International Day of Yoga

Rajitha will be guiding the opening ceremony of our International Day of Yoga festivities, chanting a Peace Mantra (translation below):

From ignorance, lead me to truth; from darkness, lead me to light; from death, lead me to immortality; may there be peace in all, may there be completeness in all.

May we all be protected, may we all be nourished,  may we work together with great energy, may our intellect be sharpened, let there be no animosity among us.

Peace, peace, peace.

Center for Indian Cultural Education – Bal Vihar of St. Louis, a non-profit organization, since its inception in 1992 has been serving the Metro St. Louis Indian community. The primary focus of this organization is to provide Indian cultural education to students age 5-18, its application and integration with the global multicultural and multifaceted society. They are also taught discipline, tolerance and devotion in their daily routine. The ultimate goal is “to throw the light of cultural knowledge on every child, to make every child an outstanding citizen and to spread the song of peace and harmony around the world.“

Thomas J. Bushlack holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Ethics from the University of Notre Dame, and serves as Regional Director of Mission Integration with SSM Health, a faith-based healthcare provider located in four states with over 40,000 employees. Tom works with employees to improve alignment with corporate mission, ethics, and values. He also helps physicians, healthcare providers, and executives deepen mindfulness and meditation practices to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and improve decision-making skills.

Andy Nunberg, Ph.D. is a seasoned molecular biologist (10 years) who decided to leave industry and pursue his passion of teaching mindfulness and meditation, which he has done through the Art of Living Foundation for the past 15 years. He recently finished his massage therapy training and received his license in January 2020. Andy is the office manager at Health Quest and offers licensed massage therapy, mindfulness and meditation training, as well as Ayurvedic treatments. Andy also facilitates Mindfulness and Meditation online sessions specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. 

Sol Asar is focused on spreading the knowledge of body mind and soul. He is a Reiki Level 1 healer, a student and teacher of Kemetic Yoga (Sema Tawi) activist and musician. Sol is interested in awakening the divinity within humanity.  

Learning Kemetic Yoga from Sol is eye-opening for any yoga practitioner – he teaches the similarities between the ancient Egyptian culture and the ancient Hindu teachings, while weaving in facts and histories that will delight any yoga nerd.

SonJoria is the founder of Kissed By the Son Yoga and author of a soon-to-be-released book, “Our Family’s Doing Yoga!” Post-partum depression is what originally got SonJoria into yoga, and now she shares yoga with expectant families, kids, and families. She is also the co-founder of I AM: (a parenting resource and breastfeeding support organization) and wears many hats within her community. SonJoria has a passion for education, mental health, families, and the Black community.

Rahul Parikh is the great-great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Mr. Parikh was raised in one of Gandhi Ashrams (commune) and after formal education worked for Gandhian programs during the first 35 years of his life. A life-long spiritual seeker, Mr. Parikh has a great passion for exploring philosophical literature and spiritual leaders.

Mr. Parikh has worked at Washington University Medical School for the last 29 years.

Born in the family of Hindu Brahmin purohits, Dr.Santhanam had his undergraduate studies in The Government College, Kumbakonam and later had his masters from Madras Christian College, Tambaram. He obtained his research degree in Theoretical Physics from The International Centre for Theoretical Physics and received his PhD from Madras University. He was a professor at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Madras until 1989 and joined Saint Louis University and is a professor of physics in SLU since 1991. He is closely associated with the Hindu Temple of Saint Louis.

SABNAVIS RESEARCH ACADEMY has been formed with the sole aim of creating awareness among people about the importance of enlightened and awakened living and to help everyone realize their purpose of life. With this great mission, Sairamprasad Sabnavis founded the SABNAVIS RESEARCH ACADEMY in March, 2012. 

Sai regularly shares his meditation practice across the country, turning to online offerings when travel is not available.