Christmas and New Year Unity in Diversity Symposium

Swami Swaroopananda is a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda. A practicing yogi from a very young age, Swami Swaroopananda has dedicated his life to the practice and teaching of yoga. He taught in Yoga Teacher Training Courses around the world and is currently teaching advanced yoga philosophy courses and lectures internationally. He is Director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and acharya (spiritual director) for the Sivananda centers and ashrams in the Bahamas and the Middle East. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.

Banafsheh Sayyad is a master Iranian sacred dancer, choreographer, transformational teacher, activist and founder of Dance of Oneness®. A deeply profound and highly accessible spiritual teacher of embodiment, Banafsheh performs and teaches internationally, initiating people into the wisdom of their bodies. Her signature style of holy wildness infused with ancient wisdom ignites transformation and illumination in all those who watch her and dance with her from around the globe. Banafsheh invites the dancer within to remember, reclaim and resource the innate healing intelligence streaming through us and spiraling all around us. She is among the few bearers of authentic Persian dance in the world. Banafsheh has been dancing the Sufi dance of Sama for 35 years and is a pioneer in creating a liberated feminine expression in the genre previously performed only by men.

Her modality, Dance of Oneness® is dance as a spiritual path and science of embodiment. It facilitates a way to embody the flame of love, loving our Self and our body so we can live more fully and love with the whole of our being.
Dance of Oneness® fuses 3 streams: the art of dance: rigorous technique and self-expression; healing; and wisdom teachings. With a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from UCLA and a Masters in Chinese Medicine, Banafsheh is dedicated to individual and collective healing through conscious dance. Her award-winning work has been presented in North America, Europe and Australia. Her dance film, “In the Fire of Grace” with Andrew Harvey traces Rumi’s journey of the soul in dance.

Banafsheh’s award-winning solo dances and ensemble work with her dance company, NAMAH, has been presented in North America, Europe and Australia. Visit www.danceofoneness.org to learn more about Banafsheh and her in person and online offerings.

danceofoneness.org

Father Dan is an Anglican priest, retreat leader, and seasoned facilitator known for creating transformative spaces where individuals can listen deeply, reflect authentically, and reconnect with their inner wisdom. Mentored by renowned Quaker activist and author Parker J. Palmer, Dan carries forward the Circle of Trust Approach, a powerful method that fosters self-discovery through deep listening, open questions, and intentional dialogue.

Blending poetry, wisdom metaphors, journal writing, visual imagery, breathwork, and the art of disciplined speaking and listening, Dan has led thousands of people—from diverse backgrounds, professions, and cultures—through profound experiences of personal insight and collective connection. His work has touched individuals across multiple countries, guiding them in retreats, workshops, and reflective gatherings that inspire clarity, courage, and transformation.

Beyond his pastoral and facilitation work, Dan is a published poet, a former zoo manager, and a community builder who co-founded an intentional housing cooperative. His passion for adventure and nature also leads him to offer sailing expeditions in the breathtaking waters of British Columbia, Canada, where he combines the wisdom of the sea with the spiritual practice of wayfinding.
With a deep commitment to nurturing personal and communal wholeness, Father Dan invites those who seek meaning, renewal, and authentic connection to embark on journeys of soulful exploration and discovery.

danhines.ca

Rabbi Naomi Levy, bestselling author, is the founder of Nashuva, a groundbreaking Jewish soulful outreach community, based in Los Angeles. A unique and passionate voice in the world of faith and soulfulness, Naomi attended Cornell University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude.

Naomi was in the first class of women to attend The Jewish Theological Seminary’s Rabbinical School and the first female Conservative Rabbi to head a pulpit on the West Coast. Through Nashuva, Naomi has drawn thousands of unaffiliated Jews back to Judaism with a soulful approach, linking together prayer, spirituality and social justice.

Rabbi Levy’s Live webcasts give tens of thousands across the globe a chance to find uplift and deep meaning in Jewish wisdom. Naomi has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and Oprah and has been featured in NPR, Parade, Redbook, Self, LA Times, Boston Globe, Good Housekeeping and LA magazine. Newsweek included Naomi in its “Top 50 Rabbis in America” list and the Jewish Forward listed Rabbi Levy as one of the nation’s 50 most influential Jewish leaders.

nashuva.com

Spring Washam is a renowned dharma teacher, author, and visionary spiritual leader whose work bridges the worlds of Buddhism, shamanism, and social justice. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, she is the author of the critically acclaimed A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment and her powerful new book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground—a stirring call to inner and collective liberation.

A founding teacher of the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, California, Spring is celebrated for her accessible, deeply heartfelt approach to spiritual practice. Trained for decades under Jack Kornfield and steeped in both Theravada and Tibetan traditions since 1999, she serves on the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She has been leading transformative residential meditation retreats since 2004.

Spring’s path is uniquely enriched by her work as a shamanic healer. Her years of study with Shipibo Maestras in the Peruvian Amazon led her to found Lotus Vine Journeys, a trailblazing program that integrates sacred plant medicine ceremonies with Buddhist wisdom teachings. Since 2008, she has offered this groundbreaking healing model to seekers from around the globe.

