Today we’d like to introduce you to Soumya Darbha
Hi Soumya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My yoga journey began in India just before the pandemic in 2019 when I was at my lowest. Before I knew it, yoga had become a source of happiness for me. As a result, I made it a point to practice yoga daily without fail. When I moved to the U.S. in 2020 for higher studies, I diligently maintained my yoga practice amidst a busy schedule of classes, assignments, and exams. After earning my master’s degree and starting work at Amazon, I pursued my dream of becoming an Internationally Certified Yoga Instructor in 2022. Despite working 7-8 hours a day, I dedicated two hours to yoga classes and an additional hour to practice every day. It was exhausting, yet fulfilling, driven by my passion for teaching yoga and spreading love and peace through yoga. Believing that one’s learning never ends, I furthered my journey in 2023 by becoming a certified Therapeutic Yoga Teacher, enabling me to offer yoga classes for over 40 ailments. My yoga journey has been tranformative, and I love who I’ve become. I’m excited to see where it leads me next.
My days often begin with my personal yoga practice and conducting online yoga classes. The classes are 3 days a week one-hour session, offering a diverse range of classes and yoga workshops. Soon after my class, I head to my work. While my routine may seem straightforward, behind the scenes, I’m busy creating yoga posters, crafting content for Instagram, marketing my classes, and designing engaging, innovative sessions for my students. I juggle all these tasks alongside my 9-hour workday, striving to balance them seamlessly. I’m also excited about upcoming collaborative yoga projects in the future.
Driven by the profound transformations and peace I found in my yoga practice, I was inspired to share my journey on Instagram. This platform became a canvas for expressing my passion, challenges, and milestones, inviting a community of like-minded souls to join in a shared journey of growth and discovery. I strongly believe that sharing my journey will not only amplify my own practice but will also allow me to touch the lives of others, creating a circle of positive energy that extends far beyond the mat. This experience has enriched my journey, reinforcing my belief that I can spread love, peace, and wellness through yoga.
Having the opportunity to share my yoga journey through the platform provided by the North American Telugu Association in the US has been a highlight of my path. Their recognition and celebration of my story, culminating in being crowned as Ms. Austin, was a deeply gratifying moment. This experience opened doors to connect with many incredible individuals, many of whom have since become my students.This journey has not only expanded my reach but has also enriched my life with meaningful connections and the joy of teaching.
I’ve always loved the arts, from dancing to playing the guitar and ukulele, to painting in my free time. Above all, yoga has captured my heart. While my career as a Data Engineer is exciting and demanding, it’s my passion for the arts and yoga that keeps me grounded during stressful times. I believe in the importance of balancing these interests with my work life, ensuring I stay connected to what truly brings me peace and happiness.
Balancing my professional career with teaching yoga, maintaining my own practice, continuing my learning, and managing personal life can be incredibly challenging at times. However, whenever I face these moments of doubt, I remind myself of the reasons I embarked on this journey. I truly believe that I can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives which gives me the strength to never give up and keep moving forward.
I firmly believe that yoga offers much more than physical healing; it has the power to transform one’s outlook on life. My own spiritual journey stands as a testament to this belief. Looking ahead, my dream is to establish my own yoga studio, a sanctuary focused on healing and improving well-being. Here, I aim to address individuals’ ailments and foster an environment of love, peace, and good health through the teachings of yoga.
My advice to individuals like me balancing passions with career is: it’s never too late to embark on something meaningful in your life. Skip the search for external validation, trust in your path, and commit wholeheartedly. Life is short so why not take the leap and embrace your passions with confidence alongside your career?
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My yoga journey began in 2019 in India during one of the lowest points in my life, just before the pandemic. Yoga quickly became my lifeline, a source of happiness and healing, and I committed to practicing it daily without exception. When I moved to the U.S. in 2020 for higher studies, I maintained this discipline despite the overwhelming demands of coursework, assignments, and exams. Earning my master’s degree and starting a full-time role at Amazon didn’t slow me down; instead, I pushed forward, achieving my dream of becoming an Internationally Certified Yoga Instructor in 2022. Juggling a 7-8 hour workday while dedicating two hours to teaching and an additional hour to my own practice was exhausting—yet deeply fulfilling. My passion for sharing yoga’s transformative power kept me going, even on the toughest days.
In 2023, I took my journey further by becoming a certified Therapeutic Yoga Teacher, expanding my ability to offer specialized classes for over 40 different ailments. This path has been nothing short of transformative, and I take immense pride in how far I’ve come. My days begin with personal yoga practice and online classes three times a week, followed by a full day of work. While it may seem manageable from the outside, behind the scenes, I’m constantly designing yoga sessions, creating content, marketing my classes, and balancing these responsibilities with my demanding job.
Balancing my career, teaching yoga, continuing my own practice, and managing my personal life has been one of my biggest challenges. There are times when it feels overwhelming, and doubt creeps in. But in those moments, I remind myself why I started this journey—to make a real difference in people’s lives through yoga. That belief fuels my strength, helping me push through the struggles and keep moving forward, knowing that my efforts are creating a lasting impact.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I hold both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Computer Science and currently work as a Data Engineer at Amazon. Despite the demands of a busy 7-8 hour workday, I make it a priority to maintain my personal yoga practice while also leading yoga classes and workshops, something I’m particularly proud of. Balancing both roles can be challenging at times, but I truly enjoy the process. Having experienced the pressures of the tech industry firsthand, I feel a strong need to bring the benefits of yoga to fellow tech professionals, which has become one of my focus areas. What sets me apart is my passion for spreading peace and love through yoga while continuing to thrive in my tech career, striving to make a meaningful impact in both fields.
What are your plans for the future?
I firmly believe that yoga offers much more than physical healing; it has the power to transform one’s outlook on life. My own spiritual journey stands as a testament to this belief. Looking ahead, my dream is to establish my own yoga studio, a sanctuary focused on healing and improving well-being. Here, I aim to address individuals’ ailments and foster an environment of love, peace, and good health through the teachings of yoga.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darbhasoumya/
Image Credits
Instagram IDs:
@fireflyclicks_austin
@storiesbyrampalli
