NLP Feedback Stories – Vishal Joshi, Transformational Coach & Stray Animal Volunteer, Mumbai

Level 1 – NLP Basics – (2 days Workshop)

I met Ashok for the first time in 2018 when he was referred strongly for my search to learn NLP. At the time, i was working in the corporate sector, what i now call a hamsters wheel. I was looking to diversify and become a trainer and was contemplating between Landmark and NLP. Ashok was having a level 1 workshop in Bengaluru and was very kind to adjust his dates to suit my participation. I went not knowing what to expect but with an open mind and I was surprised, or should i say hooked on.

His simplicity of character and the way he simplified his teachings, the introduction to Meta Models and his style of weaving in stories to explain a concept, the kind of attention to each participants and his on the dot analysis of our personality, were all too attractive. He has a very unorthodox way to teach and that was something that really clicked with me. I saw the importance of learning a life tool in a very natural way and that resonated with me so much that i knew I would be coming back for more. He invested time in helping each participant understand where they can benefit.

Level 2 – NLP Practitioner (5 days Residential)

1 year later at a very different setting, i returned for my level 2. Ashok holds this in his farmhouse in a small town Krishnagiri, about 2 hours drive from Bengaluru. The setting and the environment itself is enough to calm the most chaotic minds. Add to that the sumptuous home cooked meals and i was in heaven.

This course was for 7 days and covered concepts like Dissociation, 6 step reframing, feedback, clean questions, etc. Dissociation has helped me let go of my grief and separate myself from all the past memories so i can enjoy a happier present. Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most crucial tools that has helped me improve my interpersonal skills. 6step reframing showed me where i was in my life and where i would get to in this state. Also it showed me what exactly do i need to change if i want a different outcome. Clean questions have been a great tool that help me engage people in conversations and draw out their true underlying beliefs behind every statement.

Level 3 – NLP Master Practitioner – Module 1 (5 days – NLP & Sociocracy3.0)

As soon as the 1st wave of the pandemic was over, i was back for the 3rd level. Once again at Ashoks farm house. This time he took us deeper into the subject with concepts like Modeling. A great tool to learn how a successful person operates. What are the thoughts and how they take decisions. In short, can we step into their shoes and be the way they are? Next was Anchoring. This helped me go back to a resourceful state even during the most chaotic moments. We also went deeper into other concepts and learnt briefly about Sociocracy 3.0 and about Provocative Coaching.

Level 3 – NLP Master Practitioner – Module 2 & 3 (10 days – NLP, Ayurveda & Movement)

This course is designed in the most amazing way possible. Set in the beautiful landscapes of Munnar, we had the opportunity to learn about Creative Movement and its importance in our well-being. 10 days of being amidst nature and enjoying wholesome home cooked meals was probably the best experience. Add to that the snippets of Ayurveda and it was just what the doctor ordered. All of these were very clevery weaved into the NLP tools and concepts.

NLP Refresher Course – (6 weekends Online – Video Lessons + Live Coaching)

After nearly 18 months of attending my last workshop with Ashok, he put together a group for this wonderful course. This time we were all there not with an objective to learn something new but rather to use our time with him to refresh our memories of what we had learnt and probably used in our lives at some point. Working with some like minded people was a great platform but what really took the cake was the way Ashok handled these sessions. He allowed each one of us to learn, relearn and present to the group every single time. This gave us tremendous exposure to different styles of teaching methods and opened up the field for various methods of learning. Throughout these 6 weeks, we were collaborating with different partners and learning something valuable through each interaction. And then there was Ashok, always guiding us when needed, encouraging us every time and helping us throughout as he always does. Concepts like Feedback, Beliefs, Negotiatiing Change, etc. were so beautifully and effortlessly covered.

About me

I quit my corporate job in December 2020 with a vision to become a trainer. All my learnings from Ashok have come in handy in this journey and allowed me to become a better listener and a competent trainer. Along the way, in the last 2 years, I have studied various other methods to help with overall Mind and Body Healing. I use some or all of these methods alongwith NLP to help people overcome their challenges and lead a better life.

This freedom has also allowed me to spare some time on a daily basis to pursue my passion of giving back to the society. While i conduct trainings and personal coachings, i also volunteer at an animal shelter that works for the betterment of the stray dogs and cats in Mumbai. Here we sterilize, vaccinate, treat and rescue stray animals.

– Vishal Joshi, Transformational Coach, Mumbai

Vishal Joshi is a Transformational Coach with over 20 years of experience in corporate sector in various roles ranging from Sales & Business Development to Training & Team Management. Through his exposure to an illustrious career, he has acquired an innate ability to read and understand the needs of both individuals as well as the corporates and has been able to realign these abilities towards a common goal.

An exponent of various Mind & Body healing modalities, he combines these learning in his workshop to help participants overcome challenges caused by their past conditioning and trauma. He is intrigued by the ancient wisdom and feels that there are some really rare gems encrypted in the past that are yet to be discovered or rarely understood by modern science. Through the study of Veda’s and some Buddhist practices, he has amassed deep knowledge of human behavior and uses it very effectively by combining that with modern tools like NLP & Mindfulness.

