About
A Life Devoted to Practice
Every meaningful journey begins with a question.
What began in 1999 as an introduction to yoga has become a lifelong path of study, practice, and teaching. Through Yoga, Ayurveda, breathwork, meditation, and conscious living, I share timeless teachings in a way that is thoughtful, authentic, and grounded in everyday life.
My Story
The path was never a straight line.
Alongside a career in digital strategy, website development, and user experience, I found myself drawn to a different kind of learning—one that explored not only how we work, but how we live.
As I balanced deadlines, projects, and the demands of everyday life, a quiet question continued to surface:
How do we cultivate well-being in a world that rarely slows down?
That question became the beginning of an ongoing journey.
What started with yoga gradually expanded into the study of Ayurveda, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, mantra, and the contemplative traditions of India. These teachings offered more than practices; they became a way of understanding myself, relating to others, and navigating life’s changing seasons with greater awareness.
Today, I continue to work in the corporate world while sharing these teachings through Devi Mandala. This balance allows me to bridge ancient wisdom with modern life in a practical and meaningful way. I understand the pressures of busy schedules, competing responsibilities, and the search for balance because they are part of my own experience. Through classes, workshops, speaking engagements, teacher trainings, writing, and guided practices, my intention is not to offer an escape from everyday life, but to help people meet it with greater clarity, resilience, and presence.
I remain, above all, a lifelong student—continuing to learn, practice, and share the wisdom that has enriched my own life, one step at a time.
The deeper I studied,
the less I searched for answers
Instead, I learned how to ask better questions.
A Life of Study
Education, Lineage & Lifelong Study
I believe the role of a teacher begins with remaining a student.
My learning has unfolded over more than two decades through traditional lineages, respected teachers, immersive study, and daily practice. Each experience has deepened not only my understanding of Yoga and Ayurveda, but also the way I live, teach, and continue to learn.
What follows is not a list of certifications, but the path of a lifelong student.
Where the Journey began
My journey with yoga began in 1999 at The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, one of the world’s oldest organized yoga centers and an institution recognized by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. Under the guidance of Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, I was introduced to yoga as a way of living—one that extends far beyond physical postures into self-awareness, discipline, and conscious living.
As my practice deepened, I completed my formal Yoga Alliance teacher training in Rishikesh, returned to The Yoga Institute for advanced studies, and continue to teach and study within these traditions. Today, I have the privilege of serving as Faculty and Guest Speaker at The Yoga Institute, teaching in-depth asana and Ayurveda while remaining committed to lifelong learning.
Credentials
- Began studying Yoga at The Yoga Institute, Mumbai (1999)
- Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500)
- Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200)
- Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP)
- Yoga Teacher Training completed in Rishikesh, India
- Advanced Yoga Studies, The Yoga Institute, Mumbai
- Yoga Prashikshak Certification (Government of India framework)
- Certified Yoga Nidra Teacher (Dr. Nick Atlas)
My education continues through daily practice, mentorship, and ongoing study across Yoga, Ayurveda, Jyotisha, and the contemplative traditions of India.
Traditional Yogic Studies
My exploration of classical yoga continued through study with several respected traditional institutions in India, each offering a unique perspective on the depth and breadth of the yogic path.
Within the Gitananda Yoga Tradition in Pondicherry, founded by Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj, I completed the tradition’s immersive year-long foundational program before continuing into advanced studies under the guidance of Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. A physician as well as an accomplished yoga teacher, Dr. Bhavanani’s integrative approach beautifully bridged the wisdom of the yogic tradition with contemporary medical science.
Over the years, I immersed myself in a wide range of traditional subjects, including the Yoga Sutras, Yogic Psychic Neurology, Nada Yoga, Yantra Navangam, and other advanced teachings within the Gitananda lineage.
My studies also took me to Kaivalyadhama in Lonavala, where I explored the practices of meditation, traditional yoga, and Vedic chanting—further enriching my appreciation for yoga as a living tradition that unites disciplined practice with inner transformation.
