COMMUNIT Y
Hoosier Yogi: Nancy Schalk
By Betsy Alt
“Most people think that my journey in
teaching began when I opened All People
Yoga Center, but that is not at all true…
I was teaching yoga long before I opened
the center.”
And so begins my interview with Narayani, or Nancy Schalk, one of Indiana’s
beloved and most respected yoga pioneers. The interview quickly becomes
more of a chat, and over the course of
the next four hours, I’m transported—
and more than a bit envious.
Nancy, whom many also know as “Narayani,” the name given to her during her
studies and residence in the Sivananda
Ashram in the Bahamas, is a lifelong
yogi. Her studies, personal practice and
teaching span thousands of miles and
encompass a multitude of styles. She is
a deep, deep well of yogic knowledge
and perspective. Quite frankly, her stories about “the good ole days” of yoga
are completely enthralling. Those who
were fortunate enough to study with
her for their teaching training certification know this all too well. I am one
of those people, and when I met with
Narayani recently I asked her to begin
at the beginning. While it is impossible
to capture every detail of her decades of
discovery and experience in yoga in a
single article, my sincere hope is that I
at least honor a wom