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Team Members

MBA, PhD
Specializations: Yoga Therapy, Yogic Psychology, Mind–Body Integration, Meditation Research

Brahmacharini Shobha (Ms. Shobana Pillai) serves as the Director of Amrita Yoga, Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and Assistant Professor in the School of Spiritual and Cultural Studies, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri. She has over 29 years of experience in teaching yoga, meditation, and mind–body practices to students across India and around the world.

Her Yoga journey began at the age of five under Swami Vijnanananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda. Inspired by Amma, she developed the Amrita Yoga® system, founded on awareness with heart-centered intention. She has trained more than 375 teachers and taught 145,000+ students worldwide, conducting programs across the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Read More »

Research Assistant & Program Manager, Department of Yoga
Amrita School of Spiritual & Cultural Studies, Amritapuri Campus

Hemaa Manimaran has been associated with the Department of Yoga at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham for over nine years, contributing to research, academic coordination, instructor development, and program implementation.

As a Research Assistant, she supports departmental scholarship through literature review, research documentation, data management and analysis, statistical analysis, interpretation of research findings, and manuscript preparation. With an academic background in physics and mathematics, she brings strong analytical and quantitative skills to research processes and contributes to studies involving yoga, meditation, contemplative practices, and related psychological and behavioral dimensions.

Alongside her research responsibilities, Hemaa serves as Global Coordinator for the Amrita Yoga® Volunteer Instructor Network and as a Lead Committee Member of the Department’s Mentoring and Assessment Committees. In these roles, she contributes to instructor mentoring, assessment, pedagogical consistency, and quality standards across the international Amrita Yoga® network. Read More »

Aswathy
  • Supports the coordination of departmental programs, workshops, and special initiatives
  • Certified Amrita Yoga® Instructor for adults, youth, and children
  • Skilled in accessible and senior-friendly Yoga teaching
  • Assists with event organization, documentation, and instructor support
  • Brings clarity, structure, and a learner-centered approach
  • Valued for reliability, teamwork, and efficient program execution
Priya Sahana
  • Plans, coordinates, and executes Yoga events and outreach activities
  • Certified Amrita Yoga® Instructor for adults, youth, children, and seniors
  • Specializes in Kids Yoga and Senior Yoga with a compassionate teaching style
  • Supports communication, participant coordination, and creative program development
  • Brings strong interpersonal, organizational, and creative skills

INTERNATIONAL Team Members

  • Swamini Ambikamrita Prana, USA
  • Beth Kucharczyk, USA
  • Shirley Abrahamer, Israel
  • Anne Wohltat, Germany
  • Wendy Steben, USA
  • Martha Lee, USA
  • Andrea Bonsignore, USA
  • Nirmala Iser, Switzerland
  • Jagruti Patel, USA
  • Arati Jaxner, Sweden
  • Sarah Langley, USA
  • Vidya Ashok, Kuwait
  • Nallur Anjana, UAE
  • Visala Hohlbein, USA
  • Victoria Taft, USA
  • Nanna Aakard, Denmark
  • Jens Joergen Aakard, Denmark
  • Yoshiro Ito, Japan
  • Chiharu Ito, Japan
  • Anna Tuuli Yla-Kauttu, Finland
  • Marie Cyril, France
  • Neelima Pratap, Canada
  • Ildiko Kumaran, USA
  • Claudia Pulka, Austria
  • Sally Jaswal, Canada

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