He voluntarily retired from his corporate role to fulfil his long term ambition to be able to help people achieve their true and full potential with regards to work, relationships, finance, health & spirituality.

Dear Sir,
The six days that I spent attending the NLP Practitioner Course in Jodhpur were the most transformational and impactful moments in my life. I am extremely glad that I took this much-needed break, which has given me a renewed purpose and perspective to life.

The flow and continuity of your training program was seamless right from the morning Yoga session to the various breaks in between sessions, so at no point was there a lull moment where there was no learning or value addition. The topics discussed and covered during the program were very well explained and demonstrated with real time hands on application of the tools and concepts, which allowed maximum interaction between all participants, thereby creating a compatible bond to learn and share. I was able to connect with each participant very closely and observe their behaviour and study their patterns.

You have the unique ability of reading people, understanding their thought process, analysing their behaviour and getting to the root cause of their issues and problems, which I witnessed throughout the course. You disseminate the key learnings through your in-depth knowledge of mythological stories, teachings of ancient Indian monks, philosophers, theologists with a blend of humour, songs and anecdotes. The messages and signals were conveyed in a very simple and candid manner, which is a very rare experience in any training course that I’ve attended thus far.

Your flair to state things in a very straightforward and honest manner allowed me to reflect, feel and reach out to the depth of my inner voices and emotions. Your casual and friendly approachable nature gave me the comfort to open up
freely about my problems, which you were able to answer with utmost ease and lucidity. Your words constantly touched many aspects of my troubled spaces and helped me unravel my limitations.

Key takeaways for me from the course:

Ability to connect with myself and my emotions, beliefs, and values. To let go of too much thinking and analysing but rather act/ do spontaneously and whole-heartedly live in the present.

We cannot blame people, resources, circumstances and situations for our problems, because we make our own choices.

If we need to change something, we need to take responsibility and ownership to make it happen.

Thank you! is all I can say for the opportunity to be a part of your training, because the gratitude that I feel and want to express is almost impossible to contain in words. I have learned so much from you and look forward to learning more. I’m sure that all participants will be applying the NLP wisdom in their lives and truly hope they’ll excel in their respective professional /personal endeavors. I thank you once again for all the wonderful work you are doing and wish you the very best for your future ventures.

– Sandeep Karkera, Sales Operation & Planning Manager, Good Year Tyre & Rubber Company, Dubai 

I am able to connect to people in a positive way. I have stopped doing self talking considerably, which was usually in a negative way affecting me most of the time. Whenever I think in the same manner as I used to think, immediately the words of Ashok Sir remind me that our mind needs food (negative thinking) as it is it’s addiction to have it in order to remain in a negative state.

I am not easily affected by people what they say about me. I try to take it as only part of communication which might looks like a deliberate comment or taunt previously.

I have started talking to people with an open mind.I find myself more friendly now. I think about my efforts rather than thinking about people who are associated with me. I love to learn and update myself with new skills.

I want to improve my Focus in developing myself in better way, meaning that I would be thinking about my endeavors in a broader perspective rather than getting caught in trivial issues.

My goal is to achieve confidence in me and to take responsibility of my actions. I want to believe in myself so that I achieve what I dream about.
Ashok is able to connect to people very easily. I like the way he resolves the issues for those who ask for help. Also, he behaves more like a friend than a trainer. He has immense knowledge and is well read person. He is able to understand the meaning of quotes written by great authors. I wish if he can take one more session so that we could get benefitted by his
training.

Definitely, There is lot of guidance needed.. I want Ashok to be in touch with me so that I see myself improving as a better
person.

– Farhana Rakshand, French Trainer / Trainer, Jaipur 

What has stayed with me till today, after 8 days of completion of the workshop is:
– The fact that I have to act and do less of thinking and feeling
– The biggest pleasures of life are derived from the simplest of things. The place, the ambience, everything that I experienced, has left a very positive mark on my mind
– People at the workshop and their impressions

I have started feeling motivated a lot. There was a sense of dejection within me which was pulling me back all this time since I got off my regular job; but now, I have started seeing the silver lining. I know with much clarity now, what I have to do in life to achieve my goals.

I have started waking up at a particular time, early in the morning. This helps me planning my daily activities. Also, I have started to take care of my health. Cutting down on sweets, bakery, aerated liquids, canned and preserved foods, are few of the activities I am focusing on.

I want to pursue being a Trainer with all the efforts I can put in. Honing my skills as a Language trainer as well as going back to the basics in terms of relearning what I did few years ago. I am also focusing on my health. I understand that if I am not fit, I will not be able to work. I am being selective with my food intake and walking too to ensure healthy diet with weight reduction.

Ashok has a fantastic way of holding a participant’s hand and take him/her to a journey where s/he has never been. I felt it like that. His words touched somewhere inside and stirred me up. Made me think and see the mirror. After his session, I am more aware about where all I have to actually focus in my life to accomplish my goals. I loved the Buddha and Osho stories he shared. How skillfully he merges the stories with what was happening / had happened in my life was a very nice experience.

Having knowledge is one thing, but to convert that knowledge into wisdom is an art which I could clearly see in Ashok’s sessions. I am extremely glad that I took up this long awaited workshop with him. I had just heard stories of him, but it was another experience to be with him in person.

