Resident Yoga Teachers at AyurYoga Eco-Ashram
Krishna Chaitanya
Founder – Director, Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500
Krishna Chaitanya is a simple Yoga Teacher who thinks of himself as an eternal student in awe of the ocean of yoga wisdom. He is all rounder with background from various aspects of traditional Hatha Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy and Psychology of Yoga-Vedanta and Yoga Anatomy. Since the age of 18, Krishna lived in several traditional ashrams for 12+ years, including Ramakrishna-Vivekananda monastic order (Calcutta), Bihar School of Yoga (Munger), Himalayan Tradition of Swami Rama (Rishikesh) and Sivananda Ashram (Kerala).
Though very much rooted in the traditional spirituality, Krishna has been spiritual rebel who don’t want to be brainwashed by books, teachers, or organizational set up of modern spirituality. Naturally this resulted in a roller coaster life in search of the Unknown and took him to various teachers and traditions in many parts of the world. After being a spiritual vagabond for 15 years, Krishna founded this ashram with the hope that India needs a place for modern yogis to practice ‘simple’ yoga in Mother Nature, without any cultural and spiritual exaggerations of cults/gurus, but with critical thinking of how to apply the ancient wisdom for people living a normal life in a modern society.
Krishna teaches Yoga Philosophy, Hatha Yoga Anatomy and Teaching Methodology in our Yoga Teacher Training Retreats. He teaches Yoga and Pranayama sessions to Advanced students who are comfortable with 3 hour sessions. He is also being regularly invited by other retreats/ashrams around the world to teach and share his 25+ years of life dedicated to practice and teaching yoga.
Swami Prabodh Chaitanya
Meditation and Philosophy Teacher
Swami Prabodh Chaitanya is a Yoga-Vedanta Scholar who also holds a Masters Degree in English literature. Besides the traditional studies in Sanskrit under his teacher H.H Swami Bodhananda Saraswathi , he also took his Bramacharya initiation from H.H Swami Chinmayanandaji, the founder of Chinmaya Mission.
After his initiation, Prabodh Chaithanya continued his studies of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahmasutras under the guidance of H.H Swami Dayananada Saraswathi of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Rishikesh. Since completing his traditional studies in Yoga and Vedanta under these traditional masters, Prabodhji lived and taught in Rishikesh and Varanasi since 1995.
Since 2012, Prabodhji has been teaching Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Advaita Vedanta philosophy at AyurYoga Eco-Ashram. Swamiji is also the lead teacher for morning Meditation for Yoga Teacher Trainings and teaches Sanskrit grammar and Chanting.
Swamiji is also an author of “Zero Gravity Living: Cookbook for Enlightenment”.
Arya Murthy
Meditation and Philosophy Teacher
Arya Murthy is a senior teacher specializing in Meditation and Philosophy sessions for both our Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Retreat guests. Murthyji also teaches a few meditation sessions for Ayurveda guests too.
Murthyji grew up in a traditional brahmin family in Andhra Pradesh, where mantras and ritual were part of daily life. After graduation in Science and Education fields, Murthyji taught mathematics for four years, before deciding to give up academic career to dedicate his life for the study and practice of Yoga under traditional monastic teachers. After introduction to Vedanta philosophy at Swami Suddananda Foundation for Self-Knowledge, Murthyji went to Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh, where he studied Sanskrit Scriptures under the guidance of Scholars and monks. At the same time, Murthyji was also blessed to learn to improve his yogic practices with the help of Brahmachari Ramprasadji and Rishi Sudhir.
After three years of intense study in Rishikesh, Murthyji became a wandering spiritual seeker, visiting various holy pilgrimage places across India and meeting and learning from other spiritual seekers, while living a life of austerity and meditation. Murthyji frequently visits Mukambika temple in Kolluru where he practiced several months long silence and intense meditation for two years during his wandering days.
Since 2009, Murthyji has been teaching at various Yoga Schools in Kerala, Dharamsala and Goa. Murthyji also completed various yoga courses, including 200 and 300 hours, from Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore, SVYASA Bangalore and Paramanada Institute in Indore.
Aman Rana
Hatha Yoga Asana Teacher
Aman was inspired by hundreds of monks and yogis living in the holy town of Uttarakashi in the Himalayas, where he was born and raised. Aman’s family is also associated with Sivananda ashrams from Kerala, where some of his family members have been working as yoga teachers for decades.
After completing the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, Aman continued to practice and teach in Sivananda ashram for three years. During this time, Aman also completed 300 hours Advanced Teacher Training, and took the responsibilities of leading teacher trainings at Sivananda Ashram in Andhra Pradesh. Besides Sivananda yoga, Aman is also certified with the Ministry of AYUSH and a lifetime member of Indian Yoga Association.
Aman is one of our lead asana teachers for teacher trainings. Our students love his playful but grounding classes, focused on traditional hatha yoga. Aman’s light hearted outlook on life, with lots of smiles, brings ease and joy to those around him.
Nandini
Asana and Philosophy Teacher
Swami Sivananda has been the main inspiration for Nandini, who started her spiritual journey with her Guru Swami Janardhananda. The discipline and routine in life are very much part of her life as she grew up in a military family and military schools, in several states across India.
