As a dedicated yoga teacher, Rishi Nagori practices and teaches traditional yoga in Pushkar, Rajasthan, and California, USA. Through his platform YogaMitra, he aims to connect Indian yoga teachers with global students, making authentic yoga accessible worldwide.

Rishi Nagori is a Yoga Instructor and the founder of YogaMitra.

Yoga Teacher Nagori hails from Pune but now teaches yoga in Pushkar, Rajasthan, as well as in California, USA. He has been practicing yoga for ten years and teaching it for the past two.

His path has taken him beyond India, as he often travels to California in the summer to spread the knowledge of classical yoga. Teaching yoga in two vastly different cultural landscapes has given him a deeper understanding of yoga’s universal appeal.

YogaMitra was born out of Rishi Nagori's vision, with an aim to connect yoga teachers in India with yoga students worldwide. He believes that many skilled Indian yoga teachers deserve global recognition, and his platform helps them gain the right exposure. At the same time, it allows students from different parts of the world to find the right mentor to learn traditional yoga practices. He hopes to reach more people and make yoga accessible to all through this platform.

Yoga Expert Rishi Nagori initially used to see yoga as just a practice of physical postures (asanas), but as he continued his path, he realized it was far more profound. He discovered the Ashtanga method, defined by Sage Patanjali, which consists of eight limbs—Yama (ethical restraints), Niyama (personal discipline), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (ultimate realization). Over time, he understood that ‘asana’ is just one part of yoga, but the true essence of yoga lies in mastering all eight limbs.

According to Yoga Specialist Rishi Nagori, yoga addresses real problems like mental breakdowns, depression, and anxiety. He believes that mental health issues should be treated just as seriously as physical health problems. He also asserts how yoga helped many people during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly through practices like Shavasana, which kept them healthy and improved their overall well-being.

His own father, who had heart and diabetes-related issues, has been practicing yoga regularly. Even at the age of 62, he continues his yoga practice, proving that yoga can benefit people of all ages.

Yoga Expert Rishi recalls his childhood fondly, growing up in a traditional Jain family, where the seeds of spirituality and religion were planted in him from an early age. He considers himself blessed to have had supportive parents who taught him the importance of staying spiritually rooted.

His parents also introduced him to Sattvik food and its benefits for both the body and mind. Over time, he realized how essential it was to his yoga practice. He feels fortunate to have been born into a loving family, where he and his sister had everything they ever wished for.

Rishi Nagori’s journey in yoga began when he attended his first yoga class at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune. That experience ignited something deep within him, setting him on a path of exploration and self-discovery.

Recalling his early life, Rishi Nagori shares that he attended a convent school and later pursued a degree in Finance and Economics in the US. After returning from abroad, he joined his family business, successfully managing it for some time.

He also joined the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune to deepen his understanding of yoga. He remembers Pune as a quiet and peaceful city back then, an ideal place for his upbringing.

Reflecting on his past experiences, Yoga Guru Nagori shares that his true calling in yoga became clear to him after attending that first yoga class at the Iyengar Institute. The institute, founded over 45 years ago by Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (B.K.S. Iyengar), a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Padma Vibhushan, introduced him to a world that resonated deeply with him.

Even though he was doing well in business, something inside him kept pulling him toward yoga. He knew he had to tread this path, merging ancient wisdom with modern understanding, and that realization marked the beginning of a life-changing decision.

As Nagori continued practicing yoga while managing his family business, he began to experience subtle yet profound changes within himself. His perspective on life changed, and he started seeing the world through a new lens. The deeper he immersed himself in yoga, the more he realized that it was not just about the body, but about the mind, breath, and soul. This growing awareness eventually led him to fully embrace the yogic path, guiding him away from business and toward a life dedicated to teaching and sharing yoga with the world.

Over the years, as he balanced his practice with work commitments, Nagori often reflected on a quote from B.K.S. Iyengar:

“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”

This philosophy resonated deeply within him. With each passing day, yoga helped him become more aware of his surroundings, his actions, his diet, and even his state of mind. He realized that yoga was not merely a physical discipline, but a self-discovery, one that transformed his perception of life and shaped the path he was meant to follow.