Training Venue was something different than what I had in mind. The Organic Farm had the best and most nutritious food to offer. The natural surroundings were beautiful. I was amazed that I actually heard the chirping of birds after such a long time. If only I did not have dust allergy and fear of lizards, I could have enjoyed the place much better. : )

If more such workshops are organized, it would be fantastic to be a part of them on a regular basis. I am sure that I will grow as person each time I am exposed to such situations / workshops.

I believe everything’s already perfect. : ) with the workshop, so no suggestion to improve further!

– Vikas Michael, Corporate Trainer, Jaipur

Mumbai (Aug 2013) :
NLP with Ashok is always an experience!

The most that has stayed from me from the NLP Practitioner workshop is the fact that I was able to connect with myself and my emotions. Also gaining a deeper understanding of my value systems and the beliefs that I work with, it has given me a feeling that I am on the path to completeness. Each Training is different from other which makes the training more interesting. He knows how to make his coaching interesting so if I go again and again I will find it more interesting and informative. This time also is no exception, I learnt a lot from this NLP course.

This NLP Practitioner course was done in a mountain hill range between Mumbai & Pune. Six days we were there, disconnected with T.V and Cell phones. We were eight people and the cook and workers.

The Farm House is on the riverside surrounding majestic hills on all sides. There is also a swimming pool inside the house.

I learnt a lot in these six days. In my opinion place plays a very good background for this type of course.

Firstly, Trekking on the hills with Ashok is a great experience; I would have missed it had I not gone there. Trekking through the hills in rain, rocks are slippery, strip and muddy pathway, brings us closer to nature, and when we go up I feel a connection with nature and a closeness with our group. My self-confidence also boost up which will help me in my daily routine.

I received few feedbacks from Ashok which are very valuable.

I learnt to match with people. I learnt I will listen to others feedback on me, analyze it and then I will take decision.

I learnt to build rapport, ability to build rapport is very important and I am doing it with my children, parents, faculties, franchise.

Ashok has mastery in building Rapport I think and this time I learnt body language has a great role in building rapport with
others.
I learnt to change my environment in my home. I learnt to keep it spacious so that I have space to walk.

I have experienced NLP with some other trainers also, and I learnt their way of coaching. With Ashok it is very different. He can make a difficult situation also very simple which helps a beginner also get into the subject and learn a lot. I also admire Ashok’s ability to observe people, learn what is going on inside a person and get through to them, so that he can help the person to reobserve their own-self and move forward to their desired state.

To sum up I can say that I learnt a lot in these six days with people from different places, culture, language and lifestyles. I learnt a lot from them.

I must mention Catherine and her ‘Gestalt Therapy’ is very good. she tries to find out what is within our mind through drawings, stories and individual interaction which helps to release the burden and be relieved. My gratitude for her.

I came to know a little bit about ‘Vedanta’ also from Ananda. Thanks to him that I came to know about our old epics which are lost now a days.
I feel these Veda, Vedanta, Ramayana and Mahabharata have a lot to build good values in our life.

I learned from each and every one of them. I specially want to mention Neherini’s name as I noticed though she is very young she can get into the subject very quickly and comes out with a good definition.

In total I can say my decision to repeat one more time NLP practitioner course with Ashok has proved magical & I am now enriched with lots of NLP experience and it was a fruitful gain for me.

– Bandana Ghosh, NLP Master Practitioner, Entrepreneur, Kolkata.

The most that has stayed from me from the NLP Practitioner workshop is the fact that I was able to connect with myself and my emotions. Also gaining a deeper understanding of my value systems and the beliefs that I work with, it has given me a feeling that I am on the path to completeness.

My relationship with my dad has changed drastically for the better, and I am now more joyous and peaceful. I have come to an understanding of what I want to realize in my life. My health has changed for the better and my food habits. Mostly though I think there is a sense of belief in myself and my purpose.

My company has gotten a whole new make over, I am now dealing with people who have loss and grief. I have decided to take up your ayurvedic course on wellness in 2014, and apply it to my life. I have decided that I no
longer need my headaches or anger.

Ashok sir’s style of NLP training is centered on the experience and not just the theory, its vastly helpful in a way that allows you to immerse yourself in the learning. Its also very holistic in its approach and centered on an all
round development of a person. Win-win!

Catherine’s style of training is very mellow. It allows you to learn while breaking into your own stuck-areas. Much better than having a textbook approach and I look forward to working with her again The course venue in a lot of ways gave me more than the workshop. The scenery and the seclusion allows a complete mind body experience. The people were warm friendly and very accepting of our needs.

Ashok Sir, I look to you as a mentor and friend that I can count on if I feel stuck to help me with his experience in the field and to guide me on my journey of self-discovery.

It was a wonderful experience getting to meet people from so many walks of life with such vastly different experiences and one that may have changed my life. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.

– Nehrini Nambisan, Founder & CEO, D’You Mind, Bangalore.

Coorg (Dec 2012):
About the Experience!

It was a wonderful experience for me with Ashok; it was like realizing me as Ashok told once during the workshop that I am a lion who don’t know about it. I realized it and want to carry on achieving my ultimate goal.

