Welcome, Fellow Humans!

          My name is Kaya and I am the Woke Yogi. I’m on a lifelong mission to democratize yoga through jñāna, or knowledge!

          As an Indian-American practitioner, teacher, and scholar of yoga, I know that my responsibility far exceeds the scope of stretching classes. Yoga is much more than a fitness regimen; it is a practice of compassion and ethical action; of mindfulness, presence, and conscious awareness. Yoga requires us to acknowledge the way we impact the world around us. How can we possibly become aware of our infinite oneness if we cannot even empathize with the experiences of our neighbors?

          Woke Yoga is the practice of living mindfully; of offering careful intention to the political, social, and spiritual consequences of our actions. It is the process of opening our third eyes to the grave injustices within and around the yoga community. More importantly, it is a pledge to use our yogic practices to make the world a better place.

          This blog is intended as a mere guide – a living document that captures my experiences as an ever-aspiring Woke Yogi. I frame my adventures with a yogic lens: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (moderation), and aparigraha (letting go) above all else. My goal is to practice the purest expression of yoga: unconditional compassion.