RYT 500, E-RYT 200, C-IAYT-affiliated Therapist(Specialized disease management program),Kundalini Practioner, Post Graduate in Print Journalism, Diploma in Creative Writing & arts (British Council),Counselor ‘Eastern Modality’’, Ayurveda and panchakarma, Poet, Art connoisseur, and a Spiritual Seeker, a Mumukshu.’
Kushagraa was born in a small town in the pristine valley of the Himalayas, where she experienced and learned the mystical secrets from the sages and the sacred surroundings. Yoga and spirituality became an integral part of her life during her childhood. She was initiated into the Saraswati lineage of the Dashnamai parampara at a very early age. Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh was an inspiration through his extraordinary work in service, Yoga, Vedanta, and spirituality.
Swami Gyan Vijay Saraswati, a Himalayan yogi with extraordinary discipline, taught her the sciences of Yoga, Tantra Shastra, Vedic rituals,etc. She has learned and practiced Kundalini Tantra, Kriya Yoga, Nada Yoga, Prana Yoga, and others. The learning was fulfilling and enriching; she got it from her father and Guru, who later became a guiding force in her life. Besides, Swamiji, her elder sister, Swami Amritananda Saraswati ji, who was initiated as a sanyasi, was also one of the divine presences in her life, as a motherly figure. In fact, Amritanandaji’s holy presence in Kushagraa’s life was a true blessing in all ways.
The multidimensional wisdom of Yoga, healing practices, philosophy, and metaphysics became paramount and supportive in her ongoing spiritual journey. Her credentials include a Postgraduate degree in Journalism, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, advanced Yoga certification, and C-IAYT-affiliated Therapist (a Specialized Disease Management program). The other specialized areas include Lifestyle Coaching, Ayurveda & Panchkarma, Emotional/Spiritual Counselling with an Internal personal approach. She has worked as an integrative therapist at various wellness clinics and organizations in the United States.
She has worked with several chronic illness patients, including cancer, stroke, bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s, GI Disorders, diabetes, and Chronic Stress and anxiety. Her online and in-person client base has grown significantly over the years, and she has achieved optimal results for many of them. Over the last 1.5 years, Kushagraa has learned and explored new dimensions of healing and integrative sciences through her spiritual travel.
Her current stay in the southern state of Kerala India, a hub of Ayurvedic studies, has given her the opportunity to learn in depth about Ayurveda and the panchakarma sciences. Dr. Mohan, one of the esteemed Ayurvedic doctors who has been her mentor, inspiration, and guide over the last 1.5 years, has helped her find perspective, inspiration, and a sense of self-connection, which has immensely benefited her as a practitioner.
Besides, Kushagraa’s multifaceted talents in Semi-Classical Dance, music, and poetry, along with her love for nature, add depth and charm to her personality as a healer and practitioner.
Clinical Psychotherapist, Holistic Counselling( Individual and Couple Therapy), Wisdom and Mindfulness Practices, Empath, an avid reader, Motivational speaker…..
Deanna Jimenez is a clinical psychotherapist who is passionate about healing at the intersection of the body, politics and spirituality. She received her Bachelor’s in International Relations from UC Berkeley where she studied the importance of cultural awareness and the integration of conflict resolution skills in the international workplace. Following a career in corporate and non-profit fields, Deanna returned to school and received her Master’s from John F. Kennedy University in Holistic Counseling Psychology with a Transpersonal Specialization. This career change has allowed her to support others in integrating what she sees as two essential facets of this life’s journey – growth and healing.
Deanna works with a diverse range of individuals, couples and groups towards living a life deeply aligned with purpose, contribution and action. She supports a safe, collaborative space to explore each person’s unique gifts and discover ways to take action towards this highest potential.
She is passionate about teaching self-care practices that foster healing and movement towards purposeful transformation both individually and collectively. Although her work is eclectic, she is heavily influenced by the principles of mindfulness, somatic exploration and the present experience. In addition to a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is currently Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and a PhD student in Somatic Psychology.