The places Ashok selected for this NLP workshop was awesome with regards to the scenic beauty, food and serenity. I cannot forget those places – The Health Resort and the tented stay between the coffee plantations at Coorg. I felt like home in both these places. Then the personalities whom I mingled along the workshop which I would say it’s a real learning experience for me.

About the learning from the Experience!

I came for this NLP workshop without any specific mindset; only thing I planned was to get feedback about me from Ashok and to improve my speaking quality. But during the NLP workshop I got a chance to meet different personalities from across India and able to spend time with them which leads me to get feedback from them which enhanced me a lot. Ashok has given me lot of feedback from which I identified some of my area of improvement like – how to give constructive feedback, building rapport with others. The learning were how to model others, goal setting, about associated and dissociated thinking, mind and mind set, visualization techniques, clean question, open and closed question, how to tackle with different phobias, provocative motivation, reframing , perceptual position and last but not the least ‘there is no failure only learning’ it is the real leaning . From the workshop I got to know that I am also doing NLP unknowingly in my life. Here onwards I will do it consciously.

Ashok’s way of Training….

Ashok is a gifted NLP trainer and the best I saw till date. I learnt a lot of things from him like the way he gives feedback, the way he manages people, giving examples according to the person’s interest for example in my case Ashok always gave examples from cricket so that I can understand properly. He does the training to our subconscious mind and it’s very difficult to recollect everything in the time of workshop but slowly we can recollect it once you start reading the books related to the topic. The special thing about Ashok’s NLP training is the selection of venue for the training; it’s really out of the world.

The venue ….

As I already mentioned about the venue, it is the trade mark of Ashok Subramanian’s NLP workshop. The location was outstanding in its own way and I cannot forget the uncle and aunty and her food and their courtesy standard.

It was simply amazing and I am not able to forget the beauty of that place. Every day it’s flashing into my mind and feels like to go back and explore that place even further.

Finally…

I would like to say that Ashok’s way of presentation and handling the entire crew is highly commendable and from depth of my heart I wish him all the very best in his future endeavors. I would like attend the advanced NLP course
of Ashok in the near future.

– Abilash Soman, – Assistant Professor / Cricketer, LMIHMCT, Trivandrum

I wish to share my learning experience at Coorg.

My Journey started, the very first interaction, with you began in the afternoon, on the 22nd of December 2012,and ended on the 29th of December,2012,at Coorg.

It was a splendid encounter with such a genius Master.

However, though it was a first meeting, in my sub conscious mind, we have already touched each other’s heart in several occasions over phone prior the course.

The meta processing of Guru-Shisya parampara has already been occurred, several months before.

With Diploma, you tried to create a strong base as far as NLP is concerned. The practitioner training was scheduled to be in Coorg.

Coorg was an amazing place.

Most wonderful thing, was that, our venue…

The paradise of NLP was created.

It appears, your desire was to convert human-beings to Angels.

And you succeeded in your mission. We were indeed on the top of the world, after you completed the training.

The Dining place, where we had such a tasty and hygienic food, was very helpful in maintaining our health.

The Tent, where we stayed, was an another loving experience.

It gave us a very romantic and natural feel.

We were surrounded by Coffee plantations, pepper plants, cardamom plants, colourful flowers, silver oak trees and ya…the celestial environment was full of chirping birds ,soothing sound of waterfalls and greenery.

It was my first love with nature.

We used to get up at 6.30 am. At 7.00 am for a morning walk.

In fact it was something more than simply walking, yes.. we used to explore the nature, we used to touch the kind leaves, who used to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen and further transport it to our heart.

We sometimes, used to disturb the privacy and romance, of flowers, by smelling them and shooting their pictures.

We also felt jealous for red ants, who were continuously, playing with the coffee beans.

After morning walk, in two of the occasions, we visited the temple. Mata Bhagwati, followed by the temple of lord Shiva.

Though, entry to Shiva temple was not allowed, still, by the help of our host, we were able to get a glimpse, of lord Shiva.

It was a very magical moment.

Yoga was another very prominence part of our training.

In the midst of nature, the feel of yoga was magnificent, where, we also got an opportunity to be embraced by sun rays.

Though full day was training,but we wished,it would have never ended.
Dance was an another passionate moment with you.

Sir, you taught us not only NLP, but it was a self-realization and a complete transformation to a positive zone.

I can find a great change then and now.

As you taught,that,NLP,helps us to identify our grey areas,which was really true.

Now,i can strongly access powerful internal resources.

The first day of my office, i realized, more clarity, in managing my team.
I am confident that it will help me in enhancing my inner strengths.
I am sure it will help to build rapport with my employees and will improve my leadership qualities.

You are just like a monk of knowledge.

I must sign off, by expressing my feeling that, I really adore your simplicity and knowledge-par excellence.

And yes I have fallen in love with Coorg.
Regards,

– Manoj Jain, Director – NIIT, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Sikkim (Aug 2012):
Experiencing the magic of Ashok’s NLP @ Sikkim!

I joined Ashok sir’s NLP program @ Gangtok, Sikkim, not even knowing what NLP is. It was first time in life I had decided to jump into something even without doing small research also. But when I turn back and see then I find I was right to jump even without knowing.

