When I first heard about Harsha Nagaraj, it was through a mutual friend who couldn’t stop talking about the way he teaches yoga — not just as a series of postures, but as a way of living, breathing, and ultimately, liberating oneself. I was curious. So, one golden afternoon, I dialed Harsha for what I thought would be a short phone interview.

But what unfolded was not just a conversation — it felt like a transmission. Raw, honest, vulnerable, and uplifting. I found myself listening more than speaking. And by the end of the call, I felt lighter, clearer — almost as though I had inhaled a deep breath of Himalayan air.

Here’s our heart-to-heart, just as it flowed:

Antara: Harsha, you have such a powerful presence — calm, yet full of passion. What first led you to yoga? Was there a moment, an experience, or a person that sparked this lifelong journey?

Harsha:
That’s such a good question — and thank you, Antara, for your kind words. You know, when the fruit is ripe, it’s time to pluck it — and most importantly, feed it to someone who will truly appreciate it. The thirst to be free, to be real, to simply be myself has been strong since childhood. I never really resonated with school, college, or even the people around me. Something always felt... missing. That spark, that calling to find my real family, was intense. Every breath in urban life felt suffocating.

I often felt lost and alone. I cried in the dark and prayed for clarity. And then—like a thunderbolt—came Swami Vivekananda. Just ten hours of his lectures gave me everything: purpose, clarity, love, reason, passion. It all clicked. I realized I was born to serve, to uplift, to grow on this path of Yoga. That missing link in my puzzle was spirituality. Since then, there hasn’t been a single day of regret. I work, I teach, I share — and I give back a hundredfold of what I’ve received. Isn’t that divine work? Isn’t that why we are born? So for Harsha — it’s Yoga. It’s now. It’s everything.

Antara: You’ve built something so beautiful with Harsha Yoga. But behind the discipline and the practice, what keeps you going, day after day? What is your deepest inspiration — the one thing that lights you up from within?

Harsha:
That’s so thoughtful, thank you. Honestly, all I’ve done is lay a single brick on a vast foundation. There’s still so much to learn, to experience — and thousands of souls to reach. Every morning, I pause and ask myself: Have I given enough back to Mother Earth? And my inner voice always replies: No, Harsha, you haven’t. That’s what keeps me going.

I want to leave this life smiling, knowing I’ve fulfilled my dharma — that I’ve passed on what I’ve learned. That maybe, just maybe, one soul of mine has touched hundreds, if not thousands. Why settle for the sky when we’re meant to aim for the moon — and soar beyond the stars?

The love of the Holy Mother, the grace of Paramahamsa, and the fire of Vivekananda — that trinity lights me up when my inner flame flickers. It’s their blessing that helps me ignite the souls who come seeking light.

Antara: You’ve scaled mountains and travelled to breathtaking places… when you're out there — high above the clouds, or deep in unfamiliar lands — what does it awaken in you? Does it feel like you're closer to something higher?

Harsha:
Absolutely. Mountains are divine. No wonder Kailasa is called the abode of Shiva. When I’m in the mountains, I feel the purest form of existence. I eat just one meal a day. My mind gains clarity. And most importantly — I forget my individual identity. I become a child.

Just like a baby forgets everything in its mother’s warmth, the mountains become my mother. She doesn’t just embrace me — she educates me, shares with me, and expects nothing but compassion. Nature is where we came from. Isn’t it obvious?

When you know you can build a home in the sky, why struggle to survive in unfamiliar, toxic lands? We are meant for a higher purpose. Born to awaken our inner spirit. Why would you want to stay on a lower plane?

Wouldn’t you rather wake up to breath-taking views than suffocate in the city’s chaos? We always look up when we pray. So why not live, breathe, and grow up there — in the abode of the divine?

Antara: There’s a special energy in your teaching, Harsha — where did you learn this art? Who were your teachers, your guides? And what have been the most meaningful lessons on your path so far?

Harsha:
Thank you so much for that. My greatest teachers have been my pain, my failures, my loneliness, and the deep yearning for my true family. Teaching begins within. I’m blessed to carry that flame — and when it’s guided by a true Guru, it transforms you.

I owe everything to the blessings of the Ramakrishna Math and my Paramaguru, Sri Ramachandra Bhat of Veda Vijnana Gurukul, Bengaluru, who initiated me into Vedantic studies. He’s the one who lit my inner fire.

To name just one lesson would be hard — Yoga has given me health, mindfulness, clarity, passion, gratitude. But if I had to name the most difficult lesson — it’s been confronting Lust. It’s the toughest battle I’ve fought.

But very recently, I’ve conquered it. And the pure love and compassion now flowing through me — it’s as if I’m flying in the sky. With that hand guiding me, I feel ready to take up divine work with full heart and clarity.

Antara: So many people today are silently battling stress, anxiety, or even just a sense of emptiness. From your own experience, how can yoga help someone not just survive — but truly come alive again?

Harsha:
That question is so important. Emptiness, in my view, is the result of a deep disconnection from the real world. People are getting sucked into the virtual — into hours of mindless scrolling, chasing trends, and comparing lives. But behind those filters lies toxicity.

It disconnects you from your breath, your body, your emotions — from yourself.

Yoga breathes new life into an aspirant’s soul. It teaches you to accept your physical body, embrace your mind, and go beyond momentary pleasures. It shifts your life toward meaning and love. Greed, lust, and comparison begin to fade.

And in their place? A sense of purpose, compassion, and contentment. That’s when you stop just existing. That’s when you truly feel alive.

Harsha:

I warmly invite anyone who feels connected to these ideas to reach out to me at harsha@harshayoga.com. You can also read more about my work on www.harshayoga.com.
Feel free to join us anytime — I look forward to seeing you on this beautiful journey!

Until then,

 Rise above fear
 Shine through doubt
 Evolve into light

— Harsha

A Closing Note by Antara Mohan:

As I hung up the phone, I sat quietly for a few moments. The world around me felt slower, softer. There was something magnetic in the way Harsha spoke — equal parts fire and stillness. A paradox that made perfect sense.

What struck me most was not just his passion for Yoga — but his genuine desire to serve. To uplift. To share the light he’s found, even if it means walking alone for a while.

In a time where most are seeking something outside themselves, Harsha is reminding us to look within — to rise, to breathe, and to remember:
we are not alone on this journey.

And if you’re ever ready to begin — he’s just a breath away.