Introducing a group of Ananda ministers who are international speakers, authors, experts, and pioneers in their fields.
Anandi CornellAn inspiring teacher and insightful counselor, Anandi is one of the founding members of Ananda. She is a staff teacher at The Expanding Light Retreat, and has taught countless classes on meditation and spirituality over her many years of service.
Anandi also serves as an editor for Crystal Clarity Publishers.These duties, in addition to her own spiritual practices, have helped Anandi to develop a profound understanding of Yogananda’s teachings.
Asha PraverAsha is a founding member of Ananda Village. She is a Kriyacharya (authorized Kriya Yoga teacher).
Swami Kriyananda placed her in the role of teaching and counseling soon after her arrival to Ananda. In that capacity, she has taught throughout the United States, and occasionally in Europe and India.
She served as Swami Kriyananda’s correspondence secretary for many years, and is the author of Swami Kriyananda As We Have Known Him, a collection of stories told by people who have been touched by his teachings and spiritual friendship.
Asha and her husband David reside at Ananda’s community in Palo Alto, California, where they serve as the spiritual directors.
Bharat CornellBharat directs Ananda’s online Meditation Support. As a minister and a long-time Ananda member, he has taught and practiced meditation for over 35 years. He is a Kriyacharya (authorized Kriya Yoga teacher).
Bharat is an internationally acclaimed naturalist, educator, and author. He lectures worldwide, inspiring audiences with his love of nature, spirituality and meditation.
Catherine Van HoutenCatherine’s path to Ananda included a wide arc that took her from Indiana, where she grew up, to other world travel, including a 5-year residency in Japan.
She was introduced to the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda through his Autobiography of a Yogi, and found in them everything she'd been seeking as a restless, international vagabond.
Her 30-some years of service to Ananda have included supervising Ananda’s publishing work and the guest retreat. She became Ananda’s first full-time fundraiser in 1984.
25 years later, she still considers her task a great joy, because of the greatness of heart she encounters in those willing to support Ananda’s work.
Dave WarnerA long-time Ananda minister and Kriyacharya (authorized Kriya Yoga teacher), Dave is the director of Ananda’s Kriya Yoga Sangha.
Dave’s duties include preparing devotees to receive Kriya Yoga, conducting Kriya Initiations at Ananda Village and other parts of U.S., India and South America. An important part of his ministry is to provide ongoing guidance and support for Kriyabans (kriya yogis) all over the world.
Devi Novak Devi is one of the founding members of Ananda, having lived at Ananda Village and other Ananda colonies since 1969. Shse is a Kriyacharya (authorized Kriya Yoga teacher). Over the years, her duties included teaching, outselling, and directing many aspects of Ananda’s work.
Together with her husband Jyotish, Devi serves as a Spiritual Director for Ananda Sangha Worldwide.
She travels and lectures extensively throughout the world sharing Yogananda’s teachings of integrating meditation and spirituality into daily life.
Gyandev McCordGyandev McCord is the founder and director of the Ananda Yoga Teacher Training Program, which he teaches at the Expanding Light Retreat and worldwide.
Gyandev is also a founding board member of Yoga Alliance, the non-profit organization which ensures professional standards for yoga teachers in the U.S.
Prior to embarking on the yogic path, Gyandev received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Stanford University. After deeply contemplating the purpose of life, he decided to relinquish the outer science of math to explore the inner science of yoga.
Hriman McGillowayA long-term teacher and minister, Hriman is one of the founding members of Ananda. He combines keen intellect and insight with a lively sense of humor, which makes his perspective on spiritual topics down-to-earth and practical.
He and his wife Padma are the spiritual directors of Ananda Seattle, where they have lead the work since 1994.
After serving in many areas of Ananda since 1981, including ministry and teaching, Maria now oversees Ananda’s main website. She is working with a team of bright and dedicated Ananda members, who enjoy the challenge of using modern technology to broadcast Ananda’s message to the far reaches of the world.
As a spokesperson for the team, she welcomes your ideas for new features and services on Ananda’s websites, and your feedback.
Peter’s path to spiritual community was a long and varied one: from the East coast Ivy League school, to a Washington D.C. consultancy, to graduate school at Berkeley, and a sustainable development project in Ladakh, India.
In his travels around the world, Peter met and married a wonderful Spanish lady named Marga. Together they dreamed about starting an intentional community. Upon arriving at Ananda in the early 90's, they knew they were home.
Peter has served as the manager of the Ananda Meditation Retreat, the Expanding Light Retreat, and for the last 5 years, of Ananda Village. He and Marga have a 13-year old son Mark who was born at Ananda.
Pranaba Hansen Pranaba has been an Ananda member and minister for almost 30 years. During this time he has served in many Ananda colonies in the U.S., and in Assisi, Italy.
Until recently, Pranaba directed the membership training program at Ananda Village. He now coordinates Ananda’s Meditation Centers and Groups, and also works with Ananda’s outreach ministry. He travels frequently, bringing Yogananda’s teachings and inspiration to Ananda devotees nationwide.
Savitri SimpsonSavitri has been an Ananda minister for the past 30 years. She is a counselor and staff teacher at The Expanding Light Retreat, where she directs the Meditation Teacher Training program, and offers seminars on the chakras and other aspects of yoga philosophy.
In addition to her devotion to the spiritual path, Savitri is a musician, herb gardener, gourmet vegetarian cook, and nature lover!
Seva WibergSeva is a founding member of Ananda, and has lived at Ananda Village and other Ananda colonies since 1968. Her many years of service included taking charge of the fledgling community’s finances, helping start new Ananda centers on the West Coast of the U.S., in Europe, and in India. Seva is a true pioneer!
Currently she resides at Ananda Village and directs the Ananda Course of Self-Realization. Unfailingly cheerful and loving under all circumstances, Seva has a deep understanding of the spiritual path, born of a lifetime dedicated to God.
Shanti Rubenstone, MDDr. Shanti Rubenstone is a board certified internist who received her medical training at Stanford University in California.
After many years of practicing traditional medicine she now has a practice that she calls, "Transformational Medicine", helping people use what ails them in body, mind, or soul in their spiritual growth. She has been a disciple of Yogananda for nearly thirty years, and is now a Lightbearer serving in the Ananda Palo Alto community.
Shivani LuckiShivani is a founding member of Ananda Village and a pioneer of the Ananda movement in America and Italy. She is a Kriyacharya (authorized Kriya Yoga teacher).
Shivani is a co-founder of the Ananda Assisi center in Italy, and the Yoga Academy of Europe, where she trains meditation and Raja Yoga teachers. She and her husband Arjuna reside in Ananda’s community in Assisi.
Ananda Church of Self-Realization ©1995 – 2009
