My Story
Meet Uma
Namaste, I'm Uma.
I was born and raised in Nepal and now call Finland home. My journey from the Himalayas to the Nordic forests has been one of growth, change, and rediscovering what truly matters.
For most of my adult life, I worked in sustainability and international development, careers that I genuinely loved. My work took me to different countries and brought many different experiences along the way. Throughout it all, yoga remained an important part of my life. In 2020, I moved to Finland to be with my husband. In this new chapter of life, I found myself returning to my asana practice with a new curiosity. What had always been personal gradually became something I wanted to explore more deeply and eventually share with others. In 2022, I completed my first yoga teacher training and began teaching alongside my career. Since then, I’ve continued learning through trainings and courses with different teachers and traditions, deepening my understanding of Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin and Restorative Yoga, as well as pranayama, meditation, philosophy and sound.
Today, I teach yoga in studios across Finland, lead retreats and corporate wellbeing sessions, and guide students online from around the world. My teaching draws from Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin, and Restorative Yoga.
My Approach
What I believe about yoga
Over time, my understanding of yoga has grown through practice, study and learning from different teachers and traditions. Today, my classes may include asana, pranayama, meditation, relaxation, philosophy and self-inquiry, woven together rather than treated as separate practices. I offer practices that are grounded in tradition but accessible in everyday life.
I also believe there is value in practising in different ways. Some days, that may mean a more active asana practice; on others, it may mean restorative postures, pranayama, meditation or simply learning to be still. My own practice has taught me that yoga does not always have to be about doing more. Sometimes, it is about learning to listen.
Meditation has been an important part of my own journey. Over the years, I have spent time in meditation centres and retreats including Osho Tapoban, the Art of Living, the Isha Foundation, and Vipassana centre, exploring different traditions and approaches to inner awareness. These experiences continue to deepen my personal practice and influence the way I hold space for my students.
Credentials
Training & Certifications
I’m a certified yoga teacher with training in Hatha, Ashtanga and Yin Yoga. I’m also certified in Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga teaching and as a Sound Bath Practitioner. I have completed my yoga certifications in Nepal, India and Indonesia, drawn to the rich roots, knowledge and heritage of yoga in these places.
I believe learning is a lifelong journey, and I continue to deepen my knowledge through study with experienced teachers, courses, books, retreats, and my own daily practice. Each experience shapes the way I teach and reminds me that, as a teacher, I will always remain a student.
Whether you’re stepping onto the mat for the first time or returning to deepen your practice, my intention is to offer a space where you can slow down, breathe, and explore yoga in a way that feels meaningful to you, both on and beyond the mat.