Meet Radha: Yoga Buggy President

Anu-Radha Sharma: Yoga Buggy Board President

Meet Radha: Yoga Buggy Board President

Board Member at The Yoga Buggy | Educator | Classical Dancer | Lifelong Yoga Student

In this edition of our Team Feature series, we are happy to introduce Anu-Radha Sharma.  Radha is an educator, classical dancer, and advocate for mindfulness and yoga in schools. She shares her exploration of her cultural roots, ongoing self-discovery, and the healing benefits of returning to the breath.

The Yoga Buggy: Please share your yoga journey.

Radha:
It’s an interesting question to ask a brown girl, because yoga is embedded in our lifestyle. Even as children, the way we sit cross-legged, the way we eat, the way we are taught to carry ourselves—so much of it is inherently yogic, though it wasn’t always labeled that way.

I was born and raised here in Canada, but I lived in India from age 10 to 16—which were really formative years. When I came back in high school, I attended a yoga workshop and remember thinking, “I can do this. I already understand this.” That was around 1995 or ’96, just as yoga awareness was picking up in Vancouver.

After my son was born in 2003, I was diagnosed with PCOS. I had put on some weight, and I didn’t feel like myself. That’s when I turned to yoga more seriously—mostly breathwork at the beginning. I discovered Baba Ramdev’s videos and started practicing daily. The results were amazing. I felt better, stronger, leaner. That’s when I truly understood how powerful yoga can be—not just for the body, but for the whole self.

The Yoga Buggy: Was yoga part of your childhood in a formal way?

Radha:
Not formally, no. I wish it had been! But even though we didn’t have a structured practice, there were yogic principles in our family life. For example, we were taught to sit straight when we ate and never to walk around while eating. Those little things mattered. They weren’t enforced rituals, but there was an understanding of alignment, presence, and discipline.

The Yoga Buggy: What brought your family back to India when you were a child?

Radha:
My dad wanted us to know our culture and experience life in a joint family. We moved from Montreal to a smaller town in Punjab where my dad’s side lived. He came from a well-off family, so we had all the amenities—it wasn’t like moving to a village. It was the late ’80s, and I got to witness the transformation of India in real time—MTV came to cable, the Western influence was creeping in. It was a very transitional time.

The Yoga Buggy: How did that experience impact your cultural identity?

Radha:

My mother was born and raised in Victoria.  At that time, she felt the need to blend in.  It was a time when being anything but white was frowned upon. So she really leaned into that, the blending in. When we went to India, she did  remarkably well with adopting her ancestral and married culture- it couldn’t have been an easy transition for her. Regardless, I remember her carrying herself with poise and simplicity- and no air of being from the "Western world." 

I’ve always been more connected to my roots, but growing up, there was a push and pull between cultures. I think our generation has the privilege to express our diversity more freely—thanks to the sacrifices of our parents.

The Yoga Buggy: You're also a classical Indian dancer. How does that intersect with your yoga journey?

Radha:
I started classical dance, called Bharatnatyam, at 18, and now my daughter and I are learning Kathak (another Indian classical dance form) together. It’s a North Indian style—with intricate rhythms and graceful movements. Visually, it’s a bit like flamenco, which was actually influenced by Kathak. It’s a lifelong practice, much like yoga. You never perfect it. 

Radha performing Bharatnatyam, circa 2000.

How do they intersect?  Both yoga and kathak teach me humility, patience, discipline and presence.

The Yoga Buggy: As a parent and educator, what’s your perspective on yoga and mindfulness in schools?

Radha:
I’m lucky to be part of an education system that values SEL (Social Emotional Learning), which is great. But I often feel like mindfulness isn’t structured enough. I wish there was a guideline—something as simple as requiring 5–15 minutes of grounding, breath, or movement at the start of the day. Transitions are hard for children, especially those who are neurodivergent or coming from stressful situations. A small daily practice could make a huge difference.

The Yoga Buggy: What drew you to join the board of The Yoga Buggy?

Radha:
It happened organically. I met Elizabeth [The Yoga Buggy’s Executive Director] when she came to teach at the school where I work. I was immediately drawn to the approach, and I asked her how I could get involved. I’ve always wanted to teach yoga, but life has been busy. 

I want to be a yoga teacher one day in the near future -not for the sake of knowing more as an ‘authority’- but to have a class dynamic where the student and the teacher create a space together for yoga.  

Radha teaching children at the Vancouver School Board, summer 2025

The Yoga Buggy: What would you like to see during your time on the board?

Radha:
I think The Yoga Buggy already does great work.   The contributions I’d like to support are: continued emphasis on honoring the origins of yoga, and slowing the practice down—being in tune with the children, and with the spirit of yoga itself. 

Personally, I’d love to find the right time and space to step into teaching! Some day I hope it will align with my energy and availability.

The Yoga Buggy: What advice would you give to new or aspiring yogis?

Radha:
We are all yogis—it’s just a matter of how far you want to take the practice. I suggest starting with breathwork (pranayam). That’s how I began. When I saw the difference it made in my health, it was life-changing and a no-brainer to continue.  I don't worry about having the right clothes or being flexible.  Be gentle with yourself and  Practice regularly. We all fall off the wagon but we must forgive ourselves and just get back on the wagon.

The Yoga Buggy: What breath practices helped you the most?

Radha:
Baba Ramdev teaches a series of 8–10 breath practices—things like anulom vilom (alternate nostril breathing) and kapalabhati (a cleansing breath). Practicing them daily, on an empty stomach, transformed my energy and digestion. Even without doing physical postures, breath alone can be incredibly powerful.

The Yoga Buggy: Anything else you'd like to share?

Radha:
I think I’m at a place now where I’m moving from external goals to internal ones. I still love beauty and movement, but I’m more interested in inner peace and growth. If you're happy on the inside, you glow. That’s the journey I’m on now—trying to be more disciplined, less driven by appearance, and more connected to my inner self.

I hope people in the yoga world stay humble. Sometimes I see teachers who act like they know everything-I don’t think that’s the right approach. I come from the culture, and I still feel like I know very little. That’s the attitude we need : to be open-hearted and ever-learning.

Connect with Radha:
You can follow Radha on Instagram at @anuworld88 — her feed is a lovely place to visit- there you will find glimpses of dance, family and quiet wisdom.