Coming Home: The Authentic Yoga Journey of Dr. Mini Rattu
My journey as a lifelong student of Yoga began in 2011 in a small studio in San Francisco. I had only taken yoga as an elective in college, but this was my first time stepping into a real yoga studio. And when I say “real”, it had temple vibes. It reminded me of the Sikh gurudwaras I went to while growing up. I felt safe. I felt at home. I felt like I had arrived.
I began graduate school the following year to pursue my doctorate in clinical psychology. During my time as a student, I learned more about yoga as an intervention for psychological and medical ailments and earned my first 200-hour certification to teach in 2014 at a local commercial studio. I continued additional trainings in 2022, 2023, and most recently in 2024.
Although yoga and meditation have become anchors to my wellbeing since I first started to practice, I found myself less interested in going to studios in town over the years. My original private studio closed down and it seemed as if corporate yoga studios were everywhere. I felt like something was missing from these new studios and I was instead being served a watered-down version of what I knew. What was offered was not really the yoga I knew and treasured. Fortunately, in 2022, I was introduced by a Stanford colleague to the YogaX 300-hour therapeutic teacher training. At first, I wasn’t sure. I already had two 200-hour certificates at this point and wondered if this would be more of the same. But after I met with YogaX Founding Director, Dr. Christiane Brems, during a brief orientation, I knew this training would be different. The YogaX training and community is truly one of a kind. It walks the talk when it comes to teaching the original sacred traditions of yoga, which embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. YogaX has reminded me of the ancient yoga philosophies, including the tenets of self-study, awareness, compassion, concentration, love, and connection to the world around us. I became once again at home with yoga.
Not only did I complete the 300-hour training but I was able to earn advanced certifications as a yoga educator (YACEP) and yoga-therapeutically trained healthcare provider (IAYT-Q). It almost felt serendipitous to graduate from @stanford @yogaxteam @yogaalliance and @iaytorg on the International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2024, as an internationally recognized Qualified Healthcare Professional in Yoga Therapeutics. What makes this especially remarkable is that my colleagues and I are the first cohort in the nation to receive this training!
Yoga, like my work as a psychologist and fitness competitor, has taught me about the fierceness required for true self love and compassion. It has been a continuous part of my growth and discovering all the layers from the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of our Higher Self. Since completing the 300-hour, YACEP, and IAYT trainings with YogaX, I have shared my learnings through several offerings including trauma and stress-informed CE workshops for yoga teachers and interested members of the general community. I also grew confidence in my ability to bring evidence-based yoga psychology into my private practice. Bridging the gap between neuroscience research and yoga has been an exciting thing to educate my clients on. Having tools to develop more insight into the mind and body, while accessing internal resources to optimize mental and physical health has allowed so many of my patients to embrace their inner strengths and become empowered in their health journey. And who doesn’t want that?
I am grateful for this special training opportunity with YogaX at Stanford Psychiatry. It has been a pivotal part of my growth as a clinical psychologist to share my learnings with my clients and community. I am grateful to my mentors, colleagues, and patients for allowing me this opportunity to share ancient wisdom with a modern Dr. Mini twist – allowing me to still be me. Special gratitude goes to Christiane Brems, Geno Carvalho, Heather Freeman, my cohort of peers, and new students. You each continue to inspire me in your own way.
Also, I would love to connect with you, the reader. Please stop by and visit my site at drmini.co, where I share current offerings including retreats, workshops, speaking engagements, and much more. Yoga Psychology is an evidence-based approach to treat and support many medical and psychological conditions. Learn more about the type of training that was so important in my yoga journey by visiting https://www.yogaxteam.com/.
Satnam.
Mini
Mini Rattu, PsyD, IAYT-Q, YACEP, RYT-500
PSY30427; website/IG: drmini.co
Dr. Mini Rattu is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in trauma, stress-related conditions, and anxiety disorders. She utilizes evidence-based treatment interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, and yoga psychology. Dr. Mini is also a certified yoga instructor and educator (E-RYT-500, YACEP), psychedelic assisted therapist, mindfulness instructor. She is trained in Compassion Cultivation and Altruism Research Education (CCARE) and Yoga for Mental Health (YogaX) at Stanford Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is excited to have recently graduated with the nation’s first cohort of YogaX’s IAYT-Q program for Integrated Holistic Yoga Therapeutics in Healthcare for Qualified Healthcare Professionals.