Hailey serves full time at Ananda Valley Farm, growing and sharing produce, making herbal products, and helping to facilitate community participation events at the farm (You can learn more by visiting www.anandavalleyfarm.net). She is a gifted yoga teacher with over a decade of experience guiding yoga and meditation classes in various settings.
Pooja Bhakta (Copley)
Pooja Bhakta (Copley) is long time devotee and Kriya yogi, and a certified teacher of Yoga and meditation. She grew up in Kolkata, India and later moved to the United stated to pursue a career in hi-tech. She lived and served at the Ananda Center of Laurelwood, Gaston, Oregon from 2011 to 2018. Before moving to the Ananda community here, she lived at the Ananda community in Portland. She is warm and personable, and always willing to help and serve in numerous ways both at the Ananda temple and the community.
Nayaswami Shanti
Nayaswami Shanti is a lifelong devotee and is now a co spiritual director here at Ananda Palo Alto. She teaches, counsels and still maintains a practice of medicine through her coaching practice of “Transformational Medicine.” Her talks are rich with stories from her life as a physician and her many years on the path. With her warmth and wisdom, she is a much-loved counselor and teacher. Shanti’s talks online.
Saiganesh Sairaman
Saiganesh is an Ananda minister and one of the co-managers of Ananda Palo Alto. He is a deeply thoughtful, clear speaker, and connects easily with people. He has a passion for sharing the teachings of Kriya yoga and meditation. A world citizen, he grew up in a traditional Hindu family in India and was trained as an Indian Classical musician. He is a former tech manager in the silicon valley, and applies his tech acumen to many Ananda projects.
Brahmacharini Lakshmi
Lakshmi is an Ananda minister and one of the co-managers of Ananda Palo Alto. She also serves as an English teacher and a mediator at a local high school, dedicated to merging mindfulness and academics in a professional setting. She is a thoughtful and delightfully engaging teacher at Ananda, as well. Lakshmi serves Ananda Palo Alto in many ways, with a rare gift for organizing major projects with ease.
Kshama Kellogg
Kshama is a long-time teacher in Living Wisdom School, and herself a former student. This deep immersion in the experience and ideals gives her a unique sensitivity to the needs of students. She is a gifted mentor/coach to young people. She is also a skilled yoga and meditation instructor, athlete, singer, and actor.
Yudhisthira (Doug) Andrews
Yudhisthira Doug Andrews E-RYT 500, YACEP
Yudhisthira’s classes are popular, interweaving the physical practice of Hatha Yoga with the teachings of Raja Yoga. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the teaching and practice of Ananda Yoga, including many years of working with those in recovery from substance abuse. Yudhisthira is certified with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 500 and with Yoga Alliance as a Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). He is an Ananda Certified Yoga Therapist with decades of experience working with clients individually and in groups. He has extensive knowledge and experience with whole food, plant-based diets, and exercise.
Adriana Buenaventura
E-RYT 500, Certified Ananda Yoga Therapist, C-IAYT, Nutrition Coach, Life Coach
Adriana's lifelong passion for health and wellness and her extensive training help her clients to reach optimum health, calm anxiety and find joy and purpose in their lives.
She is an internationally certified Yoga Therapist and an Ananda Meditation Instructor. She is inspired to teach and lead retreats in English and Spanish so that her clients can also learn to cope with anxiety, stress and both physical and emotional pain that are often roadblocks to a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. As a certified Nutrition Coach and Fitness professional, Adriana incorporates her love of health and exercise not only training for half marathons, but inspiring her clients to live the life of their dreams.
Adriana Buenaventura
Adriana es Yoga Terapeuta certificada y practicante de ayurveda. Después de varios años de práctica continua incorporando la meditación y el yoga en su vida diaria, Adriana sintió el llamado de compartir con otros. Su propia experiencia de transformación le dio el incentivo para compartir y dar el mensaje de que la práctica regular de estas enseñanzas tiene el potencial de transformar nuestras vidas y ayudarnos a encontrar la felicidad duradera.
Kamaladevi Beswick
Nayaswami Atmajyoti
Natalie
Natalie is an environmental educator serving the San Francisco Midpeninsula. Engaging people of all ages in the stewardship of trees and the urban forest is a passion. And so is sharing the healing benefits of yoga. She has found that yoga is a practice of returning again and again to her inner strength and wisdom within. Natalie brings vibrant energy and calm awareness to the postures, helping you become stronger and more resilient through your practice.
Bhawani Isaacson
Bhawani is an E-RYT 200-hour certified Yoga Instructor, Ananda certified Meditation Teacher, and a long-time meditator. Inspired by yoga since the age of 18, Bhawani’s creative, playful approach makes her classes fun, as well as a relaxing and centering experience. She is passionate about helping people live in a balanced way and reach their highest potential through relaxation and dynamic energy awareness. Bhawani loves to be outdoors and connect with nature. She holds a Master’s degree from CIIS in East-West Psychology, with a specialization in Spiritual Counseling.
Suman Brar
Vivekadevi Noh-Kuhn
Vivekadevi is a gifted teacher and counselor. Her warm and engaging style allows students to relax and dive deeply into the essence of her topic, whatever it may be. She teaches weekly classes on yoga, meditation and the spiritual life and offers private sessions for individual support.
RYT 500, Certified Ananda Yoga Teacher, Certified Meditation Teacher
Dr. Marcel (Mahavir) Hernandez
Marcel is a naturopathic doctor and medical professor by profession. But he shines in the evenings as a thespian and play director. He went to Stanford on full scholarship as a theater major, where he studied with acting greats such as Otto Preminger. He brings deep sensitivity and experience to stage direction, and brings Ananda plays to magical life on our small stage.
Chris Thorman
Chris is a computer programmer working in the high-tech industry since 1986, and a senior IT executive with the Episcopal Church since 2004. A longtime meditator and kriyaban, he's been been especially drawn to Swamiji's and Yogananda's teachings on the Bhagavad Gita, Sanatan Dharma, and yoga philosophy.
Dr. Connie Hernandez
Dr. Connie is co- founder and director of Pacific Naturopathic in Mountain View, and Pacific Naturopathic Retreat Center in Hawaii. She is a gifted teacher: clear, thoughtful, and warm. In her busy medical practice, she has worked with many chronic and acute concerns. She believes that Yogananda’s healing principles offer keys to the deepest healing of body, mind, and soul.
Amara Fiesterman
Gary McSweeney
Gary teaches at Living Wisdom School, specializing in the most fun, and perhaps most challenging time: middle school. He is loved and respected by his students, and has a gift for the discipline and support that kids that age crave. He was manager of the Ananda Community for many years. He has a terrific sense of humor and is a calm, unflappable fellow.