NLP Diploma Course:

The two day diploma course in the city hotel was an ENJOYABLE experience because everything was going above the head at first. I was thinking how to catch up with this. Ashok sir’s stories and jokes were making us feel comfortable. After attending first day session inside my heart I was wandering how to complete diploma, as first day itself was hard to digest. But on the next day I started feeling the magic of NLP. What was heavy on first day was now falling perfectly into place and sense of joy was igniting within me. The counseling practice gave me lots of insights and meeting with new people gave me lots of new perspective towards life.

The most important thing I learnt in diploma course was that, “ We tend to force our model into others and this creates problem. It is better to understand them and adjust accordingly.” Till the end of the diploma course I found
that unknowingly NLP had made some impact in me and I decided to go for practitioner also.

Important learning in diploma course:

* When I entered training room Ashok sir greeted me and that smile kept us comfortable for the whole course. This made me understand the power of smile

* The expression through Hug was amazing. Even the toughest things can also be made simple.

* NLP is not only about communication but about leading lovely life.
* Rapport is important to complete any work HAPPILY
* Understanding others in reality, gives us real understanding about us.

NLP Practitioner Course:

For me, NLP practitioner was like a sea full of pearls which I even could not gather everything in my hand. It was held in an amazing venue overseeing the picuresque sikkim valley and here also I can say that I had one of the
best 7 days of my life. Here I learnt that even from small things we can learn and use it in our daily life to make our self a better being.

Visits

During our practitioner we visited to M.G. Road (our favorite destination), Tibetology, Shire and Allen’s Kitchen. Each and every place visited gave us an different experience lots of learning.

Visit to shire gave us an understanding about the culture and also organic farming. Meeting with the monk in the shire gave us insights about Buddhism. It also gave us practical ideas about how Buddhism can be practiced.
M. G. Road was one of the amazing place we visited. Here we could find ample numbers of people to study and also their shopping habits. What important lesson I learnt here was people try to copy others in other to look
impressive.

Tibetology and the nearby Monastery gave us clear idea about the Buddhist philosophy and its way of life. Peace, calmness, kindness was in the air.

Visiting one of the leading food restaurants has also become my favorite destination. Meeting with the owner of the restaurant gave me different sense of idea about life. I could learn from him, the love and passion for his business. Different themes of his restaurant made me feel that business can become enjoyable if we want it.

Learning in the course :

Every day started with the yoga session. The beauty of the simplicity could be seen in Ashok sir’s yoga classes.

Though the postures and exercises were simple but it was very effective. Every day there was new NLP gift for us.

The counseling sessions and also lots and lots of activities made the concepts almost clear.

There was learning every moment but with lots and lots of fun. We dealt with many NLP topics and tried to use it.

New dimensions of seeing the things were coming up within ourselves. The power of subconscious mind and anchoring techniques were amazing. The idea about fact and meaning was also very valuable. I specially loved the last three days because every moment gave me joy of learning completely new ideas.

Meeting new peoples :
The course gave me the chance to meet new and really very talented peoples. Everyone was unique and I could learn a lot from them. I even modeled many of them and it was really a life changing experience for me. The vision, speech, ideas, logics, emotions and many other things I could learn and in various ways.

Important learning from Practitioner :

* Everyone tells what to do, but NLP tells us exactly HOW to do.
* We can model any quality from any person
* Understanding the models gives us sense of respect towards them.
* We can always learn from our mistakes therefore it is feedback.
* We can create any meaning out of facts and its important we look in facts and not in meaning.
* It is important to live in desired state.
* Hypnotic language is powerful
Over all NLP practitioner course I can say was just AMAZINGSUPERB

After NLP course :

Other courses generally gets over after its training sessions but Ashok’s NLP in reality started only after I stepped back in real life. Those concepts which were not clear became crystal clear when I started using NLP techniques
and principles in life. In these 3 months I can say NLP has become boon for my life. It helped me to come in desired state. It helped me to anchor my attitude and emotions. It helped me to build rapport and most important it
helped me to be happy, even though sometimes I go off the track. I can truly say it is helping me a lot and also I am slowly using it to help others also.

Conclusion :

In the end I can only say one word “THANK YOU”. Thanks to Divine who showed me the way of NLP, Thanks to Ashok sir for giving me knowledge of NLP, Ravi Mohan Sir, Organizer and all my NLP group members for lots of
love and learning. NLP is lovely subject, if used properly can make our life and others also a wonderful experience.

Ashok’s NLP…. ROCKS!

– Rasik Chetri, Trainer Prachetas Consulting, Darjeeling

Coorg (May 2012):

Hi Ashok,

Thank you so much for making me also the part of your NLP program in Coorg.

This was the first time I traveled a long distance from home alone. That itself was a wholesome different experience. My first NLP learning for this course started with the journey from Trivandrum to Coorg.

Although I am not new to Ashok’s NLP trainings, this course would really stay close to my heart. The coffee plantation site at Madikeri that you chose for the course itself did half of the rejuvenation to my mind.

Over the period of the NLP course I started realizing my strengths as well my flaws. The days I fell ill made me realize that unless I raise my voice for myself none will do it for me.

