Sarvesh Shashi is the founder, and CEO of SARVA- Yoga, Mindfulness and Beyond. In 2013, this reformed yogi started Zorba, which is now SARVA Yoga, India’s largest chain of Yoga studios and went on to become the nation's youngest CEO in the fitness sector. SARVA Yoga is now the largest yoga chain in India with a presence of 91 studios with over 40 locations across India, plans to open a hundred more, with an aim to inspire the youth at finding their own path through mindfulness. We caught up with Sarvesh Shashi to know more about yoga

Why and what inspired you to take up yoga?
Yoga has been an integral part of my life ever since I was a child, but it truly left an impression on me when I turned 17. I like to split my life into two stages - pre and post the age of 17. Before I turned 17, my life can be best described by 3 A's: Arrogance, Anger, and Attitude. But then I took up a yoga class which was meant to be completed by my father, that was the moment that changed my life forever. Change came to me in an extremely unexpected manner. Under the guidance of my Guru, I took up 5 Sadhanas, which seemed out of character for a teenager at the time. These Sadhanas were, No Lying, No mental and physical stealing, No intoxication, non-violence, and celibacy. At 19, along with my sadhanas, I also took up a 40-day active silence exercise which was nothing short of a life-altering experience that helped me engage in solitude that allowed me to be more sensitive to the stimuli around me. Yoga helped me figure "myself" out and defeat the 3A's that dominated my life. I firmly believe that Yoga is not just a workout, it’s a lifestyle.