World Yoga Festival is hosted by ARSHAKULA FOUNDATION. UK Registered Charity No. 1171708
FOUNDERS
SONALI
Sonali is the heart of the World Yoga Festival. To her, everything needs to ‘feel’ right not just look right. She sees beneath what others see, and balances the energies of the seen and the unseen in perfect union to create a holistic experience. A skilful Reiki master, she has studied many of the Eastern wisdom traditions.
RAM
If Sonali is the heart, then Ram is the head of the World Yoga Festival. A computer scientist by training who is continuously surprised by the meticulous logic of the ancient Yoga traditions of posture, meditation and wisdom. He runs classes on Vedanta and has one of those voices that put people to sleep in guided meditations!
Festival Content Advisor
Swami Santatmananda
Swami Santatmananda is the resident acharya at the Rishikesh ashram of Swami Dayananda and was crucial to the success of the first Yoga festival in July 2016. Ram and Sonali are extremely fortunate to have such an unique and learned person, with an extensive contact base and ancient knowledge of the authentic Indian traditions, as their key advisor on festival content.
Our Inspiration
Swami Dayananda Saraswati
We take our inspiration and direction from Puja Swami Dayananda Saraswati and the other great masters of the authentic Yoga traditions.
We seek the blessing of the great masters to perpetuate the priceless knowledge they showered on us all.Their legacy lives on.
Our Team
Avi
Avi is the Site Planner and lead. He is multi-talented and nothing phases him. He is happy to take on any task and make it seem easy. Born Chilled, he is always ready to help.
Bethany
Bethany takes care of the volunteers. She brings together skills from her work as a volunteer coordinator for a growing homeless support charity, with her passion and experience working in events and festivals. Bethany practices Prana Vinyasa yoga and works to incorporate meditation and yoga into her life.
Cristina
Cristina takes care of marketing, social media and PR for the World Yoga Festival. She brings to us lots of experience working with events and festivals across the country, where she advised them on many aspects from marketing and social media, to gate management and ticketing! She has been a freelance consultant for the last five years working with small, independent, mostly arts-based organisations and loves the energy and excitement of live events.
Gemma
Gemma is the children co-ordinator and a very experienced Yoga teacher. Since qualifying as Hatha Yoga Teacher at the Sivananda Ashram in India, she has taught throughout Asia. Yoga is her lifestyle. She comes alive during the UK summer festival scene. Gemma is looking forward to spreading the word of Yoga through festival fun and becoming a part of the movement along with Sonali & Ram.
James
Independent of Sunday Happylist winning film maker James Light uses film to highlight the unity in our seemingly separate world, by helping activists, charities and do good groups tell better stories of the work they do. James will be on sight helping the festival tell this year's story and asking people the question 'What’s Your Story? for his latest solo project - http://whatsyourstoryfilm.com/
So if you feel you have a story to tell or simply wish to express what the World Yoga Festival means to you then don't hesitate to stop him and say hi.
Krishna
Krishna is the IT Consultant for the World Yoga Festival. She is very passionate about dancing and finds it the best way to relax. Krishna is looking forward to embrace Yoga and meditation as part of her lifestyle being part of the festival.