As each day of the training progressed I realized that all of my concerns flowing away and a sense of confidence started building in me. I also experienced the change myself when I traveled back home. On the way back to home the bus halted for 20 min in the outskirts of Karnataka and the restaurant we checked in only served non-veg.

As I was not keeping well, I asked the person at the counter to serve me some chappatis and salad and said that I am not keeping well. With great pleasure he took the effort to serve me the food I asked him. Even I was surprised
and realized how things changed when I started taking care of myself and asking assertively what I want.

If this was the old Sareena, she would have been enough flexible with what the restaurant would have served her.

The gestalt sessions by heart specialist Catherine have also done wonders in me. The activity of drawing our dreams and soon after seeing the rabbit as in my dream as if God have sent in the mountain top has all boosted
my confidence. Now I started giving more color to my dreams.
The way you handle your training sessions are also exceptional. You take us a walk to the mountain; meditate in the midst of forest, have casual talks with participants and never made us feel tired with explaining technical
jargons. You were giving us experience and feel first and then talk about it.
Thank you Ashok for everything. Almost for the past one year you have supported us in all possible ways. I know that two simple words “thank you” is not enough to show all my gratitude to you. However, please accept this
“thank you” from bottom of my heart.

– Sareena Ikbal, Software Analyst ,Trivandrum, India 

Bangalore:

Dear Ashok Sir,
Hi!
Its great pleasure to see how you balance work life with personal life. happy to hear from your end. As i told you I am looking forward to your workshop in Mumbai, do keep me informed.

Thanks a lot for the amazing NLP experience I went through. my journey was unknown but with each passing day I got to know where I was heading. even after days have passed still certain things are sinking in and they come to
me in my daily life activitites. Its strange for me the way a 7 day course has touched my life. I am sure there is more to it and i am glad that i took this step in my life.

I dont know if it was your teaching or NLP but my vision is so much clear now. I am now heading in one direction not like earlier my feet was in 4 to 5 boats . I have discussed with you about all this. but the beauty of this learning
was it has been a collective effort wherein I feel I unleashed many layers of my mind.

I see an all new me. I feel confident as a person unlike earlier times. I am not ruled by fear, though little fear is still there but thats natural may be.
I feel my exploratory nature has a direction now. i was a wanderer. Things look lot more easier now. When I entered I was in huge confusion about the NLP course to everything but as days passed, with the humour of yours to your teaching methods everything started looking so easy.

NLP and your teaching is far beyond breaking patterns to learning jargons for sure.

This is not all I am sure I would be discussing about my experience for the coming months as well.

Thanks a lot for your support. I see it as a life long connect to you as well to the fellow participants. Its more like a family.

Regards

– Japneet Anand, Psychotherapist, Mumbai

The NLP Practitioner workshop at Thali aimed at bringing in a better understanding to the concepts of NLP, did help me gain these results to a great extent. The venue and Ashok’s unique style of presentation added to this
experience and brought in a deeper revelation to the concepts.

Understanding and working on the deeper concepts and tools NLP has to offer to improve one ’s self through experiential learning was a key in the entire workshop. On reflecting back, my key learning’s have been in the
following areas:

Modeling: The entire exercise of modeling helped in gaining a thorough insight into one of the key concepts of NLP. Having to model an individual’s behavior patterns both at the physical and mental level, brought out the key strengths this tool has. At a personal level, a take away from this exercise was when I was asked to model Alex, wherein it helped me relieve my personal innate behavior of being closed and withdrawn and getting a feeling of “let go”. This was achieved mainly by imbibing the casual physical walk and the relaxed style of just taking in what comes by. An important aspect here was trying to walk with letting my shoulder muscles relax and inturn feeling the change in my entire persona. This might seem as a simple task, but in reality it does take an effort to change one’s unconscious habit. Modeling did bring this out into the conscious state. Working closely with people and trying to identify different models and their maps does help in bringing in an overall change into an individual.

Sub modalities: Playing with submodalities at different levels of Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic, was an enriching experience. This concept brought to light the fact that there are numerous thoughts and processes and events within our unconscious mind which affect our behavior and thinking. Tweaking these events helps us deal with building our persona to a different level.

Anchoring: Working on sub modalities of an event mainly which carries pleasant experiences and associating it with a trigger, proved to be a great self-realization tool. I found this exercise very helpful, to incorporate anchors
within our systems to function better.

Feedback: Dealing with this concept for almost half a day helped realize the whole concept. An important learning from this exercise for me was to reflect on feedback as a map of the person giving feedback. It brought out this
new perspective which helped me deal with negative feedback in a very rational context, and inturn improve communication between both parties.
Apart from the above concepts listed, I would like to thank Ashok for working with me to erase a painful experience during my education. As a concept, reframing got explained explicitly. Reframing of content and context certainly
proves to a very powerful tool to deal with the past.

The program design of introducing concepts and tools through various exercises and experiences, some in a very subtle manner and some very elaborate, has been pretty effective to help gain an overall understanding. Presently as I reflect back and continue to do my readings, these learnings come back in a flash, which assists in relating it and adds more of a value. Examples here would be the sessions on provocative coaching, the counseling
sessions as well as the various presentations by co-participants.

