16 Feb My story Kadambri Ravi Shankar

Wanting to go beyond the limitations of body focus with an obsession to perfection, and a missing link to breath, and witnessing from within, I Kadambari Ravi Shankar, took the leap of faith into the world of Yoga from an actor/model’s profession of close to 10 years. With an emphasis to body alignment, body flow, and a very personal process of research into the role of breath, and breathing techniques I got guided, and immersed very quickly. My earliest mentors as I first walked into the pure and ancient rays of yog gyan (knowledge of yoga) at The Yoga House Mumbai, were Ms. Maud Chuffart who teaches Iyengar Yoga popularised by Guruji B.K.S Iyengar ji, and Mrs. Anugraha Unnikrishnan who teaches Ashtanga Yoga popularised by Guruji Pattabhi Jois. Mrs Anugraha Unnikrishnan trained me personally as she was one of the pioneers of Prenatal Yoga teaching in Mumbai. From the year 2011, there was only a yay kind of looking back for me, as I was learning and teaching pregnant women all around Mumbai at their residences, and at The Yoga House studio. I still remember my first ever client Shefali Nath who till date tells me that our affirmations turned into reality for life. I was constantly evolving my understanding and research into the various aspects that can be of value to pregnant mother, and baby in the womb. I was inspired to invite therapeutic practises into my trainings as noticed each day that there are imbalances and discomforts which the body faces in this phase of 3 to 4 trimesters of prenatal and post-partum life, be it small or big. I started to see effects of yoga postures in the complications of placenta previa, breech babies, round ligament pain and many such issues. I introduced Indian classical music in my sessions to focus the minds as a form of Nada Yog (sound yoga). I introduced Mudra gyan an ancient India science of balancing the composition of elements in the body, completed Reiki Master level, a practise of healing from Japan: all this toward the endeavour to support the journey of pregnant mother to be, and babies in the womb for there to be wellness, good health, bonding and mood. I followed Thomas Venry’s work on the secret life of the unborn child which helped in my scientific evidence based conviction of the overall incredible impact possible for the baby in the fetus phase. I completed Yoga teacher training courses with Sivanada Yoga TTC , Awakened Spirit Prenatal Yoga TTC , and personally spent time in the student mentor way with Himachal mountain living Swami Yogananda, Bruce Martin and Guiliana for Chi Gung an energy movement and breath practise form of China.
I was even led to picking up a professional playing flute and teacher and started to play live bansuri in my sessions for my beloved clients.

I attended water birthing workshop with leading pioneer Mrs Barbara Harper, and Surya Hospital Mumbai. I started the event Celebrate Birth for to be parents, couples in Mumbai. I also attended my Lamaze Childbirth education course in Hyderabad with Mrs.Vijaya Krishnan.
During my research phase I was blessed with incredible material of Ms Geeta Iyengar’s work -Yoga exponent and daughter of BKS Iyengarji., Ms Shiva Rea of Prana Vinyasa Yoga, and Mrs Gurmukh of Golden Bridge Yoga.
I am currently a student of my Vedanta and Upanishads study program teacher Mr K.K Subramani.

I have been associated with Dr. Nozer Sheriar and Dr. Gayatri Rao, Dr. Avan Dadina, Dr. Sheetal Sabrawal and other very dear inspiring OBGYN/ Gynacs , world renowned, practising in top hospitals in Mumbai, from the start of my profession of over a decade, in the service of mothers to be. I am truly inspired by their work and very grateful for their support to normalising exercise and yoga in pregnancy.

I begun teaching mothers to be across the globe since 2020 as the pandemic opened up the world to learning effectively and intimately through the online platform. I have been led to travel and teach in Goa and Australia in 2016.

In my personal life I enjoy the study of consciousness from various traditions, their practices, texts and techniques. I have been blessed to begin work on a small retreat project in the outskirts of Mumbai for families, couples, solo retreats to facilitate their wellness, and overall lifestyle goals. I look forward to some high impact outcomes there.

I explores my teachings to fine tune them and synchronise with my surroundings with the intention to be conscious of my mind-body complex for there to be a flow of divine energy through the consciousness that we all are. I am not inclined to have children or a family life at this point. I appreciate sincerity, and openness to change especially when it strengthens the knowledge that has the potential to liberate us here and now. I have circles of friends who are committed toward similar goals, and we are all blessed to have the exchange of ideas that we do. My parents have been living outside the city and that lifestyle is a positive aspiration in life right now. To guide my city fellow dwellers that assists them within their defined jobs, lifestyle, and personal joys and sacrifices as parents, is an awe-inspiring experience for me, everyday.
I enjoy Vipassana meditations, yin form of movement, dance, working out in the gym with my strong body builder father, and watching, seeing, visualising, and being around Akash/ Sky and all the powers that come from there for all our existence.
I love eating as well as fasting.
I am a big advocate on eating lots, and all your favourite and familiar foods when pregnant.
As well as eating frequently, yoga practise sessions with me require no gaps, empty stomach, or fasting. I have figured the ways in my pregnancy programs, that I have personally designed with God and Goddesses’s grace, which work very effectively and successfully to achieve a memorable, happy, healthy, life changing pregnancy, yoga, childbirth and postnatal experiences for the body-mind complexes, spirits, and family relationships. I am fond of non violent communication, and problem solving/ solution finding situations which are great additional tools that have led me to playing the role of a casual counsellor for my clients, who like that.

I first met Neha when I attended the Lamaze childbirth education course and we stayed in touch. Through the years we have often spoken of creating a safe space for expecting parents/mothers and how to make it more and more accessible to all the ones who need it.

Thus it is an honour to be invited by a dear friend, a doctor, author and a passionate birth worker to be a part of the core team. Together, through Happy birth-day we all hope to achieve the dream of making respectful maternal care a reality to every mother as she rightfully deserves.