Mount Madonna Temple
Badri Dass, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, is a long-time student of Babaji (since 1974) and practicing psychotherapist (since 1978). Badri earned his PhD in clinical psychology in 1986 from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now Palo Alto University) and became licensed as a clinical psychologist in 1988. Badri has taught yoga (primarily meditation, pranayama, psychology, and philosophy) since 1975 and has been a teacher in Mount Madonna Center's Yoga Teacher Training since its inception. Badri integrates his experience in Jungian psychology, Buddhism, and Advaita philosophy and practice with traditional Aṣhṭānga Yoga. Bhavani Siegel, began her practice of yoga with Babaji in 1974. She began teaching yoga practice and philosophy in 1976 in Yoga Teacher Trainings, retreats, and seminars. Bhavani specializes in yogic symbolism, Sanskṛit and mantra, sacred sound meditation, and has recorded Surya Namaskar Mantras and the Forgiveness Āsana Series.
News from the Hanuman Fellowship, sponsors of Mount Madonna Center, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Pacific Cultural Center and more. Hotels near Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple. Mount Madonna County Park. Madonna has been my go-to camping spot for the last 5 years.
Considering the teachings of conscious communication an important aspect of the yogic principle of non-harming, Bhavani has integrated this study as facilitator/coordinator of MMC’s Yoga & Service programs for 20 years, and as resident of the MMC community. She enjoys chanting, mystic poetry, and hiking. David Vishwamitra Prisk, BS (Business Management, San Jose State University), became a student of Babaji’s in 1972 and has been a teacher of Aṣhṭānga Yoga for more than 40 years. He teaches classes in asana, pranayama, and meditation to students of all levels at Mount Madonna Center seasonal Yoga Retreats, Yoga Teacher Training (200 and 300), and ongoing weekly classes. He teaches with a focus on integrating the practice of yoga into daily life to attain peace.
He is a founding member of the Hanumān Fellowship and currently serves on the Board of Directors. Dayanand John Diffenbaugh, BA (Religious Studies, UCSC cum laude), E-RYT 500, has studied yoga with Babaji since 1971. Founding Director of MMC, Dayanand is also one of the founders of Sri Ram Ashram. Dayanand taught Yoga Sutras, Samkhya Karika, and Vedanta with Babaji, as well as edited Babaji's commentary on the Yoga Sutras. In his classes Dayanand uses his fluency in Hindi and Sanskṛit chanting, as well as Hindustani slide guitar to bring the traditional wisdom to life. Having been schooled in the gurukul system by Babaji, Dayanand feels a deep commitment to continuing the tradition of integrating study, practice, and karma yoga. Gerald Brajesh Friedberg, PhD, E-RYT 500, has studied with Babaji since 1978 and has been teaching Yoga since then.
He specializes in yoga psychology, yoga and social responsibility, failure and progress in meditation, understanding and applying nonviolence, and yoga in daily life. Brajesh continues to serve as Mount Madonna Center Program’s Director, as he has since 1981. He enjoys working out, taking walks with his sweetheart, a little birding, and lots of nourishing extended family time. Iris Kalpana Kachuck, PhD, E-RYT 500, began her study of Yoga in 1975 as a student of Babaji.
Becoming a founding member of the Mount Madonna Center has offered the great opportunity to engage in her passions of Education and Community. She has a particular interest in working with beginning teachers and exploring the practice of Community as a transformational experience. In the field of Education she has served as a K-12 Teacher, School Principal, and Community College Professor. As part of the Mount Madonna Institute, she is currently working with a team to develop curriculum for a Certificate program in Service Learning and Community Studies. Janardan Kieran Farley, BA (Psychology and Science), has been a student of Babaji since 1975.
As one of the Founding residents of Mount Madonna Center, Janardan has served the community as Personnel Administrator, Construction Supervisor, Yoga Instructor, Board Member of Hanumān Fellowship and Sri Ram Foundation, Pujari (priest) of Vedic Ceremonies, and Head of development and operation of the Sankaṭ Mochan Hanumān Temple Complex. His primary areas of interest are Vedic rituals, Tantra Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Ramayana, classical Aṣhṭānga Yoga, and classical dance and music forms of India. Jaya Maxon, E-RYT 500, began her spiritual journey when she met her teacher Baba Hari Dass in 1974. She has devoted her life to the study of yoga and attempts to bring the teachings to life in practical ways on a day-to-day basis. She has taught the methods of Aṣhṭānga Yoga and Hatha Yoga for 40 years and over most of those years helped coordinate and evolve the Yoga Teacher Training program at Mount Madonna Center.