Together, these experiences deepened my understanding of yoga as a complete science of human flourishing, integrating philosophy, breath, movement, meditation, sound, psychology, and spiritual practice into a way of life.
The Himalayan Tradition
My journey eventually led me back to Rishikesh, where I became an initiate in the Himalayan Tradition, following the teachings of Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati.
Today this lineage forms the heart of my personal practice. Through ongoing study, meditation, mantra, self-inquiry, and contemplative practice, the Himalayan Tradition continues to shape both my inner life and the way I share these teachings with others.
A lifelong calling
Long before I formally studied Ayurveda, I found myself deeply inspired by the teachings of Dr. Vasant Lad. His ability to present Ayurveda with both authenticity and compassion awakened something that would eventually become one of the central paths of my life.
My first formal studies began through the teachings of Dr. David Frawley, which opened the door to the profound philosophy and science of Ayurveda. That experience confirmed my desire to pursue a deeper traditional education.
I later completed my formal training at The Ayurvedic Institute under the guidance of Dr. Vasant Lad, earning NAMA Certification as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC). My studies continued through advanced training in Pulse Assessment and Marma Therapy, further deepening my understanding of Ayurveda as a complete system of healing and conscious living.
Credentials
NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC)
Graduate, The Ayurvedic Institute
Advanced Pulse Assessment
Marma Therapy
Ayurveda continues to shape not only how I teach, but how I observe, listen, and understand each person’s unique path toward balance.
The field of spanda or vibration
The spoken tradition has always held a special place in my studies.
I continue to study:
- Sanskrit under Dr. Pushpa Dixit
- Bhagavad Gita Chanting
- Yoga Sutra Chanting
- Nada Yoga
- Hindustani Classical Voice Training (ongoing)
- Himalayan Singing Bowl Studies
These practices continue to deepen my understanding of vibration, sound, silence, and the transformative role of mantra within the yogic tradition.
The Light of Awareness
For the past several years I have been studying traditional Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) under Penny Farrow, continuing the lineage of Hart de Fouw and Mantriji.
After completing the foundational curriculum, I continue with advanced studies, exploring the profound relationship between time, karma, consciousness, and the rhythms of nature.
My ongoing learning also includes studies with the Academy of Research for Cultivation of Indian Sciences (ARCIS), exploring Indian Knowledge Systems, consciousness studies, philosophy, and the timeless wisdom preserved within India’s intellectual traditions.
These traditions are not simply subjects I have studied—they are living practices that continue to shape how I learn, teach, and live each day.
Professional Qualifications
Yoga
- Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500)
- Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200)
- Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP)
Ayurveda
- NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC)
- Graduate, The Ayurvedic Institute
- Advanced Pulse Assessment
- Marma Therapy
Additional Certifications
- Yoga Nidra Teacher (Dr. Nick Atlas)
- Komyo ReikiDo – Okuden (Level III), under Dana, Dragonfly Reiki Atlanta
Teaching & Professional Experience
Guest Faculty
The Yoga Institute, Mumbai
Teaching:
- In-depth Asana
- Ayurveda
- Yoga Philosophy
Workshops & Retreats
- Yoga, Ayurveda, Breathwork & Meditation Workshops
- Retreat Faculty – Goa
- Studio Classes and Continuing Education Programs
Professional Contributions
- Yoga & Ayurveda Content Consultant, Shoona EHR
- Representative for Shoona and Ayurveda at the AIHM Annual Conference (San Diego, 2024), engaging with physicians and healthcare professionals to promote integrative and whole-person health.
Speaking
- American University, Washington, D.C.
- Corporate Wellness Hour – Homesite, Boston
- Community wellness presentations
I continue to learn with the same curiosity that first led me to yoga in 1999, believing that the role of a teacher is, first and always, to remain a sincere student.