EL Program Leaders

Anjali (Ana) Kirsch-Burke

Anjali Kirsch-Burke RYT-200, serves joyfully as The Expanding Light general manager along with hosting guests for yoga and meditation retreats. Highly capable, warm-hearted and caring, she takes good care of the retreat and staff. Ana has a natural ability to attend to details while also developing the bigger picture. Her experience in the corporate world […]

First Timers' Retreat, Restorative Yoga Retreat, First Timers' Retreat,

Janaka Keller

Janaka has been practicing Yogic Meditation for nearly a decade and has dedicated his life to the study of Yogic Philosophy and introspection. After seeing the dramatic positive transformation in his consciousness, Janaka determined that he would share what he had learned with as many people as possible! At the age of 24 he took […]

Karma Yoga Ashram Experience, Living with Spirit, Digital Detox: Disconnect from Stress, Plug into Joy, Living from the Inside Out,

Aramati Kuita

Joining Ananda in 2018, Aramati’s first job with a community experience program, called ‘Building with Spirit,” set the precedence for eventually joining the Karma Yoga staff where she now serves as co-leader. She excels in working with people, along with having first-rate organizational skills, both of which are needed for her role as co-manager. Aramati’s […]

Karma Yoga Ashram Experience,

Dhananjaya Denholm

Dhananjaya serves as co-leader for the Ananda Karma Yoga Program. Guests and staff alike feel the friendship that he naturally shares with all. His warm smile and twinkly eyes give you a hint of his fun-loving sense of humor. Dhananjaya has a passion for the yogic teachings and is happy for the opportunity to share […]

Nayaswami Krishna Das

Nayaswami Krishna Das books and manages the many guest groups that The Expanding Light hosts, leads pilgrimage trips to holy places in India and the U.S., teaches weekend retreats, and gives spiritual counseling to guests. He came to Ananda in 1978 and immediately found his home and purpose in life at Ananda. An exceptionally knowledgeable […]

How to Rise Above Your Karma, A Christmas of Inner Awakening,

Bhawani Isaacson

Bhawani is an E-RYT 200-hour certified Ananda Yoga Instructor, Ananda certified Meditation Teacher, and a long-time meditator. Inspired by yoga since the age of 18, Bhawani’s creative, playful approach makes her classes fun, as well as a relaxing and centering experience. She is passionate about helping people live in a balanced way and reach their […]

Yoga Retreat: A Mother's Day Special, Yoga Retreat: Energize Your Summer, How to Achieve Glowing Health and Vitality, First Timers' Retreat, Yoga Getaway: Ananda Yoga® to Awaken the Chakras, Yoga Retreat: Awakening the Heart’s Gratitude,

Devalila Veenhof

Devalila, an Ananda Lighbearer and Kriyacharya, is Director of Ananda Kriya Sangha for North and South America. She has been practicing and sharing Parmahansa Yogananda’s teachings for over 20 years. She served as Director of Online with Ananda for nearly 10 years, where she developed and taught online courses. Devalila’s great joy and gifts are […]

Deepening Your Kriya Practice, Taking Kriya for the First Time, Taking Kriya for the First Time,

David Seybert

Warm hearted, with a delightful sense of humor, David is a certified Ananda Yoga and Ananda Meditation teacher and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) with the Yoga Alliance. He also teaches taiji and qigong. He lives at Ananda Village and is part of The Expanding Light Retreat team. He holds a B.A. degree in […]