Sarah Platt-Finger was stunned. It was the summer of 2014, and the Yoga Master was knee deep in Dr. Deepak Chopra�s book, The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence. Deepak�s musings about quantum leaps, unbound potential, and infinite possibilities were speaking to her and motivating her.

As luck (or fate?) would have it, a week later Platt-Finger received an email that would change her life. It was from Deepak�s assistant. The Chopra Global founder was moving two doors down from Sarah�s yoga studio, ISHTA Yoga, and he was seeking a private yoga teacher.

�It was so synchronistic that I thought it was not real,� Platt-Finger says. "I thought it was a fluke, because I really was so immersed in his books at the time.�

Naturally, she agreed to work with the holistic health icon. But then came the next issue: How do you teach the master? Platt-Finger's mentor helped her reframe the approach in her mind. She wasn�t there to teach him, necessarily, but to share the teachings with him.

"We put together a sequence,� the Director of Chopra Yoga at IIN says. �I�m trained to teach people based on their anatomy, their individual distinct constitution, and the way that their body works and fits. [There�s an] Ayurvedic aspect to it as well, which is a big part of the Chopra teachings, so there was a lot of crossover, and that resonated with Deepak.�

Read More: What Is Ayurveda? An Introduction to the Ancient Healing System

Sarah and Deepak began to work together regularly, meeting for 6:00 am classes in New York City. The work continued steadily for six years, and during that time Platt-Finger saw firsthand how yoga transformed him, both physically and mentally.

�It really changed his physique,� she says. �He lost a ton of weight. He became more vital. He started to get more into Pranayama and breath technique and longevity. I think it opened up this whole other exploration and passion of the ancient practice of yoga, and it led us to do the book together, Living in the Light.�

Deepak had practiced yoga prior to his work with Sarah, but she speculates that his earlier practice wasn�t individualized or catered to his specific body.

�There�s so much yoga and everybody has their practice that suits them,� she says, �but I think he might have just needed a particular style that worked with his body and his constitution and his pacing.�

The Chopra Yoga 200-Hour Teacher Training Is Born

Prior to co-authoring the book, Chopra and Platt-Finger had collaborated on programs, retreats, and events, and in 2022 they teamed up to launch the Chopra Yoga 200-Hour Teacher Training, which Platt-Finger currently leads. (It also features instruction from Chopra himself, as well as board-certified physician Dr. Sheila Patel.)

The 16-week certification program is fully online, making it accessible to anyone across the globe. It�s self-paced, but there are multiple opportunities for students to come together live for Sadhana Labs, where you work with a mentor to learn yoga poses, practice teach, ask questions, and work together in a more intimate environment. The yoga classes and webinars are also live, but students have the option to view the recordings.

�The skill that I learned from ISHTA, of teaching to the individual, I brought into this course,� Platt-Finger says. �Making it accessible for every body, every shape, every background, every constitution ... Then we have Deepak�s seven spiritual laws as the main foundation of the program. It�s the seven spiritual laws of success, and it�s an inner success.

�It�s not an external success. How do you create a state of success inside of yourself? And most yoga programs don�t bring in that intersectionality of your spiritual life and your material life.�

Practice With Deepak and Sarah in Bryant Park

Don�t miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to practice with Sarah and meditate with Deepak in person! On Wednesday, September 11^th, Deepak will lead a soothing breathwork meditation and Sarah will guide a 40-minute yoga session in Bryant Park, in the heart of Manhattan. Click here to learn more about the event, and click here to register.