The Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Staff at YogAnga Retreat incorporate yoga and ayurveda into their daily routine, while living at Śri Santosh Puri Ashram on the bank of the Ganga River, between Rishikesh and Haridwar, in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas.
As young adults they went on to get University degrees in Yoga Science and Ayurveda. And thus after many years of practice, they became teachers, each in their own specilized fields. Together they lead our Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Staff as well as many other residential and online courses.
Ganga Puri graduated with a degree in Physics & Mathematics from the Garhwal University in Srinagar. After the mahasamadhi of his father in 2001, a fundamental change of realization overcame the student of science causing Ganga to change his life path onto the complete devotion to the Divine Truth. Meditation and yoga practices became his main activities. Eventually Ganga Puri received his post-graduate diploma and Master’s Degree in Human Consciousness and Yogic Science, from the Gurukul Kangri University of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, in Haridwar.
Mandakini Puri Rox is rooted in a traditional yogic family, following the sanyasi lineage of her parents / gurus: Santosh Puri Maharaj and Narvada Puri Mataji. She is blessed to have been born and continues to reside on the bank of Ma Ganga in the Ashram of her father’s namesake. Her sincere yogic practices led her to become a Yoga Acharya, with a Masters Degrees in Yogic Science & Human Excellence at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya. Since 2004 she has been managing and teaching courses with YogAnga Retreat at Santosh Puri Ashram.
Dr. Alaknanda Puri (aka Gangotri), is our resident Ayurvedic Doctor and Teacher at YogAnga Retreat, Sri Santosh Puri Ashram. Aside from initially studying informally with several swamis and Ayurvedic practitioners, Alaknanda has a Bachelors in Ayurveda Medical Science from Ayurveda College Coimbotore, a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy and Diploma in Yogic Science from Shrinagar University, as well as a certificate in traditional Ayurveda Vaidyavisharad, and a Diploma in Holistic Health Management from Dev Sanskriti University.
Nicole Jaquis is Sādhana Curriculum Developer and Teacher who has produced course books for YTT, Sanskrit, Sukṣma Vyāyām, Marmas and Ayurveda. Nicole facilitates transformational silent retreats, while also providing various multimedia services for the Ashram.
With a prior career as a Neuromuscular / Craniosacral Therapist and bodywork teacher at Heartwood Institute in Northern California, as well as decades living in India, Iyenger trained Brahmananda Giri has been teaching Anatomy & Alignment during our Yoga Teacher Training since 2016.