I have been practicing Ikebana since the age of 10, first learning under the guidance of my mother, Sensei Sheela Vagholikar, First Master of the Ohara School of Ikebana and former Vice President of the Bombay Chapter of the Ohara School, who has been teaching Ikebana for over 50 years. A remarkably gifted artist, she has a rare ability to transform even the simplest, most ordinary flowers into something truly magical. Growing up watching her teach 40 students at a time, and assisting her in demonstrations across India and the United States for nearly four decades gave me a foundation that goes far beyond the classroom.

I later continued my training with Sensei Fujimoto in the Bay Area, under whose guidance I have studied for the past 20 years. Now 100 years old, Sensei Fujimoto's wisdom and mastery have been a profound and lasting influence on my practice.

I have been teaching Ikebana for over 25 years — to women, seniors, special needs children, and all Ikebana enthusiasts. Over that time, I have earned 11 diplomas from the Ohara School of Ikebana, Japan, with my most recent being the Associate First Master's Diploma, received in 2022.

In 2015, I was fortunate to deepen my practice further when I moved to Nagoya, Japan for a year, studying under Senior Professor Kanamori Sensei. During that time, I visited the Ohara Headquarters in Kobe, attended the 120th Ohara Exhibition celebrations, and took classes alongside fellow students — an experience that profoundly shaped my artistry.