A passionate voice for healing and justice, Spring is also the co-founder of the Spirit Underground Liberation Project and Church, a vibrant spiritual community rooted in the heart of Atlanta. Her teachings have been featured widely in Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, Belief.net, and beyond.

With wisdom forged in the fires of personal experience and global study, Spring Washam offers a path of resilience, sacred activism, and radical love—guiding people home to their own fierce and awakened hearts.

springwasham.com

Krishna Kishora (Kish) is a musical adept, his various talents as a composer and artist enhanced by the depth of his practice. Kishor’s flute playing hums with spiritual resonance and a deep devotion to the path. His rhythmic style is distinct and creative, his kirtan is soulful, and he loves connecting with the audience in a genuine and energetic way. He is one of the founders of the world renowned Kirtan group the Mayapuris and the prime engineer manning the helm throughout the “9 islands” recording project. Kish is also the head of a non-profit organization meant for sharing the culture of kirtan and bhakti with youth from bhakti centers all around the world.

Bali Rico is a lyricist, multi-instrumentalist, author and bhakta. Born in the U.S. to Colombian parents, he and younger brother Kish spent their formative years living in ashrams in the sacred land of Mayapur, West Bengal, learning the traditions and music of ancient India. Bali’s mridanga playing is fiery, innovative and precise, helping to create the Mayapuris signature sound. As a lyricist, Bali’s flow mirrors the intricate rhythm of a born percussionist, with thoughtful prose full of insight, philosophy and personal reflection.

Ken Whiteley has made 30 recordings and performed all across North America over a long and varied career. He has won a Canadian Folk Music Award, a Genie Award for Best Song in a Canadian film and Lifetime Achievement Awards from Folk Music Ontario and the Mariposa Folk Festival. He has lead gospel singing workshops at countless festivals and across Canada. Ken has been coming to the ashram for over a decade, always creating blessed music.

Samani Samatva Pragya is a Jain nun and devoted disciple of His Holiness Acharya Shree Mahashraman Ji, the eleventh Acharya of the Terapanth Order. She holds Master’s degrees in Jain Philosophy and Comparative Religion, with expertise in:

• Jain Philosophy
• Yoga and Preksha Meditation
• Development of Virtues and Personality
• Managing Stress, Anger, and Other Challenges

She has led numerous workshops and meditation camps, sharing her wisdom in these areas. Currently, she is based in New Jersey.

Abhay Pragya is a Jain nun and devoted disciples of His Holiness Acharya Shree Mahashraman Ji, the eleventh Acharya of the Terapanth Order. They hold Master’s degrees in Jain Philosophy and Comparative Religion, with expertise in:

• Jain Philosophy
• Yoga and Preksha Meditation
• Development of Virtues and Personality
• Managing Stress, Anger, and Other Challenges

She has led numerous workshops and meditation camps, sharing her wisdom in these areas. Currently, she is based in New Jersey.

Krishnan Namboodiri is a Tantric priest from South India, trained in the classical tradition of mantras (sacred sounds), pujas (prayer ceremonies), homas (fire rituals), and yantras (sacred geometric designs). He performs many daily and special rituals for the ashram.

Swami Brahmananda is Manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and senior staff of the Sivananda organization. A long-time practitioner of yoga, he regularly teaches yoga philosophy and meditation for the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses as well as meditation immersion courses. He is a much-loved, inspiring, and knowledgeable teacher.

Swami Shambhudevananda is a senior staff member at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas and a practitioner of yoga and meditation for more than 30 years. A member of the Sivananda organization since 1995, Swami Shambhudevananda regularly teaches Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga philosophy for the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses and advanced courses. He is a much-loved, knowledgeable, and inspiring teacher.

Swami Paramananda is a monk and senior teacher of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Swami Paramananda joined the Sivananda organization in 2006 and was initiated into Sannyasa (monasticism) in 2016.

A long-time practitioner of yoga, meditation and philosophical studies, he regularly teaches in the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Courses as well as the Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Courses. He also teaches online courses and guides students from around the world in their practice and study.

A much-loved teacher admired for his humor, warmth, and devotion to the practice, he seamlessly weaves classical yoga teachings into modern daily life.

Rukmini Chaitanya is a senior staff member of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas, and the personal assistant to Swami Swaroopananda, the Acharya, or spiritual director of the Ashram. She regularly teaches the Bhagavad Gita during the Sivananda Yoga Teacher training as well as other courses on the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, positive thinking, meditation, and yoga philosophy.

Rukmini Chaitanya is known for her enthusiastic and inspiring teaching style as well as for her devotion to the lineage and the scriptures. She is dedicated to each of her students and has an innate desire to share knowledge with them. She brings a great deal of clarity to every topic and is highly appreciated for her capacity to unfold complicated topics and present them in a coherent and pure way.

Rukmini Chaitanya was interviewed on The Spiritually Inspired Show