Yoga with Prince Punnoose

Prince completed his Foundation course with the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY), in 2022 and Yoga Alliance's Teacher Training Program with Lucy Leslie at Sussex Yoga Training in October 2024.

I practised Yoga as a child at my parent’s Yoga and Nature Cure Centre in Kerala India until I was a teenager, however, I never understood the depth of Yoga at the time and gave up when I went to college. 

Why did you decide to become a yoga teacher?

I’ve always had a deep passion for holistic human well-being and natural healing from my childhood experience at the Yoga and Nature Cure Centre with my parents. Therefore, my wife, Bindu (physiotherapist)  and I, decided  to revamp our parent’s old Yoga and Naturopathy centre into a Holistic wellness centre called Aarogyamantra Integrated Healing in 2016. Our mission is to enhance the natural healing powers, by bringing the wisdom and talent of the ancient techniques of Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga and other complementary therapies to provide a healthy, body, mind and soul.

During the Pandemic when we all had more time to reflect on our lives, I started to realise the benefits I had experienced from Yoga was more for my mindset and how I looked at life differently to others close to me. I then decided to study Yoga deeply, by reading Yoga books and partaking in short courses from the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY), an organisation and charity serving people who want to discover more about Yoga. I started these studies in 2021 and now in October 2024 I have graduated and registered as a certified Yoga teacher from Lake View Yoga Studio at Sussex Yoga Training Ltd.

This journey has been transformational already and I would like to continue this journey and positively transform the lives of others around me. 

How is it helping you as a business owner and on a personal level? 

I have realised that the benefits I have had from practising Yoga as a child had a lot to do with my mindset and approach to my personal and professional life so far. 

Being a dad, and husband and running a healthcare business can be overwhelming at times. You’re constantly making decisions, pushing limits, making mistakes, learning and striving for personal and professional growth. One thing I’ve learnt on this journey is that success isn’t built on perfection, but on resilience. 

It took me years to realise that my resilience depends on the strength of my mind, body, and soul which you can achieve by practising Yoga regularly. Below are some of the key benefits one can achieve from practising Yoga. Increased focus, strength and energy 

Understanding Happiness, joy, and all other emotions (positive and negative) is an inside job and we have the power to navigate them for our wellbeing, regardless of external factors and influences. 

When you move out of your comfort zone, you might get lonely & it’s okay – that’s exactly how you grow in life. By embracing solitude, connecting to yourself deeply and letting go of things that don’t matter to you, you become stronger, mindful and more resilient. 

Balance in life is necessary. No matter the fame, success and busy schedules– taking out time for your family and friends is equally as important as solitude. 

Focus and simplicity are the key. Yoga practice helps you to be grounded, grateful, and focused and lead your decisions in life with meaning and clarity; it is an ongoing yet exciting journey!! 

Can you describe your yoga practice and how it influences your teaching style?

Yoga is a state of mind, achieving stillness of mind is the goal of a practice. Stilling the mind helps you manage your thoughts and emotions to enhance your well-being. However, quieting the mind is a rather intangible goal. In contrast, the progress made in accomplishing a Yoga Posture can be evaluated by alignment, length of stretch, and length of time it can be held. It’s much easier for you to relate to something tangible-the body- and then move to something intangible- the stillness of the mind. 

During my Yoga practice I help you begin somewhere known, and using the body and breath, you move towards the unknown. 

• Awareness. This is an aspect of being human that makes you conscious of your experiences. Without awareness, nothing would exist for you.

• Attention. Attention is a focused awareness; mindfulness training develops your ability to move and sustain your attention wherever and however you choose.

Attention and awareness of physical, mental and emotional state can be achieved by the practice enabling you to understand your limitations and possibilities and navigate those faculties of yours (body, mind and emotions) most productively for your well-being. 

How have you adapted your teaching style to cater to different skill levels in the same class?

I put together a 6-week class plan to start from a beginner level with the view of achieving a set outcome from this plan, as Yoga’s main goal is to achieve a certain mindset anyone can practise regardless of their physical skill set. We have props and modifications to support any postures at the studio based on the skill set of each individual. 

I aim to help individuals guide them on an inward journey to themselves through Yoga to explore their thoughts and emotions and help enable them to navigate to enhance their well-being. 

When the average yoga beginner or casual practitioner observes the experts, many often think:  “I’m not slim enough...” “I’m not flexible enough...” “I’m not young enough...” “I don’t have enough time...” “I don’t have the discipline…”

But if any of these thoughts sound familiar to you, know that you are enough. And that you too can adopt a life-changing yoga practice that gives you all the incredible rewards of this timeless practice not only on a physical level but also for mind and soul. 

How do yoga and mindfulness help your hearing health?

Several studies have shown the effectiveness of yoga, meditation and mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety. According to a study in the journal “International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology” Yoga, meditation and mindfulness play an essential role in soothing the Symptoms of Chronic tinnitus that mainly occurs due to stress. Another study published in “The Hearing Journal”, found out that a person who is over 50 years old and has no genetic history of hearing loss is more likely to maintain a healthy auditory system if he/she exercises for 30 minutes five times a week. 

In some cases, people have reported success in getting relief from conductive hearing loss after trying the below Yoga Poses. 

1. Brahmari Pranayama-a form of breathing exercises
2. Adho Mukha Svanasana- Improves blood circulation to the head and neck
3. Bhujangasana- opens up chest and neck area- improves airway
4. Matsyasana- Improved blood circulation to the head and neck area.

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