After spending five to six years in the corporate world, Rishi Nagori felt an inner calling for something deeper. He decided to take a six-month sabbatical, packed his backpack, and set off for the Himalayas. During this time, he completed a Vipassana course, stayed in different ashrams, and met spiritual teachers, sages, and saints. It was during this transformative period that he gained clarity—yoga was his true path. He understood himself better and realized how he wanted to live his life.

Upon returning, Rishi made a life-altering decision. He quit business and sold the family business, much to his parents' disappointment. Though they had hoped he would pursue a career in business, Rishi was drawn toward spirituality and the deeper essence of yoga. Free from these external expectations, he dedicated himself fully to his passion.

He became a full-time student of Yoga and Sanskrit at Pune University and started training under Prashant Iyengar at the Iyengar Yoga Institute. Grateful for the mentors he encountered, he considers Prashant Ji his guru, who has guided him through his progress. Along the way, he has learned from several teachers, taking various courses to deepen his knowledge of yoga.

Today, Rishi continues to evolve as both a student and a teacher, committed to sharing the wisdom of yoga with the world.

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Rishi felt a deep sense of purpose—after years of learning yoga, it was now his duty to teach. He wanted to share the knowledge he had gained and help others experience the transformative power of yoga. Longing to travel again, he set out on a path that led him to Pushkar, the spiritual heart of Rajasthan.

In Pushkar, he established his own yoga center, where he began teaching the traditional art & science of yoga. Pushkar’s spiritual energy captivated him—every evening, he witnessed the solemn Aarti held by the sacred Sarovar, where devotees came to take a holy dip. The presence of the only Brahma temple in the world, along with the countless caves of saints and sages, made him realize that this was where he truly belonged. Pushkar was not just a place; it was a calling, a space where spirituality thrived, drawing thousands of seekers from across the world.

When asked about his mistakes, Rishi Nagori humbly admits that everyone makes mistakes, and each mistake is an opportunity to reflect and grow. In the beginning, he saw yoga as merely a physical practice, but over time, he realized its true essence lay in focus, concentration, and inner awareness. He believes that every mistake is a teacher, guiding us toward a deeper understanding of life. Even during practice, mistakes happen—like attempting Shirshasana (headstand) for the first time, where losing balance can affect concentration.

He explains that in yoga, drishti (focus) should remain fixed on one point because when attention wavers, the mind wavers too, leading to a loss of stability. According to Rishi, life works in the same way—every mistake teaches us a valuable lesson, helping us grow and evolve.

Reflecting on his past, Rishi Nagori  acknowledges that while he was once deeply attached to his family business, there was too much emphasis on money and too little on finding true balance. However, he is grateful for every mistake, as they have shaped his life and taught him valuable lessons. Today, Rishi continues to learn, teach, and explore, embracing every step of his path with wisdom and gratitude.

Rishi Nagori believes that yoga has had a profound impact on his personal life. Before practicing yoga, he suffered from severe knee issues and was even advised to undergo surgery. However, instead of opting for medical intervention, he dedicated himself to yoga. Over time, his condition improved, and he was able to heal completely without surgery. This experience, along with many others, reinforced his belief in yoga’s ability to heal both physically and mentally.

He started practicing Veerasana, which led to remarkable improvement in his knee condition. Initially, he felt pain in his knees, but with consistent practice, his condition improved significantly. Eventually, he was able to walk without any support. Now, he no longer feels any pain and has even started running.

Nagori often experienced severe pain in his right kidney. Eventually, he realised it was due to a kidney stone. To treat this condition he began practising Supta Virasana regularly. Over time, the stone began to break down and eventually passed out naturally without the need for surgery. His consistent yoga practice, proper diet and disciplined lifestyle helped him recover completely without any medical intervention. Moreover, yoga played a vital role in his recovery from COVID-19, further strengthening his belief in its transformative power. Personally, Rishi credits yoga for improving his overall physical health.