Going further with this journey, am now focusing on delving deeper into these wonderful tools of NLP, which I feel are so strong in bringing about changes to both our conscious and unconscious mind.

– Priya Gururaj, Trainer, Hongkong

The NLP Practitioner workshop at Thali aimed at bringing in a better understanding to the concepts of NLP, did help me gain these results to a great extent. The venue and Ashok’s unique style of presentation added to this
experience and brought in a deeper revelation to the concepts.

Understanding and working on the deeper concepts and tools NLP has to offer to improve one ’s self through experiential learning was a key in the entire workshop. On reflecting back, my key learning’s have been in the
following areas:

Modeling: The entire exercise of modeling helped in gaining a thorough insight into one of the key concepts of NLP. Having to model an individual’s behavior patterns both at the physical and mental level, brought out the key strengths this tool has. At a personal level, a take away from this exercise was when I was asked to model Alex, wherein it helped me relieve my personal innate behavior of being closed and withdrawn and getting a feeling of “let go”. This was achieved mainly by imbibing the casual physical walk and the relaxed style of just taking in what comes by. An important aspect here was trying to walk with letting my shoulder muscles relax and inturn feeling the change in my entire persona. This might seem as a simple task, but in reality it does take an effort to change one’s unconscious habit. Modeling did bring this out into the conscious state. Working closely with people and trying to identify different models and their maps does help in bringing in an overall change into an individual.

Sub modalities: Playing with submodalities at different levels of Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic, was an enriching experience. This concept brought to light the fact that there are numerous thoughts and processes and events within our unconscious mind which affect our behavior and thinking. Tweaking these events helps us deal with building our persona to a different level.

Anchoring: Working on sub modalities of an event mainly which carries pleasant experiences and associating it with a trigger, proved to be a great self-realization tool. I found this exercise very helpful, to incorporate anchors
within our systems to function better.

Feedback: Dealing with this concept for almost half a day helped realize the whole concept. An important learning from this exercise for me was to reflect on feedback as a map of the person giving feedback. It brought out this
new perspective which helped me deal with negative feedback in a very rational context, and inturn improve communication between both parties.
Apart from the above concepts listed, I would like to thank Ashok for working with me to erase a painful experience during my education. As a concept, reframing got explained explicitly. Reframing of content and context certainly
proves to a very powerful tool to deal with the past.

The program design of introducing concepts and tools through various exercises and experiences, some in a very subtle manner and some very elaborate, has been pretty effective to help gain an overall understanding. Presently as I reflect back and continue to do my readings, these learnings come back in a flash, which assists in relating it and adds more of a value. Examples here would be the sessions on provocative coaching, the counseling
sessions as well as the various presentations by co-participants.

Going further with this journey, am now focusing on delving deeper into these wonderful tools of NLP, which I feel are so strong in bringing about changes to both our conscious and unconscious mind.

– Priya Gururaj, Trainer, Hongkong.

Kochi:

Over the period of 7 days, as each day progressed, I found all my concerns evaporating, giving way to an assured confidence that I have come to one of the best persons who could teach us the true essence of NLP! Being a trainer myself, I know what differentiates the best trainers from the rest- one big criteria is how he/she can put across the most complicated ideas or concepts in the most simple comprehensive manner. And that is exactly what you were doing. Instead of bogging us down with technical jargons, you were introducing us to new ideas and concepts experientially first, giving us a feel of it, before even talking about it!

The complete training experience has been transformational for me, Ashok. The training was wholesome, more so being a residential program.

One more distinct effect I noticed is that that concepts you taught us have become deeply ingrained in my active memory system. I have not referred back to any notes..and yet I am able to remember everything quite clearly..and also apply them effortlessly! Kudos to you for -”the Ashok’s-training-effect!” So, that’s the honest feed back from me! I have so much to thank you for Ashok!

Its hard to limit a whole lot of emotions and gratitude in just two simple words ‘thank you’. May God bless you and the wonderful work you are doing. I would look forward to your continued support, mentorship and friendship as I follow my heart and pursue the big vision I have committed my life to.
Regards,

– Jessica Sajan, Director – UNOVA Training Company, Hyderabad

Dear Mr. Ashok,

This is Jeyapal from Chennai.

How are you doing?

I am at my best these days.

I attended the NLP Practitioner course at Cochin from 13th to 19th May, 2011.
Though it is almost a week since I completed the course, I am still virtually living in that one week of wonderful experience.

This was the first time I was away from my family for seven days at a stretch; that too, sleeping alone in a room without any one in the whole floor was an entirely a different experience. The motherly care you showered made me feel at home and enjoy those seven days.

Do you know one thing? I feel I am a completely different person from the Jeyapal that he was before attending your training; it was a sort of transformational one for me. I am more confident in life than ever before. I am more courageous now. I am able to scare the squirrel now now a days.

I had been thinking of playing a supportive role in our Training career but now I am confident I can play the lead role.

Now, I am always aware that whenever things are in my control, I have choices to choose from.

The meeting with Swamiji was also a god-sent opportunity as I feel I already have got a sound all round health.

As a step towards Plan B of my Training career, I am attending the Train the Trainers programme in the middle of June.