Though starting her career in the fashion industry & Educational sectors, Nandini became fascinated with the practice and philosophy of Yogic lifestyle, which eventually led her to 1000 hours residential course with Sivananda Ashrams in India. During this one-year program, Nandini completed her 200 hours of Yoga Teacher Training course, 300 hours of Advance Yoga Teacher Training, Sadhana Intensive, Sadhana Mandalam programs.
Nandini lived and worked in Sivananda Ashrams for 3 years, during which time, she loved the study of Scriptures, Music, Ayurveda, Sanskrit, rituals, recitation of mantras etc. besides teaching and volunteering in the ashrams as a karma yogi.
Nandini leads asana classes for both Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Retreat guests, and also teaches theory classes for Yoga Retreat guests.
Kritika Sharma
Yoga Therapist
Kritika is our yoga therapist from Himachal Pradesh in northern India. After completing master’s degree in yoga from Patanajali Yoga University in Rishikesh, Kritika continued her education with Riskhikesh Yoga Kendra where she completed her 200-hours and 500-hours Yoga Teacher Trainings.
Kritika’s approach to yoga is deeply rooted in therapeutic approach to asanas, emphasizing the ancient wisdom of Hatha yoga combined with the modern understanding of anatomy and intentional movement. Her sessions are a harmonious blend of physical postures, breathwork, and mindfulness practices, designed to release stress and restore balance to both body and mind.
Kritika offers morning yoga therapy sessions for Ayurveda guests and yoga retreat guests. She also offers personal yoga therapy consultation for our guests who want to know about what kind of asanas they need to practice or avoid based on their medical conditions.
Dr. Ashwathy Nair
Ayurveda Doctor & Teacher
Dr. Ashwathy was born and raised in Kerala, where Ayurveda is deeply rooted. Ashwathy grew up watching her orthodox grandmother making medicinal herbs and decoctions to treat all kinds of ailments. At the age of 12 she met Doctor Gangadharan Vaidyar who became her mentor and ignited her fascination with Ayurveda as a career.
Dr. Ashwathy obtained her five year degree in Ayurvedic Medicine (BAMS) from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science, Bangalore in 2014. Since then, she worked with well known Ayurveda hospitals such as Kairali Ayurveda in Faridabad (Haryana) and Santhome Ayurveda Arogya Kendra at Sindhudur (Maharashtra). Besides the regular consulting and overseeing Panchakarma Detox therapies, Dr. Ashwathy is also experienced in treating spinal disorders, arthritis, digestive disorders, obesity, stress, skin disorders, and PCOD.
As the lead Ayurveda doctor at AyurYoga Eco-Ashram, Dr. Ashwathy offers detailed Dosha diagnosis and creates treatment plans with herbal therapies and oral medication, besides suggesting lifestyle changes to follow up after leaving the ashram. Ashwathy’s ability to listen and understand the challenges of daily life with compassion makes her one of the busiest people in the ashram.
Besides teaching the Introduction to Ayurveda in our Yoga Teacher Trainings and Yoga Retreats, Dr. Ashwathy is also available for one-to-one consultations for yoga students too.
Lillie Jewell
Yoga Anatomy Teacher, Nutritionist and Admin
Lillie, originally from the USA, embarked on a transformative journey in 2013 after she found her calling at AyurYoga Eco-Ashram. As part of the very first training organized at this ashram, she fell in love not only with yoga, but the very concept of this unique place. Since then, she stayed to help, and eventually fell in love and married Krishna, the founder of the ashram.
With a scientific foundation, Lillie holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in human nutrition and functional medicine. Her capacity for thoughtful inquiry and critical analysis has empowered her to combine the insights of ancient practices with contemporary scientific knowledge.
As a dedicated yoga teacher, Lillie imparts her knowledge of anatomy to aspiring yogis in the Yoga Teacher Trainings at the ashram. Beyond her teaching role, she helps in the coordination of retreats. Lillie’s perceptive nature plays a crucial role in mediating between the cultural and philosophical aspects of the ashram’s environment and international guests, successfully navigating the nuances that arise in such a diverse and transformative setting. Her commitment to harmonizing Eastern and Western perspectives has made her an invaluable asset to the AyurYoga Eco-Ashram community.
GUEST FACULTY
Dr. Neel Venugopal
Ayurveda Doctor and Teacher
Dr. Neel was born in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India, in a village called Chavakkad to an aristocratic father with values and ethics. He expressed and developed interest in Ayurveda since childhood, watching his father and his associates using Ayurvedic oil called Thailam during their martial arts (Kalari) practice in Vallabhatta Kalarisangham.
He obtained the medical practitioners degree- BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) from Kannur University Kerala. Dr. Neel has also done post graduation in yoga. Upon graduating, he served as a Physician in various specialized departments, including sports medicine, as a member of the Common Wealth Games Medical Team.
He also has expertise in providing and managing direct patient care for physical examination, evaluations, diagnoses, and treatments. Dr Neel is an expert in Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis and Marma Therapy, as well as medicine manufacturing. He has conducted many seminars, workshops and consultations around the world to share his in-depth knowledge in Ayurveda and Marma Therapy.
Other Assisting Teachers /Interns
Some students stay immediately after the yoga teacher training course or come back to help us with assisting yoga classes and taking care of the students in our retreats. We are thankful to all these students for sharing their time and energy in making these retreats a beautiful experience for the new students.
All our main faculty is professionally qualified and is experienced in teaching International Students, besides their years of practice in traditional ashram backgrounds.