Regarding the ongoing debate between Yoga and Allopathy, Nagori believes that while there are conditions when allopathic treatment and medical intervention are necessary, many health issues caused by lifestyle choices, stress, and anxiety can be managed or even cured through yoga. While yoga can also aid in treating other health concerns, he emphasizes the importance of making informed decisions rather than blindly choosing one approach over the other.

Based on his experience, Rishi Nagori believes that yoga experts and allopathic doctors should work together for the benefit of those suffering from ailments rather than debating over superiority. A collaborative approach between medical science and yoga can create a more holistic path to healing. He stresses that when the ultimate goal is healing, different philosophies should not be viewed as opposing forces but rather as complementary solutions for overall well-being.

Yoga Instructor Rishi highlights a prime example of how yoga contributes to health and fitness, particularly during pregnancy. He notes that even doctors now recommend yoga for pregnant women to help reduce labor pain and ensure a smoother delivery.

He remains hopeful that medical science and yoga experts will collaborate more in the future to help people lead healthier lives.

For Rishi, his life mantra is simple:

'When you believe in something, never stop working towards it. Nothing can be achieved in a single day, but with the right effort, anything is possible.'

He acknowledges that setbacks are inevitable but emphasizes the importance of perseverance. Just as mastering a yoga pose requires daily practice and refinement, achieving goals in life demands consistent effort and dedication.

Rishi Nagori encourages everyone to never give up, even when faced with difficulties. Life is all about continuous learning and improvement. Challenges will arise, and circumstances may be difficult, but he firmly believes that the key to success is unwavering self-belief and persistence.

For those who wish to enter the field of Yoga, Rishi advises them to first find the right guru by training under different teachers to gain a deep understanding. He emphasizes that consistency is key to mastering yoga, as true perfection comes only with time and practice.

Even after finding a guru, Rishi advises aspiring yoga practitioners to continue learning from other teachers as well. He considers himself fortunate to have found a yoga school that allowed him to deepen his knowledge and refine his practice.

He tells his students, 'Never stop until you achieve your goals. The only day you truly fail is the day you stop trying. Work towards your goals every single day, even if it’s a small step—it will bring you closer to your goal.'

Rishi also shares an analogy with his students: 'Imagine walking through a dark forest at night. You may not see the entire path, but all you need is a lamp that shows you the next two feet. Step by step, you will move forward. That is what yoga is in life—it lights your way, guiding you forward.'

For Yoga Teachers, he highlights the importance of adapting to the modern world. With the rise of technology and online teaching, yoga has become more accessible than ever. He encourages teachers to provide real value to their students, preach only what they practice, and share their knowledge openly without holding anything back.

With technology expanding, teaching yoga online has become easier, but it also requires specific skills. While it takes time to get comfortable with students in a virtual setting, mastering online teaching can open new doors. Many yoga teachers ask him how they can grow, gain expertise, and reach a wider audience. Rishi believes that by continuously spreading their knowledge, more opportunities will come their way. With dedication and persistence, yoga teachers can build a strong presence and even receive invitations to teach worldwide

After becoming a yoga teacher, one should prioritize valuing their students. Rishi Nagori believes that if someone is paying for your class, you should provide them with even more value than they expect. He encourages teachers to give their best—if a session is supposed to be of 90 minutes, he often extends his to 120 minutes, ensuring that his students receive more than what they signed up for.

Yoga Teacher Rishi emphasizes that yoga teachers should only teach what they genuinely practice. Authenticity is key—guiding students through something you haven’t experienced yourself lacks true value.

Looking ahead, he believes technology will play a major role in delivering high-quality yoga education worldwide. He encourages teachers to embrace technology to enhance their classes, making learning more accessible and flexible for students. Nagori’s centre YogaMitra focuses on helping yoga teachers improve their communication with students and integrate technology seamlessly, ensuring both teachers and learners have a smooth experience.

Above all, Rishi Nagori believes that learning never stops. He urges both students and teachers to continually seek guidance from their gurus and pass on their wisdom, ensuring that the true essence of yoga continues to thrive.