RYT 200, Yoga Teacher, Expert in Kundalini/Kriya Practices, Mechanical Engineer (Ph.D. holder), Environmentalist/ Minimalist, Avid reader (historical non-fiction is my preferred genre)
Nandishwar is an engineer by profession, working in one of the Mag 7 companies in Silicon Valley, California. A seeker, he has had a steady yoga practice for 15 years. What began as a fitness practice rapidly evolved into a disciplined lifestyle incorporating the principles of kundalini and kriya yoga. He views Yoga as a medium for spiritual growth. He credits his yoga practice with his spiritual awakening and with his overall sense of calm and balance.
Born in India, he moved to the USA 25 years ago for higher studies. He has a Ph.D. in engineering and has worked in the semiconductor industry for nearly 20 years. He has a truly global perspective, since travel for work has taken him all over the world. He found his career fulfilling, but always felt a higher calling from within. Yoga came to him in the form of serendipitous coincidence when he stumbled into a yoga studio at his gym.
While the elevated energy levels were immediately evident, he was more drawn to the clarity and calm he felt after the practice. However, he always got the sense that the Western yoga practices were only scratching the surface and longed for more. The answer came in the form of an answered prayer when he was introduced to his guru – Swami Gyanvijay Saraswati from the Saraswati lineage. That supercharged his growth and led to greater fulfilment. For the past five years he has practiced under his guru and been trained in the techniques of classical yoga and tantra.
He is a certified yoga teacher and his practice has evolved consistently over the years. Outside of work and his practice, he likes gardening, reading and hiking. He lives his life by the motto – try to make the world a better place. He can’t wait to share his knowledge with any fellow seekers who are willing to learn and grow.
Priya Anand McCarley, RYT- 500, CAHC Ayurvedic Health Counselor,Ayurvedic Cooking, Healer/Empath …….
Priya Anand McCarley is a yoga teacher and ayurvedic health counselor dedicated to helping women rediscover radiant health and spiritual connection. An aspirant at heart, Priya’s first yoga class over fifteen years ago felt more like a homecoming than an introduction. Since then, she has continued to deepen her connection to Vedic wisdom, completing many hours of training with the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres as well as the Ayurvedic Studies Program Level One at The Ayurvedic Institute under the direction of Dr. Vasant Lad. Passionate about food and its power to heal, Priya also holds a certificate in culinary arts from The Art Institute of Tennessee.
Priya offers gentle yoga classes, cooking workshops, meditation sessions, and ayurvedic consultations designed to support physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. With an approach that is intuitive, compassionate, and above all, practical, Priya strives to meet each individual where they are. She has worked with students of all ages and abilities, giving her a unique appreciation of the challenges and blessings that come with every stage of life.
When she is not teaching or counseling, Priya enjoys hiking in the wilderness and cooking nourishing meals for her husband, Kevin, and stepdaughters, Kori and Kayla.
Instructor, Pain management, Posture & corrective exercise, Gentle Yoga certifications – RYT 500, NASM-CPT, ACE-GFI, TRX advanced trainer, Master’s in Kinesiology, ongoing
During his time in a corporate office role and later as a personal trainer, Gary experienced significant physical strain and stress-related challenges. Through the physical practice of Hatha Yoga, he has healed many injuries sustained from intense training and marathon running. This experience helped him realize yoga’s powerful ability to release stress and alleviate pain on physical, mental, and emotional levels.
To learn and understand the Holistic yogic science, he took a Yoga teacher’s training course at Sivananda International Yoga Vedanta Centre. He later served at the Sivananda San Francisco centre for about a year and learned the practical, in-depth therapeutic application of Yoga.
He has worked as a pain management trainer with multiple integrative medical clinics under the supervision of medical doctors. Currently, Gary works as a yoga teacher, fitness trainer, and rehabilitation specialist focused on pain management within a chiropractor’s office. His areas of expertise include posture correction and alignment, joint mobility, coordination of movement (macro- and micro-movements), pain relief, and fitness improvement for individuals with sedentary lifestyles. In addition to being an RYT 500–certified yoga teacher, Gary is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Group Fitness Instructor, and TRX Advanced Group Trainer. Currently, I am enrolled in a master’s program in kinesiology.
