Sonal Wad

-:ABOUT THE AUTHOR:-

Sonal is a Chartered Accountant and CFA charter holder who graduated from R.A. Podar College in Mumbai with a degree in commerce. She has worked in finance and banking for nearly two decades in Mumbai, Hong Kong and London for companies like ICICI Bank, JP Morgan and Barclays, and currently lives in London.

Outside of her career, Sonal has always had a strong interest in spiritual development and holistic well-being. She is a trained Haṭha Yoga instructor, a Kriyā Yoga practitioner, an enthusiastic recreational football player, and a student of martial arts. Her personal philosophy emphasises integrating physical, mental and spiritual harmony.

Sonal was exposed to India’s spiritual traditions at a young age, having grown up in a family of Yoga and meditation teachers. Her spiritual foundation was greatly influenced by her parents, Jyoti Wad and Jayant Wad, who are both accomplished Yoga teachers, Reiki Masters and Kriyā Yoga acharya. She was captivated by the Bhagavad Gītā, Upaniṣads, and other classical texts while studying Sanskrit in school. She learnt Reiki at the age of sixteen and, at the age of eighteen, she was initiated into the Kriyā Yoga tradition. For her, meditation is an essential tool for navigating life’s challenges.

While undergoing her Yoga teacher training, she began looking for a straightforward and easy-to-read explanation of the Patañjali Yoga Sūtras, the foundational text of Yoga philosophy. At that point, her father introduced her to Dr. Shriram Agashe’s lectures on the Yoga Sūtras, which brought new clarity to the text. Inspired by his lucid commentaries, and drawing on her background in technical financial writing, Sonal set out to present the sūtras in a distinctive, clear and accessible format. With the help of modern tools, she created a version accessible to every category of readers, irrespective of their Yoga experience or spiritual background.

Sonal sees spirituality as engaging with life through conscious awareness. ‘Spiritual understanding,’ she says, ‘means living as a conscious observer. It helps us respond—not react—with presence and authenticity.’