I was inspired by your simple way of life and facing the life as it happens.
Thanks a lot and see you for the NLP Masters course.
Regards,

– Jeyapal K, Director – New Life Catalyst NLP Training Company, Chennai

Kochi (Dec 2010):

….Because I wanted to learn something about NLP, you showed me glimpses of what you exactly think it’s about. And that, for me has been the most wonderful aspect of this program. Like a magician almost—you introduced and
integrated ideas, techniques and models from books and personal experiences, from nature, from life incidences, from therapies, from activities, from provocation, from coaching, from drama, from story-telling. Plus your facilitation has your own unique, personal touch to it that helped us land on a common ground with you and NLP. It must have taken you many thoughtful journeys to get the pattern clear enough to explain “how it works.” How
much easier it is for us, the participants! The best message I got from you is that if I wish to master NLP, I don’t have to look very far. As you said, NLP is nothing new. What is new, or what was unknown to me so far was
having a systematic approach to better understand the human condition. And since then, I have continuously “looked” around myself. Every human being, every creature looks interesting if I get curious and just learn to be in
the moment and pay attention. I understood that we are surrounded by people who seem to demonstrate excellence ‘without really trying’—but we may not have the means-the language, models or theory-for modeling it.
Therefore it would look difficult to make the changes we want because we may not know how.

….I was particularly amazed during the discussion about the pattern—X needs to happen for me to get Y and I realized I was a prey to this pattern for so long! Like you rightly said, many people want to change…so long as someone else does the changing or the situation changes! By blaming others, existing situations or the environment, I saw how I actually disempower myself and limit my capabilities. And with this genuine knowing, has come acceptance. I have learned to “own” my abilities and behavior and that is helping me to be one with the world I have created around myself. I now live with greater awareness and consideration for myself and others.

The other exercise—the sub modality exercise that you did with me while coaching me personally has been a lifechanging experience for me.

……Then there was this activity where you asked me to lead the group by singing and I had something within me that was stopping me from singing. I was plainly resisting singing before people. Consciousness, embarrassment, sudden attention…I was scared of all of that. That fear of “Am I doing it right?” has been eating me up all these years…And at that moment I realized that it just felt like being on the razor’s edge! You helped me in unfolding how I was contradicting myself as I said I would love attention from people when I would perform dance—and yet I had in me these tendencies that kept holding me from expressing myself better because I thought I may end up in a humiliating situation. This activity was an important pattern breaker and since then I have been open to expressing myself freely, without having any barriers from within holding me.

…..Thank you for being with me, by my side all through this unique journey. Your support has been invaluable and for all that I owe to you in this life time,

I am grateful.
Sincerely

– Chaitrali Ranade, Director – LYD NOW Inc, Pune

….My coaching skills have gone miles ahead from where they were, I am practicing daily with my friends and people who ask for help. I have been able to get quick and effective results with the people I have coached.

…..Some how your feed backs have gotten anchored and I can hear you very clearly at parts of my consciousness, making me aware of the patterns. I found a mentor in you. I want to thank you with all my heart for being so supportive and also critical in your guidance. Doing what works and modeling have become ways of life now! Thank you for that! Living NLP every day I will contribute beyond myself to people. This is my commitment.

….Well, I took a month to write this; and now I am relaxed. I wanted to test myself, if I can make the changes to my self. I have written this in one go and I have just been in a flow. Hope it communicates with better clarity than
before.

….Hope You, Vipasha, priya and Raji aunty are in the best of your health. I miss you all very much! Hope to see you soon. Thank you for the patience!

Take care!
Sincerely

– Arijit Mallick, Director – LYD NOW Inc, Pune 

Kochi (Sep 2010):

Dear Ashok
The NLP Practitioner experience was great. I had lot of learnings, unlearnings and relearnings, which wouldn’t probably have been possible with a typical classroom kind of programme. My most prominent learning was ‘To let
go of analysis’ some times, but besides that ofcourse lots of techniques which can be implemented in my day to day life and with my future clients.

Honestly, the place was a challenge for me, but again part of the learning curve. And now if I introspect and remember Swamiji’s words “Your coming here is not a coincidence”, I feel probably nature wanted me to learn not
to be judgmental about things and to go with the flow.

I liked your style of NLP training. Casual but Informative and would like to borrow from your style when I train people. Great. Keep Going.
You can support me by giving honest and detailed feedback about my performance in my path ahead of Inner Growth/ Life Coach. I wish, if the feasibility of next NLP level could work out faster.

Thank you,

– Shradhha Agrawal, Life Coach, Mumbai 

Telephonic NLP Coaching for Personal Excellence with Ashok Subramanian:
Dear Ashok,

It’s been a while since we spoke, Happy New Year to you. You had been a great guide. I will never ever forget the “Siberian Dog” analogy. Thanks for clarifying my thoughts and helping me get back to basics. Now I realize why I had been reading a lot about Abhram Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. So, I am focusing more on the physiological and safety needs and then move towards self-actualization.

However, after conversation with you, I have attained clarity and the universe is set in motion….We are beginning to take little steps towards what we discussed on phone.

Highly appreciate your outlook towards problem identification and providing solutions. Look forward to more such positive interactions with you.

Do let me know whenever you conduct your program in Delhi.
Gratitude,

Neha, New Delhi