Encounter with Niraamaya ①

This marks the very first post for the Yogoda blog. Hello everyone, I am Yogo, the representative of Yogoda.

We are delighted to announce the launch of our website, coinciding with the official introduction of "Niraamaya"—a brand of organic cotton practice mats from Kerala, India—to the Japanese market.

In this blog, I would like to gently unfold the story behind our journey: "Why did Yogoda choose to bring this extraordinary yoga mat to Japan?"

I hope this space allows you to get a glimpse of the spirit and the people behind Yogoda in a relaxed, welcoming way.

So, please settle in, relax, and enjoy reading our story until the very end.

The story traces back to January 21, 2024.

My wife and I set off on a two-month journey across Asia.

Each of us had a distinct, significant purpose for this trip. For me, it was "to immerse myself in the study of Yoga in India." For my wife, it was "to savor the culinary delights of Thailand and Malaysia, and to reunite with dear friends living there."

We wove these two visions into a single itinerary, embarking on a journey that would take us through three countries: Thailand, Malaysia, and India.

Our travel style is defined by freedom—moving slowly through countries and lands without being bound by rigid schedules.

Having grown up abroad and spent time living in Malaysia, my wife shares this love for spontaneous, unstructured travel.

Just before our departure, right when we decided on India, a beautiful synchronization occurred. My wife had the opportunity to meet an acquaintance from her days in Malaysia.

This person, a dedicated long-time yoga practitioner, was exactly whom we needed to consult. We wanted to ask, "If one wishes to study in India, where is the best place to go?"

Meeting at the perfect time, we asked for advice, and they shared: "There are countless lineages and schools in India, but if you seek a comprehensive, holistic study, I highly recommend the Sivananda Yoga Ashram."

↓ This is a photo from our visit to Hakata to meet them.

Acted upon this guidance, we began exploring India in earnest.

Sivananda Yoga was synthesized in the 1800s by a renowned figure who was also a medical doctor. Today, it stands as one of the most respected and globally recognized lineages.

Consequently, there are several ashrams (*spiritual sanctuaries/monasteries) across India.

Among the various Sivananda Yoga ashrams, the one that perfectly aligned with our timing and schedule was located in Madurai, South India.

Thus, our very first journey into India was destined to begin in a city called "Madurai."

To be completely honest, until that moment, we had never even heard the name "Madurai."

We simply booked our stay at the ashram and left everything else completely undecided before we departed. We spent our first two weeks traveling through Thailand and Malaysia, having purchased only the initial one-way ticket to Thailand.

We would decide on our next destination while living in the moment, booking the next flight as we went. It was a beautifully unpredictable, liberated journey.

While wandering through various regions of Thailand and Malaysia, we were simultaneously researching how to reach Madurai, India.

Through our research, we discovered that the most practical way to get to Madurai from Malaysia was to first fly into a major airport in the southern state of Kerala, and from there, take a train to Madurai.

This was how we found ourselves stepping onto the land of Kerala—purely as a transit point on our way to Madurai.

Until then, both Madurai and Kerala were entirely unknown territories to us.

Every single choice was born out of coincidence and the natural flow of events.

Yet, looking back now, I realize that this "accidental flow" was the vital beginning that would ultimately weave the destinies of Yogoda and Niraamaya together.

Perhaps this is the true essence of travel. After fully indulging in the delicious foods of Thailand and Malaysia and playing to our hearts' content, we boarded the flight bound for Kochi, Kerala, India.