The team at Yogacara consists of highly knowledgeable and experienced professionals who are deeply passionate, and have integrity, dedication, and rigour in what they do.
Abhishek is highly respected, experienced and knoweldgeable faculty member bringing great depth of knowledge to the organization. The Yoga Sutras and the Gita are the two most scientific books in the world that enables the student to begin the journey towards mastery of the Self, so that one may evolve to a higher state of being. Both texts go hand in hand and give the practioner a clear picture of human evolution throughout our life practice. It helps all the SADHAKAS (practitioners) to identify their individual path, and to develop the strength, clarity and courage to live their lives with intention, clarity and equanamity. Abhishek challenges each students thought and belief systems, enabing each one to break through old patterns and to move into the exploration of the new, towards a greater expansion of the individual self.
Abhishek also holds a degree in Computer Science, History and Mass Communication. He has als received the 900 Hour TTC form the Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz, where he began his yoga career. He has also been an honourable faculty member at the Yoga Institute since 2009.
He teaches both the Bhagvad Gita and the Yoga Sutras.
Dr. Amol is an MD in Ayurveda from the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur. His training is in Kayachikitsa, internal medicine. Dr. Amol is an avid Yoga practitioner with a deep interest in the ancient sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda and their role in rejuvenation and preventive care. Dr. Amol is very passionate about his work and is dedicated to bridging the gap between Yoga and Ayurveda and modern medicine.
Dr. Amol teaches various courses in Ayurveda, and also Anatomy & Physiology for the teacher training courses at the Yogacara Institute. Dr. Amol is part of the faculty at the Yogacara Institute.
Bhakti Raval is a highly passionate Yoga practitioner and has dedicated her life to studying and teaching Yoga since 2002. She holds a 900 Teacher Training Certificate from the Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz, Mumbai, MA in Philosophy (Yoga), Mumbai University, Diploma in Yoga Studies, Mumbai University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Yoga Philosophy.
Bhakti takes us thorough a fascinating experience of the Bhavas, which are the attitudes with which one lives our lives moving the student into a total state of awareness of the attitudes with which we conduct our daily lives. Our minds are constantly fluctuating between the positive and negatives, and an understanding of how these modifications occur enable us to move towards cultivating a focused and single pointed effort in everything that we do.
Bhakti has been actively involved in conducting camps for corporates, orthopedics, weight management, stress management, families, yoga as a way of life; camps for teachers, women, children and teenagers. She has also conducted camps for children with special needs. She has also conducted Pranayamas, Asana, Relaxation sessions for corporates, senior citizens and health exhibitions.
Bhakti strongly believes that one should continue the Yoga journey of learning through one’s life from every situation and experience. Bhakti is also a faculty of the Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz, he oldest organized Yoga Institution in the world today. She has conducted Asanas, Kriyas, Yogic Concepts, Teaching Methodology and Yoga. She has also designed and taught Self-Development and Concentration Camps for school Children and college students in Mumbai.She has carried that belief and is currently pursuing a Phd in Yoga and Philosophy from Mumbai University.
Bhakti teaches Bhavas, Experiential Asanas and Methodology.
Shri Niranjan G Gogia is a revered guest faculty memeber at Yogacara. He has been associated with “The Yoga Institute” Santacruz, Mumbai as a regular faculty memeber for the since September, 1986, teaching Yoga, Technology, Philosophy and applied Yoga Psychology based on the yoga scripture of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras and Samkhya Karika of Ishvar Krishna.
Shri Gogia taught Yoga based programs on Health Care, Stress Management, Improving Concentration and Memory etc at the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics, (NACEN), Western Region, Bhandup from 1999 to 2010. He was a visiting faculty at the Philosophy Department of Mumbai University and taught the students of M.A. (Phil) the Yoga Text, Samkhya Metaphysics and Practical Yoga Techniques of yoga like Asana, Pranayama, Bandhas Mudras etc.
Shri Gogia has also carried out research under the guidance of Doctor Jaidev Yogendra, Director, Yoga Institute Santacruz, Mumbai related to various Concepts and Techniques of Yoga. Contributed for Preparation and publication of books such as the Yoga Cyclopedia Volume I ( Related to research of the Concept & Technique of Asana since the time of Vedas), Yoga Cyclopedia Volume II (Related to research in the area of Yoga Education), Yoga Cyclopedia Volume III ( Related to the Yoga Psychology and mental health), Yoga for Children - Teacher’s Manual ( Ways and methods To teach the Yoga concepts like Body awareness, Concentration, Relaxation, Humility, Tapa(Mauna) and Yoga Cyclopedia Volume IV – ( Related to a comparative study between Yoga & Mysticism).
Shri Gogia under the guidance of Doctor Jaidev and funded by the Yoga Institute, conceived, wrote the script, Directed and acted in a 12 minutes film on the routines and rituals to be incorporated in the daily living of an ordinary householder for leading a happy and healthy life. He has also contributed and acted in a short film made on Yoga and Yoga Institute by Ms Mirium D’souza. He has also demonstrated valuable Yoga techniques in a popular TV serial of 50 episodes on Yoga for better living.
