Jagadisha, E-RYT 500, participated in his first “stretching class” on a family vacation in 1995 at the invitation of his mother. The details of that class live on the fuzzy side of his blurry memories, but the feeling of joy and contentment that followed that first encounter will not be soon forgotten.
In the year 2000, after two years of studying Biology, he left college to complete a four-month residence at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health under the guidance of Yoganand Michael Carroll and Laighne Fanney in hopes of overcoming a deep depression. Through that program, he recognized the transformative power of yogic practices on a human life and wholeheartedly dedicated himself to daily yogic practice. After completing his time at Kripalu, he returned to Rutgers to complete a B.A. in Philosophy. While at Rutgers, he was able to study the body’s structures by participating in the dissection of a cadaver while also investigating the living body through asana (yoga posture) practice, giving him a comprehensive and deep understanding of the body.
Jagadisha has yet to find a system of yoga practice that he does not appreciate. From 2001-2003, he spent over 1,000 hours in dedicated teacher training programs and received certifications as a teacher in Prana Yoga under Jeff Migdow, M.D., Soul Sweat Asana under Wendy Gross, and Bikram’s Yoga under Bikram Choudhury. Upon receiving his certification from Bikram, he immediately began teaching yoga full-time and he opened Be Evolution Hot Yoga in September of 2006.
Currently, he is studying the Path of Luminous Shabda (a path that combines study of Sanskrit, Meditation and Yoga philosophy) with his dear Guru, Manorama ji, who is director of the School of Sanskrit Studies in NYC. He is also an ordained interfaith minister, having completed a two-year seminary course at The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies in NYC from 2010-11.
He extends his deepest reverence and gratitude to all of his teachers.