She believes that life always offers the opportunities for the growth we need, and currently finds herself challenged to deepen her practice of patience, compassion, and contentment as she engages in the work of this stage of her life. Kamalesh Ginger Hooven, BA (Philosophy), MA-Ay, E-RYT 500, began teaching yoga in 2000 in Guatemala. In 2003 she began studying with Babaji as she completed a 700 hour YTT with Georg Feurstein. Kamalesh joined the MMC YTT teaching staff in 2004.
Her studies with Babaji made her realize the importance of threading Ayurvedic principles throughout yogic teachings. As a Certified Āyurvedic Practitioner she teaches yoga and Ayurveda, specializing in applying Western and Āyurvedic anatomy and physiology, pranayama, meditation, Eight Limbs, Sāmkhya, and Sequencing Āsana at MMI and in Guatemala. Her greatest accomplishment is raising two young men, educated at Mount Madonna School, who are happily finding their own paths.
Karuna Jessica Fortino, BA (Dance), E-RYT 500, was introduced to Yoga and Babaji through Tom Tobias in Tulsa, OK. She first came to Mount Madonna in 2007 for YTT 200. Wanting to study with Babaji and his students further, she has continued to apprentice, assist, coordinate and teach in the YTT programs since that time. Her main areas of focus are Asana, Sadhana, and Yoga History. Karuna also has a great love for Ayurveda and Prenatal Yoga, and teaches and learns within these programs as well. Lyn Ackley, Niraja, YTT 500, completed her 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2014. Since 2012 she has been teaching private and group classes, workshops, and retreats.
Her continued curiosity and love of yoga leads her to participate regularly in workshops and training courses in the US and India. Experiencing the results of regular yoga practice, she enjoys sharing the practice of yoga with others. Her studies and teachings include pranayama, asana, and meditation, and all of the eight limbs of Aṣhṭānga Yoga. She is thankful to Babaji, her teachers, students, and the enriching opportunities to “teach to learn.” Mangala Norskog, RN, RYT 500, CAP, is a student of Babaji’s and continues to “teach to learn'. Her instruction integrates devotional intention, anatomical reference, and subtle body physiology into pranayama, meditation and asana. Mangala leads weekend workshops in “Āsana and Sacred Sound” and has been teaching at MMC since 1996.
She instructs privately and to a variety of age groups. In her professional practice Mangala bridges classical training in Āyurveda and Yoga, experience as a Registered Nurse, and enthusiastic advocacy for health, safety, and wellbeing. She serves on the Yoga Administration of Pacific Cultural Center and volunteers regularly Sri Ram Orphange. Marshall Aditya Keneipp, BS (Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado), YTT 500, has a deep and long standing interest in yoga and the practical application of spiritual methods for self-realization. He has studied yoga and other spiritual disciplines for over 40 years, and has been a student of Babaji since 2000. Aditya has had a daily meditation practice since 1972 and has co-led silent meditation retreats at Mount Madonna Center. He teaches asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra and Sanskṛit, meditation, brain science, and other classes on the philosophical foundations of classical Aṣhṭānga Yoga at Mount Madonna Center and Pacific Cultural Center.
Paula Anima Holtz, PhD, RN, FNP, CNM, has been a serious student of yoga and of Babaji's for 30 years. She works as a clinical psychologist/psychiatric nurse practitioner providing psychotherapy. Her special interest is the integration of yoga theory with neuroscience/biology and psychology and related research, which developed from her personal experience that regular sadhana has a physiologic effect on her body.
Her classes focus on neuroscience and its relationship to yoga and meditation as based on her study of science and the Yoga Sutras. She enjoys satsang, family, and grandmothering and believes and teaches that we develop together through relationship. Pratibha Melissa Queen, BA, RYT 500, CAS, has studied Yoga and Ayurveda with Babaji since 1976.
She completed Yoga Teacher Training at MMC in 1981 and became an RYT-500 in 1993. She graduated from the California College of Āyurveda in 2004 as a Clinical Āyurveda Specialist (CAS). She taught gentle and restorative yoga at MMC and Pacific Cultural Center for many years. Her current focus is sharing Āyurveda with YTT and YSC students at MMC.
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In addition, she offers a self-care series called “Āyurveda, Yoga and You” in Santa Cruz. She serves as a Board member of Mount Madonna Institute, and the Hanuman Fellowship. Premdas Rohan, MA (Secondary Science Education), combines his love of science and mathematics with his love of yoga practice in the classroom by teaching Middle School students breath awareness exercises, mindfulness, and postures to calm the mind. He began his studies of Aṣhṭānga Yoga with Babaji starting in 1975 in Miami, Florida.
