirit awakened. Yoga didn’t just heal me it gave me back my life and revealed my purpose: to serve, heal, and guide others back to themselves.
Q: How did your connection with India begin, and what drew you specifically to Rishikesh as your home and teaching base?
A: India came into my life like a memory from another lifetime. From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep sense of familiarity. Rishikesh, in particular, felt like home to my soul. There is a vibration here that cannot be explained it must be experienced. The Ganga, the Himalayas, the temples, and the silence stripped away everything false and brought me closer to truth. I didn’t come to India to teach; I came to learn. Over time, Rishikesh chose me. It is not just where I live it is where I was reborn.
Q: Rishikesh is known as the Yoga Capital of the World. How has living and teaching here shaped your philosophy and practice?
A: Living in Rishikesh humbles you. Here, yoga is not a trend it is a way of life. Teaching in this sacred space constantly reminds me that yoga is about sincerity, discipline, and surrender. The Himalayas teach steadiness, while the Ganga teaches flow and purity. Being here has stripped my practice down to its essence less performance, more presence; less ego, more devotion. It has taught me that the greatest teaching happens when the teacher disappears.
Q: What does yoga truly mean to you beyond physical postures?
A: To me, yoga is remembrance remembering who you are beneath fear, stress, and conditioning. Asana is only the doorway. True yoga begins when you learn to sit with yourself honestly, breathe consciously, and observe the mind without judgment. I communicate this deeper essence to my students through simplicity: breath awareness, silence, disciplined practice, and lived example. I don’t teach yoga as philosophy to be memorized; I teach it as a way of living.
Q: How do you integrate traditional yogic wisdom with modern lifestyles in your classes?
A: I deeply respect tradition, but I also understand the realities of modern life. My classes are rooted in classical principles-breath-led movement, nervous system regulation, and self-inquiry-yet they are adapted for people who sit at desks, carry emotional stress, and live fast-paced lives. Yoga must meet people where they are. When ancient wisdom is applied practically, it becomes alive and truly transformative.
“Yoga is not something you do for an hour on the mat. It is how you breathe, how you live, how you love, and how honestly you return to yourself every day.”
– Ieva Simtniece
Q: What challenges did you face while transitioning to life in India, and what has the journey taught you?
A: India tested me in every possible way- physically, emotionally, culturally, and spiritually. There were moments of loneliness, misunderstanding, and deep inner confrontation. But India is a fierce teacher. It taught me patience, humility, surrender, and faith. This land breaks you only to rebuild you stronger, more honest, and more aligned with truth.
Q: In today’s fast-paced world, how can yoga help people find balance and clarity?
A: The modern world is loud, fast, and overstimulating. Yoga brings us back to rhythm- the rhythm of breath, nature, and our inner intelligence. With consistent practice, yoga calms the nervous system, clears mental noise, and reconnects us to what truly matters. Inner peace is not something we achieve; it is something we remember when we slow down enough to listen.
Q: What message would you like to share with global yoga practitioners and seekers?
A: My message is simple: be sincere. Yoga is not about flexibility, aesthetics, or labels. It is about honesty, discipline, and devotion to truth. Practice every day, even when it feels uncomfortable. Learn from the roots, respect the lineage, and allow yoga to transform your life- not just your body. Yoga is not something you do for an hour on the mat; it is how you live, love, and serve the world.
