Yogacharini Maitreyi is a practical Mystic and the founder of Arkaya. She has taught a wide variety of people, from Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka, prisoners in Sweden, an all Islamic group in Bangladesh, yoga teachers in Vancouver to children and CEOs in India and abroad over the last 10 years.

She has trained many top companies like Ford, Lever Brothers, Nasscom, L&T, Symbiosis Institute of Management etc. and consults on wellness issues, holistic health and organic management. She trains them in the science and art of SELF/STRESS MANAGEMENT through 'The 3M Magick' FUNshop. She is specialized in life enhancement coaching for top management and decision makers. She enables them to see the need for managing the body, emotions, mind and resources effectively and creatively. She has been a key note speaker for audiences of 800 and above.She was also a consultant for the Madras Management Association in 2004 and was instrumental in designing and organising a series of 20 Health awareness workshops for their members.She believes a holistic lifestyle can infiltrate all walks of life.

Maitreyi was invited to be on the Advisory Board of the World Yoga Council in Europe in 2006. She has also received the Yoga Semmal (Great, expert) award in India in 2007.

She has appeared on national channels like Doordarshan and international channels like Star Vijay, NDTV, Channel M of Vancouver etc. giving talks and sessions on the holistic aspects of yoga.

Maitreyi is also a versatile writer with over 80 published articles in Management Mandate, Times Wellness, Yoga life, Life Positive, Heritage Healing, Indian Express etc. Her versatility is seen in the fact that she has written scholarly articles that have been quoted as recommended readings in yoga to short humorous articles. She was a columnist for the Economic Times and has been writing a fortnightly column on yoga called “Pace Maker” for the Hindu news daily in India, for the last 3 years.

Maitreyi is open to connections that reflect the divine. She shares more and teaches less. She exudes the energy of a friend as her name implies. She has taken many through the healing process, including herself. She is dedicated to training trainers and has inspired many to refine their lives. She teaches the Foundation course or the Yoga Bija course to ground people in the yogic principles. She also shares her insights and trains teachers groups.

Yogacharini Maitreyi has taught and done many years of seva at the Ananda Ashram. She has founded a trust for children from economically backward areas in India where they learn to have fun cleaning up and cultivating a holistic and healthy lifestyle. They learn this through song and play. Their interventions are focused on prevention and healing rather than just cure.

Maitreyi teaches in Vancouver each year and is a Registered Senior Teacher at the Yoga Association of British Columbia.

Maitreyi studied film and worked on various films and documentaries from 1993 to 2000. She holds a degree in Visual Communication and has worked for many Indian and International companies like UTV, Goumond-Boreales of France and East-West Productions of Canada in Filmmaking. She was also running her production house before she decided to dedicate her time to teaching yoga. She integrates her filmmaking skills into exploring the human spirit.

Maitreyi is originally from India and has trained there for many years in Classical Yoga. She studied in the Shivananda ashram in 1997 and for many years in the Ananda ashram. She was given the title of ‘Yogacharini’ (guide, life coach) in the Gurukulum of Dr. Swami Gitananda. She demystifies and simplifies spirituality and teaches ancient wisdom in the modern context.

Experiences / Testimonials

“I am one of those who have personally seen and benefited from the miraculous healing powers of Yogacharini Maitreyi. It is no exaggeration to say that Maitreyi has a strong connection with the Universe, or the divine and can summon it at will. Her practice which combines yogic breathing with movements that are more jatis than asanas has an unusual effect not only on the body but the psyche and despite yourself, you can feel the healing and a tremendous reassurance that all is really well in this world and there is nothing to be afraid of. Maitreyi's persona and consistent quiet joy really shows you what spirituality means. Not religion, not rituals, not ceremonies but the celebration of being. Thank you Maitreyi for turning my life around."

This might be an inadequate summation of what was really a very unusual and uplifting intervention that really changed things. Anyway, hope you come back soon.

Love
Malini Parthasarathy – Executive Editor/Director "The Hindu"

"I was in a state of euphoria after attending Maitreyi's workshop on Minding the body, Mending the mind and Managing moods.
It has enhanced my concentration in my work. It has unleashed my creative insight and enhanced my self confidence. It has shown me a way to become healthy both mentally and physically."
-  N.C. Balachandran, Director
KSR Engg College


"Excellent, very enlightening. Learnt simple techniques which can be easily practiced."
- Ramya Venkateswaran, Citi Bank


"It was totally new and the best way to have peace in life" - Rajshri. Satyam Computers


"My belief about taking responsibility for one's life has become even stronger"
- Maya HR CTS

Corporates trained:

Maitreyi’s Message: “A loving welcome to you, I have existed, escaped, questioned, explored, and live so that life may never tire me or become tired of me. The journey has been fascinating so far and continues to get more subtle and enjoyable. Arkaya awareness centre is a space where I can allow the voice of self-awareness to be heard. It is an open space that allows you to be yourself yet structured so that you can better yourself. I invite you to accept yourself completely and breathe into yourself so all that is unnecessary just melts away.

I invite you to journey through the peaks and valleys, the joy and pain, the goodness and misery and come through it wiser and with more enthusiasm. As the saying goes nine times down and nine times up. "There is no shame in falling, only in remaining there."

If there is some habit, pattern, tendency we do not want we need to believe we can rise above it. Never be afraid of dreaming of a life of love and dignity. Reach for the stars yet have your feet firmly planted on the ground.”