Gary is a fun loving guy, he loves to serve his patient elderly patients, hiking, travelling and cooking are his recreational pursuits, and loves spending time with his family and mom.
MTech IIT, B-tech, Wisdom/Mindfulness practitioner, Buddhist/explorer, A soulful Guide for all the gentle souls
Narayana, also lovingly known as “Vishnu, is a gentle soul who hails from the city of Hyderabad. He has been an ardent student of Jiddu Krishnamurthy, one of the most prominent spiritual figures. He has been residing in the United States and working as an IT professional for the past 25 years. More than his professional career, he is drawn towards finding a purpose and a bigger canvas for life and its fulfillment.
He has travelled to multiple countries, spiritual destinations, and ashrams in search of knowledge. Buddhism, Vedanta, and Eastern psychology are among his areas of interest, which he has explored in depth. His intellectual and spiritual insights are always helpful in bringing light to people’s lives, especially during tough phases. It’s not his intellectual knowledge but the wisdom that clearly reflects in his debates, intellectual discourses and counselling.
He follows 10 paramitas (perfections) of Buddhism in the Wisdom/Mindfulness teachings to strengthen and inspire himself and others treading the path of refinement. Generosity (Dāna)
Morality/Virtue (Sīla),Renunciation (Nekkhamma),Wisdom/Insight (Paññā),Energy/Effort (Viriya),Patience/Tolerance (Khanti),Truthfulness (Sacca),Determination/Resolution (Adhiṭṭhāna),Loving-kindness (Mettā),Equanimity (Upekkhā)
His ideology, wisdom, and spiritual spirit serve those seeking meditative practices for self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Dr. Vishnu Kant Shukla Phd (Assistant Professor in Astrology Department, University of Lucknow) and Kathavachak/Spiritual speaker, Sadhaka, Bhakti Yogi
Experience – 37 years
Dr. Vishnu Kant Shukla hails from a prestigious Brahmin family where spirituality and Astrology have prevailed for generations. His expertise spans Vedic astrology, Vastu, numerology, KP, Lal Kitab, Medical astrology, Tarot card reading, Reiki healing, and more. So far, he has been associated with many TV, radio, and newspapers
His prowess in astrology stems from his sattvik, intense sadhana, evident in his personality and deep knowledge, which comes from a place of wisdom and insight. His involvement in Vedic rituals, karma-kanda, Upasana Vigyan, and Bhakti yoga is really inspiring and delivers a peaceful message. He is a sincere devotee of Lord Rama and often participates in various Katha Programmes as the main speaker (Katha Vachak). Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades for his contributions to astrology and spirituality. In times when astrology can become a game of monetization, where astrology is taken as a subject of sacred sciences, Dr. Vishnu is one of the gems who offers in-depth consultation based on his intuitive insight and vast knowledge. An endearing personality that conveys genuineness and a very comforting presence.
Krishna, a gentle soul who hails from the divine Himalayas, is one of the most trusted priests in Rishikesh. Currently, he is the head priest at the Ganga Association at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh. Every morning and evening with utmost devotion, he serves Mother Ganga and leads the pooja with other priests. His background comes from a Brahmin family that has served and been associated with karma kanda(rituals), spirituality for generations. His father was the head priest at the famous Raghunath Mandir in Rishikesh and spent his lifetime in service and devotion. Krishna has expertise in leading many rituals, including Rudrabhishekam, Shakti initiation, Ganga Pooja, Aura Cleansing, and various homas.
He studied classical literature, the arts, and Sanskrit, and pursued Vedic studies at various gurukuls. He is proficient in classical Sanskrit, mantra recitation, and all ritualistic methods such as yajnas, abhishekams, and the initiation of various Sanskaras as mentioned in the Shuklapaksha of the Yajur Veda. Krishna is a kindhearted devotee, and his presence, in itself, resonates with the divine aspect, radiating simplicity, purity, and devotion.
