Hi I am a 17 year old, studying at Sparkling Mindz Global School and I just finished my P1 Basic course at Temple Pilots Paragliding in Pune.
I’ll be honest, when I first heard we’d be paragliding, my heart skipped a beat. The idea of running off a mountain sounded insane. I kept picturing myself freezing or tripping before takeoff. There was definitely that voice in my head asking, “Are you sure about this?” But somewhere deep down, I also knew that this is an opportunity for me to overcome this fear and I had trust on my mentors (Mineh Happy and Sreeja Iyer) that this experience would be useful for me.
When we reached Temple Pilots, something shifted. The place had this calm, grounded energy that immediately put me at ease and I felt at home. The instructors weren’t just skilled, they were patient and loving. Every moment, from the safety briefing to the gear check, felt precise and reassuring. At any point of time I was able to share with them authentically if I was struggling with anything and receive love and empathy from each of the instructor especially Avi Sir and Anita Ma’am. It wasn’t about rushing to the skies, it was about being ready for it, following the process and learning.
The first few tries weren’t perfect. I stumbled, got a little frustrated, and had to remind myself to just stay with it. That’s when I realised one of the most important things the skill of being with yourself. Staying with that discomfort, instead of escaping it, and then trying again. Each time I went in the total opposite direction I was supposed to or hesitated, I learned to breathe, talk to myself, and go again.
And then came the solo flight. The run, the lift and suddenly, silence. The ground was beneath me. I wasn’t scared anymore. I felt weightless, free, and completely alive, unleashed. The wind against my face, the beautiful nature around me, it felt like everything slowed down, and I could finally just be. It wasn’t about adrenaline it was about peace, being connected to my soul and connected to nature. This isn’t an adventure sport, but rather a nature sport.
I walked away with more than just a few new skills in Paragliding. I learned how to brave through the fear, trust myself, and stay fully present. The biggest challenge was quieting my thoughts before doing anything that is high stakes for me, but once I built my courage, everything flowed in a more peaceful manner. I now see that I can and want to build that same muscle for courage, presence and passion in all aspects of my life because I know now that I am capable of doing this.
I am absolutely coming back to this place and continue my flying journey. They don’t just help you fly, they help you find a kind of freedom that’s hard to describe until you feel it yourself. You really connectwith your soul through this experience.
But I’ll also say this, paragliding isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who are ready to meet their fear, look it in the eye, and still take that step forward. If that’s you, then trust me, it’s worth it.