Reema Datta is the author of The Yogi’s Way: Transform Your Mind, Health and Reality. Datta first learned yoga and ayurveda from her mother and grandmothers, as well as her grandfather, who wrote several books on Vedic philosophy. After receiving her master’s from the London School of Economics, Datta worked for the United Nations before leaving to study ancient yogic wisdom and practice. Since 2002, she has taught yoga and ayurveda workshops, retreats and trainings in 20 countries across five continents. Her students include Sting, Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, Zainab Salbi, Sujatha Baliga and thousands of other practitioners globally.
Q: What was your motivation behind writing The Yogi’s Way?
A: Ancient yoga teachings offer profound and practical wisdom for navigating painful emotions such as anger, anxiety and shame. Yet, yoga is often perceived solely as a physical practice. I wanted to shed light on these deeper teachings, especially at a time when so many people are grappling with mental unrest. With anxiety and depression on the rise across all demographics, the insights in this book provide tools to approach our present-moment emotions with tenderness, curiosity and courage. This is how the pain begins to transform. Instead of it holding us down, we begin to heal, grow and move forward with clarity and resilience.
Q: Please explain the Four Foundations. Why are they important?
A: The four foundations—motivation, stories, choices and nourishment—guide us toward self-discovery and transformation. On The Yogi’s Way journey, we commit to discovering, refining and fully embracing our svadharma – the unique gifts we were born to share with the world. After all, it is in the giving that magic happens, and peace is experienced.
The way we define ourselves either binds or liberates us. By re-writing our narrative, we create an empowering story that shapes our reality. As we recognize the power of our thoughts, we realize that we can change how we think, speak and act—leading to better, more intentional choices.
Nourishment extends beyond food. Movement, breath, rest, awareness and community also sustain us. As we cultivate a healthy lifestyle, we make life a celebration.
Q: The book is set up as a 12-week self-guided course. Why did you decide to structure it this way?
A: I wanted the philosophy in the book to feel alive and experiential for the reader. By structuring it as a 12-week course, the book provides a practical framework for immediately applying the wisdom and practices to daily life. Each of the 12 chapters is designed to be explored over the course of a week, allowing readers time to integrate and embody the teachings. The pacing ensures that profound concepts, such as consciousness, self-awareness and transformation, aren’t just intellectual ideas but become direct, lived experiences.
Q: The mind-body connection is an important aspect of the practice of yoga. How does this relate to the koshas?
A: The koshas describe the five sheaths or layers of the self, illustrating the interconnected nature of the body, mind and consciousness.
The first layer is the physical body—the form we see when we look in the mirror. Beneath this is the energetic body, which we can’t see but we can feel. For example, we can experience how slow, deep breathing calms us, while shallow, rapid breaths create stress.
Deeper still, is the mental sheath or lower mind, which operates on autopilot, driven by impulses and conditionings. Beyond this is the wisdom body or higher mind, where discernment arises. Here, we can pause, reflect, reason and make conscious choices rather than reacting from habit. It is within this layer that yoga’s mind-training practices help us break free from conditioned patterns and cultivate self-awareness.
At the deepest level lies the fifth layer—the bliss body. While fleeting glimpses of bliss may come and go, sustained access to this state depends on how we engage with the layers beneath it.
The Taittiriya Upanishad, dating back approximately to the 5th century B.C., provides a profound understanding of the mind-body connection through the koshas. It reveals that the physical body is shaped by energy, energy is shaped by thoughts and emotions, and thoughts are influenced by our deeper impulses and conditionings. By practicing yoga with awareness, we can transform our patterns, shift our energy, enhance our health, and ultimately reshape how we experience ourselves and the world.
Q: What is the importance of the Sun Salutation? When should it be practiced?
A: The Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara) practice has evolved over time. In the book, I offer a way to practice Sun Salutations that includes breath, mantra movement, energy awareness, self-reflection and deep rest. By integrating these elements, the practice can be a complete and empowering experience on its own. The best times to practice are during sunrise or sunset.
Q: What are the steps to the Heal Yourself Now sequence?
A: The Heal Yourself Now sequence is a transformative practice that integrates mantras and affirmations, breath awareness, movement, two meditations, journaling, visualization and awareness practices. Together, these elements help us recognize our triggers, change our thought patterns and cultivate a deep understanding of our tendencies—supporting us to work with our nature rather than against it.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: Change is hard. It takes the qualities of a spiritual warrior: a fierce determination, an indomitable will, courage, honesty, patience, love and perseverance. While the journey is deeply personal, it is not meant to be walked alone. Community is essential. Sharing our breakdowns and breakthroughs, tears and laughter, questions and discoveries makes the journey rich and enduring. Everyone is welcome to join The Yogi’s Way community, both online and in-person, where we support one another in growth, healing and transformation. Visit www.TheYogisWay.com.