Premdas has taught all ages of students from 2 1/2 years to the elderly. He teaches asana, pranayama, meditation, and Bhagavad Gita. In addition, Premdas serves as a pujari (priest) of Vedic rituals at the Sankaṭ Mochan Hanumān Temple.
He enjoys all sports, guitar, and time with his family. Purnima Cathy Conway, MS (Nonprofit Management, Northeastern University), RYT-500,has studied classical Aṣhṭānga Yoga with Babaji since 1996 and completed her 200 and 500 hour YTT at Mount Madonna Center.
As a resident staff member and Yoga instructor, Purnima embraces the concept of teaching to learn and continues to deepen her understanding of yoga philosophy. She teaches pranayama, meditation, mudra, mantra and sacred sound. Her classes on the eight limbs of Aṣhṭānga Yoga focus on cultivating the yama and niyama to attain peace. Purnima is a musician and leads kirtan and Vedic chanting at retreats and events. Professionally Purnima is Vice President of Hospice of Santa Cruz County. Radha Mallery, RYT 500, began her practice of Aṣhṭānga Yoga when she met Babaji in 1971. Under his tutelage she began teaching asanas, pranayama, and meditation at yoga retreats in 1974.
During the last 40 years she’s taught extensively at Mount Madonna Center, Pacific Cultural Center, and throughout Santa Cruz County, often with an emphasis on Nada Yoga or meditation on inner sound. As a retired long time hospice worker she is uniquely able to bring the elements of death, dying, and impermanence into her meditation teaching, while keeping a light hearted perspective on life. She enjoys singing, hiking, and learning from others. Ratna Jennifer Sturz, MA, E-RYT 500, has studied with Babaji since 1977 and began teaching shortly after that. Yoga continues to be a constant guide and support for facing challenges as well as for appreciating daily life. Drawing from her background in counseling, psychology, and selective studies in contemplative traditions and neuroscience, her current classes focus on meditation, meditation practicums, and mentoring with an emphasis on transformation of self. She has previously taught History of Yoga, Comparative Systems, Bhakti Yoga Theory, and the Limbs of Aṣhṭānga Yoga and is a certified Viniyoga Instructor.
She enjoys hiking and being active outdoors. Sadanand Ward Mailliard, BA, E-RYT 500, is a founding member of Mount Madonna Center.
Sadanand began practicing and studying Yoga with Babaji in 1974. He has been teaching at Mount Madonna Center in Yoga retreats and YTT since the Center began. Sadanand has been a teacher of the “Values in World Thought” program at Mount Madonna School for 28 years. He edited Babaji’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.
He teaches yoga sadhana classes and classes on Subtle Body, Background of Yoga, and Bhagavad Gītā in the MMC yoga Teacher Training and at Mount Madonna Center Yoga retreats. Sarada Diffenbaugh, PhD (Stanford University, Education), E-RYT 500, has studied yoga with Babaji since 1971. She is one of the founders of Mount Madonna Center, Mount Madonna School, and Sri Ram Ashram.
As Principal of MMS she applied teachings of yoga to children's education. Sarada uses her educational knowledge to help create the dynamic, integrated, experiential learning environment at MMI.
In classes on Yoga Sūtra, Sāmkhya, Gītā, and Aṣhṭānga Yoga she aims to make the heart and meaning of these ancient teachings applicable to contemporary life. Sarada is married to Dayanand Diffenbaugh, they have two married sons and five grandchildren.
Shantam Galuten, has been practicing yoga since 1995, and has studied extensively with Babaji, Chuck Miller, and Hillaire Lockwood. He received his 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training from Mount Madonna Center and has been teaching yoga, performing Vedic ceremonies, and helping to facilitate the various retreats at the Center since 2006.
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Even as he is a professional jazz musician, software developer, and pujari at the Sankaṭ Mochan Hanumān Temple, he aims to inspire creativity, spread happiness, and continually work for the cultivation of peace. Soma Goresky, MS (Civil Engineering), E-RYT 500, is a geotechnical engineer with a consulting firm in the Bay area, as well as a practicing yogini and senior student of Babaji. She works with the principle that the depth of our understanding is based on our own experience through “Regular Sādhana,” and strives to help students be successful in making formal spiritual practice a part of their daily lives. Soma also has undertaken an in-depth study of the yoga philosophy as presented in Patanjali’s Yoga Sūtras and has taught and led study groups exploring these ancient principles for over 25 years.
Sean Neesley, Sean Neesley, BA (Psychology), E-RYT 500, completed YTT in 2013 and discovered a passion for teaching; he has been actively involved in YTT courses ever since. He moved to MMC in 2016 and teaches āsana, sādhana, and ṣhaṭ karma. Sean is an avid rock climber and enjoys the adventurous nature of exploring the outer world as thoroughly as the inner.