Alison Guerrero, M.A. ’26, a mother of three, a second-year LMU Yoga Studies student, and a staff member in LMU Athletics, was filling out an application online and paused at the question, “Have you ever been to India?” Until now, the opportunity—or even the time—to go had never been available.
The application was for the GELI (Graduate Experiential Learning in India) trip. Designed for those who have never visited India and open to LMU students to apply, it offered a 100% scholarship paid for by the Uberoi Foundation for a two-week journey of learning and discovery.
Although independent from LMU, the Uberoi Foundation sponsors two study abroad programs in India, sending three or more LMU students each year to Delhi or Pune at different times. Guerrero was part of the cohort in December 2024, which included two other LMU Yoga Studies students as well as students from Paris, Hawaii, and New Mexico. The trip was led by two professors from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania.
Throughout the trip, they visited temples, engaged with local communities, and deepened their understanding of yoga beyond the classroom. For yoga studies students, the program isn’t just a travel opportunity: It’s a chance to connect with the traditions and philosophies that shape their discipline, turning academic curiosity into an authentic experience.
Guererro would have breakfast at 8 a.m., which was accompanied by a lecture about the site her group would visit that day. In Delhi, Guererro bonded with her cohort. “[I was around] people who wanted to learn… And I was not the oldest person,” Guererro said. “There were a couple of students older than me, but it was a wide range … a 26-year-old and a 60-year-old. The whole time, we were like, ‘We’re in India! Can you believe this is what we’re doing?’ It felt really lucky.”
She observed small details that illustrated the core principles of yoga. For instance, she noticed that the Jain monks would sweep their mats before sitting down to avoid harming any insects. This demonstrated that not everything she learned was directly taught; instead, she truly experienced “living with a nonviolent mindset and looking at things from different perspectives.” From the moment she arrived, Guerrero immersed herself in the culture. “[India is] noisier and more colorful than anything [I’ve] ever seen,” she said. “[Delhi] was a city and an experience of contrast. I saw magnificent temples and beautiful hotels and then … cows walking in the street and open markets where I could buy anything.”
For Angie Tiersch, M.A. ’26, who traveled to India in December 2023 as part of BCLA Yoga Studies’ Educational Journey to India with Lori R. Fazzio, clinical professor of yoga studies and health, being in a new environment helped anchor her academic journey. In her final year as a yoga student, she feels passionate about rescuing animals, “… this program helped me pull all of my interests together, and I realized that all of this is yoga.” Many people have a misconception that yoga is just a physical practice, but she insists that “Yoga is a union with everything.”
Outside of school, Tiersch felt a shift in her mindset and how she taught yoga. “Before I went to India, I often listened to EDM music while practicing,” she laughed. “Now, I don’t want to teach in a way that feels like I am gentrifying the practice. I want to change and incorporate elements that are closer to tradition. Being away and doing the practices every morning has made me more disciplined.” Currently writing her thesis, yoga is not her main passion, but it is precisely what helps her pursue her passions. “Once I started this program, I realized I wanted to start a nonprofit,” Tiersch said. “During my first year, I spent a lot of time reading about animal activism and non-harm principles towards animals. Whenever I wasn’t practicing yoga in India, I was out with the stray dogs.”
In a conversation with Professor Christopher Chapple, the founding director of the Master of Arts in Yoga at LMU, he addressed a common misconception about yoga. Many people believe that yoga is simply a workout. However, Chapple explained that while yoga movements are essential, they primarily serve as a means to cultivate a meditative state.
He noted, “Going to India has been highly instructive for students, as it shows that the practice of yoga is designed to foster a sense of inner peace. The experience in India provides both sociological and historical context, highlighting how modern applications of yoga emphasize the significance of achieving quietness as part of a health strategy.”
After discussing their trip, Guererro and Tiersch shifted the conversation to the LMU Yoga Studies graduate program, which explores yoga’s history, philosophy, and practice beyond physical postures.
Tiersch argues that yoga does not categorize experiences as “good” or “bad.” She explains, “We examine all of those polarities and labels. I believe it’s about shifting our perspective to find greater peace, ease, and acceptance of things as they are.” She describes the Yoga Studies program as a combination of studying texts on various philosophies and health sciences. This program also provides training in practices that help regulate the nervous system and understand physiological processes.
Housed within the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, the Yoga Studies program fosters a close-knit community of students and faculty. It offers a Master of Arts degree, a Yoga Therapy Certificate, and continuing education courses. They are the first school in the United States to offer a master’s degree in yoga studies. Students in the M.A. program pick between two tracks: yoga therapy and yoga philosophy. The former focuses on anatomy and the musculoskeletal system so students can become yoga therapists, while the other path dives into philosophy and Sanskrit for two to three years. Since 2013, they have live-streamed their courses, attracting students from Florida to Germany and the Philippines.
The Uberoi Foundation, which supports the study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism in North America, has played a crucial role in developing LMU’s Yoga Studies offerings. It has consistently provided grants for research, conferences, and faculty support.
Chapple noted, “They’ve helped underwrite the establishment of our yoga therapy program by providing faculty salary support for Doctor [Lori] Fazzio … and [helped] support the establishment of a Jain Studies professorship that Nirinjan Khalsa now holds.”
After graduation, Chapple mentioned that students have great flexibility in their careers. “Many of our graduates pursue Ph.D. programs, while others teach full-time at various universities, including USC and Stanford. Some of our alumni manage their own yoga studios, and others teach in various locations, including military installations.”
By completing this program, students deepen their understanding of yoga’s history, philosophy, and practical applications in various fields, including academia, health care, and community outreach. With the increasing global interest in yoga, LMU graduates are well-prepared to integrate traditional practices and innovative approaches into their careers.