Vajra Yogini came to the practice of yoga through the traditional Mysore style Ashtanga vinyasa system.  She progressed through primary and second series, undergoing intense purification (tapas) for several years.  Her desire to go deeper into other forms of yoga led her to a teacher training in Asheville, NC led by Stephanie Keach.  She has since studied with Tias Little, Tim Miller, David Williams, Heather Tiddens, David Life, and Sharon Gannon.  Vajra has taught many forms of yoga at various studios in Athens, Ga, and she also practices Thai Yoga Therapy which she learned from Saul David Raye.  Vajra’s career as a musician (jazz vocalist), merged with the path of yoga when she began the practice of Kirtan (call and response singing), and this fusion of yoga and music felt like coming home. Vajra’s practice of Bhakti yoga (the path of devotion), as expressed through chanting and singing has led her on multiple trips to India for pilgrimage and music study.  Vajra is a founding member of the modern electric kirtan project Rahasya.  Vajra sings... “Dance with the Divine, Live and Love with all your heart, embrace Joy, and don’t be afraid to improvise! Keep a hold of the thread of your breath--it will lead you home. GOVINDA BOLO HARI, GOPALA BOLO”
 “I have come into this world to hear this: every song the earth has sung since it was conceived in the Divine's womb and began spinning from His wish... every song the heart should cry with magnificent dignity to know itself as God: for all other knowledge will leave us again in want and aching - only imbibing the glorious Sun will complete us.”  -Hafiz

Surdas began traveling the yoga path through the practice of traditional Mysore stye Ashtanga vinyasa. After devoting himself to the daily practice for several years, his instructor Todd Roderick requested that he begin teaching. An apprenticeship was established and he learned how to teach students verbally and also with physical assistance. He deepened his understanding of foundation and alignment principles through continued study with Tias Little. His practice has been influenced by other systems such as Yin, Kundalini, Iyengar, and Jivamukti. Asana practice led Surdas ever deeper into the ancient yoga traditions, and his intense desire for self-realization brought him to his western guru Bhagavan Das. He was given initiation into Nada yoga (the science of sound) and Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion). His career as a drummer intersected with the path of yoga when he began the practice of Kirtan (call and response singing). After traveling to India to study drumming and kirtan, he founded the modern electric kirtan project Rahasya. Surdas sings... "Turn Inward, and find the sun that shines brighter than all stars in the sky. Hold on to it and do not let go, while completely surrendering your identity. Time will dissolve and you will realize true freedom."
"There is nothing that Love cannot achieve, and there is nothing that Love cannot sacrifice. Love sets on fire the one who finds it." - Meher Baba