Nirav’s journey with yoga began with several fractures in one leg, a broken collar bone, and also a terrible bike accident from which his range of movement had reduced by 50 % in his right arm and left leg. Six years later Nirav began yoga under the guidance of a senior Iyengar teacher named, Mr Cobad Varyava.
One year later, Nirav experienced a 100% recovery in his limbs, and also began experiencing the amazing overall benefits of Yoga. A professional musician and producer for 10 years, Nirav changed career and began to focus on Yoga with a deep passion, reading and learning from his personal practice. In 2008, he began his career as a professional teacher.
Nirav is part of the faculty at the Yogacara Institute and teaches Asana and Methodology.
Dr. Pranit practices as a counsellor, healer and medical practitioner. After finishing his M.B.B.S. in 2012, while working in a hospital and preparing for his post graduate entrance exam, he felt an incomplete approach in the treatments administered to the patients. He thought there had to be deeper issues at work and that the root cause was not being addressed. He quit his job, and while searching for deeper systems of treatment, he came across Pranic healing and trained in it. Seeing the science and efficacy he went through and finished the advanced levels and started applying it with patients with tremendous results.
He has explored and trained in various healing modalities like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Access Bars, and Hypnotherapy. He went on to become a certified Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner soon after. Dr. Pranit is a faculty member at the Yoga Institute, and has also completed the Teacher’s Training Course from The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai. He realized that the understanding of the human anatomy and physiology is very essential for a yoga teacher and practitioner and enjoyed simplifying the concepts during his talks making them easy to understand.
Dr. Pranit believes that, “People around us are just a mirror for us. Be the change you wish to see in others.”
Dr. Pranit is part of the faculty at the Yogacara Institute and teaches Anatomy.
Radhika Vachani is the founder of Yogacara Healing Arts. In 2010 she gave up 20-year corporate career to focus her energies on reviving the holsitic healing sciences to help people create balanced and healthy lives through professional guidance. Her journey with yoga and wellness has largely been inspired by her own personal life experiences, and her love for yoga which began in San Francisco in 1999, where she began avidly studying and practicing Iyengar yoga. Since her return to India in 2005 she has spent several years dedicated to learning the methodology and techniques of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, the world’s foremost authority on hatha yoga. Radhika has studied with some of the senior most Iyengar teachers from the Institute in Pune and Mumbai including, Nanduji, Mr. Birjoo Mehta, and she continues to practice under the guidance of Mr. Jawahar Bangera to date.
Her classes follow a workshop format and include a combination of asana, pranayama, meditation and philosophy, where her fundamental aim is to teach her students to evolve their practice beyond the walls of the studio into daily life. You can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the practice in the discovery of your inner self, while also experiencing the bliss of a meditative and challenging practice.
She has also studied the Yoga Sutras and Ayurveda and is certified in several other healing practices that have significantly enhanced her life practice and teaching ability. She is also a professional personal growth workshop leader certified by Heart Inspired, USA, and Heal your Life by Louise Hay, to run several mind, body, and spirit workshops for children and adults.
Radhika is committed to human wellness, is part of the Faculty at the Yogacara Institute and teaches Asana, Yoga Philosophy and the Practical Implementation into daily life.
Radhika is also the author of a soon to be published book on Yoga by Westland Books, a Tata Enterprise.
Shailaja McFadyen is a highly passionate Yoga practitioner, having dedicated her life to teaching and enhancing the lives of other since 1989. She completed her Yoga Teachers Training program in 1988 with the Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz Mumbai and has been active participant as a faculty member, trainer and researcher. She has also been teaching in various countries around the world.
Shailaja has worked with the team of the publication department and has helped in producing many of the books of The Yoga Institute, including, Yoga of Caring, Insights, Your Words. Our Path, Pregnancy Parenthood and Yoga, Yogic Life Control of Diabetes, Yogic Life, Cure of Asthma and Bronchitis, How to Reverse Heart Disease the Yogic Way- Research, Facts and Programme. Shailaja has also delivered talks on Yoga to the students of the Department of Comparative Religion at the Carlton University, Ottawa.
Shailaja has also extended the healing power of Yoga by teaching at a home for people suffering from schizophrenia. She has also taught at the St. Patrick’s Home for the Aged, in Ottawa. Shailaja also taught at the Maison de France, which is part of the French Consulate. She also has taught five princesses of the Saudi Royal family the al-Saud family. Her teachings also extend to people in the Lebanese, European and American communities. She also has a penchant for creating artwork from painting, pottery, clay work etc.
Shailaja has excellent technical and human skills. Her dedication and resourcefulness are commendable. Her vast teaching experience teaching in Canada, the Middle East and India makes her an important asset in the diverse teaching skills offered at Yogacara. Shailaja teaches History and Background of Yoga, the Important Ancient texts that define Yogic Philosophy, and inspires each student to understand and come on the path of Yoga by implementing simple changes into their daily lives.
