Meet Shubham: Children's Yoga Teacher

Hello! I'm Shubham, and I come from the vibrant, ever-energetic city of Mumbai, India. Growing up surrounded by a culture where yoga is woven into everyday life gave me an authentic, deeply rooted connection to the practice long before I ever stepped onto a mat in a formal setting.

I began my yoga training in India in 2023, studying Ashtanga, one of the most disciplined and dynamic forms of yoga, rooted in breath, movement and inner stillness. What started as a personal practice quickly became a calling. The transformation I felt in my own body, mind and spirit was so profound that teaching felt like the most natural next step and so, within a short space of time, I went from being a student to becoming a teacher.

I am now based in London, where I'm proud to be part of the BEAM ACADEMY family, bringing yoga to the youngest and most wonderfully curious members of our community's nursery and Early Years children. There is something truly magical about watching a three-year-old roar like a lion or balance like a tree; it reminds me of what yoga is really about- joy, presence and discovering what your body can do.

Beyond the mat, I'm a traveller at heart who finds energy and inspiration in nature, sport and stillness in equal measure. I believe that to teach children to be present, we first have to practise presence ourselves and that philosophy runs through everything I do in the classroom.

What is your favourite yoga pose, and why?

Without a doubt, it's Surya Namaskar the Sun Salutation. It's not just a single pose but a whole flowing sequence, and to me it captures everything yoga is: breath, movement, gratitude and energy. Growing up in India, the sun has always felt like something to honour and this sequence does exactly that.

If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?

Japan. I'm deeply drawn to its philosophy of mindfulness, simplicity and respect for nature values that run through both Zen Buddhism and yoga. I'd love to spend time in the forests, sit in quiet temples, and find that particular stillness that you only get in wild, ancient places. Travel, for me, is less about ticking off destinations and more about what each place teaches you about yourself.

What does a perfect Sunday look like for you?

Early morning meditation, somewhere green, ideally with birdsong and no traffic. Then a long walk in nature, maybe riverside near my house or somewhere I haven't explored yet. In the afternoon, try a new sport (I'll try almost anything: swimming, cricket, football, badminton, I love the way sport keeps you completely present). And the evening? Quiet self-reflection, good food, and probably planning my next adventure somewhere in the world.

What is the most important thing yoga has taught you about life?

That stillness is not the absence of movement- it's the foundation of it. In Ashtanga, you learn very quickly that the quality of your breath determines the quality of your pose. And I've found that's true in life too: the quality of your inner world determines the quality of everything you do outwardly. That's why I feel so passionate about teaching yoga. If we can give them the tools to come back to their breath, we're giving them something truly priceless.

What's one thing most people wouldn't guess about you?

That beneath the calm, meditative exterior, I'm genuinely competitive when it comes to sport! I love the energy of a good game, the focus, the teamwork, the split-second decisions. In a way, sport and yoga aren't opposites: both teach you to be fully present, to manage your breath under pressure, and to know your own body. I think being a sporty yogi makes me a better teacher, because I understand different ways children connect with movement.